Man Accused Of Stealing Israeli Flag Charged With Hate Crime: NYPD

MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS, NY — Police have arrested a man accused of stealing an Israeli flag, making antisemitic remarks, and then punching the owner in the face in Morningside Heights last week, New York City Police Department officials said.

According to the NYPD, on Dec. 9 at 3:27 p.m., a 22-year-old man was walking on Claremont Avenue between West 119th Street and West 116th Street when he got into a verbal dispute with a man.

The man then made antisemitic remarks and snatched the 22-year-old's Israeli flag, police said.

When the 22-year-old tried to retrieve the flag, the perpetrator punched the victim in the face and then ran away, heading uptown on Claremont Avenue, according to police. Police say that no injuries were reported from this incident.

The suspect, Tarek Bazrouk, was arrested on Monday at 8 a.m. on the Upper West Side.

Bazrouk, 20, was charged with robbery in the third degree and robbery in the third degree as a hate crime.

This is a developing story and may be updated. For questions and tips, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.