Manhattan Man Indicted on Hate Crime Charges for Alleged Attack on Gay

Manhattan has witnessed yet another act driven by hate, as District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., announced the indictment of Philip Wales, 30, for his alleged attack on a gay couple. The couple fell victim to a bias-motivated attack within the Flatiron neighborhood, with Wales facing charges of Assault in the Third Degree as a Hate Crime and Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree, according to a press release by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

"This type of bias-motivated attack should never happen to anyone, and our Office is continuing to seek accountability in hate crime matters while also conducing community engagement and trainings to stop these attacks before they occur," DA Bragg stated in the release. The incident, which occurred last Wednesday, began around 10:40 p.m. when Wales reportedly hurled obscenities at two men, whose evening took a turn from peaceful to perilous as they were accosted simply for walking together along 6th Avenue, according to the DA Bragg's office report.

The situation escalated when Wales allegedly struck one of the men in the head after first verbally assaulting the couple. The quick thinking victim grabbed a nearby traffic cone in an attempt to protect himself, nevertheless, Wales continued his attack, striking the man in the face. The details outlined in court documents and statements on the record, paint a vivid picture of the fear and aggression that sprang forth under the city lights.

Amidst the chaos, the victim's husband intervened, trying to shield his partner from further harm as the victim dialed 911 and waved down a police car, his husband was holding Wales before he could flee the scene. The assault left one of the men bearing physical marks from the encounter; sustaining injuries that included a bump on his head, a cut to his lip, and bruising to his wrist, DA Bragg's office detailed.

The prosecution of the case has been entrusted to Assistant D.A. Olivia Stevens, under the guidance of Deputy Chief of the Hate Crimes Unit Constantine Coritsidis, Chief of the Hate Crimes Unit Hannah Yu, and Executive D.A. of the Trial Division, Lisa DelPizzo. The NYPD's 10th precinct has also been thanked by D.A. Bragg for their involvement in the case, marking another instance where the specter of hate crimes necessitates a united front from community members and law enforcement alike.