Victims granted restraining order against man who allegedly ruined a “Free Gaza” message in Sand City dunes, DA says
SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV)- UPDATE ON FEB. 1, 2024 AT 3:15 PM- The Monterey County District Attorney's Office confirmed that three Palestinian sisters were granted a restraining order against a former California congressional candidate who allegedly ruined a "Free Gaza" message in October 2023.
The District Attorney's Office said that Max Steiner cannot contact the sisters in person or on social media. Berkley Brannon who is the Chief Assistant District Attorney for the Monterey County District Attorney's Office said that Steiner opposed the request but the judge granted the request.
Steiner allegedly ruined a message that said "Free Gaza," on top of the sand dune that showed support for Palestine in the Israel-Hamas war.
During an altercation, Steiner allegedly put his arm around the 13-year-old girl's neck and his arm around her waist to try and get her phone that she recorded the altercation on.
Steiner got the phone and threw it on the bike path, DA said.
Steiner pleaded not guilty to battery and vandalism charges in January.
He will be in court on March 1.
Man who allegedly ruined a "Free Gaza" message written in Sand City dunes pleads not guilty to battery and vandalism charges, DA says
SAND CITY, Calif. (KION-TV)- UPDATE ON JAN. 16, 2024 AT 4:25 PM- A former California Congressional candidate who allegedly ruined a "Free Gaza" message in the Sand City dunes pleaded not guilty to battery and vandalism charges.
Max Steiner made his first court appearance in a Salinas courtroom on Monday afternoon. In October 2023, Steiner allegedly ruined a message that said "Free Gaza," on top of the sand dune to show support for Palestine in the Israel-Hamas war.
Steiner allegedly confronted the three Palestinian woman who created the message and destroyed the message that was in the sand dune.
Steiner also allegedly told the three woman that they were "supporting terrorism," all while a 13-year-old girl recorded the altercation.
During the altercation, Steiner allegedly put his arm around the 13-year-old girl's neck and his arm around her waist to try to get her phone.
Steiner was able to get the phone and threw it on a bike path which broke the phone.
Sand City Police Chief David Honda confirmed to KION that they filed battery and vandalism charges and wanted the Monterey County District Attorney's Office to review the case for potential hate crimes that could have been committed.
The Monterey County District Attorney's Office said they are only charging Steiner with battery and vandalism charges which are both misdemeanors.
Steiner's next hearing will be on Thursday Feb. 1.
Man ruins "Free Gaza" message written in Sand City dunes by local Palestinian women, police investigating
Sand City Police say they are investigating an "altercation" that occurred on the sand dune on the 2200 block of Highway 1 Thursday afternoon.
Three local Palestinian sisters told KION that they wrote "Free Gaza" on top of the sand dune to show a message in support of their people amidst an ongoing conflict with Israel. They are all second-generation Palestinians who live in Monterey County and did not want to be identified due to safety reasons.
That is when an unknown man ran up and confronted them. He is then seen on a now-viral TikTok ruining the message and in another video telling them they are "supporting terrorism." All while the youngest of the three women, a 13-year-old girl, was recording him.
When he noticed the young girl was filming that's when the three women said things got scarier for them.
"He charged at her from behind, with an arm around her neck, and an arm around her waist," said one of the women who did not want to be identified. "And he lifted and he shook her until he could get her phone. Me and my sister were fighting him and fighting him, and we could not make a dent. When he finally got her phone he let go of her. And he grabbed the phone just to throw it, and it hit the bike path."
The man took to social media to self-identify as Max Steiner, who previously ran for California's 1st Congressional District in 2022 but lost, and he says while he did throw the phone, neither party touched one another.
The women denied trashing his bike and said "We have no hate in our hearts for our Jewish brothers and sisters. We condemn the holocaust and reiterate not every critique of the Israeli state is anti-semitism."
KION reached out to Max Steiner for comment or an interview over various Social Media platforms and has yet to hear back.
Sand City Police told KION "We are investigating an altercation stemming from a political disagreement between different parties. The investigation is in progress and are communicating with the family now, confirming statements, and reviewing the evidence, so everything is still in the preliminary stages."
Police did confirm the incident happened on Thursday at around 6:22 p.m. in the same location.
