10 NYPD Officers Injured, 56 Arrested After Knicks NBA Finals Crowds Turn Violent

By Thomas Tracy

Source New York Daily News

Ten NYPD cops were injured and 56 arrests were made as jubilant fans went wild in the streets of Midtown during the Knicks’ come-from-behind victory in the NBA Final Game 4 — with celebrants destroying a yellow cab and Citi Bikes and setting off fireworks, officials said Thursday.

Cops were out in force as thousands of fans in Knicks jerseys mobbed the streets around Madison Square Garden both during the game and after the 107-106 victory.

“Once again, there were large crowds of people who engaged in incredibly reckless and dangerous behavior last night both during and after the game,” the NYPD said in a statement Thursday. “This demonstrates exactly why the NYPD has increased our presence in and around Madison Square Garden.”

The NYPD said 56 people were taken into custody as large crowds of unruly fans formed at various spots north of MSG between Fifth and Eighth Avenues. Out of that number, 41 received criminal court summonses and let go while 15 were criminally charged and sent to court.

As the game went on, the crowds grew to about 10,000 people and “became increasingly destructive,” the department said.

Videos circulating online show jubilant Knicks fans stomping on Citi Bikes, climbing street lights, attempting to steal traffic signs, and ripping out poles cemented into the sidewalk.

In another video, a group of men, one waving a Palestinian flag, jump onto a yellow cab, shattering the windshield. One of the men was whipping the hood of the cab so hard with a belt he was denting it, the video shows.

The group also tried to flip the taxi over, police said. Fans also climbed on top of four NYPD vehicles, damaging their windows. Some also broke into a tractor trailer, stealing items inside.

Other videos show fans setting off fireworks in the street and getting quickly arrested.

Fans were accused of blocking traffic, fighting in the street, climbing on top of trucks and throwing bottles at police officers.

One of the 10 cops injured was hit by a thrown bottle, police said.

Those arrested were hit with various charges including assault on a police officer, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstructing government administration, officials said.

Several arrests were related to counterfeiting and selling knock-off Knicks apparel, an NYPD source said.

NYPD cops repeatedly called for backup and crowd control near Madison Square Garden after the game, where the department had set up a massive frozen zone for blocks in all directions.

The mayhem took place hours after MSG owner James Dolan pulled the plug on a drastically reduced watch party permitted for only 1,000 people.

Dolan, speaking on WFAN, announced he cancelled the watch party because the number of people allowed under an NYPD-issued permit for the event — a maximum of 999 — was too small.

“Our hope was that the mayor and the (NYPD) commissioner would change their mind and then we’d put the screens up,” he told WFAN.

In response to the entertainment mogul’s accusations, Mayor Mamdani fired back, “MSG requested a permit for a watch party for 500-999 fans. We approved that permit for 999 fans. Mr. Dolan has now decided to cancel the watch party.”

Previous watch parties outside the Garden during the historic Knicks playoff run have been mobbed by crowds of 6,000 to 7,000 people and have led to multiple arrests.

With the win, the Knicks took a 3-1 series edge and can close out the Spurs in Game 5 Saturday night in San Antonio.

With Rocco Parascandola

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