Popular Twitch streamer Kai Cenat is facing charges after hosting a popup giveaway that quickly devolved, leading to several injuries and more than five dozen arrests.
Insider reached out to representatives of the New York Police Department, who sent a link to a press conference held Friday.
In the video, NYPD Chief of Department Jeff Maddrey said thousands arrived in Manhattan's Union Square Park to see Cenat, who announced earlier this week that he was giving out PlayStation consoles to the public. Although the event drew about 300 fans initially, Maddrey said the crowd soon swelled and became disruptive.
"Individuals in the park began to commit acts of violence toward the police and the public," Maddrey said. He said police arrested 65 people, including 30 juveniles.
Maddrey described fans attacking police officers, throwing fireworks at each other, destroying vendor stations, and disrupting the general public. The Washington Post reported that some fans jumped onto people's cars parked near Union Square.
"They destroyed food carts. They destroyed stores," he said. "When we started clearing the young people out, young people ran through the streets of this city taking plates from people who were outside dining and were throwing their plates at police officers."
Cenat is charged with inciting a riot and unlawful assembly, he added. TMZ reported that Cenat was issued a desk appearance ticket before being released from the Manhattan police precinct on Friday.
Representatives for Cenat did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
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