LONG ISLAND CITY, NY – Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the indictment of six individuals involved in an alleged assault against NYPD officers. The incident occurred as the officers were attending to the welfare of three unattended children riding bikes outside a Long Island City hotel on June 17.
The officers were reportedly surrounded, punched, and kicked by the group during the early morning hours, prompting a swift legal response. “Our officers were simply performing their duty to ensure the safety of unattended children when they were violently attacked,” DA Katz stated, affirming the commitment to prosecute those who harm law enforcement officials.
The defendants, identified as Juan Munoz, 25, Alejandro Munoz, 42, and Karina Navarro-Chavez, 42, all from Long Island City; Miguel Chiluisa, 23, from Corona; Cristian Taipe, 30, from Astoria; and Natali Iza, 27, face charges including attempted assault in the first degree and attempted gang assault, among others. Chiluisa is additionally charged with escape, and both he and Iza face charges of criminal possession of a weapon.
They face up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the top count. The defendants are scheduled to return to court on August 13.