NEW YORK—The New York Daily News and New York Post are reporting on the arrest of a Brooklyn man by the NYPD hate crimes unit for five alleged “knockout” attacks perpetrated against women.
Police sketch of Barry Baldwin, 35 of Brooklyn.
According to the reports, 35 year-old Barry Baldwin attacked his hapless victims from November 9 through Christmas eve. Victims were Jewish women ranging from 20 to 78 years of age. One woman had a 7 year old child with her for which prosecutors added a charge of endangering a child.
Initial reports had police treating this as a hate crime since it was specifically against the Jewish community. But it was, unfortunately, reported as being downgraded. Prosecutors would not comment on the reason for the downgrade from a hate crime.
“Everyone will sleep a little easier,” said Assemblyman Dov Hikind, who has been warning the community about the menace.
