DOZENS of people were taken into custody after thousands of fans filled the streets near Madison Square Garden following the New York Knicks’ win on Wednesday night.
Game 4 of the NBA Finals brought in thousands of excited fans and scores of celebrities, including Taylor Swift, to the must-win match-up against the San Antonio Spurs, leading to chaos in the streets after the historic 29-point comeback victory.
The NYPD took 56 people into custody after large crowds gathered around the iconic venue home to the Knicks and the surrounding streets, the department said in a statement to The U.S. Sun.
An estimated 10,000 people filled the streets around the Garden.
The arrests took place across various locations between Fifth and Eighth avenues.
Some of the charges people faced were assault on a police officer, criminal mischief, resisting arrest, reckless endangerment, trademark counterfeiting and criminal possession of a weapon, which was a knife.
Forty-one individuals were released from police custody with criminal court summonses while 15 were arrested.
There were several instances of disorderly conduct, according to the NYPD.
People were accused of jumping on top of moving taxis, trucks and other vehicles while people were inside, trying to physically flip over a taxi, igniting fireworks in the middle of crowds and throwing glass bottles.
Ten members of the NYPD sustained injuries in the chaotic scene, including one who “was struck in the head with a glass bottle,” officials said.
People were also reportedly seen climbing on top of light poles, traffic lights, buildings, scaffolding and NYPD vehicles.
Four vehicles with the police department were damaged with shattered front and back windows.
Physical fights also broke out resulting in injuries.
A tractor trailer was also broken into, allegedly stealing items inside and throwing them at police officers and the crowd.
After the game, the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama was pelted with an egg as he and his teammates left the Garden.
The Knicks climbed back from a 29-point deficit in the game, with OG Anunoby‘s dramatic tip-in securing victory with just 1.2 seconds left on the clock.
The Spurs dominated most of the game with a 19-point lead in the first quarter and 27 by halftime.
But Knicks stars Jalen Brunson and Anunoby brought the spark back, scoring 36 and 33 points respectively.
Anunoby jumped above Spurs stars Dylan Harper and Devin Vassell just moments before the buzzer, tipping the ball over the rim to end the game with a one-point lead.
The NYPD acknowledged how the win is an “exciting time” for fans, but said the department “wants New Yorkers to be able to enjoy these celebrations, but our primary responsibility is to ensure that everyone can do so safely.”
“Once again, there were large crowds of people who engaged in incredibly reckless and dangerous behavior last night both during and after the game.
“This demonstrates exactly why the NYPD has increased our presence in and around Madison Square Garden.”
A total of 21 people were taken into custody on Monday night after the Knicks’ loss against the Spurs, the NYPD previously confirmed to The U.S. Sun.
Source : https://www.the-sun.com/sport/16486712/knicks-fans-arrested-nypd-msg-nba-finals/