Police bodycam footage has captured a tumultuous incident at a hotel migrant shelter north of New York City. The video released by the Yonkers Police Department shows officers facing resistance while trying to make an arrest at the Ramada Inn in Yonkers.
The footage begins with a caller reporting a man behaving violently and throwing objects at others, prompting a swift response from law enforcement. The man, identified as Arnal Kent, 35, was being taken into custody when a woman, Yainilet Hernandez, attempted to obstruct the officers from detaining him.
Despite repeated commands to move, Hernandez refused to comply, leading to a physical altercation with the police. She was eventually subdued and taken into custody herself. During the struggle, one officer sustained injuries to his knee and wrist, requiring him to be placed off-duty.
Kent, who hails from Venezuela and arrived in the U.S. in the fall, alleged mistreatment by hotel staff towards him and other migrants at the Ramada Inn. The NYC Department of Homeless Services had relocated around 250 migrants and children to the Yonkers location since May 2023.
Reports from other migrants indicated that hotel staff had been entering their rooms without notice, claiming to remove unsafe appliances. Some migrants complained of missing personal belongings, including money and jewelry.
Hernandez is currently held on bail, facing charges of assault, obstruction of governmental administration, and resisting arrest. The Ramada Inn and Westhab, the organization overseeing the housing facility, have not yet responded to requests for comment.
