Manhattan DA Bragg offers explanation for releasing those involved in NYPD attack with no bail

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg told reporters Friday that he did not request bail for the individuals involved in the attack of New York Police Department officers because he is trying to ensure that the proper suspects are identified. 

"We do not tolerate or accept assaults on police officers," Bragg said, according to NBC New York. "I watched the tape this week ... despicable behavior and it sickened me and outraged me."

Last week, four immigrant men were charged with felonies in an attack on two New York City Police Department officers in Times Square. The NYPD said that at least a dozen immigrants were involved in the attack and six are still wanted, according to CBS News.

Six people allegedly involved in the attack were arrested, but only one is behind bars while the rest were released. 

Four of those released are believed to have left the state, according to a high-ranking police source who spoke to CBS New York. The four men gave fake names to a church group that arranged for bus tickets as part of a migrant resettlement program. They are believed to be headed to California, but the NYPD isn't planning to track them down at this time, as they aren't due back in court for a hearing until Feb. 20, according to the outlet. If they don't show up for the hearing, a bench warrant will be issued for their arrest.

Bragg did not answer questions about the case from the media until Friday evening, including why some of the migrants accused of assaulting police were released without bond.

He said his office was looking into new video to help identify the role each individual may have played in the assault. Bragg said he did not request bail because he is proceeding cautiously to ensure they have the proper suspects identified in the case.

"That is what is required to secure a conviction and get accountability and send the right people to jail. That's what we've been working on all week," Bragg said, adding that the one who was "deemed to have committed the most serious crimes is currently on Rikers."

"These individuals who assaulted New York City police officers have no regard for the law ... If we're not protected, how are we going to protect the people in the neighborhoods," Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry said, according to CBS. 

Democrat New York Gov. Kathy Hochul reportedly disagreed with the decision to let the suspects go free without bond.

"All I know is that an assault on a police officer means you should be sitting in jail," said Hochul, according to NBC New York. 

"Some of them live in the migrant shelter, they appear to be migrants, obviously. I don’t know when they got here. Some of them already have lengthy police records," said NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell. "These individuals who were arrested [or] will be arrested should be indicted, they should be sitting in Rikers awaiting their day in front of the judge. Plain and simple."