UWS, Yonkers Women Nabbed In Star Of David Necklace-Pulling Attack: PD

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY - Two women who reportedly ripped a Star of David necklace from a woman’s neck near Riverside Drive after ripping down posters of Israeli hostages have been arrested, police said.

Mehwish Omer, 26, of West 107th Street on the Upper West Side, and Stephanie Gonzalez, 25, of Warburton Avenue in Yonkers, were charged in connection with the Nov. 9 attack near Riverside Drive and West 82nd Street, police said.

Omer was charged Monday with hate crime/assault and hate crime/criminal mischief, police said. Gonzalez, who was arrested on Nov. 20, was charged with attempted robbery and hate crime/assault.

On the night of the attack, a 41-year-old victim began recording the two women removing Israeli missing person posters from a light pole about 9:55 p.m., police said.

The woman and protesters began verbally fighting before the two women tearing down the posters physically assaulted the victim, including forcibly ripping off the Star of David necklace hanging around her neck, police said.

The protesters also knocked the victim's cell phone out of her hand and onto the ground, damaging the device, police said.

The victim sustained minor injuries to her face and neck but refused further medical attention at the scene, police said.

The NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force is leading the investigation.