Congers Man Accused of Hate Crime, Hitting Child

A Congers man who was armed with a steak knife has been charged with a hate crime after he burst into an apartment at the Holiday Court on Route 9W in Congers, screamed racial epithets and then struck a child in the face, according to .

Thomas Cheviot, 53, of Congers, police said, was confrontational with town police officers during an investigation of the incident and resisted arrest. To make the arrest, Cheviot was subdued by police using a Taser.

Police went to Holiday Court, 30 N. Route 9W, at 12:30 p.m. Saturday after a report that someone had entered an apartment and was yelling anti-Hispanic epithets. Police said Cheviot had opened an unlocked door and entered the unit, while holding the steak knife.

In the apartment, Cheviot is accused to hitting a child across the face with an open hand, knocking the child over a chair and into a glass sliding door. The child hit the back of his head during the fall and was taken to Nyack Hospital for treatment.

The child, police said, was released after treatment for injuries to the head, jaw, eye and temple areas. The child was described as less than 10 years old.

Police searched Holiday Court and found Cheviot, who police said was still in possession of the steak knife. After being shot with the Taser, Cheviot was taken to Nyack Hospital for evaluation and was treated and released, police said.

Cheviot was charged with three counts of first-degree burglary, assault on a child less than 11 as a hate crime, assault as a hate crime — all felonies —  criminal possession of a weapon, resisting arrest, and endangering the welfare of a child — all misdemeanors.  Cheviot was arraigned by Clarkstown Town Judge Rolf Thorsen and ordered held in the Rockland County Correctional Facility in New City on $100,000 bail pending a hearing on Tuesday.  

Information on what may have sparked Saturday's incident and Cheviot's connection with the occupants of the Holiday Court apartment were not available from police.