By COLlive reporter
No punches were pulled when Crown Heights community members and elected officials gathered Monday at a press conference discussing the police beating of an unarmed young Jewish man.
“There are no 2 sides to this story,” stated the vocal New York Assemblyman Dov Hikind in reference to 2 police officers going after a 21 year-old student on the Jewish holiday of Shmini Atzeres last week.
Ehud Halevi was sleeping at ALIYA Institute’s building on E New York Avenue in Crown Heights when the cops woke him up, demanding that he leave after receiving a phone call from a gatekeeper.
When Halevi refused to leave –stating that he had permission to be there from the outreach organization’s director Rabbi Moshe Feiglin— the officers began to violently beat him, as recorded on security cameras and posted on COLlive.com on Sunday night.
Halevi was taken to the Rikers Island jail complex.
“Shame that it takes something like this to make everyone wake up,” Hikind told local media at the press conference held at the United Lubavitch Yeshiva, attended by dozens of activists and officials.
“It’s clear there’s no justification for this,” agreed fellow Brooklyn Assemblyman Karim Camara. “I counted 12 officers who held him down and swung at him. It’s despicable.”
“We are supporters of the Police Department, but when police officers behave in this way action has to be taken against them,” Hikind said.
VIDEO: Hikind speaks to COLlive
“Crown Heights has seen a number of instances of police misconduct and there was no video,” said Berel Sugar, a community activist. “This time there is proof. Had we not had the video the kid is facing 9 charges and jail time. Now we have proof how the NYPD handles this kind of thing in Crown Heights and probably citywide.”
Rabbi Feiglin, who has been working with young men at-risk for the last decade, said he’s “never seen anything like this” and that he is now tasked with calming the fears and restoring the trust of his members and their parents that “we are a safe haven.”
NYC Council Member Letitia James, who praised Feiglin’s work, said Halevi “did not defend himself and did not fight back.”
“I want to thank the synagogue for housing homeless individuals. The homeless people should be treated with more respect. The charges should be dismissed immediately and the officers should be off the force. This should never happen again,” she stated.
Also in attendance were New York City Comptroller John Liu, NYS Senator Eric Adams, and New York City Public Advocate Bill D’Blasio.
Representing the community were Yossi Hackner, Eli Cohen and Chanina Sperlin of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council. Eli Slavin was there on behalf of Congresswoman Yvette Clarke of Brooklyn.
Zaki Tamir, Chairman of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council who is deeply involved with Aliya activities, said he felt this incident of police brutality, takes the community a few steps back.
“Over the past few years we had an opportunity to make a relationship with the police, and this has set us back years of progress,” said Tamir, an attorney. “We tell our kids they can get help from police. If our elected officials care they will root out the bad apples.”
VIDEO: The footage that shocked the community. Caution: Graphic video – not suitable for younger viewers. Viewer discretion is advised
thank you for clarifying the issues
GET OFF OF HERE! We don’t need to hear any more stupidity from lazy cops with too much time, anger and Jewish blood on their hands. Really, you think (claim…falsely) that the arrested boy was trespassing where he wasn’t welcome?? YOU ARE! You are completely unwelcome and unwanted here. Please leave, and keep you foolish, defensive comments to yourselves (as you keep all the other sick untelevized scandals to yourselves…). You do not protect us. You SCARE us. And you feel good hearing that, right? Even sicker. Well hear this; we do not respect you, not one iota. A normal,… Read more »
Very well said
Why didn’t Rabbi Feiglin, while he already had the podium, explain what the heck happened.
If they have a night guard, why did he not know about this person who had permission to sleep in the center?
There are still lots of unanswered questions all around.
What shocks me the most is the lies the cops told after the fact. To write a completely false report stating that he assaulted the cops…unbelievable.
Boruch Hashem there was a video camera there…. I shudder to think what would have happened to this poor young man.
I read somewhere in the news the he was sleeping without clothing in the womens section of aliyah and thats why they called the police.
if this is true why was it not mentioned?
WHERE IS THE KID NOW ????
IS HE OUT OF PRISON ????
WHO IS VISITING HIM ? ??
ARE THE POLICE MEN AND WOMEN IN JAIL ????
#56 not sure but yes he’s 100% a boy from the Chabad community, doesn’t live in CH, but spent his whole life in Lubabvitch schools and even got a college degree through a Chabad run program.
Is this the ehud halevy that was in masmidim in 5767 ???
Everything afterwards was appropriate? Hey where do you live? Russia 1960’s there is never an excuse to continue punching him the way he did for 2 min, EVEN if he did resist arrest! Don’t try and tell me he was protecting himself, that’s BS. Stop talking out of your acharaim, and get educated, at least google b4 you post
According to US Law (see http://www.nycourts.gov/cji/2-PenalLaw/205/205-30.pdf) the man did technically resist arrest. However, the clearly evident non-violent manner of resistance which occurred in this case in no way justifies the barbaric brutality which followed. Resisting arrest does not give police officers the right to react violently, it simply adds a crime to the defendant’s record (if judged guilty), and adds jail time AFTER ARREST. If a suspect resists, by all means use force to arrest, however utilize your years of training to use the minimum amount of force necessary. Multiple factors should really be taken into account here: Firstly, under… Read more »
When LUIS A. VEGA made all of the false accusations, he was totally unaware of the video camera.
