Boy, 12, arrested on hate crime charges on SI

STATEN ISLAND (WABC) -- A 12-year-old New York City boy was arrested and charged with assault as a hate crime after police say he tried to rip the head scarf off a Muslim classmate during recess.

The alleged attack which police say occurred on the grounds of IS-49 is now the focus of two investigations, and leading to the arrest of an 11-year-old student.

"It would be hard for anybody to see your kid with a cuff in his hands, that's just messed up," said Frank Davis, the suspect's father.

Shackled and walked out of family court, Frank Davis' 11-year-old son is charged as a juvenile with the alleged attack on a school mate that now has police and school officials investigating whether it was a hate crime.

"I know he's innocent. He is a Muslim, he wouldn't do that to a fellow Muslim," Davis said.

Prosecutors claim, the 50-pound 6th grader harassed a 12-year-old Muslim classmate over a period of eight weeks.

On the grounds of IS-49, school officials also confirmed that an alleged attack is under investigation in which an alleged victim was beaten, thrown to the ground and that an 11-year -old allegedly tried to rip off her religious headscarf.

"The young man maintains his innocence. I haven't heard anything that would make me believe a hate crime occurred," said Christopher Robles, the defense attorney.

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new york city, staten island, hate crime, new york news, tim fleischer

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