New York City councilwoman arrested for allegedly biting NYPD officer during protest

A New York City councilwoman faces a felony assault charge after allegedly biting a deputy NYPD chief Wednesday during a melee at a protest in Brooklyn.

The councilwoman, Wenyi Susan Zhuang, 38, had been protesting against a proposed homeless shelter for adult single men. Hours after the melee, she remained in custody Wednesday night and was expected to be arraigned later in the evening in connection with the alleged bite, according to Oren Yaniv, a spokesperson for the Brooklyn district attorney, Eric Gonzalez.

Her attorney, Sarah Rebecca Krissoff of Manhattan, did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, shows the melee, which was early in the morning, involving Zhuang and several others struggling over a metal barricade at the protest.

Zhuang — whose run for office last year was endorsed by the labor union representing NYPD rank-and-file police officers — is part of a pro-police City Council caucus called Common Sense.

Charges include felony assault, as well as lesser charges of obstruction of governmental administration, resisting arrest, unlawful assembly, disorderly conduct, and harassment.

The case is due back in court Oct. 15.

A spokesman for the councilwoman, Felix Tager, told the Brooklyn Paper news outlet that his boss had been trying to protect an 80-year-old protester who had been shoved against a barricade, when the arrest was made.

Benjamin Fang, a spokesperson for the City Council, said: "Violence is never acceptable and it is always important to respect city workers doing their jobs. We have seen the public footage circulating of today’s incident, and will be seeking to learn more about the details. The Council will respect the processes of the NYPD and Brooklyn District Attorney with respect to this matter."

Late Wednesday while departing City Hall, NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban declined to comment when asked about the alleged biting incident.

The union that endorsed Zhuang, the Police Benevolent Association, condemned her in a statement issued in the aftermath of the arrest.

"We are extremely shocked by the reported violence against NYPD members at today's protest in Brooklyn, especially because Councilmember Susan Zhuang has been a steadfast supporter of police officers during her time in the Council," the statement said. "There is never any excuse or justification for assaulting a police officer. There should be no double standard in this case."

In October, Zhuang promised that "as Councilmember I will always support our law enforcement officers to help keep us safe."