DA drops charges against guard arrested after scuffle with Adams aide
Manhattan NY October 28 2023
The Manhattan district attorney’s office dropped criminal charges filed against a city-contracted security guard, after he was arrested last week following a physical altercation with a top aide to Mayor Eric Adams.
Charges of obstructing government administration and harassment filed against guard Terrence Rosenthal, 29, were dismissed because they could not be proved “beyond a reasonable doubt,” following evidence including body camera footage, according to an assistant district attorney under Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in Manhattan criminal court on Friday.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office dropped criminal charges filed against a city-contracted security guard, after he was arrested last week following a physical altercation with a top aide to Mayor Eric Adams
The guard is employed by a company that holds a contract with the city to provide surveillance at a former emergency migrant shelter in Manhattan. He got into a dispute with Adams’ aide outside the shelter, according to a report in The City, that turned violent.
Adams defended the aide earlier this week, arguing it’s part of his job to visit migrant sites “unannounced” and conduct inspections. But the incident has since prompted a probe by the city’s independent law enforcement division.
“The people officially moved to dismiss the charges against Terrence Rosenthal in court today after notifying defense counsel that we could not prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. This followed a thorough investigation of the available evidence, including interviews with witnesses,” said Douglas Cohen, a spokesman for Bragg, in a separate statement provided to NY1.
Rosenthal is employed by Arrow Security, a company that holds at least one contract with the city to provide surveillance at a former emergency migrant shelter at the Manhattan-based Touro College on West 31st Street.
He got into a dispute with Adams aide Tim Pearson on Oct. 17 outside the shelter, according to a report in The City, that turned violent. Pearson allegedly shoved Rosenthal after the guard refused to grant him entry onto the premises.
The former NYPD inspector currently employed by the city’s Economic Development Corporation was allegedly conducting a review of the location following reports of city fire code violations on site, but he repeatedly refused to show identification, a standard requirement under city law, according to witness statements.
Pearson also got into an altercation with a female guard, who he allegedly grabbed around the neck. The charges against her were dropped, but Rosenthal was jailed following his arrest.
“Terrence Rosenthal was simply performing his job and following procedure as a security guard when Tim Pearson irrationally and aggressively demanded entry to a respite center for new arrivals in Manhattan,” said Amber Joyner, staff attorney with The Legal Aid Society representing Rosenthal.
“While this dismissal fully exonerates Mr. Rosenthal of the charges that resulted from Mr. Pearson’s actions, it doesn’t erase the more than 30 hours he spent in custody following the incident. The Legal Aid Society thanks District Attorney Bragg for dismissing this case on the merits and in the interest of justice.”
Also that day, Pearson was part of a similar inspection at the city-run migrant shelter on Randall’s Island.
Adams defended Pearson earlier this week, arguing it’s part of his job to visit migrant sites “unannounced” and conduct inspections. But the incident has since prompted a probe by the city’s independent law enforcement arm, the Department of Investigation.
“I’ve known Tim Pearson for over 30-something years and I’ve never witnessed him displaying violent action,” Adams said on Tuesday. “He’s a professional, and the review will determine if we have to do something different in how the procedure is done.”
The pair worked together in the police department. Pearson is also cheered as a “9/11 hero” for helping lead people out to safety from the Twin Towers in 2001.
Adams quietly hired him last May, while Pearson was already employed as head of security for the Queens-based Resorts World casino. He resigned from that role, but only after it became known he was collecting two salaries.
Pearson has held major assignments including heading a task force aimed at finding cost-cutting measures at migrant shelters. He also accompanied Adams to Mexico, Ecuador and Colombia last month.
City Hall didn’t respond to an immediate request for comment from NY1. The EDC referred comments to City Hall.
