On Friday, September 25, two Queens men were arrested after police said surveillance video showed them climbing out of a Manhattan manhole near Park Avenue and East 61st Street before dawn on Wednesday, September 23 — near the hotel where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regularly stays during the United Nations General Assembly, in the middle of UN week.
Story Snapshot
- NYPD arrested Samuel Reveron, 25, and Kevin Rodriguez, 26, on trespass and conspiracy charges tied to a manhole exit on the Upper East Side.
- Court records cited in reports say the men admitted entering the sewer to look for valuables washed into drains.
- Police said a third person may have been involved and is still being sought, and other reports described a larger group.
- The case echoes a string of recent unauthorized sewer entries citywide that triggered heavy police responses.
Arrests After Overnight Manhole Exit on Park Avenue
New York City police said two men tied to a pre-dawn sewer exit on the Upper East Side were arrested and charged. Officers identified the suspects as Kevin Rodriguez, 26, and Samuel Reveron, 25, both from Queens. Police linked them to a manhole near Park Avenue and East 61st Street around 1:38 a.m. on Wednesday. Several outlets reported the same core details of the arrests and charges, citing police and court records.
Reports cited court records stating the men identified themselves as the people who entered the manhole. The records said they told authorities they went into the sewer together to search for valuables that might have washed into the drains. They were booked on two counts of trespassing. Other outlets listed both trespass and conspiracy among the charges, reflecting the initial police account.
Police Cite Video and a Possible Third Participant
Police said surveillance video showed the suspects emerging from the manhole at the Park Avenue location. Local reports said investigators were still looking for a third person seen climbing out. Other reports described three individuals who exited and then fled, and referenced a broader group of six who may have entered, based on the police account in early reports.
Authorities said the arrests followed a citywide response sparked by the unusual scene near a high-profile area. Multiple agencies reviewed footage and tips after the incident drew attention during a busy security week in Manhattan. While two men are in custody, police have not announced additional arrests tied to this event. Outlets noted that the charges here were for this specific incident, not for earlier sewer entries.
Pattern of Unauthorized Sewer Entries and Public Safety Risks
News outlets have linked this case to a recent pattern of unauthorized manhole and sewer entries across the city. Police and reporters said the behavior appears to match prior incidents in motive and method, even as individual charges vary. Authorities warn that entering sewers is dangerous and illegal, and it can divert police and emergency crews at a time when resources are tight and threats feel high for many residents.
Climbers Are Back: Three unidentified people were seen climbing out of a sewer on Manhattan's Upper East Side near where Israeli PM Netanyahu was staying this morning before fleeing in two vehicles according to the NYPD. pic.twitter.com/1gSX3B92sC
— KolHaolam (@KolHaolam) September 23, 2026
This story also taps wider worries shared by many Americans. People on both the left and right see leaders talk about safety but struggle to deliver. When three people pop out of a manhole near one of the busiest corridors in the country, it raises simple questions. Who secures critical spaces? Who pays when large response teams roll out for preventable risks? Clear rules, steady enforcement, and public facts help restore trust. New York officials say this case is one step toward that.
Sources:
abc7ny.com, cbsnews.com, yahoo.com, abc3340.com
