Hate crimes investigators are looking for a man who allegedly attempted to burn an Israeli flag in Washington Heights on Saturday, Feb. 24.
Police say the man attempted to set the flag ablaze in front of 2547 Amsterdam Ave. at around 2:40 p.m. The flag was being flown in front of a business across the street from the Yeshiva University High School for Boys.
The man, following the arson attempt, ripped down the flag, before scampering into a black sedan and fleeing the scene. It isn’t clear whether the flag was badly damaged.
Police said that no one was injured as a result of the hate-filled incident.
The suspect is described as being a light skinned male, approximately 18 to 25 years of age, about 5 feet 6 inches tall, with a slim build. He was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants and white sneakers.
Police have released a photo and video footage of the suspect taken from the location where the flag was vandalized.
Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, on Twitter @NYPDTips.
