Man assaulted in alleged antisemitic attack in Beverly Hills; suspect arrested
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (KABC) -- A suspect was arrested for allegedly assaulting an elderly man in Beverly Hills on Saturday in what police are calling an antisemitic attack.
Officers responded to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon around 9 a.m. in the area of N. Rexford Drive and Santa Monica Boulevard, near city hall and the police station, according to the Beverly Hills Police Department.
Police say the victim, who is in his 70s, was with his spouse when the suspect attacked him with a belt and hurled antisemitic statements to him. The victim suffered a laceration on his head and was treated by the fire department at the scene.
A man matching the description of the suspect was spotted fleeing by police and was quickly taken into custody, according to BHPD.
Jarris Jay Silagi, 44, of Los Angeles, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, attempted robbery, hate crime and elder abuse. He is being held on $100,000 bail.
"This despicable act of hate against a member of our community will not be tolerated," Beverly Hills Police Department Chief Mark Stainbrook said in a statement.
Beverly Hills police told Eyewitness News that Silagi had been arrested earlier that same morning for an unspecified misdemeanor crime.
He was cited and released for the first arrest, and hours later, he was back in custody for the assault, police said.
Police added there is no relationship between the suspect and the victim. Prior to the attack, the couple was heading to Young Israel of North Beverly Hills, an orthodox synagogue, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The victim's son posted a photo on social media of the bloodied shirt his father was wearing when he was assaulted.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass shared the photo on X, formerly known as Twitter, and called the attack a "vile act."
Gov. Gavin Newsom also shared the photo and wrote: "This is appalling. Antisemitism has no place in this state."
Detectives continue to investigate.
