NEW YORK CITY, NY – The New York City Police Department has confirmed the arrest of an individual in relation to a hate crime assault.

On Thursday, at 7:30 pm, Christopher Philippeaux, a 26-year-old resident of 1591 Park Avenue, New York, NY, was taken into custody and charged with Hate Crime- Assault.

The charge stems from an incident on Sunday, around 9:02 am on an MTA shuttle bus near 118 Street and Liberty Avenue.

A 19-year-old male was verbally assaulted and physically attacked by an unknown male, who tried to forcibly remove the victim’s turban.

The victim refused further medical attention on-site. The NYPD Hate Crimes Unit is leading the investigation. The male suspect was described as having a dark complexion, slim build, and approximately 5’9″ in height.