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Suspect Charged In Brooklyn Bridge Attack On NYPD Lieutenants

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- One of the suspects who had been sought in connection with the assault of two NYPD lieutenants during an Eric Garner protest on the Brooklyn Bridge was charged Thursday after turning himself in to police.

Robert Murray of Crown Heights, Brooklyn turned himself in Thursday morning, CBS2's Sonia Rincon reported. Police said he walked into the Fifth Precinct station house around 8 a.m. Thursday with his attorney.

He was charged late Thursday afternoon with assaulting an officer, rioting, obstruction, escape, and obstruction of governmental administration.

As CBS2's Weijia Jiang reported, Murray was silent as police led him out of the Fifth Precinct station, at 19 Elizabeth St. He did not speak when asked if he wanted to say anything, or if he had punched Chan.

He was expected to be arraigned sometime on Friday.

Police said the suspect, who works as an organizer for Service Employees International Union 32BJ, was responsible for an especially violent part of the protest, 1010 WINS' Al Jones reported.

"His acts are violent, and they're right up there with being one of the most violent acts that I've seen," Aubry said.

Suspect In Brooklyn Bridge Attack On NYPD Lieutenants In Custody

NYPD Chief of Manhattan Detectives William Aubry said Murray is the man seen punching NYPD Lt. Philip Chan not once, but twice.

Aubry said the suspect punched Chan "so hard that we have a witness that says he heard the fist to the face. He heard that noise as his fist hit Lieutenant Chan's face."

Police said Murray organizes rallies often, and was arrested a decade ago.

Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch had no kind words for Murray Thursday evening.

"We congratulate the fine work of our fellow NYPD officers who arrested this miscreant. He assaulted the very people who were there to ensure that his voice would be heard and then scurried into the crowd like the coward he is," Lynch said in a statement. "He certainly does not represent the values of true unionism."

Police had been looking for a group of suspects, four men and three women, caught on camera struggling with the two lieutenants during a clash between police and protesters on the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday.

Suspect In Brooklyn Bridge Attack On NYPD Lieutenants In Custody

Aubry said tips have been coming in ever since police released video stills of the suspects.

"People have volunteered information about the suspects. They've volunteered information about providing video, and that information and those videos have led us to even more about what transpired on that day."

Police have also updated a photo of another male suspect who was allegedly seen kicking Lt. Patrick Sullivan.

Male Suspect In NYPD Lieutenant Attacks
An enhanced surveillance photo of a suspect accused of kicking Lt. Patrick Sullivan during protests on Saturday, Dec. 13. (Credit: NYPD)

It all began when Baruch College professor Eric Linsker, 29, tried to throw metal garbage cans over the bridge railing at officers, police said.

"He threw two garbage cans off of the walkway onto the roadway. There were officers down there, and you can see in some of the video that we have now that these officers were trying to move those garbage cans out of the way," Aubry said.

As the lieutenants tried to arrest Linsker, police said the other suspects charged at them before running away.

"It's a two-minute period that goes by where there are individuals punching and kicking our two lieutenants," Aubry said earlier. "Linsker clearly is resisting and there is video evidence that he does throw a punch."

PHOTOS: Suspects Wanted In Attack On NYPD Lieutenants

Police said two of the men were in the group were the key aggressors and face felony charges of assaulting a police officer. The other five were expected to face lesser charges.

Linsker was arrested and charged in connection with the incident, police said.

Police said they have also spoken with some of the nine witnesses they were seeking in connection with the investigation.

The reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects has grown to $25,000, Rincon reported.

Anyone with information about the suspects or anyone who has additional cell phone photos or videos is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (8477), visit the Crime Stoppers website or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.

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