Incident Details
- Date of Incident
- September 9, 2020
- Targets
- WABC-TV
- Equipment Broken
- Actor
- Private individual
Equipment Damage
Case sealed for man who threw rocks at WABC-TV studios
The case against the man who threw rocks marked with profanities at the windows of the WABC-TV news studios in New York City has been sealed, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker in an email on Oct. 25, 2023.
New York City police arrested Jerry Velez on criminal mischief charges in September 2020 after he threw rocks labeled “Fuck ABC 7” and “Whore 666” at the channel’s studios while a broadcast was underway, according to the New York Post. The police said the attack had caused $40,000 worth of damage.
The district attorney alleged that earlier that day, Velez had also pushed over a light pole that WPIX had set up outside Manhattan’s Hudson Yards, causing it to crash into a set of LED lights and a battery pack.
A spokesperson for the district attorney told the Tracker that the case against Velez could have been sealed for several reasons: It was dismissed, the defendant accepted a six-month probation deal (a so-called adjournment in contemplation of dismissal), or the defendant pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct or another noncriminal violation.
New York City police arrested a man on criminal mischief charges for throwing rocks marked with profanities at the windows of the WABC-TV news studios on Manhattan’s Upper West Side on Sept. 9, 2020.
Jerry Velez, 41, was allegedly caught on camera as he tossed rocks at two windows of the channel’s studios while its noon broadcast was underway.
One of the rocks had “Fuck ABC 7” written on it and the other carried the message “Whore 666,” the New York Post reported.
Police said that the attack caused $40,000 worth of damage to the station’s windows. The criminal charges also allege that earlier that day, Velez had pushed over a light pole that TV station WPIX had set up outside Manhattan’s Hudson Yards, causing it to crash into a set of LED lights and a battery pack and causing $2,000 worth of damage, according to court papers shared by the district attorney’s office.
The attacks touched off a brief manhunt before the New York City Police Department tweeted on Sept. 10 that officers arrested Velez in connection with the incident at WABC.
According to court records, Velez told an NYPD detective that he was the culprit in both attacks. He faces three charges of second-degree criminal mischief, a felony charge.
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker catalogues press freedom violations in the United States. Email tips to [email protected].
