Two men have been arrested in New York City after authorities linked them to a recent incident involving people entering the city’s sewer system through a manhole on the Upper East Side.
Kevin Rodriguez and Samuel Reveron, both from Queens, were arrested in connection with the incident and face charges including trespassing and conspiracy. Investigators say the men told authorities they had entered the sewer system looking for valuables and scrap metal that may have been carried into drains after storms.
The case attracted additional attention because the manhole was located near a hotel associated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Police Investigate Sewer Entry Near Park Avenue
Police responded to a 911 call at around 4:35 a.m. Wednesday after three people were reportedly seen emerging from a sewer near East 61st Street and Park Avenue.
According to investigators, surveillance footage showed the individuals leaving the area in two vehicles. Police subsequently used surveillance footage, vehicle information and license plate records to identify two of the people believed to be involved.
Authorities conducted additional security sweeps in the area because of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly and the location’s proximity to a high-security hotel. Officials said the investigation did not uncover evidence connecting the sewer activity to the UN event or a terrorist plot.
Arrests Follow Series of NYC Sewer Incidents
The arrests come after several similar incidents have been reported across New York City in recent months.
Videos shared online have shown groups of people entering or emerging from manholes in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan. Some individuals were reportedly wearing waders, boots and headlamps while entering the underground drainage system.
Police have previously said that several of these incidents appear to involve people searching underground for valuables or metal items that may have been washed into the sewer network following storms.
The unusual activity has generated widespread online interest, with people informally referring to those entering the underground network as “mole people.” However, authorities have emphasized that the incidents are being investigated as potential trespassing and scavenging activity rather than evidence of a broader underground community.
Rodriguez and Reveron were released following their arraignment because the charges did not qualify for bail. Court records indicate that
