In another disturbing incident near Santa Monica’s beleaguered Third Street Promenade, a man reportedly threatened a Jewish couple with a baseball bat and hurled antisemitic abuse before setting his dog on one of them. This confrontation occurred in broad daylight, further highlighting ongoing safety concerns in the area.
The altercation took place around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday close to the intersection of 3rd Street and Broadway, a short distance from the shopping district now grappling with vacant stores, safety issues, and dwindling visitor numbers.
According to the Santa Monica Police, the suspect, identified as Tar Nay, halted his vehicle on Broadway and began shouting threats at two pedestrians crossing the street.
Footage of the incident was shared on Instagram by Benjamin Basire, who explained that the victims requested him to post the video. Basire, who actively engages in the Jewish community, spoke to The California Post about his decision to disseminate the footage.
“I am committed to standing against antisemitism,” Basire stated. “The victims wanted to remain anonymous, so they asked me to share their story on social media and serve as their voice,” he conveyed to The Post.
“I’m active in our Jewish community, and outspoken against antisemitism,” Basire said. “(The victims) asked me to share the incident on my social media and speak on their behalf, as they decided to remain anonymous,” he told The Post.
The video shows Nay exiting the SUV moments later to pursue the couple, shouting “genocidal” and “genocide.”
The pair believes they were singled out due to their religion.
Investigators said Nay displayed a baseball bat from inside his vehicle before stopping in the middle of the intersection and chasing one of the victims on foot.
Police said the suspect’s dog, a male Cane Corso, then joined the attack, chasing the victim and biting him on the thigh.
Disturbing video posted online appeared to show the suspect shouting antisemitic slurs from a gray Chevrolet SUV while brandishing the bat near the Third Street Promenade.
Witnesses described a chaotic sequence in which the man repeatedly jumped in and out of the vehicle, screaming at pedestrians and chasing people through the street.
At one point, someone recording the incident could be heard saying, “he’s tweaking,” before the suspect allegedly returned with the dog and resumed chasing people down the roadway.
Officers assigned to the Santa Monica Police Department’s Downtown Services Unit later located Nay nearby on 4th Street and took him into custody.
Detectives gathered witness statements and collected video evidence from the area as part of the investigation, they are currently determining if the incident would be considered a potential hate-motivated crime.
The SMPD is evaluating witness accounts, reports, body-worn camera recordings and other available video footage.
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The victim was treated at the scene by the Santa Monica Fire Department for what police described as a minor injury from the dog bite.
No further medical treatment was required, according to authorities.
Nay was booked into the Santa Monica Jail on charges of assault with a deadly weapon and criminal threats.
Animal Control officers also seized the dog and transported it to a local shelter.
SMPD Lieutenant Gilmour confirmed detectives are also investigating whether the confrontation involved hate-motivated conduct.
“SMPD is aware of concerns raised regarding whether this incident involved hate motivated conduct,” the department told The California Post. “Detectives are reviewing that issue as part of the ongoing investigation, including reports, body worn camera footage, witness statements, and available video evidence.”
Police said the case has been submitted to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration and that additional charges or sentencing enhancements remain possible if supported by evidence gathered during the investigation.
The violent outburst adds to mounting frustration surrounding conditions in downtown Santa Monica, where businesses near the Third Street Promenade continue to struggle years after the pandemic-era collapse of retail traffic.
Commercial vacancy rates along the iconic pedestrian corridor remain between 20% and 30%, with longtime retailers continuing to leave despite aggressive city intervention efforts.
