Antisemitic attacker who targeted two Jewish men in NYC is indicted, cut loose: prosecutors
By Amanda Woods,
2 days ago
An anti-Semitic attacker who allegedly targeted two Jewish men back-to-back on the Upper West Side over the summer was indicted for the crimes — and then promptly cut loose in court, prosecutors said.
Myles Utz, 31, is accused of attacking the pair at West 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue on June 16, all while yelling, “Free Palestine!” the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said.
He first threw two glass bottles at a 25-year-old man and hurled anti-Semitic slurs at West 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, the DA’s office said.
The victim, who wore a yarmulke, managed to back away and the bottles shattered on the ground.
But Utz, who has a bandage on his right hand, walks around the bystander and spits at the older man, the video shows.
The group of New Yorkers surround the alleged anti-Semite and shout at him to leave while one man places his hand on the victim’s shoulder.
“How [are] you free[ing] Palestine right now?” said one of the bystanders confronted Utz, according to the clip. “All you’re doing is harassing people.”
Utz, whose last known address is in Mentor, Ohio, was arrested on July 25, according to cops and prosecutors.
He was arraigned Monday on a New York State Supreme Court indictment, charging him with attempted assault in the second degree as a hate crime, criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree aggravated harassment, police said.
None of those charges are bail-eligible and the DA’s office requested supervised release, which Judge Laura Ward granted, prosecutors said.
Utz was ordered to stay away from the victims, and his next court appearance is set for January 13, online records show.
Utz has no prior arrests in the Big Apple, police said.
“As alleged, Myles Utz attacked two strangers in antisemitic incidents just minutes apart,” Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg said in a statement. “This alleged conduct is unacceptable, and we will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners to hold people accountable who target Manhattanites in hate-based acts of violence.”
“During this time of increased threats and acts of violence against Manhattan’s Jewish community, I encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of a hate crime to call 911 or report it to our Office’s Hate Crimes Unit at 212-335-3100.”
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