(
\n May 28, 2026
\n \/ JNS
\n )<\/p>\n
It is \u201cunbelievable\u201d that the Santa Monica Police Department did not immediately classify an incident, in which a man allegedly displayed a bat, chased a Jewish couple and called them \u201cgenocidal,\u201d as a hate crime, according to Mark Goldfeder, director of the National Jewish Advocacy Center,<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen someone attacks innocent, Jewish pedestrians while screaming Israel-related collective-guilt accusations, that is not just \u2018political speech,\u2019\u201d Goldfeder said. \u201cIt is evidence of motive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bat, the chase, the threats and the dog are the crime,\u201d he told JNS. \u201cThe words explain why he picked them as his target.\u201d<\/p>\n
The incident, which occurred on May 24, underscores the importance of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance\u2019s working definition of Jew-hatred, according to Goldfeder.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout it, officials pretend not to understand the difference between criticism of Israel and blaming or attacking innocent American Jews because you don\u2019t like Israel,\u201d he told JNS.<\/p>\n
Lt. Lewis Gilmour, a spokesman for the Santa Monica Police Department, told JNS that the department is \u201caware of concerns raised regarding whether this incident involved hate-motivated conduct.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDetectives are reviewing that issue as part of the ongoing investigation, including reports, body-worn camera footage, witness statements and available video evidence,\u201d he said. \u201cAt this stage, the charges reflect the evidence developed in the initial investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n
The case has been submitted to the Los Angeles County District Attorney\u2019s Office for possible charges, the department said.<\/p>\n
The incident occurred around 5:20 p.m. on May 24 near Third Street and Broadway, according to the police department. The suspect, identified as Tar Nay, stopped his vehicle in traffic and began shouting threats at two pedestrians crossing the street, the department told JNS.<\/p>\n
Nay \u201cdisplayed a baseball bat from inside the vehicle before exiting and chasing one of the victims on foot while continuing to make threats,\u201d according to the department. \u201cDuring the confrontation, the suspect\u2019s dog bit one of the victims, who was treated at the scene for minor injuries.<\/p>\n
Nay was arrested on Sunday and booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and making criminal threats, Gilmour told JNS. The dog was taken to a local shelter by animal control officers.<\/p>\n
Gilmour told JNS that the county district attorney\u2019s office filed two charges\u2014one count of criminal threats and one count of battery, related to the dog.<\/p>\n
Jail records show that Nay is being held on $50,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court on May 29.<\/p>\n