Five years after four officers from the New York City Police Department were seriously injured during a violent clash with protesters, a final defendant has been sentenced to community service.
Judge April Newbauer sentenced Shaborn Banks on Monday, after finding him guilty of miscellaneous assault in the third degree during a bench trial earlier in 2025.
“That’s a repugnant verdict. And it absolutely shouldn’t have been allowed. It should have been a felony assault on me. I suffered enough for this city, and I deserve justice”, said former NYPD Lt. Richard Mack, who was injured in the attack in July 2020.
Mack was working as a part of the Strategic Response Group when a series of clashes broke out on the Brooklyn Bridge after Occupy City Hall demonstrations interrupted a peaceful march against violence.
Video posted to the NYPD’s Twitter account showed a group of officers attempting to detain a man on the roadway. A group of protesters stood near the fencing on the walkway above, and a man with what appears to be a cane and whacked the officers twice.
Former Chief of Department Terrence Monahan sprained his pinky finger and got cut during the altercation.
Two other officers, a sergeant and a lieutenant, were taken to the hospital to get stitches.
Mack was hit in the eye and eventually needed surgery for a fractured orbital bone. He was forced to retire from the NYPD, ending his 26-year career with the force.
“There’s no such thing as misdemeanor assault on a police officer. And for that judge to find him guilty of assaulting me, if it’s the minor injuries, which it’s not, because I had surgery. That is assault two, and it’s to keep people from assaulting police officers in the future. And to prevent anyone who does so. To make sure they see their properly punished”, Mack said.
Mr. Banks said nothing during today’s sentencing. Outside the courthouse, his defense attorney, Ronald Kuby, said his client is not the one who struck first. “It’s a totally appropriate sentence given the actual facts of the case, rather than facts the police tried to make up”, Kuby said.
During sentencing, Judge Newbauer acknowledged this was a tragic ending to Mack’s career. “The verdict reflected that the defendant was a participant, but it was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that he caused the serious injury”, she added.
Judge Newbauer ordered Bank’s 50 hours of community service to be served with a public safety officer, so he can get a better understanding of what public servants do.
Two other people were arrested and charged stemming from the assaults. Chanice Reyes pleaded guilty to Felony Assault and received 6 months in jail. Quran Campbell also pleaded guilty to felony assault and received a two-year sentence.
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