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Catch and Release: Shomrim Apprehend Man Passing Fake Currency, Police Release Him

CROWN HEIGHTS [CHI] — An incident with a man passing counterfeit $50 bills to Kingston Avenue stores, had the tables turned on Shomrim when an apathetic police force, led by an officer and a sergeant, turned the story upside down and accused them of playing cops and robbers, while letting the suspect go. Disturbing video footage tells this bizarre story.

The incident began at around 5:30pm in Sweet Expressions where the man, a black male in his 40’s, attempted to make a purchase for a single dollar item with a $50 bill. The clerk followed store policy and used a security marker on the bill which indicated the bill was a positive fake. Not sure what to do the clerk asked her manager and she chased the man out of her store.

Undeterred the man continued to Mendy’s restaurant and attempted again to pass the fake currency, and he was caught there too and chased away.

By this time a manager of the hosiery store on Kingston called Shomrim and informed them of the incidents. A number of Shomrim volunteers who were on the avenue spotted the man leaving Areleh’s Bagels, where he already managed to slip the fake bill, and the cashier gave him change. Once the suspect walked out of the shop he started running down President Street, with Shomrim hot on his trail.

At the corner of Albany Avenue the man attempted to jump over a fence into the yard of a private house and hide, only he got tangled on the fence and give up. Once stopped more volunteers started arriving on scene and police was called.

Before the 911 call was completed a pair of police officers on foot patrol arrived on scene and the situation quickly turned south. One of the officers, Officer Driggs instantly became confrontational with Shomrim, asking “Who are you guys? Who do you think you are? You don’t have the right to start chasing people down.”

Meanwhile the officer’s partner took the suspects information down, and attempted to calm the situation down, but officer Driggs would hear none of it. Shomrim asked for a sergeant to respond, and the situation got even worse.

Sargent Kelley arrived on scene, and officer Driggs told him that he observed Shomrim “jumping out of a car and jumping [the suspect], and when I approached this [Shomrim] started flipping out.” The Shomrim volunteer asked the sergeant if he can tell his side of story and he simply said “no.”

By now a number of Shomrim Coordinators responded to the scene in an attempt to diffuse the confrontation, and salvage the arrest only things got decidedly worse with Sgt. Kelley making it his point to tell Shomrim they have no right to do anything they do.

He demanded that Shomrim bring the store manager to the scene with fake bill, and when he arrived police interrogated him. The small squadron of rookie police officers led by their sergeant then descended on the fake $50 bill and decided it was not a fake.

Police then let the suspect go, and told the manager of the store he can leave as well, but police did not return the fake bill to him.

“If it wasn’t a fake bill why didn’t they give it back to the store manager” asked a Shomrim volunteer. “Instead of belittling us and the work we do, next time it might help to take a second to listen rather than try to cover it up.”

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58 Comments

  • wat dya think??

    P’haps its time to build our own ‘ghetto’ like New Square and Wiliamsbug. We’ll be safer with our own frum cops and won’t have the monkeys around anymore!!

  • SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!

    So the Police officer walked away with $50 dollar bill.

    The Police officer robbed the bagel store of $50 bucks.

    Holy cow!!!

  • yankel todis from chelm

    call the Secret Service and file a complaint with them asking that they investigate the $50 bill that the sergeant put in his pocket

  • terrible

    The bill was a fake because the stores put a marker to it and it had the wrong color! and if it was real wht did the cop take it! oh i mean steal it!

  • shomrim fan

    shomrim did everything by the book! They had numerous complainants, they had the fake 50 dollar bill, plus they flagged the cops down and let them handle it! all this without touching the perp! shame on you nypd

  • what

    now the guys goes home get another fake $50 and tries to buy something else go stupid cops

  • Very Disturbing

    This is starting to get out of hand, it looks like it is getting personal, we have to start reaching out to the Police Dept. a little more and in bit more of a friendly manner.
    There has to be cooperation with Shomrim and the cops that is the only way to put an end to the crime.

  • antimesira

    The headline should read:
    “Crown Heights Community Residents that volunteer in Shomrim together with many other residents Apprehend Man Passing Fake Currency, Police Release Him.

    This is a knock on the whole Crown Heights Jewish Community.

    Why is it that the police think they can threat the Jewish Community this way?

  • Born and Raised in CH

    “Officer Driggs instantly became confrontational with Shomrim, asking “Who are you guys? Who do you think you are?”

    Who are we?

    We are residents of this neighborhood who live and breath these streets, these are our streets, we live here, we raise our children here, you Mr. Officer finish work and go home (not here in Crown Heights).

