Two Parks Department workers were charged with assault for allegedly attacking a man in Jerome Park on Sunday.
The Reports NY Post reports that the victim was urinating in the park when the Parks employees confronted him. However, a police spokesperson told Gothamist the victim claimed that he was throwing away garbage when the workers, Damien Garner, 40, and Yadhil Marrero, 41, approached him.
The alleged assault took place around 1:30 p.m. in the park, which is by Jerome Park Reservoir and between the Bronx High School of Science and Lehman College. Police say that the workers got into an argument with the victim, who said one of them punched him with a closed fist.
The Parks Department has not yet responded to a request for comment.
In 2016, the City Council passed legislation decriminalizing so-called "broken windows" offenses like public urination, making it a civil violation punishable by a summons instead of arrest.
