NYC Snowball Fight: Social Media Star Arrested in Park Fracas
A New York City content creator was arraigned Thursday evening on misdemeanor charges stemming from a chaotic snowball fight in Washington Square Park earlier this week, an incident that has ignited a dispute between the city’s police union and the mayor’s office.
Gusmane Coulibaly, 27, known online as “Diaper Man,” was charged with obstructing governmental administration and harassment, according to court documents. He appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court in an olive-green sweat suit and was released pending a future court date on April 9.
Coulibaly’s attorney, George Vomvolakis, argued to the judge that the arrest was politically motivated, suggesting the police department was leveraging the incident to express dissatisfaction with Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “I think they’re taking it out on Mr. Coulibaly. They want to pick a fight with the mayor,” Vomvolakis said during the arraignment.
Mamdani earlier this week characterized the event as a “snowball fight that got out of hand” and indicated he did not believe criminal charges were appropriate. This stance drew sharp criticism from the police union.
The snowball fight, reportedly organized through social media, unfolded during a winter storm, attracting a large crowd to the park. According to prosecutors, officers responded to a 911 call reporting a disorderly group and individuals climbing on a roof. Video footage of the incident shows a crowd surrounding officers, throwing snowballs and shouting as the officers attempted to retreat to their vehicles.
Patrick Hendry, president of the police union, condemned the incident as an “attack on the uniform,” stating that officers were pelted with snowballs, ice, and rocks. He expressed disappointment that Coulibaly was not charged with assaulting an officer, a felony offense. “It sends a horrible message to these police officers right here that the mayor is not going to have our backs,” Hendry said.
Vomvolakis disputed the claim that rocks or ice were thrown, stating, “What I saw in the video didn’t gaze like an attack.” He acknowledged the situation may have been disrespectful to the police but did not constitute a criminal assault.
Assistant District Attorney Victoria Notaro stated that video evidence showed Coulibaly throwing a snowball that struck Officer Nicholas Johnson in the face. However, prosecutors could not definitively link the officer’s injuries – redness, tenderness, and pain to his eye, head, and neck – directly to Coulibaly’s actions.
Coulibaly has a significant online presence, with hundreds of thousands of followers across multiple social media platforms. He is also currently facing an attempted robbery charge stemming from a recent video in which he approached a stranger in the Bronx, feigning familiarity and claiming money was owed. Vomvolakis expressed confidence that charge would be dismissed.
The New York Police Department has released images of three other individuals they are seeking in connection with the snowball fight. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch has labeled the treatment of officers during the incident as “disgraceful” and “criminal.”