Man Asks Harlem Bodega Clerk If He's Arabic, Punches Him: Police

EAST HARLEM, NY — The NYPD's hate crimes unit is trying to identify a man who assaulted an Arabic bodega clerk in East Harlem after asking the worker about his ethnicity.

The man entered the Green Olive Deli on East 116th Street between Second and Third avenues around 9:45 a.m. on Trhusday, Aug. 9 and asked the clerk if he was Arabic, police said. When the clerk said that he is Arabic, the man punched him in the face, police said.

The clerk was not treated for his injuries, police said.

The assault is being investigated by the NYPD's hate crimes unit, police said. The suspect is described as a bald man with a beard and a medium build. He was last seen wearing a light colored t-shirt, light colored pants, white and black sneakers, and a back pack.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

Photo by NYPD