NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- The NYPD's hate crimes task force is investigating an attack on an Asian man who was punched in the face in an unprovoked attack near Midtown on Wednesday.
The incident occurred around 7 a.m. on Wednesday as the 38-year-old victim was walking at West 33rd Street and Eighth Avenue, near Penn Station when a stranger suddenly punched him without saying a word, according to officials.
The attacker fled the scene in an unkown direction.
The victim refused medical attention, authorities said.
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea on Thursday laid out new measures the department is taking to combat anti-Asian hate crimes in the city, including undercover officers and more detectives at the department's Hate Crimes Task Force.
"We're increasing out outreach to Asian-American communities and we're also adding layers of enforcement," Shea said.
