Democratic City Council Member Susan Chuang is accused of biting a New York City Police Department (NYPD) deputy chief during a protest against a new homeless shelter in Brooklyn on Wednesday morning, according to the New York Post.

She allegedly bit South Brooklyn Patrol Borough Deputy Chief Frank DiGiacomo on the arm and tried to block police from reaching another protester. Exit “Bitting a police officer is a felony,” a source close to the New York City Council reportedly told the New York Post. “We need to support our officers, not bite them.”

The councilwoman is a member of the New York City Council's Common Sense Caucus, whose mission is to statement Its goal is to “ensure that New Yorkers enjoy a safe and secure city.”

Bensonhurst locals are protesting a homeless shelter that opened at 5am without the consent of the community or City Council Member Susan Zuan. Zuan stood up for her community and was arrested this morning protesting the shelter. We stand with Susan… pic.twitter.com/tCdTYD0jCp

— Curtis Sliwa (@CurtisSliwa) July 17, 2024

According to the New York Post, the protests erupted after construction began nearby on a homeless shelter that could house up to 150 adult men. Local residents oppose the shelter, which, as the Post put it, “could be a magnet for drugs, crime and other trouble when it opens later this year.”

Zhuang alleged that the city failed to notify local residents before starting construction work. A Department of Social Services spokesperson denied this, saying communities were already informed of the plans as early as November 2023, according to the New York Post.

According to the New York Post, Zhuang was detained at the 62nd Precinct of New York City Police Department and later released after being arraigned on charges that will likely lead to her removal from office, with a source close to the New York City Council quoted as saying by the Post that Zhuang's actions “disqualify her from being a city council member.”

The New York Police Department and the New York City Council District Office of the 43rd District did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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