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The pair of wannabe influencers — one in a MAGA hat — who allegedly hurled anti-black statements at a 54-year-old woman and even set her boots on fire in Chelsea last week have been charged with hate crimes, police said Thursday.
Michael A. Santiago, 31, and Michael James, 33 — who both live in the same Upper East Side rental — were slapped with a laundry list of charges including attempted assault and criminal mischief, both as hate crimes, authorities said.
The two suspects – who post their foolery on the “scrubsnyc” YouTube account – were livestreaming their reaction to The Post’s initial coverage of the Feb. 19 racist incident when they were arrested.
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Michael James is escorted into Manhattan Central Booking after his arrest. Steven Hirsch for NY Post
Their original crime unfolded when one of the goons – pictured wearing a bright red MAGA hat, a navy blue jacket, and a green scarf – tried to speak to the victim and leaned in to kiss her around 2:50 p.m. at West 26 Street and 7th Avenue, police said.
She pushed him away, but he proceeded to hurl anti-black statements toward her as he and his accomplice – holding a smartphone tripod – tried to prevent her from leaving, cops said.
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The thug in the Pro-Trump attire then brandished a lighter and alarmingly set her boots ablaze, while his heartless pal caught it all on camera, according to authorities.
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One of the goons set the woman’s boot on fire during the hate-fueled interaction, cops said. @scrubsnyc
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Michael Santiago was also arrested, Thursday. Steven Hirsch for NY Post
The pair’s YouTube page describes them as “IP2” streamers, and claims they are quasi-emulating an Italian avant-garde art period from the 1960’s called Arte Povera – meaning “poor art.”
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Both men were arrested as they livestreamed their reaction to The Post’s initial coverage of the Feb. 19 racist incident. @scrubsnyc
Before their arrest, they also filmed themselves Wednesday evening annoying perturbed bystanders, casually saying racial slurs and making lewd comments about random women on the street.
The pair had interactions with cops several times throughout past streams, showing them engaging in similar antics.
Their arraignments were pending in Manhattan Criminal Court Thursday afternoon, prosecutors said.