Over the weekend, a distressing incident occurred near Santa Monica’s embattled Third Street Promenade when a man allegedly threatened a Jewish couple with a baseball bat and hurled antisemitic slurs at them. This confrontation escalated as he reportedly set his dog on one of the victims, all in broad daylight.
The altercation took place around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday near the intersection of 3rd Street and Broadway, close to the city’s renowned shopping area. This district, once bustling with activity, is now increasingly marred by empty storefronts, safety issues, and reduced foot traffic.
The Santa Monica Police Department informed The California Post that the suspect, identified as Tar Nay, was driving along Broadway when he abruptly stopped in traffic. He then began shouting threats at two pedestrians crossing the street.
Video footage captures Nay exiting his SUV and pursuing the couple while shouting words like “genocidal” and “genocide.”
The couple believes they were targeted because of their Jewish faith.
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.
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.
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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.