Alexander Strauts, 52

EAST SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A Syracuse man seriously beat a 76-year-old man because the victim is gay, DeWitt police said Sunday.

Police filed hate crime charges against the accused.

The arrest happened on April 18 around 11:54 p.m. Police arrived at Highland Avenue to investigate an assault and arrested Alexander Strauts, 52, of Syracuse.

Police said he assaulted a 76-year-old man, causing him serious physical injury.

When he was questioned later, Strauts told police he assaulted the victim because the victim is gay, Lt. Brenton White said. The suspect and victim were acquaintances, White said.

White could not provide more details about injuries the victim sustained.

Strauts was charged with second-degree assault as a hate crime, second-degree unlawful imprisonment as a hate crime and aggravated harassment, White said.

Strauts was held at the Onondaga County Justice Center pending his arraignment.