This past weekend, another violent incident occurred near the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, where a man threatened a Jewish couple with a baseball bat while using anti-Semitic language and even unleashed his dog on one of the victims in broad daylight.
The incident took place around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday at the intersection of Third Street and Broadway, close to the iconic shopping district that has been facing challenges such as empty storefronts and security issues.
According to the Santa Monica police, the suspect, Tal Ney, was driving on Broadway when he abruptly stopped and began shouting at two pedestrians crossing the street.
Footage shows Ney exiting his vehicle and pursuing the couple while hollering phrases like “genocide.” It’s believed they were targeted because of their Jewish faith.
Ney brandished a baseball bat from his car, then got out in the middle of the road to chase one of the victims on foot.
Additionally, his dog—a male Cane Corso—joined in, running after the victim and resulting in a bite to the thigh.
A video that circulated online depicts Ney yelling anti-Semitic slurs while holding the bat from his gray Chevrolet SUV near the promenade.
Witnesses have described it as a chaotic scene, with Ney jumping in and out of cars, screaming at people, and chasing pedestrians.
At one point, someone recording the incident remarked that “he’s tweaking,” as Ney returned with the dog to pursue more individuals.
Officers from the Santa Monica Police Department’s Downtown Services Division eventually located Ney on Fourth Street and placed him under arrest.
Detectives are now gathering witness accounts and video footage to assess whether this incident can be classified as a hate crime.
The SMPD is reviewing statements, reports, body-worn camera footage, and other related videos.
As for the victim, he suffered minor injuries from the dog bite and was treated on the scene by the local fire department, with no further medical attention needed, per police reports.
Ney is currently booked at the Santa Monica Jail facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon and making criminal threats.
Additionally, animal control seized the dog and took it to a local shelter for safekeeping.
According to SMPD Lt. Gilmore, there is an ongoing investigation into whether any hate-related motives were behind this confrontation. The department’s statement indicated awareness of public concern regarding hate-driven actions.
The case has now been forwarded to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for review, leaving open the possibility for further charges or a reduced sentence depending on the evidence gathered.
This incident underscores growing frustrations about conditions in downtown Santa Monica, where businesses near the Third Street Promenade have struggled to recover from the downturn in retail traffic during the pandemic. Commercial vacancy rates in this area remain between 20% and 30%, as longtime shops continue to close despite the city’s efforts to revitalize the area.
