By Hamodia Staff
NEW YORK — A Manhattan man has been indicted on felony hate-crime charges for allegedly scrawling graffiti on three synagogues and a Hatzalah ambulance last summer.
Lenny De La Rosa, 21, is accused of scrawling graffiti on a display screen attached to Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun on E. 85th St. near Lexington Ave., on Shabbos, August 12. Two days later, he allegedly wrote “DEAD RIIP” on a glass display in front of a Jewish center on E. 79th St. near Second Ave.; wrote “markings “Dead Rip”on the side of a Hatzalah ambulance near East 85th Street and Lexington Avenue; and wrote “Dead B-P” on the front door of Congregation Or Zarua on E. 82nd St. near Lexington Ave.
De La Rosa was arrested August 16 in Harlem, after a law-enforcement officer recognized him from a wanted flyer. According to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, De La Rosa confessed to the crimes, saying, “That’s my work” when shown a picture of each graffiti marking.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced Tuesday that De La Rosa has been indicted on four counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief as a hate crime, a class E felony.
“As alleged, Lenny De La Rosa defaced three synagogues and an ambulance in a series of antisemitic acts,” said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. “Synagogues are sacred places where everyone should be able to practice their faith safely. We will not allow our houses of worship to be violated by hateful acts and we do not tolerate bias and antisemitism.”