Manhattan DA drops assault charge in Washington Square Park snowball fight

Manhattan prosecutors declined to pursue an assault charge against Gusmane Coulibaly tonight, instead charging him with misdemeanor obstructing government administration and a harassment violation in connection with the viral Washington Square Park snowball fight.

Coulibaly, 27, was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court this evening and released on supervised release, hours after the NYPD announced his arrest in the case stemming from a massive snowball fight after Monday’s blizzard.

In court, prosecutors said that after reviewing the evidence, they were unable to prove that an officer suffered a physical injury caused directly by Coulibaly’s conduct and therefore did not pursue an assault charge. They said the investigation remains ongoing.

The snowball fight, promoted on social media, drew a large crowd and a heavy police response. Two officers were treated for minor injuries, including a bruised eye and headache, police said earlier this week.

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