NYPD Investigating Possible Hate Crimes In Bedford-Stuyvesant
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The NYPD is searching for a suspect in connection to two separate assaults in Brooklyn earlier this month.
According to police, a man believed to be around 35 years old approached victims on the streets of Bedford-Styuvesant.
In both instances, the suspect reportedly asked "Are you Muslim?" or "Are you from Saudi Arabia?" before punching the victim in the face.
The first incident took place on Dec. 4 on Gates Avenue at around 4:45 p.m. In this case, a 20-year-old man was punched and pushed to the ground, police said. He later went to Elmhurst Hospital, where he was treated for a broken jaw.
On Dec. 12, a 58-year-old man was approached while walking northbound on Marcus Garvey Boulevard and Vernon Avenue at around 3:50 p.m. In this incident, the man was taken to Woodhull Hospital with a bleeding nose and swollen face, according to police.
The ethnicities of the men have not been released.
Police are investigating these incidents as possible hate crimes.
The NYPD says the suspect was last seen wearing a black jacket hoodie with a white design and grey sweatpants. Surveillance video of the suspect can be viewed above.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers by calling (800) 577-TIPS, logging on to their website at www.NYPDCrimeStoppers.com or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and entering TIP577. Tips can remain anonymous.
