Adams Aide Tim Pearson Committed Misconduct in Violent Shelter Showdown, DOI Probe Finds
DOI Finds Pearson Committed Misconduct
Timothy Pearson, a longtime close associate and senior advisor to Mayor Eric Adams, committed misconduct when he physically attacked two security guards at a migrant shelter who’d demanded to see his identification, the city Department of Investigation has found.
The Incident
In the incident, first reported by THE CITY, Pearson shoved both a male and female guard who had requested his ID when arriving for an October 2023 visit to a Midtown shelter. The mayor had assigned him the task of overseeing the rollout of a rapidly expanding shelter system the administration relied on to address the wave of migrants arriving in the city.
DOI’s Findings
The report found that both Pearson and his driver lied about what happened, saying Pearson had been assaulted, which prompted the responding NYPD officers to wrongfully arrest two security guards on site.
DOI’s Conclusions
Pearson "unjustifiably refused to show identification to security staff at the facility’s entrance and then became physically aggressive with two security staff members after they attempted to prevent him from entering the building because he refused to show identification as required," the report states.
"It should go without saying that Senior City officials, like all City employees, must follow City rules, conduct themselves professionally, and treat others with courtesy and respect," DOI Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber said. "His conduct, as evidenced by witness statements and Body Worn Camera footage that DOI reviewed, fell far below our most basic expectations for public servants."
Next Steps
Diane Struzzi, a spokesperson for the DOI, said they’d send the findings to the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office and would assist with any potential prosecution if they deem fit. A spokesperson for Bragg didn’t return a request for comment immediately.
Pearson’s Resignation
Pearson resigned in September after federal authorities seized his phone in a broad-ranging corruption probe that’s swept up many top Adams’ aides. At the time, Adams said his longtime friend had stepped down for personal reasons.
The Day of the Incident
The day of the Touro incident, Pearson was said to have come to inspect the fire alarm system at the shelter, which was located in a vacant university building across the street from Penn Station.
Initial Reports
Initial reports after the altercation from the New York Post and the Daily News first aligned with Pearson’s account of events, citing anonymous law enforcement sources who’d said the guards had "exceed[ed] their authority and want[ed] to act like thugs instead of people who want to work for the city." A spokesperson for Adams’ office at the time said Pearson had been "denied access to a city contractor-operated site and then accosted by a contractor operating on site."
DOI’s Investigation
But that narrative quickly came under question when THE CITY reported on a dozen eyewitness statements from staffers at the shelter who described the opposite, saying Pearson was the aggressor who cursed at the guards, and shoved them when he refused to provide identification and wouldn’t let him in.
DOI’s Findings Align with THE CITY’s Reporting
For its report, DOI reviewed body camera footage and interviewed multiple witnesses, concluding that Pearson first pushed a male guard aside at the Touro Facility site after refusing to present any identification, then pushed a female guard who confronted him — an account that aligns with THE CITY’s reporting on the incident.
Witness Statements
"Six witnesses recalled Pearson responding aggressively and with expletives; one witness wrote that Pearson said, ‘Who the fuck are you,’ while another recalled him saying ‘Get the fuck out of my face,’" the report states.
Conclusion
The push triggered a "chaotic" "melee" that "resulted in injuries to bystanders in the lobby of the Touro facility, as well as outside," the report found.
FAQs
Q: What happened on the day of the incident?
A: Pearson visited the Touro shelter to inspect the fire alarm system, but refused to provide identification and became physical with the security guards.
Q: What did the DOI find in its investigation?
A: The DOI found that Pearson committed misconduct by refusing to provide identification and becoming physical with the security guards.
Q: What happened to the security guards involved?
A: The guards, Rosenthal, Bell, and Weldon, were arrested and later released, and have since sued Pearson and the city for the ordeal.
Q: What is the next step for Pearson?
A: The DOI will send its findings to the Manhattan District Attorney’s office and assist with any potential prosecution if deemed fit.
