February 26, 2026 NEW YORK, NY The hunt is over for the two men who turned a busy Manhattan afternoon into a scene of racial terror.
Detectives have officially apprehended Michael James, 34, and his alleged accomplice, Michael Santiago, 31, both residents of the Upper East Side. The arrests come just hours after the NYPD released chilling surveillance images of James sporting a red "Make America Great Again" hat—a detail that has sent shockwaves through the city.
A "Selfie-Stick" Nightmare
The incident, which unfolded on Feb. 19 near West 26th Street and 7th Avenue, wasn't just a random act of violence; it was a recorded confrontation.
According to police sources, the afternoon took a dark turn when the duo approached a 54-year-old woman. While Santiago allegedly filmed the encounter on a cellphone mounted to a selfie stick, James reportedly leaned into the woman’s face, demanding a kiss.
When the victim bravely rebuffed the advances and shoved him away, the situation escalated from harassment to a full-blown hate crime.
From Slurs to Arson
Witnesses and police reports describe a harrowing sequence of events:
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The Verbal Assault: After being rejected, James allegedly unleashed a torrent of racist vitriol, calling the victim the N-word and referring to her as a "slave."
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The Fire: As the woman attempted to walk away, the pair blocked her path. In a stunning display of malice, James allegedly produced a lighter and set the woman's boots on fire.
The victim was able to flee the scene and, miraculously, did not report any physical injuries. However, the brazen nature of the attack—committed in broad daylight in the heart of Chelsea—immediately triggered an investigation by the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force.
Facing the Music
The two Upper East Side men aren't just facing standard assault charges. The NYPD has booked them on a litany of counts, many elevated by "bias" enhancers:
