A Queens man is locked up on Long Island on hate crime charges.
Nassau County Police arrested Bechir Lehbeib, 26, after a call came in about an incident outside a house on Steven Drive in Hewlett this past weekend at 1:08 p.m.
According to police, the man was identified by a local resident after two Israeli flags vanished off the front lawn of his house on Sunday afternoon.
Police say the homeowner saw Lehbeibe steal the missing flags, and rushed out the door to stop him.
When he caught up to the thief, he grabbed his flags back — and Lehbeib, say police, punched him in the face.
This split level home in Hewlett was a hate crime scene, say police, after 2 Israeli flags were allegedly stolen by an anti-Israel vandal.Photo byNassau County Department of Taxation
Then, they say, Lehbeib head-butted him.
As this episode unfolded, say police, the victim heard the man say: “I’m Palestinian and you Jews are killing Palestinians” — thereby elevating any allegations of unlawful activities to Felony crimes.