Chaos ensued outside a migrant shelter in Brooklyn as police confiscated more than a dozen mopeds.

Cellphone video obtained by NY1 shows officers clashing with migrants Thursday morning outside 455 Jefferson Street in Bushwick.


What You Need To Know

  • Six migrants were taken away in handcuffs on several charges including assault and resisting arrest, police said

  • EMS treated two officers for minor injuries at the scene, according to officials

  • Police say more than a dozen unregistered mopeds and bikes were confiscated outside the shelter

Six migrants were taken away in handcuffs on several charges, including assault and resisting arrest, officials said.

Officers were conducting a search at the facility after receiving complaints from neighbors about mopeds parked in the area.

Residents say the noise has become a major problem.

“There was a lot of late-night partying, drinking, loud music playing. And recently, it’s been more so the mopeds have been the issue. Kind of all night coming and going, loud motors, alarms,” said Jeff Alvert, who has lived across the street from the site for 14 years.

He says this otherwise quiet block has taken a turn for the worst in recent months due to excessive noise.

“It’s pretty disturbing. Luckily, it’s only been noise that’s been an issue, but all night I’m woken up. There’s shouting, I’ve witnessed fights happen, it definitely disrupts my week,” said Alvert.

Macon McGinnis also lives across the street from the migrant shelter and has noticed a shift in the neighborhood.

“It’s been OK. A bit unsettling at times,” said McGinnis. “I have the utmost compassion for the all the people that are here in the building.”

The NYPD says all the confiscated bikes were unregistered but many migrants are food delivery drivers and rely on them for work.

“Obviously, they need those vehicles to be able to do their job and it’s great that they’ve been able to come here and find some work,” said Alvert. “However, we all have to share this space in the community.”

Alvert says minor changes like moving the bike racks to Flushing Avenue and closing the entrance on Jefferson Street will improve residents’ quality of life.

“Every week, we’re writing several letters to the community board, owners of the building, company that’s managing the building, anyone we can so we can hopefully be heard,” said Alvert.

In a statement, City Councilwoman Jennifer Gutierrez of Bushwick said, “While the confiscation was in response to community complaints, I am disappointed at how these actions were performed and don’t agree with the fear and intimidation tactics that the NYPD is performing on behalf of the mayor.”

By Friday morning, the NYPD released a full statement pertaining to the incident.

“Unregistered vehicles and non-street-legal devices not only violate the law but also risk the safety of their operators and all road users. As part of its comprehensive work to keep all New Yorkers safe on our streets, the NYPD seizes unregistered motor vehicles of all types. Prior to its efforts on Flushing Avenue today, in response to multiple complaints from elected leaders and community members, the 83 Precinct conducted educational outreach efforts and issued warnings to address this complex challenge. Yet the conditions persisted. The NYPD strives each day to achieve balance and work toward common-sense solutions to improve traffic safety and everyone's quality of life. It is also important to note that assaulting a police officer and obstructing police operations are against the law and that violators will be arrested,” the statement reads.