26 people arrested at rowdy Knicks MSG watch party
As the Knicks game ended, police reported a rise in disruptive behavior.
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An estimated 6,500 people gathered outside Madison Square Garden Friday night for the Knicks watch party, creating large and increasingly disorderly crowds throughout Midtown, according to police.
Police say the first arrests happened before the game began, when two people were taken into custody for assault and another was arrested for climbing a light pole.
As the Knicks game ended, police reported a rise in disruptive behavior.
One individual allegedly jumped over a barrier, refused to leave the area and struck an officer in the face. The officer sustained facial lacerations and required medical treatment.
Police also arrested several people accused of selling counterfeit Knicks merchandise.
One of those individuals was found carrying a loaded firearm.
Crowds blocked vehicle traffic along 7th and 8th avenues, stretching from 31st Street to 35th Street, with people climbing on food carts, light poles and subway entrances.
Police say multiple individuals refused to comply with orders and resisted arrest.
In total, 26 people were taken into custody. Of those, 17 were arrested and charged, while nine received criminal court summonses for disorderly conduct.
