40-Year-Old ‘Student’ Nabbed in Hate Crime at Protest

Hit with Arson Charges, Theft

The NYPD has arrested 40-year-old James Carlson in connection with stealing an Israeli flag during a protest outside Columbia. Two other men are being sought for assault. -Photo by NYPD

2 Still Being Sought For Assault 

By Dan Gesslein 

Manhattan Voice 

May 2, 2024

MANHATTAN - A 40-year-old Brooklyn man was charged with arson and for stealing a man’s Israeli flag during a protest outside Columbia, cops said. Police are searching for two other suspects for hitting the victim in the face with a rock. 

The NYPD announced the arrest of James Carlson, 40, from Park Slope, Brooklyn. He was charged with criminal mischief, arson and criminal possession of stolen property. He was not charged with hate crimes at this time.

At around 11 pm on April 20, a 22-year-old male was walking with a large Israeli flag at a protest in the vicinity of Amsterdam Avenue and West 116 Street near Columbia University’s Morningside Heights campus. The victim was part of a counter protest to the pro-Palestinian student protests. 

Cops said a man yanked the flag out of the victim’s hands. The flag thief ran into the crowd of protesters and the victim gave chase.

Cops said someone in the crowd threw a rock and hit the  victim in the face.

The victim sustained injuries but refused medical treatment.

The NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force is investigating. There is no description of the other two suspects at this time. 

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or on Twitter @NYPDTips. 

All calls are strictly confidential.