BALLSTON — A 20-year-old man was arrested Sunday after allegedly damaging a vehicle with a hammer in what authorities are calling a hate crime.
The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance call at 1:52 p.m. on Blue Heron Way in the town of Ballston.
Christopher J. Brothers of Ballston Spa was charged with criminal mischief in the 2nd degree as a hate crime, a class C felony, and criminal contempt in the 1st degree, a class E felony.
Brothers is accused of intentionally damaging property belonging to another person in an amount exceeding $1,500.
He allegedly caused damage to a motor vehicle by striking it with a hammer and by jumping up and down on the top of it.
Brothers is alleged to have intentionally selected the victim of the crime because of a belief or perception about that person’s race.
The victim in the matter is Black.
He is also accused of violating an order of protection by causing the damage.
Brothers was arraigned before the Honorable Steven L. Brown in the Milton Town Court and released to pretrial services pending further proceedings in the Ballston Town Court.
