<p class="speakable">The <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/us-regions/northeast/new-york" rel="noopener" target="_blank">New York Police Department</a> on Thursday arrested a 27-year-old man in connection with the alleged assault of officers earlier this week in Manhattan's Washington Square Park.</p><p class="speakable">Gusmane Coulibaly, 27, was <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/crime/police-and-law-enforcement" rel="noopener" target="_blank">taken into custody</a> Thursday morning, according to police.</p><p>Authorities said the charges stem from a Monday incident in which <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/nypd-officers-hit-snowballs-while-responding-disorderly-group-officials" rel="noopener" target="_blank">officers responding to reports</a> of a disorderly group in the park were hit repeatedly with packed snow and ice. Police said the officers suffered injuries to the head, neck and face.</p><p>The arrest comes after several days of debate over how the episode should be characterized. Mayor <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/person/zohran-mamdani" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Zohran Mamdani</a> has said video circulating online appeared to show a snowball fight that "got out of hand," and he questioned whether those involved should face assault charges.</p><p>Police officials have taken a different view. The department previously <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/nypd-releases-photos-snowball-wielding-suspects-facial-hair-after-mamdani-claims-attackers-were-kids" rel="noopener" target="_blank">circulated images of individuals</a> they described as wanted in connection with an assault on a police officer. </p><p>NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the conduct captured on video was criminal and confirmed that detectives were investigating.</p><p><a href="https://foxnews.onelink.me/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP</strong></a></p><p>Leaders of the city’s police unions have also rebuked <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/new-york-city" rel="noopener" target="_blank">the mayor</a>’s comments, arguing that throwing ice and compacted snow at responding officers constitutes an attack.</p><p><i>Fox News Digital's Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.</i></p>