The New York Police Department on Thursday night arrested Geoffrey Young, 38, a member of the Proud Boys, in connection with the violent mob beating of three protesters outside of the Metropolitan Republican Club last Friday night. Young was arrested on charges of riot and attempted assault for his alleged role in the fight. He’s the first member of the Proud Boys to be charged as a result of the violent incident, which was captured on video from multiple angles.
The brawl occurred after the club invited Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes to speak to its members. The first arrests the NYPD made were of three protesters—all of whom appeared to have showed up to challenge the Proud Boys—who were arrested for allegedly taking a backpack with a wallet inside during the chaos.
Per the Daily Beast:
It’s not clear whether those arrested were Proud Boys or left-wing antifascist “antifa” there to protest their event, but a senior staff attorney at Legal Aid Society in the city, which often defends protestors who are arrested among other pro-bono clients, tweeted that she “confirmed the people arrested are anti-racist protestors.”
The three men—Finbarr Slonim, 20; Kai Russo, 20; and Caleb Perkins, 35—were each charged with assault, harassment, and petit larceny. Perkins was also charged with resisting arrest. All were arraigned Saturday in Manhattan Criminal Court and released on their own recognizance.
The NYPD also released security camera footage from a nearby building showing a different angle of the fight.
Young’s arraignment is reportedly sometime on Friday, according to NY1 reporter Myles Miller, who added that Young had complained of “chest pains” during questioning and was sent to Metro General Hospital.
Most reports estimate that there were 30 or more Proud Boys involved in the fight. But just one, so far, is in custody. The NYPD’s investigation is ongoing.