I can’t understand why police officers a always believed in court?
Even if 99% of officers don’t commit such crimes, how would you feel if you were the one victim?
POLICE OFFICER LUIS A. VEGA, SHIELD NO.24891, OF 071 COMMAND
Is the trouble maker.
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/nyregion/2012/HALEVY-complaint.pdf
Really!? The resisting arrest began when he pushed the officer away while the officer was trying to cuff him, duh. I’m not sure what else you can possibly twist that scene into. Everything afterwards was appropriate, the officer was protecting himself and doing his job.
And no, my opinion would be no different. Then again this would never happen to me because I am a respectful law abiding citizen.
You too need to start taking responsibility for your actions.
HOW WAS THIS YOUNG MAN RESISTING ARREST? He w beaten even AFTER they pinned him down. P ray they don’t come after you. Your opinion will no doubt be very different. Sue the city! Those cops are an oxymoron of what they claim to represent.
He resisted arrest and clearly fought back until he was cuffed. The police were called and did their job, though it may have been better had they just tased him.
Stop making ridiculous commotions every time a someone Jewish does something wrong, he was wrong and you would all be perfectly happy with the way this was handled had he not been Jewish.
People need to grow up and learn to take responsibility.
SHAME ON YOU!
The guy that was beaten is a close friend of mine. all the time i have known him, he’s never done anything to hurt or come close to hurting anyone. He’s just going through a rough time and he needed a place to sleep. He had full permission from rabbi feiglin to sleep there.
and now you have the nerve to talk like this about an innocent jewish guy, and say things about the incident when you don’t even know the story????
GET OUTTA HERE!
He was resisting arrest and deserved to be hit by the police.
That cop deserves an award, not criticism.
Nothing wrong here.
P.S. the guy deserves to be in Rikers for resisting arrest
i loved that couch
“This time there is proof. Had we not had the video the kid is facing 9 charges and jail time.”
Nothing else can be added.
First of all who was the person that called the Police. If he is a member of Aliya then he should know that more often then not there is at least one person sleeping in the back of Aliya. He should have first contacted Rabbi Feiglin. Why call the police. It is Yom Tov.. The decision to call the Police to remove someone from Aliya should be Rabbi Feiglin ONLY.
Being that this story only broke a whole week after it transpired makes this all sound very fishy…..
Absolutely horrible and bestial…I’m sorry for the pain and suffering of the victim….sounds like the recent ‘Supreme Court’ decision against S.M. Rubashkin. Perhaps these are some of the ‘judges’ dressed as cops? Someone commented, that the victim ‘resisted arrest.’ Why shouldn’t he protest if he thought he did nothing wrong? These cops should be prosecuted severely. According to ‘civilized law’ (The 7 Noahide Laws) they are ‘chaiv misa.’ But, then again we don’t live in a civilized society. Yes, America is certainly one of ‘the greatest countries in the world.’ ‘The World of Amalek!’ I hope the victim sues the… Read more »
Officer Luis A. Vega, he is the officer stationed by Bais Rivka, Mosdoth to ticket double parked cars dropping children off etc.. interesting to note when was the last time at a non jewish function or event in this area tickets were given out for double or triple parking, parking on the sidewalk at a church, game day or other venue??
Didn’t you read the article – he had PERMISSION to be there – and he was calmly SLEEPING!! Why didn’t Zalmy Trappler stay to make sure the call he made was followed through without violence? Why didn’t he first find out if Ehud had permission to stay there? Once R’ Feiglin was aware of the situation – how did this poor boy ever end up on Rikers? I doubt the police drove him straight to Rikers at 4:00 AM – where was Zalmy Trappler and R’ Feiglin then to make sure this boy was released? Questions have to be asked… Read more »
Don’t think because he is a fellow jew he needs to be defended. This man was trespassing, and after being asked to leave, was going to be handcuffed and removed. and then clearly, if you watched the video, resisted arrest by flailing his arms around and walking away.(YES THAT IS CONSIDERED RESISTING ARREST) You wouldnt want the police to say OH!! OK!! YOU SAY YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO BE HEAR. OK, YOU CAN STAY, if this bum was in your house!!!!!!
I don’t like some of the actions some offciers do, but I STILL see the nypd as protection. yes it sucks to get tickets, but thats life- we break the law, we pay the price.
HATE THE ACTION, NOT THE PERSON
In the last few years the NYPD has made turned innocent citizens into the criminals. This includes senseless and bogus ticket. It’s a shame and a shame. I used to support the NYPD. Now I hate them!
why havent fox,cnn and all the tv stations recieved this video yet?
He sues NYC Police in federal court for civl rights every day. They always beet up anyone who doesn’t obay or runs from police no mater what. They never get fired. By the way David gets a mazal tov – Bris on Friday Be”h.
Where’s captain lewis? Why no statement ?
