Suspect charged in alleged antisemitic attack on elderly Jewish couple in Beverly Hills

LOS ANGELES - Charges have been filed against the suspect accused of attacking an elderly Jewish couple - hitting the man with a belt while hurling antisemitic comments at him and attempting to rob his wife - on their way to a Beverly Hills synagogue, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced Tuesday.

Jarris Jay Silagi, 44, of Los Angeles faces several charges for the Dec. 9 attack, including elder abuse, assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury and attempted robbery. The charges also include special allegations of a hate crime and inflicting great bodily injury. 

Officers were called out to the area of N. Rexford Drive and N. Santa Monica Boulevard for reports that a person had been attacked.

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When officers got there, they found an elderly man who had a cut on his head after he had apparently been hit with a belt. The man told police that while he was being hit with the belt, his attacker made antisemitic comments. The suspect also allegedly tried to rob the victim's wife by demanding her jewelry.

Police said Silagi ran from the scene, but after a search, officers were able to find him and take him into custody.

"This despicable act of hate against a member of our community will not be tolerated," Beverly Hills Police Chief Mark Stainbrook said in a press release.

Police said there is no relation between Silagi and his victims.

According to court records, Silagi has an extensive criminal history dating back more than a decade, including no-contest pleas to various felony and misdemeanor charges including battery, trespassing, disorderly conduct, obstructing a peace officer or paramedic and burglary.

Gascón also announced charges against a suspect in a separate case. Klinton Allister Dion, 32, who allegedly sprayed antisemitic graffiti on a Burbank synagogue and at other businesses in Burbank and Glendale, has been charged with 12 felony counts, including hate crime allegations. He faces up to 20 years in prison, Gascón said.

Gascón called the recent spike in antisemitic hate crimes "a disturbing trend" that has only gotten worse since the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas.

Los Angeles is home to the second-largest Jewish community in the U.S. 

City News Service contributed to this report.