Highland Park, NJ – A Somerset County teenager was arrested today for allegedly leaning out of a vehicle and shouting “Hail Hitler” at three Jewish residents on Yom Kippur, Sunday night, authorities said.
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The 17-year-old, whose name was being withheld because of his age was charged with juvenile delinquency in the alleged harassment on Raritan Avenue in the borough, Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan said Tuesday.
The arrest comes the same day three spray-painted swastikas were found on the front of the Congregation Beth-El synagogue on Jefferson Boulevard in Edison, (as was reported here on VIN News).
An investigation by Highland Park police Detective Nicole Young found the teenager in Sunday’s incident also allegedly gave a Nazi salute when he leaned out of the sport utility vehicle at 8:45 p.m., Kaplan said. The SUV was stopped for a red light on Raritan Avenue and Fourth Street when he called out to the residents, who were walking home from their synagogue at the time.
Kaplan asked anyone with information on the incident in Highland Park to call Highland Park police at 732-572-3800.
I went to yashiva in edison this was daily we were yelled at all the time I guess it just didn’t change
We need to understand the socio-economic and cultural causes for such inappropriate behavior and works towards fixing the root of the problem rather than simply punishing this troubled young man.
How did they track him down gr8 work!
somehow people always find ways and reasons not to hurt even nazis feelings. now its the “weve got to find the underlying cause” . perhaps they have a point. that there is an underlying issue (eisav soneh l’yaakov). however you cannot do that while taking your eye off the ball. DO THE CRIME = do the time. very important.
#3 – You exaggerate a tad my friend. I have lived in the community for 22 years, have close ties with RJJ and dress in “the levush” – this type of incident does happen from time to time – but Highland Park is still a community where the gentile supermarket clerk might wish you a Good Shabbos on a Friday afternoon, where Hatzolah isn’t needed with a local rescue squad led by frum Jews, where Jews, including frum Jews are prominent in local government, where cooperative land use agencies help facilitate shul expansions and where police extend every possible assistance to Yidden, such as closing off streets for us during tashlich. It’s a great place to be a Yid.
So what if this guy saluted and yelled something about Hitler? I don’t understand what the crime is here. He did not harm anyone. He exercised his right to free speech. He did not approach the yidden walking, so it cannot be called incitement. I am very concerned about this man’s civil rights being violated… no matter how disgusting his behavior is.
Great work tracking this guy down. Just curious though, why does he get arrested, but neo nazis are free to parade through Brooklyn and other Jewish communities referencing Hitler and spewing forth anti-Jewish material all the while under freedom of speech. What’s the difference?
Just a stupid kid out for some quick yuks, maybe drunk too. Who knows, he might have a Jewish parent. Kids can do stupid stuff.