NYPD Arrests 21 Knicks Fans After 115-111 Finals Loss as Midtown Crowds Clash With Police
Updated
Updated · Gothamist · Jun 9
NYPD Arrests 21 Knicks Fans After 115-111 Finals Loss as Midtown Crowds Clash With Police
3 articles · Updated · Gothamist · Jun 9
Summary
Twenty-one people were arrested late Monday after thousands of Knicks fans flooded Midtown following New York’s 115-111 Game 3 loss, with fights breaking out near Bryant Park and around Madison Square Garden.
Eight arrestees were charged with offenses including assaulting a police officer, weapon possession, menacing and resisting arrest, while 13 others received criminal summonses; police reported minor officer injuries and property damage.
Heavy security tied to President Donald Trump’s visit had canceled the usual arena watch party and restricted access around the Garden, pushing fans into bars, side streets and improvised gatherings that spilled into intersections and stopped traffic.
Videos and witness accounts showed fans fighting, slapping vehicles and chasing a social media streamer in Spurs gear through Midtown, while a city councilmember said some police crowd-control tactics appeared overly aggressive.
The disorder came during the Knicks’ first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 and ahead of Game 4 on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden, with the series now narrowed to 2-1.