Three Lubavitcher Hasidim pleaded not guilty yesterday in Brooklyn Supreme Court to a variety of charges of riot and assault stemming from a clash with police on the first Day of Succot.
Acting Supreme Court Judge Lewis Douglas ordered that pre-trial motions be filed by January 12, which will be the date of the next appearance by the defendants. The three defendants — Eric Jacobs, 25, Moishe Rubashkin, 25, and Israel Shimtov, 43 — were released on their own recognizance.
The three Hasidim were indicted on 15 counts of second degree assault, seven counts of third degree assault and one count of rioting. The three also were accused of obstructing governmental administration, a misdemeanor.
A fourth Hasid, Levi Weingarten, 27, was indicted on a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief and awaits scheduling for arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court.
CLAIM CHARGES ARE UNWARRANTED
A spokesman for the Lubavitch movement reiterated that the charges were unwarranted and that the Crown Heights community would file counterclaims of police brutality, probably through the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council, which represents Jewish organizations in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights section, site of the world headquarters of the Lubavitch movement.
All four Hasidim had been arrested at the time of the incident, which began with the throwing of a rock at a city bus, which allegedly brushed Weingarten’s pregnant wife as the two were returning to their home from worship services.
A bus passenger purportedly pointed to Weingarten as the rock-thrower and police on duty tried to get Weingarten into a squad car to be taken to the local precinct station. The riot broke out when hundreds of Hasidim came to help him avoid a ride, which he had told the police was forbidden to him on any Jewish holy day.
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