Zaki T & the JCC do not represent the community. They are a marginalised private interest group nwith a very small constituency and he used the organization to promote his career. And lately the Jcc has been a source of Machloikes and strife in Crown Heights. He has been a terrible dissapointment to the people who elected him and has put the last nail in the coffin of the organisation he claims to represent.
The vast majority of officers in the NYPD are good people, but its seems like the few bad apples get around. I wonder if the Jewish community will stand with Black and Latinos now that the “Beast” has darkened their doorstep
Is his law firm going to take the case? Who does he represent the community or his law firm?????
I am watching this story as an outsider – I live in Canada.
Maybe some of you in the US are out of touch with Western civilization, but this a CLEAR case of police brutality and an officer with a serious case of anger management dysfunction.
The officer was barbaric and inhumane. It seems that some NYPD officers are glorified thugs with badges.
This incident is s a black eye on the NYPD which is in obvious need of a major attitude change.
This video is beyond disgusting; anyone who defends the police are themselves beyond disgusting.
Was he holding a 33oz soda?
this guy clearly resisted arrest. the police officers were called by an aliya member and let in by the same aliya member. did the police officer punch the guy too many times? absolutely; this is a settlement out of court no doubt..on our tax dollars, thank you aliya for housing vagrants, which as it seems, has caused an inner conflict within your constituency, now we foot the bill. nice going!
How can we be sure that this won’t just disappear, now that all the ‘important people’ got their 15 minutes of fame.
Will anything really happen to the cops? Will they really lose their jobs?
For boys who have no where else to be??? Why did Zalmy Trappler pick up the fone, and call the cops ON YOM TOV??? Why is this being overlooked??
If the Police could charge the ALIYA Cener with having a video camera in place they would.
This happens when Unions rn the police force and the Mayor is afreaid of police Unions
The police beat my son,without cause, at Aliya last year. Whats being done about that?
i totally agree with u
Where are all the Civil Rights activists now??? where is Al Sharpton? Jessy Jackson?? I guess you will not here afom there now…. you know why? because there is no black man involved! and this is just to show that all of them “activists” do not care for civil rights of anyone as only the civil rights of black people…… who is racist now??? the NYPD should be sued for a $1B or more to make this kind of action againts any citizen stop. the officers involved should be criminally charged and do hard time for this or this kind… Read more »
all this so called police do is just make things wears they have nothing better to do then to hit people for a living and then the say we solved the case BC. and they are dumb screwed up people i hope this video makes them see how messed up they are
This is so scary! So not ok!!!!!
If This Kid Had A Dufflebag Filled With Guns and Bombs…and a rap sheet filled with convictions of violent criminal activity,it wouldn’t be so shocking.This what happens when liberalism is allowed to run an inner city .
The end of this dark rule of the ‘nations’ is about to get flushed.
In 1999, when police fatally shot Gidone Busch in Boro Park, a Jewish resident told me he called Sharpton’s office to, kind of, give him an opportunity to prove himself. Guess what, surprise, surprise! Sharpton and his entourage showed up, within the hour, and demonstrated in front of the 66th precinct against police brutality.
The guy that called the police is a volunteer for crown heights shomrim.
and New York will now buy this “homeless” man a nice home and a bright future.
now we need to put pressure on HIS bosses to allow an impartial investigation to go forward
everyone is watching to see what is done with thug cops who are eager for a fight rather than protocol & civility!
This is a natural consequence of a serious historical problem. Time and time again in Crown Heights, the very people who are supposed to protect the innocent take the sides of the perpetrators or do little to take them into custody.. until the supposed ‘perpetrator’ is a Jew. This says very frightening things about the situation here and it’s not going to get any better until the anti-Jewish outlook in Crown Heights is openly acknowledged and changes are made in the system.
he doesn’t suck up to the bosses! he does seem to care for whats right!
ty!
but he is perusing an investigation anyways!!
kol hakavod!!
we need to give credit where credit is due! we have a decent commander who has princples
This is not the first time that police behave this way against Yidden in C.H. Last year at approximately the same time, a Yid was arrested (across the street of the Lubavitcher Yeshiva on Crown Street) Right before Yom Kippur for similar reasons which was, that he disrespected the cop and got the cops out of control Ego, to behave like a pigs. The Vaad Hakohol, then swept it under the rug because it was right before Simchas Beis Hashoeva when they need special favors from Police. This cover-up by the Jewish Leadership of C.H. leads police to do more… Read more »
lets keep it strong & forceful but mentshlich!
kiddush Hashem!!
same old, same old.
what will change? cops will still be violent and frightening to the average guy on the street
Bloomberg is the ultimate boss of these cops if him and Kelly don’t openly speak out then the feeling will be that it was hushed.
Nice to see all the “elected officials” come out for this. The question is what will be done? Will action really be taken against these cops? They deserve to be fired and the young man should be compensated.
now we will get hundreds of tickets for this action ,welcome to ny that how the police will pay us back
so common, so ignored
the police will come out with some lame excuse and continue on with their day… don’t expect anything to change… who is going follow up and hold them accountable after the cameras leave???!?!? now the whole force will be uber mean to us
Good on all the politicians that came to support us. We will not forget you!
It doesn’t seem to me that ehud fought back. Whoever that was who punched him should be thrown off police They acted like animals