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Fake Blood-Tossing Protester Labeled 'Professional Agitator' by Bratton

By Ben Fractenberg | November 25, 2014 6:14pm
  Diego Ibanez, 26, was arrested after allegedly throwing fake blood on Commissioner Bill Bratton during protests in Times Square after the Ferguson grand jury announcement Monday night, Nov. 24, 2014. 
Protestor Arrested for Throwing Fake Blood on Commissioner Bratton
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MIDTOWN — An Occupy Wall Street protester who threw fake blood on Commissioner Bill Bratton during the Ferguson grand jury demonstration in Monday night was described as a “professional agitator” by the commissioner.

Diego Ibanez, 26, was arrested and charged with two counts of assault in the second degree and six counts of criminal mischief in the third degree, both felony charges, after dousing Bratton’s face and suit with red liquid as the commissioner visited demonstrators in Times Square.

He was also charged with two counts of aggravated harassment and six counts of obstructing governmental administration, both misdemeanor, according to the complaint. 

Ibanez hit at least six law enforcement officials, including Bratton, with the liquid and red stains on their suits caused over $250 in damage for each of them, the criminal complaint read.

“He’s a professional agitator that I’m hoping will soon be a professional resident of Rikers Island if we have successful prosecution for the assaults of myself and the eight officers,” Bratton said during a press conference at police headquarters Tuesday afternoon.

Two detectives who were accompanying Bratton, Joseph Bunster and Michael Burbridge, said the fake blood entered their eyes, causing redness irritation and substantial pain, according to the criminal complaint.

Ibanez was held on a $30,000 bond bail and was set to appear in court on November 28. His lawyer did not immediately return calls for comment on Wednesday.

 

 

Ibanez traveled from his home in Utah to join OWS during the early days of the movement. 

He joined a hunger strike after protestors were ejected from Zuccotti Park demanding that occupiers be allowed to stay in a Trinity Church-owned lot in SoHo.  

“We’re asking Trinity for political sanctuary,” Ibanez told DNAinfo New York in 2011. “They have a great opportunity to show they’re on board with the same values Occupy Wall Street has.”

Ibanez has one prior charge for criminal trespass and four sealed prior arrests, an NYPD spokeswoman said. It was not immediately clear which of those arrests happened during protests. 

Ibanez volunteered with Occupy Sandy, helping Far Rockaway residents devastated by the hurricane, according to an Occupy Sandy YouTube video

Ibanez was arrested in 2013 for filming police officers arresting two teenagers on the subway, according to court papers. He was given a desk appearance ticket for disorderly conduct. 

The commissioner also made light of the situation and said his wife has been asking him to darken his hair, but “bright red is not quite what I’m looking at.”

Protester Michael Steakin, 30, was also arrested after he threw a can at an officer near the intersection of Second Avenue and East 125th Street, police said.

Steakin then got into a brief scuffle with the officer and was taken into custody, according to the NYPD.