Man arrested for attacking police officer during story time at New York library

A man in a Manhattan library has been arrested after he was filmed confronting a group of anti-Drag Story Hour protesters and then getting into a fight with a man believed to be a police officer.

Chase Catapano, 28, allegedly got into a fight with an officer monitoring the protest held at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation library on Saturday and was arrested the next day by the New York Police Department (NYPD).

In video of the incident, Mr Catapano was seen facing a group of around 20 protesters holding signs reading ‘Leave our children alone!’, ‘Stop it now!’ and “Respect Childhood!” at the Midtown branch of the New York Public Library.

“Get the f*** out of here!” Mr. Catapano yells at the group. “You’re a fucking disgrace!” »

A group called the Guardians of Divinity reportedly organized the protest at the library which was hosting a Bilingual Drag Story Hour event.

The NYPD said Catapano was charged with disorderly conduct, harassment, attempted assault and obstructing government administration, police said.

In the video, he can be seen tearing down one of the protester’s signs. But as soon as he starts to walk away, the protesters start following him.

When Mr. Catapano turns around, he is stopped by a member of the NYPD, the video shows.

The 28-year-old can be seen waving the cop’s hand away and shouting ‘I don’t care who you are!’

“You better watch who you’re touching, he’s an officer,” another man can be heard shouting in the video.

Mr. Catapano was then arrested by the police.

Police said Mr Catapano was on his way to the library but was not there for the drag event when he suddenly found himself in the confrontation with protesters.

He often uses the computers in the library and probably wouldn’t have reacted well to an interruption due to his mental illness, said his father, Ferdinand “Fred” Catapano. Daily News.

Mr. Catapano has suffered from bipolar disorder since childhood, according to his father.

“He seems to be getting into trouble. He’s a good boy,” the father said. “When he was a boy in Forest Park, [a next-door neighbour] would make sure Chase watched his grandchildren to make sure they weren’t being harassed. That’s the kind of kid he is.