Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of MYLES UTZ, 31, for attacking a 25-year-old Jewish man and a 74-year-old Jewish man, while making antisemitic remarks, on the Upper West Side in June 2024. UTZ is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with one count each of Attempted Assault in the Second Degree as a Hate Crime, Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree. [1]

“As alleged, Myles Utz attacked two strangers in antisemitic incidents just minutes apart,” said District Attorney Bragg. “This alleged conduct is unacceptable, and we will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners to hold people accountable who target Manhattanites in hate-based acts of violence. During this time of increased threats and acts of violence against Manhattan’s Jewish community, I encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of a hate crime to call 911 or report it to our Office’s Hate Crimes Unit at 212-335-3100.”

According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, on June 16, 2024, at approximately 4:00 p.m., UTZ approached the 25-year-old man, near West 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. As UTZ approached, he yelled “Free Palestine” and several antisemitic slurs while throwing two glass bottles at the man, who was wearing a yarmulke. The man moved out of the way to avoid being hit and the bottles shattered on the ground.     

As a crowd began to form, UTZ approached a 74-year-old man, who was in the crowd, after noticing he was wearing a yarmulke. UTZ yelled “Free Palestine” and spat at the man. UTZ continued yelling “Free Palestine” after he spat and eventually fled the scene.   

UTZ was arrested on July 25, 2024.

Assistant D.A. Mathew Fontanez (Trial Bureau 70) is handling the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Constantine Coritsidis (Deputy Chief of the Hate Crimes Unit), Hannah Yu (Chief of the Hate Crimes Unit) and Executive D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Hate Crimes Investigative Analyst Eric Risch and Paralegal Robert Copit (Trial Bureau 70) are providing valuable assistance in the case.   

D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD, particularly Detective Lysette Feliciano-Tengco of the Hate Crimes Task Force.  

Defendant Information:

MYLES UTZ

Mentor, OH

Charged:

• Attempted Assault in the Second Degree as a Hate Crime, a class D felony, one count
• Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor, one count
• Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree, a class A misdemeanor, one count

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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.