BROOKLYN, NY — Police say a 46-year-old Brooklyn man has been arrested in connection with an assault they are investigating as a hate crime in Midwood. Sean Behrens was taken into custody Friday morning after investigators linked him to the July 21 attack, according to the NYPD. Authorities say the confrontation happened shortly after 8 a.m. near Kings Highway and Ocean Avenue. The 64-year-old victim was hurt in the incident and later taken to a local hospital for treatment.
How The Attack Unfolded
Investigators say Behrens approached the older man and shoved him to the ground. Police say the attack was accompanied by anti-Jewish comments, which is why the case is being treated as a hate crime. The incident occurred in a busy Brooklyn neighborhood, adding to concern about bias-motivated violence in the area. According to police, the victim’s injuries were concentrated in his back and waist. The NYPD said the man was alert enough to receive hospital care after the assault.
The location placed the encounter near a major intersection in Midwood, where foot traffic can be heavy early in the morning. Police have not said what led up to the confrontation or whether the two men knew each other. The account released by investigators focuses on the alleged physical attack and the slurs said to have been directed at the victim. Those details formed the basis for the hate crime and aggravated harassment charges now facing the suspect.
Victim Taken To Hospital
Emergency medical workers transported the 64-year-old to Maimonides Midwood Community Hospital after the assault. Police said he was expected to recover, which suggests the injuries were serious enough to require treatment but were not believed to be life-threatening. The NYPD identified the harm as injuries to the back and waist. No additional medical details were released.
The victim’s age and the public setting of the attack made the case especially visible in the neighborhood. Police did not identify him by name, and no family members or witnesses were quoted in the material provided. The focus of the release was on the arrest and the hate crime allegation. That means the next steps will likely center on the criminal case rather than on any broader public response.
Police Sought Suspect
Police moved quickly after the July 21 assault, releasing images of the suspected attacker the next day in hopes of identifying him. That step is common in cases where investigators believe a suspect may be recognized by the public. Behrens was arrested more than a week after the incident. The NYPD said he was taken into custody Friday morning, though no additional details were provided about the circumstances of the arrest.
The timeline shows the case developed over several days, beginning with the assault, then the release of photos, and finally the arrest. Authorities did not say whether the images came from security cameras or another source. They also did not say whether the arrest followed a tip from the public or an investigative lead. Even so, the sequence suggests officers were able to connect the suspect to the reported attack through their follow-up work.
Charges And Next Steps
Behrens now faces hate crime assault and aggravated harassment charges, police said. Those counts reflect both the alleged physical force used against the victim and the reported anti-Jewish language during the encounter. The case remains in the hands of law enforcement and prosecutors, who will determine how it proceeds through the court system. No further court dates or legal filings were included in the source material.
For Midwood residents, the arrest closes one chapter of a case that drew attention because of both the injuries and the bias allegation. Police did not announce any ongoing threat to the public, and they have not said whether additional charges are possible. The NYPD’s account indicates that investigators considered the attack serious enough to move forward with hate crime allegations after reviewing the facts reported by the victim and gathered during the search for the suspect.