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Man Indicted for Anti-Semitic Attacks on Upper West Side Released After Court Appearance
Edited by: Fern Sidman
A man accused of committing two anti-Semitic attacks on the Upper West Side of Manhattan over the summer was indicted for his actions and then swiftly released following his court appearance, according to a report on Tuesday in The New York Post. Myles Utz, 31, was charged with targeting two Jewish men in a back-to-back assault at the intersection of West 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue on June 16, all while shouting, “Free Palestine!” as reported by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
🚨 BREAKING: Trans FedEx Driver Spits on Elderly Jewish Man—REVEALED as Myles Utz
⚠️ WATCH: Shocking Anti-Semitic Attack Caught on Video
📰 Myles Utz, a current resident of Queens, NY, is seen assaulting an elderly Jewish man at W 86th Street & Amsterdam Avenue.
Utz is seen in… pic.twitter.com/RgsLRU9QJR
— Shirion Collective (@ShirionOrg) June 19, 2024
The New York Post detailed how Utz’s first victim, a 25-year-old man wearing a yarmulke, was subjected to a barrage of anti-Semitic slurs before Utz threw two glass bottles at him. Fortunately, the bottles missed, shattering on the ground as the young man managed to back away unharmed. This disturbing incident, which unfolded in broad daylight, drew the attention of nearby passersby, including a 74-year-old Jewish man who was also wearing a yarmulke.
As the situation escalated, Utz turned his aggression toward the elderly man, spitting on him in a confrontation that was captured on video. According to The New York Post, the footage, posted on the StopAntisemitism page on X (formerly Twitter), shows the senior citizen bravely telling Utz to “get the hell away from me” as a concerned bystander tries to intervene. Despite efforts to deescalate the situation, Utz, with a bandage on his right hand, aggressively approached the older man and spat at him, all while surrounded by a group of shocked onlookers.
Myles Utz, lives in Queens, NY, assaulted an elderly Jewish man at W 86th Street & Amsterdam Ave. Utz is seen using anti-Semitic slurs, throwing glass jars, spitting at the elderly man &others. He works 4 @FedEx @FedExHelp do u really want this psychopath as an employee @FedExNY pic.twitter.com/dnPCRw5PSZ
— Gina (@Tvoyakukla14) June 21, 2024
The New York Post report described how New Yorkers in the area quickly surrounded Utz and urged him to leave, some shouting at the alleged attacker to walk away. One bystander even placed a supportive hand on the elderly victim’s shoulder, while another challenged Utz’s behavior directly, asking, “How [are] you free[ing] Palestine right now? All you’re doing is harassing people.” This powerful moment of community intervention highlighted the unity of New Yorkers in standing against such blatant displays of hate.
Utz, whose last known address is in Mentor, Ohio, was arrested over a month later on July 25, according to law enforcement officials. However, despite the indictment for the attacks, Utz was promptly released after his court appearance, a decision that has drawn considerable attention given the violent nature of the incidents.
These assaults occurred amid growing concerns about rising anti-Semitic violence in the United States, particularly in urban centers like New York City. The attacks were not isolated incidents, but part of a broader pattern of harassment and violence directed at Jewish individuals, often linked to political tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. According to The New York Post, anti-Semitic incidents in New York have spiked in recent years, prompting renewed calls for stronger protections for Jewish communities and more robust responses from law enforcement and judicial systems.
The release of Utz after his indictment raises questions about the effectiveness of the legal system in dealing with hate crimes. Many critics argue that individuals charged with such serious offenses should not be allowed to walk free so soon after being apprehended, particularly when there is video evidence of the crime.
According to the information provided by The New York Post, the primary charge leveled against Utz is attempted assault in the second degree, which has been classified as a hate crime. This charge suggests that the alleged assault was motivated by bias or prejudice against the victim based on their race, religion, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristics.
In addition to the hate crime charge, Utz is also facing accusations of criminal possession of a weapon. The New York Post did not specify the type of weapon involved, but this charge indicates that the suspect was allegedly armed during the incident, potentially escalating the severity of the situation.
The third charge mentioned in The New York Post’s report is second-degree aggravated harassment. This offense typically involves actions that are intended to threaten, annoy, or alarm another person, often through communication or physical contact. The inclusion of this charge suggests that the alleged incident may have involved verbal threats or intimidating behavior in addition to the attempted assault.
Interestingly, The New York Post notes that none of the charges brought against Utz are considered “bail-eligible” under current New York law. This detail highlights the ongoing debate surrounding bail reform in the state, which has been a contentious issue in recent years.
In light of the charges not being bail-eligible, The New York Post reported that the District Attorney’s office requested supervised release for the defendant. This alternative to bail typically involves regular check-ins with a supervising officer and may include other conditions such as travel restrictions or mandatory counseling.
According to The New York Post, Judge Laura Ward, presiding over the arraignment, granted the prosecution’s request for supervised release. This decision means that the defendant will remain free while awaiting trial, albeit under certain conditions and monitoring.
The case, as reported by The New York Post, raises several important questions about the nature of hate crimes, the effectiveness of current bail laws, and the balance between public safety and the rights of the accused. It also highlights the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement and the judicial system in addressing and prosecuting bias-motivated offenses.
