A man accused of prowling the streets of New York City and spitting in the faces of white women was brutally beaten by two alleged vigilantes, in a violent incident captured on video. The attack followed his arrest and subsequent release for a alleged two-day spitting spree.
The Alleged Spitting Spree and Arrest
According to court documents, Anthony Caines, 45, was arrested by the NYPD on November 13 in connection with a series of disturbing incidents in Brooklyn's Williamsburg area. Authorities described the events as a 'serial spitting spree' that took place on November 11 and 12.
Charging documents allege that Caines committed three similar attacks, approaching unsuspecting women at close range and spitting directly into their faces. One victim, who chose to remain anonymous, described feeling profoundly violated. "I just felt so violated," she said. "In my face, of all places. It was crazy, honestly."
Another woman recounted how the early morning assault left her stunned. "I was completely caught off guard. It was in the morning and I was half asleep," she explained. "He came up, spit on me and kept going, and I thought, 'What just happened to me? Am I supposed to be okay with this and go about the rest of my day?'"
Caines ultimately pleaded not guilty to charges including aggravated harassment based on race or religion. He was released from custody the following day, fitted with an ankle monitor.
Vigilante Justice Captured on Video
Following his release, two unidentified men took matters into their own hands, delivering a brutal form of street justice. A 50-second video clip shared on social media shows a violent beatdown outside a hair salon, with the victim appearing to be Caines.
In the disturbing footage, the man is seen curled in a fetal position on the ground while two men in dark clothing tower over him. One assailant kicks and stomps on his lower body, while the other unleashes a barrage of punches to his head and neck area. Throughout the assault, both men are heard laughing as their victim flails desperately, screaming in pain and attempting to shield himself.
After the initial onslaught, the video shows the man, now identified as Caines, standing against a door, visibly disoriented and bleeding profusely from a gash above his left eye. The person filming the incident can be heard issuing a warning: "Stop violating these females out here, you heard? We're tired of that s***. You're making us look bad."
When Caines retorted, "I went to jail, didn't I?" one of the attackers responded, "F*** jail. We're worse than jail." The video ends after one final strike sends Caines stumbling against the door.
Aftermath and a Disturbing National Trend
Authorities revealed that Caines has a prior criminal history, including arrests for domestic violence and contempt of court. The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office is reportedly seeking additional victims who may have been targeted but have not yet come forward.
In a significant development, the NYPD confirmed they have not received a formal report about the vigilante assault on Caines.
This case highlights a worrying trend of spitting attacks against women occurring across the United States. A similar incident was reported in Portland just last Sunday, where a woman stated she was spat on while shopping at a popular bookstore. "It felt targeted, even though I don’t know who he is," the victim told local news. "For some reason, I was the chosen victim."
