LOWER EAST SIDE — A woman dancing with a group of New Year's revelers on Ludlow Street punched an officer in the face after a brief confrontation between police, according to the NYPD.
Emmeline Wilks-Dupoise, 27, of Queens, was one of about 50 people police found dancing to music on the sidewalk and on the road outside 150 Ludlow St. at about 1 a.m. on Jan. 1, police said.
The interaction became tense after the partiers began to chant “F—k the pigs," “Nothing but murderers,” and “I can’t breathe,” police said. The officers, who were in a car, called for back-up units and tried to clear the group from the street, the NYPD said.
The confrontation was caught on tape by a Village Voice photographer from a nearby building.
As police started to leave the scene, Wilks-Dupoise jumped in front of a marked police car, causing it to stop suddenly so that it did not hit her, according to a criminal complaint.
Wilks-Dupoise refused to move out of the way, so an officer stepped out of the vehicle to arrest her, according to the complaint. Police said she punched the officer in the head after he grabbed her wrist to take her into custody.
Meanwhile, Luke Richardson, 28, pushed officers away while they tried to arrest Wilks-Dupoise, according to a criminal complaint. When police attempted to arrest him, he tucked his hands under his body to prevent officers from handcuffing him, the complaint said.
Wilks-Dupoise was charged with assault, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct, according to the criminal complaint. Bail was set for $10,000 bond or $3,500 cash bail. Her next court date is Jan. 6.
Richardson was charged with obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, according to the complaint. He is due in court on March 9 and his bail was set for $1,000.
Richard and Wilks-Dupoise’s attorney could not be immediately reached for comment.
