Man gets off bike and attacks victim in hate crime

ITHACA (WBNG) – Ithaca police are investigating a hate crime, they announced Tuesday.

The police department said it received a report on August 19 of an assault that occurred on August 17 at approximately 2:30 p.m. in the 100 block of Cascadilla Street.

Officers learned that the suspect, described as a white man in his mid-20s to early 30s with curly black hair and wearing black sweatpants and a light-colored T-shirt, got off his bike and attacked the victim.

The suspect was last seen on a black bicycle with wide tires and rounded handlebars.

Police said the attacker was unknown to the victim.

During the attack, the suspect made derogatory comments about the victim's gender identity, police said, leading officers to label the incident a hate crime.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact Ithaca Police as soon as possible.

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