Monday, May 11, 2020
Couple arrested after attacking Hasidic men in social-distancing spat
An anti-Semitic Queens couple apparently enraged by a lack of social distancing attacked a group of Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn, bizarrely even pulling the masks off some of the victims' faces, police said.
Paulo Pinho, 35, and his wife, Clelia Pinho, 46, were arrested on a charge of aggravated harassment as a hate crime after a confronting with a large group of Hasidic Jews who were gathered outside late Sunday at Bedford Avenue and Ross Street in Williamsburg, police said.
The couple spotted the crowd as they drove and got out of their vehicle before allegedly shouting anti-Semitic slurs to the group of Jews gathered outside, accusing some of not wearing masks or adhering to social-distancing guidelines, police said.
"You're the reason why we're getting sick," they shouted, in sum and substance, according to police.
Paulo Pinho, who called cops on the crowd, then approached three Hasidic men and tried to rip off their masks, setting off a fight outside. The pair was then detained by the crowd until cops arrived on the scene and took them into custody, police said.
"They were at that corner, they encountered these three males and made anti-Semitic remarks," NYPD Lt. Thomas Antonetti told The Post. "After making the statements, that's when the masks were pulled off."
The suspects, both of whom are from Queens, were taken to a hospital following the 8:35 p.m. attack, with Paulo Pinho sustaining an injury to his arm during the ensuing scuffle. Clelia Pinho was treated for cuts and minor injuries, police said.
The victims, at least one of whom was wearing traditional Hasidic garb, refused medical attention at the scene, police said.
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