Two arrested for attempted robbery as hate crime

NEWBURGH – Police in the City of Newburgh have arrested two teens and charged them in connection with what police are calling an attempted robbery as a hate crime.

Police said about 10 young black males attacked a 38-year-old Hispanic man shortly before 8 p.m. on March 17 near the corner of Ann and Clark streets as a taxi driver witnessed the whole incident.

The victim told police the assailants yelled racial slurs at him and then several of them knocked him to the ground and began going through his pockets. The group then fled on foot.

Police officers responded to the scene and gave chase, finally catching two teens, a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old.

The 15-year-old was booked and turned over to his grandmother. The 16-year-old, identified as Easton Tuff of 83 Varrick Homes in Newburgh, was charged with attempted assault in the second degree, aided by another as a hate crime.