New York City officials arrested two men who were seen emerging from a manhole on Wednesday, marking the latest incident involving individuals exiting the city's underground sewer system. Kevin Rodriguez, 26, and Samuel Reveron, 25, both of Queens, were arrested Thursday on charges of conspiracy and trespassing.
The two men, along with a third individual, were observed climbing out of a manhole near a hotel where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was reportedly expected to stay during the United Nations General Assembly. According to the NYPD, the individuals fled the scene when officers arrived around 4:30 EST on Wednesday.
During a court hearing on Friday, Rodriguez and Reveron pleaded not guilty and were released from custody.
This arrest follows a pattern of similar occurrences in recent months. In August, surveillance footage captured a person exiting a manhole in Queens, and the NYPD investigated three individuals seen climbing out of a manhole near Penn Station. In May, a group was filmed manipulating a manhole cover and descending into the sewer in South Brooklyn.
The NYPD stated that these incidents often involve individuals searching for valuables and scrap metal after storms. However, due to the heightened security concerns surrounding the UN General Assembly and the proximity to a sensitive location, the NYPD conducted additional security sweeps with federal partners.
Authorities have warned that entering the New York sewer system is both illegal and dangerous due to risks of toxic gases and flooding in confined spaces. The city's Department of Environmental Protection has previously advised the public never to enter pipes, drains, catch basins, manholes, or outfalls. In a separate incident earlier this year, a woman died after accidentally falling into an open manhole in Midtown Manhattan.