NEW YORK — Even free giveaways can turn into a hassle in New York.
A video-sharing website set out to observe Leap Day by handing out prizes worth up to $29 outside Union Square Park.
As the clock ticked toward the event’s scheduled time — 2:29 p.m. Friday — people shouting “Make it rain!” and “Give me my money!” trampled one another and mobbed the costumed representatives of .
Some people wrested bags of cash- stuffed envelopes and other items from the CashTomato workers, said Jason Buzi, who identified himself as the company’s senior vice president.
“Before I knew it, I was on the floor” and under a pile of people, said Anabel DeJesus, 17.
Police didn’t have any information Saturday on any injuries or arrests.
Buzi said CashTomato has staged uneventful giveaways elsewhere, and the Manhattan mayhem startled him.
“It turned out to be a lot of aggressive people,” he said. “Maybe next time, I would plan this better.”
