Police said Brandon Elliot, 38, is the man seen on surveillance video kicking and stomping the woman near Times Square on Monday.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called the attack “absolutely disgusting and outrageous” and said it was “absolutely unacceptable” that witnesses didn’t help the woman.
Two lobby workers, described by their union as doormen, were seen on video witnessing the attack but failing to help Kari.
This year in New York City, there have been 33 hate crimes with an Asian victim as of Sunday, police said.
Joo Han, the deputy director of the Asian American Federation, called the plainclothes patrols a “knee-jerk response” that ignored misgivings she said many people in Asian communities have about law enforcement.