Arrests have been made in connection to three incidents of suspected hate crimes against Hasidic Jewish men that took place earlier this month, NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said during a press conference Monday evening.
Carrington Maddox, a 31-year-old male, was arrested Thursday morning for allegedly slapping a 27-year-old man dressed in traditional Jewish clothing on Aug. 22, said NYPD Deputy Inspector Andrew Arias, the commanding officer of the department's Hate Crime Task Force. Maddox, a Brooklyn resident, was charged with aggravated harassment and menacing as a hate crime.
According to police, the victim was walking down Lynch Street in Williamsburg last Monday at around 4:30 p.m. when Maddox slapped the victim in the face before running away.
"No one deserves to be the victim of such senseless, hateful violence," Sewell said Monday.
A separate individual, a 14-year-old boy, was charged Monday afternoon in connection to two Aug. 21 incidents involving a fire extinguisher, the NYPD said.
A 66-year-old man told officers he was sprayed with powder from a fire extinguisher and then punched last Sunday morning. The victim — who refused medical attention — said he was approached near the intersection of Roebling Street and South 3rd Street in Williamsburg by a group of people he didn't know. There was no verbal altercation before the alleged attack and the group fled the scene, according to the NYPD.
Also last Sunday morning, a 72-year-old man told officers he was approached by a group of unidentified individuals and sprayed with a fire extinguisher. The unprovoked incident took place on Taylor Street and Lee Avenue in Williamsburg — the alleged attackers also immediately fled the scene, police said. There were no injuries reported.
The attacks took place minutes apart, police said. Both victims were walking to a morning prayer service at their synagogue, according to officials. The NYPD will not be investigating any other suspects connected to the two incidents, they told NY1 Monday evening.
At the press conference, officials said they believe both victims were targeted because they are Jewish.
Arrests by the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force are up over 100% this year, Sewell said, and arrests involving attacks against Jewish New Yorkers are up 45%.
Sewell announced Monday that police have increased their patrol near synagogues in lieu of the recent attacks in the city.
"We remain focused on prevention," Sewell said. "The NYPD takes great pride in the work that we do each day and night whenever and wherever hate emerges."