Proud Boys Arrested For UES Brawl, Police Say

UPPER EAST SIDE — Two members of the Proud Boys have been arrested in connection with a massive brawl that broke out near the Upper East Side's Manhattan Republican Club after the far-right group's leader Gavin McInnes gave a speech at the club.

Geoffrey Young, 38, was charged with riot and attempted assault Thursday, police said. The New City, New York man was the first member of the Proud Boys to be arrested for the Friday, Oct. 12 fight between the group and alleged Anti-fascist protesters.

A second arrest was made Friday. John Kinsman, 39, of Morristown, New Jersey, was arrested on charges of attempted gang assault, riot and criminal weapons possession, police said.

City Councilman Keith Powers, who represents parts of the Upper East Side, called the arrests a "positive step."

"I look forward to seeing more arrests made from last Friday’s hateful attacks. I thank the NYPD for using its resources and reviewing available videos to help make the arrest. I will continue to work with the NYPD to ensure all responsible parties are brought to justice," Powers said in a statement.

The NYPD announced this week that the department is seeking to charge 12 people in relation to Friday night's violence. Of those 12, nine are members of the Proud Boys and three are counter protesters, NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea said Monday. All 12 are wanted on charges of rioting and attempted assault, Shea said.

Who are the Proud Boys? Read Patch's guide to the right-wing group here.

The main fight broke out on East 82nd Street between Lexington and Park avenues after members of the Proud Boys were funneled away from protesters, Shea said Monday. A group of six counter protesters wearing masks confronted a group of the Proud Boys and allegedly threw a bottle, sparking the fight, Shea said.

City officials criticized the NYPD's response to the brawl in a press conference this week. City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and colleagues in the council demanded an investigation into the NYPD's response to determine why officers weren't prepared for the confrontation and why no arrests were made despite officers arriving while the fight was in full swing.

"The NYPD pulled up here while violence occurred and nobody was arrested," Johnson said during the Monday press conference outside the Manhattan Republican Club. "How is that possible?"

The NYPD released video of the streetfight:

An NYPD spokesperson told Patch that three men were arrested at the corner of East 84th Street and Third Avenue in a separate incident to the main fight. Two 20-year-old men and a 35-year-old man were charged with robbery and assault. The 35-year-old was also charged with resisting arrest.

Photo by Brendan Krisel/Patch