Police have arrested a 12-year-old boy in connection with an alleged hate crime in which two Jewish boys were assaulted while they played on a Bed-Stuy sidewalk earlier this month.
The suspect, who cannot be named because he is a minor, was arrested Wednesday on hate crime charges for the alleged assault on two kids on May 12, officials said.
According to police, the two victims, ages 13 and 11, were each wearing a yarmulke while playing on the sidewalk in front of 173 Franklin Ave. At around 9 p.m., the alleged suspect rode past them and said “Get off the sidewalk.”
Cops said the cyclist returned moments later, got off his bike and pushed the 13-year-old victim to the ground before proceeding to kick and punch the 11-year-old in the back. The suspect fled the scene on his bike southbound on Franklin Avenue toward Willoughby Avenue before cops arrived.
The young victims were treated by paramedics at the scene and subsequently released, police said.
On May 29, following an investigation, a 12-year-old boy was taken into custody on charges of third degree assault as a hate crime and second degree harassment as a hate crime.
Citywide, reports of hate crimes are up 5.6%, according to the latest police department data, and antisemitic hate crimes are up nearly 50% year-over-year. So far in 2024, 206 incidents have been reported, up from 195 during the same period last year. In the 79th Precinct, where the May 12 incident occurred, there have been five reported hate crimes so far this year, up from two in 2023.
