QUEENS, N.Y. – The New York City Police Department is asking for the public’s help identifying a man wanted in connection with an act of criminal mischief being investigated as a hate crime in Kew Gardens.
According to police, the incident occurred around 3:12 p.m. on Monday, December 15, in front of 129-01 Metropolitan Avenue, within the 102nd Precinct. Investigators say an unidentified man approached a parked vehicle and forcibly removed a menorah mounted on its roof, causing damage before fleeing on foot toward Kew Gardens Road via 129th Street.
No injuries were reported, but the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is leading the investigation into what police are classifying as a possible bias-motivated offense.
The suspect is described as a male with a medium complexion. Surveillance images of the individual have been released by detectives and are available through the NYPD’s public information office.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or submit tips anonymously at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org.