NYPD: Man arrested in connection with snowball fight that injured police officers

The NYPD said early Thursday it arrested a 27-year-old man in connection with the Washington Square Park snowball fight that injured two officers earlier in the week.

Gusmane Coulibaly was arrested Monday, the NYPD said in a social media post. Precise charges were pending.

The snowball fight and the resulting pelting of officers who were responding to reports of an unruly group sparked a political brouhaha between New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and police unions.

Mamdani characterized the incident as a snowball fight that got out of hand. But he was criticized by the police union for not condemning the conduct, which NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said was criminal conduct.

"This arrest sends a clear message that assaults on police officers cannot and will not be minimized or tolerated," PBA President Patrick Hendry said in a statement. "There is more work to be done to hold accountable all who participated in this shameful attack.”

Coulibaly was arrested a few weeks earlier and charged with robbery in the subway, the NYPD said.

By Anthony M. DeStefano

tony.destefano@newsday.comtonynewsday

Anthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for Newsday since 1986 and covers law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs from its New York City offices.