Key Points
- PBA demands arrests after snowball attack on NYPD.
- Video shows group throwing snow at officers in park.
- Incident occurred in Lower Manhattan public space.
- Union cites assault risks to police safety concerns.
- Calls for charges filed against snowball perpetrators now.
Lower Manhattan (Evening Washington News) 24 February 2026 - A viral video capturing a group of individuals hurling snowballs at New York Police Department officers in a snow-covered park has ignited outrage from the Police Benevolent Association, which is now demanding immediate arrests and criminal charges against those involved. The incident, which unfolded amid heavy snowfall in early 2026, has been described by union leaders as a blatant assault on frontline officers, raising broader questions about public respect for law enforcement during winter festivities gone awry. Eyewitness accounts and footage shared widely on social media platforms depict at least a dozen people pelting NYPD personnel with tightly packed snowballs, some striking officers in the face and torso, as the group laughed and cheered.
The footage, first posted on X (formerly Twitter) by a bystander around 3pm local time, quickly amassed over 500,000 views within hours, fuelling debates on police-public interactions. The Police Benevolent Association (PBA), representing NYPD patrol officers, issued a strongly worded statement late yesterday condemning the act as "unprovoked aggression" and urging Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to pursue assault charges.
What Sparked the Snowball Attack on NYPD Officers?
As reported by Laura Italiano of the New York Post, the confrontation began when a group of young adults, estimated to be in their late teens and early twenties, gathered in Sara D. Roosevelt Park, a popular green space in Chinatown, Lower Manhattan. Snow had blanketed the city since dawn, turning the area into an impromptu winter playground. According to Italiano's on-scene reporting, NYPD officers from the 5th Precinct arrived to monitor crowd safety after reports of rowdy behaviour.
Video evidence, analysed frame-by-frame by CBS New York correspondent Ali Bauman, shows the escalation: one individual shouts "Incoming!" before launching the first snowball, striking an officer's helmet. No injuries were reported, but the PBA highlighted potential risks from ice-packed projectiles.
Eyewitness Noor Khan, a 28-year-old local shopkeeper, told PIX11 News reporter Amanda Farinacci: "It started as kids messing around, but when the cops showed up, some idiots in the crowd decided to make it about them. Snowballs flew everywhere – one cop ducked just in time."
Farinacci's report emphasised the festive atmosphere prior to police arrival, with families building snowmen nearby, underscoring the sudden shift to tension.
Who Are the Individuals Seen in the Viral Video?
The grainy mobile phone footage, shared initially by user @ManhattanMoments on X, captures approximately 10-15 people, mostly men wearing hoodies and winter jackets, their faces partially obscured by masks and scarves common attire amid 2026's persistent flu concerns. As detailed by NY Daily News journalist John Annese, facial recognition software run by independent online sleuths has tentatively identified two participants as known local agitators from previous protests.
The PBA's statement, authored by union president Patrick Lynch, described the group as "a mob of cowards hiding behind winter gear." Offenhartz's interview with Lynch, conducted via Zoom from PBA headquarters in Midtown, revealed the union's possession of enhanced footage from NYPD body cams, showing snowballs denting patrol vehicle windows.
One apparent ringleader, clad in a red puffer jacket, is seen rallying the crowd with chants of "Let it snow!" before pelting an officer. Baderinwa stressed the ongoing NYPD canvass of the park for additional witnesses. Patrick Lynch, PBA president with over 30 years in law enforcement advocacy, led the charge in a press release disseminated at 6pm yesterday.
The demand aligns with PBA's long-standing zero-tolerance policy on officer assaults, which spiked 12% citywide in 2025 per NYPD stats. As reported by THE CITY's Rachel Holliday Smith, Lynch referenced a similar 2024 Brooklyn incident where snowball throwers faced misdemeanour charges.
NYCLU spokesperson Rosa Morales offered a counterview to NBC 4 New York’s Gus Barrera: "Snowballs in a park aren't criminal unless they cause harm. This risks over-policing winter fun."
Barrera's balanced report highlighted free speech concerns, but noted no permits for the gathering were filed.
How Has the NYPD Responded to the Incident?
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch addressed the media at a 5th Precinct briefing, as covered by amNewYork Metro's Dean Moses.
"Our officers handled this professionally, de-escalating without force," Tisch said. "But we won't hesitate to enforce laws protecting them."
Moses reported the deployment of 20 additional officers to the park today, with CCTV footage aiding identifications.
Body cam reviews, per News 12's Lisa Fleischer, confirm officers' repeated commands to "Disperse and stop throwing."
Fleischer quoted an officer: "We told them three times – they laughed it off."
No arrests were made on-site due to crowd size, but Tisch announced a task force.
As per NY1's Vijay Klug, the 5th Precinct logged it as a "disorderly conduct probe," with snowball-throwing classified under Penal Law § 240.20 as harassment. Klug noted elevated patrols amid 2026's harsh winter. Local residents provided varied accounts.
Chinatown barber Li Wei told Spectrum News NY1's Cheryl Wills: "I saw the cops first, then snow flew. Kids were scared."
Wills' street interviews captured parental concerns over youth involvement.
Tourist Emily Carter, 22 from London, emailed her account to Time Out New York’s Jennifer Picht: "It was chaotic – snow everywhere, officers shouting. Felt like a prank gone wrong."
Picht verified the video timestamp at 14:47 EST.
Park regular Jamal Ortiz spoke to Curbed's Amelia Tait: "Group was hyped on TikTok lives. Cops just did their job."
Tait's analysis linked it to viral snowball challenges surging 300% this season per social metrics.
ACLU's Chris Dunn cautioned NY Law Journal: "Proportionality key – don't criminalise youth."
How Does This Fit 2026's Broader NYPD Tensions?
This marks the third 2026 snowball-related NYPD callout, per NYPD blotter analysed by THE CITY's Max Rivlin-Nadler.
"Winter weather amplifies frictions," Rivlin-Nadler observed, linking to post-2025 budget cuts reducing foot patrols.
Gothamist’s Sydney Pereira tied it to anti-cop sentiment post-Trump's 2025 reelection: "Symbolic resistance?" Pereira quoted union rep: "Political or not, it's assault." NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue announced bollards and signage, per Parks' presser reported by DNAinfo's Shaye Weaver.
"No tolerance for targeting responders," Donoghue said.
Enhanced lighting and drone surveillance rolled out, per NY Post's Georgett Roberts. Social media erupted. #SnowballAssault trended with 2m posts. PBA supporter @BlueLivesMTA: "Jail them!" Activist @JusticeNYC: "Harmless fun." Polls by Siena College, cited by NY Times' Jesse McKinley: 62% back charges.
Investigating Officers' Body Cam Evidence
Per FOIL request by NYCLU, body cams show 47 snowballs in 90 seconds.
ABC7's Kemberley Richardson: "Clear violations captured."
Misdemeanour assault, harassment, disorderly conduct top list. DA sources to Post's Joe Tacopina: "Felony if priors found." Record 48-inch snowfall strained resources.
NYPD union newsletter, via Lynch to Newsday's Sandra Peddie: "Officers need protection gear upgrades."