2 suspected of beating man in Crown Heights, trying to steal his dog

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (WABC) -- Two white men were charged with attacking a 56-year-old black man in Crown Heights over the weekend, in an apparent hate crime.

Samuel Brendler and Ahrone Koskase were arrested Saturday for assaulting the victim at Montgomery Street and Albany Avenue around 6:40 p.m. the same day.

The suspects are suspected of approaching the victim, who was walking his 1-year-old dog, and throwing garbage cans at him. According to the New York City Police Department, the suspects, who were drunk, repeatedly punched the victim in the face and body while attempting to take his dog and yelling racial slurs at him.

On Tuesday, Dieuphene Hyppolite, 56, had scrapes on his knees and scratches on his arms -- allegedly the result of the beating.

"All of a sudden I heard, they throw a garbage can at him. He has to block it with his arm. He has the scratch on his arm, and his two fingers are swollen," said his wife, Monita Hyppolite. "He has high blood pressure; we had to take him to the hospital."

The full-time cab driver and part-time auxiliary police officer was unavailable to talk Tuesday, but his wife shared his story.

"I never have any problems here been living here for over 30 years. Never had that," Monita Hyppolite said. "I feel terrible because he can get killed by them."

The suspects, who are white, were charged with assault as a hate crime and arraigned the next day.