Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NY – Two young teenage
girls were attacked while walking on Kingston Avenue by a woman who expressed
outrage over their religious beliefs. A man who tried to intervene in their
defense was attacked as well.
The incident occurred on the Thursday night, the second
night of Sukkos, at around 11:00pm, on Kingston Avenue near Empire Blvd. in
Crown Heights.
The alleged assailant was identified by police as Shannon
Polak, aged 26.
Police say she approached the girls and asked them where
they were going. The girls responded that they were going to a religious event,
and the woman then asked them if “they really believe in that.” She then
started pushing the girls, pulling their hair and tried to choke one of them,
police said.
A 20-year-old Hasidic man tried to intervene, but Polak
repeatedly punched him in the face, according to police.
Police were called to the scene and she was arrested and
charged with assault.
The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating.
