Tim Pearson, a former high adviser to Mayor Adams, shoved two migrant shelter safety guards, cursed at them after which gave a “false” account of what occurred to NYPD officers, inflicting the guards to be arrested, in keeping with a bombshell new report concerning the notorious 2023 incident.
The report, launched Thursday by the Division of Investigation after a years-long probe into incident, paints a damning image of Pearson’s actions as he arrived at a since-shuttered migrant shelter on W. thirty first St. in Manhattan for an inspection on Oct. 17, 2023.
It’s unclear if Pearson — who resigned in September after he was sued over alleged sexual harassment and ensnared in a federal corruption investigation — might face any authorized publicity because of the DOI’s discovering.
DOI spokeswoman Diane Struzzi mentioned her company has “shared this report with the Manhattan district attorney’s office and if prosecutors see potential criminal charges based on our findings DOI is ready to assist.” The Manhattan district legal professional’s workplace didn’t instantly return request for remark.
Obtained by Every day Information
After allegedly getting right into a battle with a bunch of safety guards inside a Manhattan migrant shelter final 12 months, Tim Pearson, a high public security adviser to Mayor Adams, was confronted by one in all them outdoors the ability whilst NYPD officers arrived to diffuse the scenario, surveillance footage obtained by the Every day Information reveals.
Jason Steinberger, a lawyer for the 2 shelter safety guards, mentioned town ought to maintain all staff “accountable” in the event that they’re “found by objective and credible evidence to have compromised their integrity by way of making false statements or reports.” The guards are suing Pearson over alleged civil rights violations.
A lawyer for Pearson didn’t return messages in search of remark, and neither did Adams’ workplace, which mentioned in 2023 that Pearson was the one which had been accosted.
Former NYPD Captain and Mayor Adams adviser Timothy Pearson. (NYPD)
Within the 13-page report, DOI famous that Pearson, a longtime pal to Adams who served as his high public security adviser, refused to current identification on the migrant shelter when he confirmed up for an inspection of fireplace sprinkler system. The shelter guards on web site had been appearing in keeping with metropolis protocol in requiring all guests to indicate ID, the report states.
Citing interviews with responding officers and shelter guards in addition to physique cam footage, DOI concluded Pearson turned “verbally abusive and physically aggressive” and “initiated” a bodily melee nearly instantly after the guards requested ID from him.
“I don’t have to identify myself,” Pearson barked on the guards, in keeping with the report. “Get the f–k out of my way.”
Pearson then pushed Terence Rosenthal, one of many Arrow Safety guards suing him, and tried to push his means into the shelter, housed in an outdated Touro School facility, in keeping with DOI.
At that time, Leesha Bell, a safety supervisor who’s additionally suing Pearson, stepped in and defined he wanted to current ID to be able to entry the constructing.
“Get the f–k out of my face,” Pearson allegedly shouted at Bell earlier than telling her and different guards he was “going to have [their] jobs,” DOI discovered.
After allegedly getting right into a battle with a bunch of safety guards inside a Manhattan migrant shelter final 12 months, Tim Pearson, a high public security adviser to Mayor Adams, was confronted by one in all them outdoors the ability whilst NYPD officers arrived to diffuse the scenario, surveillance footage obtained by the Every day Information reveals.
When Bell continued to dam him, Pearson, in keeping with an account she offered to DOI, wrapped each fingers round her neck and shoved her, inflicting her to fall backwards onto a counter with such drive that her eyeglasses flew off her face. Bell repeated the identical allegations to responding officers, the report states.
After he pushed Bell, a big group of guards surrounded Pearson and compelled him out of the constructing, in keeping with DOI.
At that time, Pearson instructed a special story to responding cops, DOI alleged. After being escorted out of the shelter, Pearson, a retired NYPD inspector, went over to officers seated in a close-by police car and demanded they name in a “10-85,” legislation enforcement code for backup.
Physique cam footage cited by DOI reveals one of many officers then requested if Pearson was “active” to grasp if he was a member of the NYPD. “Yeah!” Pearson replied — although he wasn’t a member of the police division, in keeping with the report.
Minutes later, seven NYPD models with 19 officers had been on the scene.
Chatting with different officers in a dialog additionally caught on physique cam, Pearson claimed shelter guards “started attacking me” when he confirmed up on the web site.
“The younger woman that was getting in my face and began pushing on me…I’m gonna have ‘em collared,” Pearson told cops in remarks caught on footage.
“I want the inspector down here now,” Pearson continued. “Everybody will be out of a job tomorrow. I was going to keep the center open, we’re gonna shut it now for certain. I’m going to ensure not a type of rattling Arrow individuals keep right here.”
DOI concluded the knowledge Pearson offered the NYPD ensuing within the guards’ arrests was “false.”
The company additionally wrote Pearson’s driver, NYPD Det. Joseph Rafaelle, made claims concerning the incident to DOI investigators that had been “inconsistent with that of other eyewitnesses, raising further questions about his recollection and credibility.”
“[Pearson’s] conduct, as evidenced by witness statements and Body Worn Camera footage that DOI reviewed, fell far below our most basic expectations for public servants,” DOI Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber mentioned in a press release.
With Graham Rayman
Initially Revealed: February 20, 2025 at 12:36 PM EST
