Police Release Sketches In Anti-Gay Attack On Woman, Mom Mistaken For Couple In Midtown East
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police late Wednesday released sketches of the three suspects who apparently mistook a woman and her mother for a couple and assaulted them in an anti-gay bias attack in Midtown East.
Around 1 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, Tiffany Santiago and her mother went to the BarKogi restaurant at Second Avenue and 51st Street for a quick late-night bite, when they were attacked by a group at a nearby table who started yelling anti-gay slurs and throwing things, Santiago told CBS2 exclusively.
"Me and my mom look very similar in age, and so I think me with the short hair, and my mom's really tall – she's like five-eight; she's a big lady," Santiago said. "I think they thought we were on a date."
Santiago said the fighting escalated from shouting into shoving, and then an all-out brawl.
"He threw me across the restaurant," Santiago said. "I don't even know how far I went, but I went through tables, chairs, glasses."
She said her attackers were drunk, and said the restaurant owner – who also appeared drunk – did little to help.
When asked for comment, the owner would not speak to CBS2.
Police describe the first suspect as a white balding man in his mid-40s, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 180 pounds with a beard. He was last seen wearing a long sleeve shirt and jeans.
The second suspect is described by police as a white woman in her mid-30s, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, 130 pounds with dirty blonde hair. She was last seen wearing light-colored shirt, black pants and light-colored high heel boots.
The third suspect is also described as a white woman in her mid-30s, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, 120 pounds with long wavy black hair. She was last seen wearing a white tank top, black pants and black high heel boots.
Police have also released surveillance video of the suspects.
The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
