David 'Shaman' Ortiz, 29, who claims to be the host of the illegal Washington Square Party's was arrested on July 21 for obstructing governmental administration
A DJ who hosted raucous parties in New York City's Washington Square Park was arrested last week after causing months of chaos which has left locals fed up and prompted NYPD to kick out hundreds revellers after a midnight curfew was instated.
David 'Shaman' Ortiz, 29, was taken into police custody on July 21 around midnight, when he stepped in front of a slow-moving police car in an attempt to stop them from breaking up the hectic Greenwich Village gathering. He was quickly released.
Ortiz was charged with a misdemeanor for obstructing governmental administration. The day after his arrest he told The New York Post, 'They tried to run me over'.
He also shared a video of the beginning of the altercation on Instagram.
The 29-year-old has been organizing parties, which drew crowds in their hundreds, well past the park's midnight closing time which drew hundreds and were accompanied by a host of illegal activities, along with The We Outside Crew.
The parties have been hosted by The We Outside Crew claiming to be 'spreading positivity through music & social justice' (June 26)
Garbage and litter was strewn across the pavements and lawns in the park Saturday morning with the Big Apple's pigeon population seen taking advantage of the remnants of food left behind from the night before (May 14)
Ortiz shared a video on Instagram of him walking in front of a slow moving police car (July 21)
The We Outside Crew claims to be 'spreading positivity through music & social justice' but have caused disturbances in the park that have led to heated local community meetings. A Greenwich Village community board meeting dissolved into disorder on July 21 hours before Ortiz's arrest.
The community meeting was one of several that have been held to discuss the unruly illegal activities that have overrun Washington Square Park in recent months. The late-night party organizers and attendees clashed with local residents at the Community Board 2 meeting, which was promoted by police oversight activists.
At the board meeting, Ortiz acknowledged himself as the host of the illegal parties and boxing matches claiming that he and The We Outside Crew are providing a community service.
'What we do is we amplify the sound and the communication of the community that's already been there in Washington Square Park for forever,' Ortiz said.
'This park has been around for decades before any of you have even been alive. Artists have been flocking there for centuries. This is a place of community. This is a place to be, a place of welcome.'
Speaking of an earlier arrest, Ortiz continued, 'And yes, I was arrested for this. And yes, just three days ago my case was dismissed for being arrested for amplified sound. Wanna know why? 'Cuz it's bull,' he added.
Revelers have continued to return to Washington Square to gathr long after the park's closing time of midnight (April 10)
The wild parties have continued for months and maintained strong crowds throughout the pandemic into the summer (June 26)
At one point during the chaotic meeting, Ortiz ran up to a table where panel members were seated and yelled in the officials' faces specifically aiming his anger at NYPD Capt. Stephen Spataro, the commanding officer of the 6th Precinct, according to The New York Post. The NYPD 6th Precinct oversees Washington Square Park.
Just last month, Ortiz insisted that the parties will continue every night through the summer, claiming that it is his constitutional right to be there despite violent crime that has turned park into a no-go zone for locals.
On June 19, Hundreds of people returned to the park again on the Saturday night for another rave, just 24 hours after a woman was trampled by terrified crowds trying to flee a man armed with a large knife and a taser.
Speaking to DailyMail.com, party promoter David Ortiz, who calls himself 'the Shaman', said 'We're going to be here every single day. Just like the police are, we are too. Because this is as much our home as to the other residents that actually live here.'
He added, 'If you can't accept the fact that I'm living within my First Amendment constitutional rights, which is the right to freedom of speech and to rally in a public place, then my friend you are living in the wrong country and democracy is not for you'.
Despite complaints from the neighborhood, Ortiz has continued to host parties and encourage late-night loud noise in Washington Square Park. Upset neighbors began hosting community board meetings with the local police to work to end the late-night chaos
Locals have told how the park changes after dark, from a calm, relaxing atmosphere during the day to chaos when the sun goes down (April 10)
