BROOKLYN — Two men hurled anti-gay slurs at a woman in front of a Cypress Hills bodega, then hit her in the face with an umbrella after she tried to walk away, the NYPD said.
Alex Santiago, 26, was charged with assault as a hate crime in connection with the attack against the 38-year-old woman, which took place May 26 on Miller Avenue and Fulton Street around 4:10 a.m., according to police.
The woman tried to walk away after Santiago and another man, whom police are still seeking, called her a "lesbian" and a "d--e." They followed her, so she turned around to confront them, according to police.
That’s when one of the suspects hit her in the head with the umbrella, cutting her face, the NYPD said.
She was taken to Brookdale Hospital and treated for the injury.
Santiago was also charged with aggravated harassment, menacing and criminal possession of a weapon. He was ordered held on $1,500 bail at his arraignment.
Police are now asking for help in finding his accomplice, who’s believed to be between 20 and 25 years old, 5-foot-8 and 200 pounds. He was last seen wearing a blue baseball cap, white hoodie, jeans and blue sneakers.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
