Hello everyone. In an episode that could easily rival any political drama, Brooklyn Democrat Susan Zhuang was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly biting a police chief during a heated protest at the proposed site of a new men’s homeless shelter. The scene unfolded in Gravesend, where Zhuang, along with other protesters, clashed with police from as early as 6 a.m.
Images and videos posted on social media show the chaos, with Zhuang, in a bright pink top, tussling with officers and wrestling a barricade away from them. In one clip, an officer attempts to handcuff her to the railings using zip ties. Things escalated quickly, and soon enough, Zhuang was grappling with police over the metal barricade. The highlight (or lowlight) was a large bite mark in the arm of Borough Brooklyn South Deputy Chief of Patrol Frank DiGiacomo. Talk about taking a bite out of crime, huh?
DiGiacomo described the injury as a “pretty nasty bite,” and Zhuang was promptly charged with assault, resisting arrest, and obstruction. NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell expressed his shock, noting Zhuang’s prior support for the police: “Councilwoman Zhuang has been a great partner with the NYPD for a long time. But the actions today, by assaulting one of our police officers, a deputy chief, by biting him viciously in the arm, I can’t explain it right now.”
The protest saw three other officers injured and nine other people arrested. Zhuang posted a video early Wednesday showing her arguing with an officer, with the caption, “There is no permits. Mayor office allowed construction at 5 am in our neighborhood.”
The Brooklyn district attorney’s spokesperson confirmed Zhuang was arraigned and released on her own recognizance. Zhuang’s office defended her actions, claiming she was protecting an 80-year-old woman being pushed against barriers.
PBA President Patrick Hendry condemned the violence, stating, “There is never any excuse or justification for assaulting a police officer. There should be no double standard in this case.”
The City Council is awaiting the results of investigations before deciding on disciplinary actions. Manhattan Councilman Keith Powers also criticized Zhuang’s behavior, emphasizing that “there’s no reason anyone, elected official or otherwise, should be acting in this manner.”
BREAKING: NYC Councilwoman Susan Zhuang (D) caught on video BITING an NYPD officer pic.twitter.com/hy05ZVC67g
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) July 18, 2024
The protest stemmed from community opposition to the planned homeless shelter, which would house 150 men and is situated near schools and senior centers. Demonstrators voiced concerns about safety and the shelter’s proximity to vulnerable areas. Local leaders argue for a different approach to supporting the homeless, while a spokesperson for Mayor Adams defended the shelter as a necessary resource for the community.
NYC Councilmember Susan Zhuang returns to the shelter protest in Brooklyn on Wednesday after she was charged with felony assault for allegedly biting an NYPD officer hours earlier.
I asked her about the allegations ⬇️https://t.co/9Jneyqb9fH@CBSNewYork @susanzhuangnyc pic.twitter.com/SCzbEirOQQ
— Ali Bauman (@AliBaumanTV) July 18, 2024