The NYPD expressed a categorical dismissal of any actions perpetrated against it, following a recent incident linked to one individual, identified as Lodgson-McCray, by sharing an earlier file photo of him and seeking assistance from the public to locate him.
Details from court papers revealed an instance from May 15, 2024, where Lodgson-McCray reportedly engaged in an assault on officers at a protest located near 31st Ave. and 34th St. in Astoria. The chosen weapon was a handful of eggs, directed towards numerous policemen.
Upon recognizing the assailant, the officers attempted to apprehend him. However, Lodgson-McCray resisted this arrest by physically pulling away from them. He is also alleged to have provoked one of the detaining officers with a challenge to an equal fight, requesting the removal of his handcuffs first.
In the previous year, Lodgson-McCray had been apprehended for an act of arson committed jointly with two other individuals. This was enacted outside the Israeli Consulate in Midtown, where both the American and Israeli flags were set ablaze. The legal proceedings following this action were resolved, although the specifics of the resolution haven’t been disclosed.
Over and above, a warrant was issued on Lodgson-McCray in connection to a criminal vandalism case that transpired in September 2024 at Columbia University. There, he had donned student attire as a part of his disguise and caused damage costing upwards of $1,000 to a statue situated on campus.
Lodgson-McCray now confronts accusations pertaining to the burning of around ten police vehicles. This incident occurred at a precinct car lot close by a station located at the intersection of Knickerbocker Ave. and Bleecker St. in Bushwick, around 1:30 in the morning on June 12.
The resulting aftermath of the torched police cars accounted for material damages exceeding $500,000. The ensuing expense for vehicle replacements was estimated to be in the region of $800,000.
The incident was described as not just an assault on law enforcement personnel by the departmental head, but also an act of aggression on the local residential community within Bushwick. This was due to nearby houses sustaining damage from the blaze as he pointed out.
Mayor Adams also brought attention to the rampant act of destruction during the day of the recent arson occurrence in Bushwick. Drawing connections to protests against immigration enforcement spreading in Los Angeles, the mayor condemned this wanton vandalism.
Despite pressing concerns over increasing regional protests, the mayor firmly stated, ‘This is unacceptable.’ He reiterated that peaceful protest is a fundamental right, but insisted that it shouldn’t extend to causing destruction to city property in any form.
Emergency efforts from the FDNY managed to control and subsequently extinguish the fire within minutes. Regardless of their prompt response, all the police vehicles involved still suffered extensive to total damage.
Additional information emerged from surveillance recordings which indicated the presence of an arsonist, obscured by a face mask, who hopped a fence to gain entry into the lot around 12:40 in the morning. Nearly 40 minutes after, an officer of the 83rd Precinct happened upon the criminal in the midst of his crime.
The surveillance footage captured his flight through an alley upon being discovered during his destructive spree, tossing a plyboard at the interrupting officer. According to investigators, gasoline was likely used to ignite the police cars. Forensic evidence gathered at the scene discovered undamaged cars with fire-initiating materials scattered around various parts. The materials consisted of fire-starter rolls and haystack bundles distributed at key fire points on the vehicles and a torch-styled lighter – all legally available for purchase. As an additional crime, the arsonist had also inflicted property damage by smashing windshields of several vehicles that weren’t set afire. The attire worn by Lodgson-McCray on the night of the crime, according to police, was a gray hoodie, green trousers, and a blue facial mask.