Apr 24, 2008 9:17 pm US/Eastern
Crown Heights Man: I Was Beaten By Hasidic Jews
Witness: Jewish Man Struck Victim Twice With Club
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Andrew Charles, 20, told CBS 2 HD on April 24 that he was beaten by two Hasidic Jews 10 days earlier.
CBS
Nearly 17 years after Crown Heights became synonymous with racial tension, some say it's back. A young black man says he was recently set upon by two Hasidic Jews.
Andrew Charles, 20, flanked by his mother and his father – who is a police officer in Crown Heights – told CBS 2 HD he was attacked by two men in Hasidic dress 10 days ago.
"This should not have to happen to no one, and the people that did this to me should be punished for what they did," he said.
The assault happened at Albany and President streets on April 14 at 6 p.m. while Charles was with a friend. He told police that two Jewish boys, one on foot, one on a bike, went past him and pepper sprayed him.
Michael Pavy, who was outside of his home on the corner told CBS 2 that just a few minutes later, a black GMC Envoy drove up with two Hasidic men inside.
"I saw a Jewish guy get out of the vehicle, and he had a wooden club in his hand. He struck Andrew twice with the club, on his back and his arm," said Pavy.
Pavy got a license number, but a man brought in by police wasn't identified in a lineup. Black community leaders believe the attacker was part of a Hasidic community patrol.
But a member of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council told CBS 2 he didn't believe the patrol was involved in the attack.
Wendy Craig, Charles' mother, said the attack was very traumatic for her son.
"He's scared to go on the street. He's very depressed," she said.
Residents say there's a shroud of silence over the community now, and they hope a grand jury that's been convened to investigate will shed light on who is responsible
Meanwhile, Charles, who is a sophomore at Kingsborough Community College, was treated at a hospital for the injuries he sustained.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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