Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg was slammed by the Police Benevolent Association of New York City with a billboard truck this weekend. 

The PBA warned residents and local businesses that Bragg favors the rights of criminals more than the average citizen. 

The protest comes after the arrest of Salvatore Provenzano. This is an officer who was called to an Upper West Side Apple in October 2021 to remove a man harassing customers.

As stated in court documents, Provenzano attempted to escort the man out of the store by his arm; he subsequently broke free, resulting in the officer striking him on the left side of his face. 

The man who Provenzano punched was previously banned from the Apple Store, but returned before the store closed that evening to agitate customers and employees.  

Bragg had Provenzano indicted, taken into custody, hit with assault charges, and suspended without pay. This happened even though he did not inflict any harm on the unruly man. 

PBA Pres. Patrick Hendry called out DA Bragg for not being supportive of law-abiding citizens. Bragg, instead, is rather inclined towards repeat offenders, who have been released in mass since he took office.

He argues that individuals are not allowed to take action to remove shoplifters or disorderly individuals from their stores. Doing so may lead to their arrest, given they lack the legal ability to defend themselves. 

Brian Plunkett, a witness, expressed to the New York Post that the officer’s actions were justified, stating the suspect appeared to elbow him in the side of the head.

He also mentioned the officers apprehended the suspect and placed him under arrest before the encounter occurred. Plunkett asserted if called to testify in court, he would support the police in his testimony.