Brooklyn, NY – Final Perpetrator Arrested, Charges Upgraded in Crown Heights Hate Crime Attacks

Brooklyn, NY – Quick work by the NYPD has all three perpetrators under arrest in a pair of anti-Semitic attacks in Crown Heights early Wednesday morning.

Police arrested two suspects just hours later, bringing in the final suspect, 20 year old Joshua Peters of Brownsville Wednesday night.

As previously reported on VIN News (http://bit.ly/2WxfBtr), 18 year old Navar Walters and 21 year old Teshon Bannister of East Flatbush were arrested in connection with the 1 AM beating and attempted robbery of a 51 year old Jewish man in front of 1505 President Street, while police sought the third suspect in the attack.

Police linked a second incident that took place just 15 minutes later at northeast corner of President Street and Albany Avenue to the same three perpetrators.

Police said that one suspect punched a 22 year old Jewish man in the face with the assistance of the other two, while also unsuccessfully attempting to remove the victim’s property. The victim sustained pain to his face, bruising to both knees, with his glasses, watch and headphones, with a total value of more than $250, damaged in the incident.

Walters and Bannister were each charged two counts of assault as a hate crime and criminal mischief in connection with the two attacks. Peters, who was previously arrested in 2017 for assault, was charged with two counts of assault as a hate crime, robbery and harassment in connection with the two attacks.

The Anti Defamation League of New York and New Jersey condemned the attacks and announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators.

“We are sickened by the horrific violence and increasing alarmed by rising tensions in the community in the wake of similar incidents,” said regional director Evan Bernstein. “These crimes are unacceptable and they must stop. We must work together to stem the tide of anti-Semitic violence in Brooklyn.”

Taking to Twitter, the NYPD’s Hate Crimes task force thanked the local community and the NYPD’s 71st Precinct for their combined efforts in the arrest, describing the attacks as “brutal.”