Two Queens men have been arrested after police say they were seen emerging from a Manhattan manhole near a hotel where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to stay during the United Nations General Assembly.
The NYPD identified the men as Kevin Rodriguez, 26, and Samuel Reveron, 25. Police say they were seen near Park Avenue and East 61st Street early Wednesday morning and were later charged with trespassing and conspiracy. Investigators are still looking for at least one additional person connected to the incident.
Location Triggered a Major Security Response
The incident immediately drew attention because it happened during UN General Assembly week, when New York was under heightened security and numerous foreign leaders were staying in Manhattan.
The manhole was also close to a hotel Netanyahu regularly uses during visits to New York. Because of that proximity, the NYPD and federal authorities carried out a broader security review to determine whether the incident posed any threat.
So far, however, police have said they do not believe the incident was connected to Netanyahu, the United Nations or a planned attack.
Police Point to a Strange Recent Pattern
Authorities say similar incidents have occurred in New York in recent months, with people entering sewer systems and underground areas in search of valuables or scrap metal, especially after storms.
Police have suggested that the latest case may fit that pattern, but that explanation should still be treated as a working theory rather than a fully established motive. Investigators initially said they did not know exactly what the men were doing underground, and the broader circumstances remain under investigation.
CNN later reported that police believe the men were likely searching for valuables or scrap metal washed into the sewer system, while an attorney for Reveron denied any connection between his client’s alleged conduct and Netanyahu, the UN or any international official.
A Strange Incident During an Already Unusual UN Week
The arrests add another unusual episode to a week in New York already marked by protests, security restrictions and the arrival of political leaders from around the world.
What first looked like a potentially serious security incident near the hotel of a visiting prime minister may turn out to have a much less dramatic explanation.
For now, the key point remains: police have not established any connection between the sewer intrusion and Netanyahu’s visit, and the suggestion that the men were searching for valuables is based on the pattern seen in similar incidents and the ongoing investigation.
Sources: CBS New York; FOX 5 New York; CNN; New York Daily News
By NJ RADAR Team