Detectives with the NYPD Hate Crimes Bureau arrested a homeless man who allegedly attacked a woman in NoHo as she headed to a protest against anti-Asian violence on Sunday morning.
Deoliveira, Erick Deoliveria, 27, was arrested on the night of March 22 on charges of assault and criminal mischief, both as hate crimes.
Cops said Deoliveria allegedly attacked the victim as she walked in front of 51 Astor Place in NoHo at about 11:37 a.m. on March 21. According to police, she carrying a sign she was bringing to the protest when the suspect stopped and asked to see the placard.
Police said Deoliveria allegedly took the sign and attempted to place it into a nearby garbage can, then decided to drop it onto the sidewalk and stomp on it.
When the victim asked Deoliveria why he did that, cops said, he allegedly responded by punching the woman twice in the face.
Video footage that the NYPD released on Monday morning shows the suspect quickly walking toward the entrance to the Astor Place subway station on the 6 line, at the corner of Astor Place and East 8th Street. Cops said he entered the station and fled in an unknown direction.
The incident was reported to the 9th Precinct. EMS units brought the victim to Lenox Hill Healthplex for treatment of a small cut and bruise to her lip, as well as a sprained ankle which she suffered while attempting to run after her attacker.
The case was quickly turned over to the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force, which is actively investigating a number of anti-Asian hate crimes that have occurred recently in New York City. This past weekend saw several protests in which marchers called attention to the rise of hate crimes against Asian Americans and called for an end to the vile attacks.
This story was updated on March 24 at 11:45 a.m.
