Youths Charged In Douglaston Hate Crime

"The defendants' alleged actions are a throwback to a dark time and place in American history and are an affront to civilized society," District Attorney Brown said.

A Flushing teenager and a 20-year-old Little Neck man have been charged with assault as a hate crime in an alleged biasrelated attack in Douglaston early last Saturday morning in which four Asian youths were terrorized and subjected to racial slurs. During the incident, two of the victims are alleged to have been severely beaten, one with an automobile steering wheel lock known as "The Club", resulting in a possible fractured skull. Kevin M. Brown, 19, of 196-40 45th Ave., Flushing, and Paul A. Heavey, 20, of 43-35 247th St., Little Neck, are being held pending arraignment on charges of assault in the second and third degrees as a hate crime, reckless endangerment in the second degree as a hate crime, criminal mischief in the fourth degree as a hate crime and harassment in the second degree. Brown is also charged with resisting arrest and committing assault in the second degree on two police officers, one of whom suffered severe injuries when Brown put his car in drive and the door closed on the officer's head and arm. If convicted, Brown and Heavey each face a determinate sentence of between eight and 15 years in state prison.

City Councilmember John Liu condemned the crime, at the same time issuing praise for police and the District Attorney. "

Queens District Attorney Richard Brown, no relation to the 19-year-old defendant, said that, according to the criminal charges, the four Asian males, Reynold Liang, 19, John Lu, 19, David Wu, 19 and Wing Chung Poon were in a white Lexus at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 12, when Brown and Heavey pulled up alongside them in a 1998 Toyota and began cursing and shouting racial slurs. At one point, Brown and Heavey allegedly drove behind Liang's Lexus and intentionally rammed it. Fearful, Liang drove away in an attempt to escape. Believing he had eluded his attackers, he pulled over at the intersection of 44th Avenue and Douglaston Parkway, where Lu got out of the car to inspect the damage to the rear of the Lexus. As he did so, Brown and Heavey reappeared. Exiting their vehicle, Brown and Heavey allegedly punched Lu about the head and body, causing him to suffer lacerations requiring multiple stitches, and substantial pain, including several loose teeth. During the attack Brown and Heavey also allegedly uttered more racial slurs. In coming to his friend's aid, Liang was also allegedly punched and kicked about the head and body by Brown and Heavey. Crawling back to his car, Liang picked up "The Club", which was then allegedly grabbed from him by Heavey and Brown, who used it to hit him numerous times about the head and body, causing him to sustain a possible fractured skull and substantial pain to his chest.

Police officers assigned to the 111th Precinct pulled Brown's Toyota over approximately 20 minutes after the incident in Bayside, at the intersection of Cloverdale Boulevard and 46th Avenue. As Police Officer Graziano Cillo attempted to arrest Brown, Brown allegedly put the Toyota into drive, causing it to crash into Cillo's police vehicle and the door of the Toyota to close on the officer's head and arm. When Officers Anthony Panetta and Scott Lutz then attempted to handcuff Brown, he allegedly flailed his arms, causing injuries to Lutz's hand.

"The defendants' alleged actions are a throwback to a dark time and place in American history and are an affront to civilized society," District Attorney Brown said. "Queens County is the most culturally diverse county in the nation and crimes of hate will never be tolerated here. [Such incidents] are to be condemned in the strongest possible terms. When they do, regrettably, occur, they will be vigorously prosecuted and severely punished."

City Councilmember John Liu condemned the crime, at the same time issuing praise for police and the District Attorney. "The perpetrators of violent crimes in our community must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law," he declared. "Because crimes of hate and racial bias have an extensive impact beyond the individuals involved, the law mandates additional penalties against crimes motivated by hate and bigotry. We hope the youths injured in this incident will recover fully. In the meantime, the community is grateful to the New York City Police Department's 111th Precinct and District Attorney Brown for apprehending the suspects quickly and charging them with hate crimes."