Police Announce Capture of Brikman Stabber, Skepticism Persists
Hundreds of concerned resident of Crown Heights turned out to attend an “update meeting” with the NYPD following the arrest of the person they believe responsible for the stabbing of 25-year-old Yehuda Leib Brikman.
“I am here to announce that we have some good news with regards to that” said Chief Steven Powers, describing the two stabbings and robbery in and near Prospect Park by an individual who police believe is also responsible for the vicious and unprovoked attack on Leiby Brikman.
The suspect, who was identified as 26-year-old Keny Rochelin, was later spotted by two anti-crime officers from the 70th Precinct and was taken into custody. The two victims then positively identified Rochelin as the man who attacked them.
“Due to the fine work of the detectives involved someone noted the similarities between the perpetrator and the numerous video we have from the prior assault in Crown Heights, we were able to positive identify the guy as the perpetrator of those attacks.
“Hate crimes task force responded to the precinct and was able to put together a case on this individual, and based upon a series of post arrest techniques Mr. Rochelin is being charged with attempted murder in the second degree as a hate crime, criminal possession of a weapon and aggravated harassment in the assault on Mr. Brikman.
“Some may ask are we sure we got the right guy? Well, due to a series of investigative techniques and obtaining a search warrant for the individual’s residents, we were able to come up with the clothing that he was wearing on the day that he assaulted Mr. Brikman. So we are pretty sure we got the right guy” said Chief Powers.
Many expressed doubt that Mr. Rochelin is in fact the person who stabbed Leiby Brikman and some called the timing of the arrest into question as well. Mrs. Brikman voiced that concern before the crowd, demanding that police follow up with her to assure her that the person in question is in fact that attacker.
“Many have asked me ‘are you happy that he has finally been caught?’ if they in fact did, I am really happy. But I saw this with a heavy heart but we had many questions about the timing – this is not g-d forbid an attack – but I have to ask for the safety of the Crown Heights community, I am demanding a follow up confirming this is the guy and the DNA on the knife is still pending” said Mrs. Brikman.
“And in yesterday’s stabbing there was a robbery, but my son was stabbed because he is a Jew and nothing else, so is this really the same person?” she asked.
Chief Powers responded that they are confident that the person in custody is the man who committed all three stabbings. “We have his clothing that he was wearing on the day of the attack and I believe we got a very prosecutable and winnable case.”
Mrs. Brikman thanked the community for their support, “thank you treating my son like your son because it could have happened to anyone.”
David
If Brinkman truly believes in her heart that the police have the wrong man arrested then she must go to DA Thompson and tell him to drop the charges against this man and demand the police to continue to look for the real criminal.
Yitzchok
We should only hear good and happy news.
I think that Mrs. Brikman should be voted in to be the new Rosh Hakohol. I really admire her courage and devotion and focus to get results in מעשה הפועל
maven
The female version of Rosh Hakohol is Roshette Hakohol. Does our community need a Roshette?
Resident
Now imagine we DID THE SAME EXACT THING TO STOP DEVELOPERS TO STOP DESTROYING THE NBEIGHBERHOOD???WE WOULD GET BIIIG RESULTS. If we did the same and got together. WHO WANT TO START THIS AND HELP SAVE OUR NEIGHBERHOOD FROM DESTRUCTION??
aaa
Only that many of the people who help arrange this meeting are the same people who are creating the problem with the real estate in CH.
Picaboo Shimon
Can you announce when the perp walk will be so we can take photos of the guy and compare it to the guy in the wanted posters
Chaim
There was a perp walk and those photos are already circling .
kosher?
Isn’t anyone wondering what they were planning to say at this update had this new guy not confessed?
terrible JOB !!!!!!!!!!
to 7
I know from inside the 71st precinct the following info.
they were going to say ” we have a person of interest” (which I know they did and he was under full time surveillance) but don’t have all we need to arrest him yet.
and YES! it wasn’t this guy they have now – but it made it easy for them to “close” they case with a “supposed” arrest in this case
Shimon Shak
Can anyone explain why he is being charged with a hate crime? The other two victims weren’t Chassidic Jews. Why did the DA come to the conclusion that the time he stabbed Y.L. Brickman was out of hate? It just seems to me that the guy was in need of psychological intervention and went off the deep end. Don’t get me wrong, i’m not trying to minimize what he did, but rather to just understand the hate crime classification.