Special Needs Aide Assaulted, Called Racial Slurs In New Hyde Park: Police

A homeless woman called a special needs aide racial slurs and assaulted her Thursday in New Hyde Park, police say.

According to authorities, a 28-year-old aide for a special needs group was at McDonalds, located at 2045 Jericho Turnpike, where she was approached by 45-year-old Jennifer Velez at 4 p.m. Police say Velez began calling the woman racial slurs and threatening her because she was black.

The aide got back in her car and drove westbound on Jericho Turnpike. At a stop light a short distance away, Velez exited her car and struck the woman on the left cheek, police say.

Velez fled the scene but was arrested on Astoria Boulevard in East Elmhurst following an investigation.

She was charged with third-degree assault (as a hate crime) and second-degree aggravated harassment. She will be arraigned Friday at First District Court in Hempstead.

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