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Flushing man committed hate crimes: Brown

FLUSHING — A Flushing man was arrested Nov. 20 and charged with hate crimes after he allegedly repeatedly harassed a woman, using racial slurs and other derogatory statements, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.

Michael Penen, 25, allegedly had numerous encounters with the woman between June 1 and Nov. 5 during which he yelled anti-Chinese slurs as the woman walked past his Flushing residence, according to the DA. Penen also allegedly made numerous inappropriate sexual comments, the DA said.

On Oct. 5, the woman was crossing the intersection of 60th Avenue and 153th Street when Penen allegedly sped up to her in a car and quickly stopped, causing her to fear physical injury, the DA said.

Penen was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment as a hate crime and first-degree harassment as a hate crime.

Penen will appear in Queens Supreme Court Dec. 10.