Another violent scene unfolded near Santa Monica’s struggling Third Street Promenade over the weekend after a man threatened a Jewish couple with a baseball bat and antisemitic slurs before unleashing his dog on one of the victims in broad daylight.
The chaos erupted around 5:30 p.m. Sunday near 3rd Street and Broadway, steps from the city’s iconic shopping district that has become increasingly defined by storefront vacancies, public safety concerns, and declining foot traffic.
Santa Monica Police told The California Post the suspect, identified as Tar Nay, was driving along Broadway when he suddenly stopped in traffic and began screaming threats at two people crossing the street.
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.
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.
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