    We don’t clock out, we don’t have a shift, we live this neighborhood 27/7.

    So the question is Mr. Officer, who are you?

    Who do you think you are?
    G-ds gift to man kind. Who the hell do you think you are Mr. Officer.

  • Not about Shomrim

    to #9

    This is not about Shomrim, this is about Crown Heights as a whole?

    The law is the law, the police must follow the law.

    Where is the $50 dollars?

    Also Mr. #9, give us the community your phone number so we can bother you when we need assistance and help of any kind.

    If your not there to help me, my family and fellow neighbors as Shomrim does, then please don’t give your oy so smart advice.

    Don’t mix up those who spill blood with those whose blood has been spilled.

    It’s the police job to serve and protect no matter race or creed, Jewish or Gentile, white or block, Shomrim or Hatzalah.

  • Ariyeh Leib Segall

    How many times does this have to happen – before store owners and clerks stop taking big bills from suspicious looking character —!!!! Get some common sense ….!!!!
    All store clerks should be made aware — You would not openly hand these low lifes the money – but that’s what you did !!!
    Never expect any sympathy from a bunch of stupid goyishe cops They don’t even have the sense not to get stuck in the snow …!!!
    It’s soo sooo sad.. that time and again the people in this community let themselves become the victims…!!!
    Doesn’t anyone ever learn from these incidents !!!!
    The shvartzers laugh all the way home… because they know the store clerks have no clue and the cops really don’t care !!!!

  • who knows grant personally

    more than ten years ago at the schnectady entrance to the subway in the booth was a cop who said a ten i had was fake and “confiscated” it so it is nothing new ~~~~
    i got the ten from a friend and didn’t make a story of it~~~
    another time i got five twenties with the same serial number and gave the guy a hundred bucks ~~~~~

  • Alex

    Cops breaking lows at least 2 come to mind:
    Aiding and abetting in commission of Federal Felony, Obstruction of Justice.

    Or if you believe the cops that the bill was real it was a simple armed robbery on the part of the NYPD.

  • Inspector Simonetti Must Go!

    Time For Inspector Peter Simonetti Of The 71st Precinct To Go!

    The only reason Inspector Peter Simonetti is still in Crown Heights, 71st Precinct despite crime spiking high is only because the Mesira Machine (which also backs the Shmira Mesira) wants him here. As long as Simonetti is doing the Mesira Machines will, he will be here.

    The Machine (Chanina Sperlin, Eli Cohen with their Crown Heights Jewish community Council Inc.) has been giving direct orders to Simonetti to attack Shomrim and it’s volunteers in any way possible. Ever since the new inspector has arrived to Crown Heights thats all he has been focused on. Who has time to fight crime when you have to focus all your man power and energy on one individual and his organization from East New York Ave, who drive scooters.

    When Inspector Frank Vega did not heed the Mesira Machines call to attack Shomrim and its volunteers he was given the boot. All of a sudden Crown Heights had “leaders” that knew how to stick up for the community. We know now that it was only self serving.

    The realty of the matter is: Crime was very much down when Inspector Frank Vega was commander of the 71st precinct.
    Crime has spiked since Inspector Peter Semonetti has become the commander of the 71st precinct.

    Another important fact: It was in Inspectors Vegas tenner that Shmira member Yitzchok Shuchat deliberately beat Andrew Charles, which almost caused another riot in the streets of Crown Heights, which would have endangered every Crown heights resident and as a matter of fact as a result of Shmira member Yitzchok Shuchats reckless actions (shortly after) a few Jewish residents were ruthlessly attacked.

  • CHJCC and NYPD

    The Crown Heights Jewish Community Council Inc. works day and night with NYPD to target Shomrim and do everything they can to shut them down, even if it means putting the community is harms way doing so.

    Why, you ask?

    Very simple, to protect the money (that is being stolen by the CHJCC -Sperlin and Co.).

    The unfortunate reality is that all those pretending to represent the community as a whole are doing so for there own personal selfish reasons. Our so called representatives are lining their pockets with major cash, all on our backs, all in our name.

    Those who make nice to the police at the expense of the Jewish community are doing so only for their own selfish reason. They think that they will gain some respect with a piece of plastic that says ‘police liaison’. They are willing to give up on the rights of our community just so they can get a $60 ticket pulled. Some of these “representatives” use the police to target other Jews as evident to what is taking place with Shomrim.

    It goes even further and deeper, all these so called representatives are protecting each other, they got each other back. Notice how every time there is an election you have the same group of people coming out in support of their “friends”. An example of this would be when there is an election for Vaad, there is always this group of either past Vaad members and some others which come out to support of only a select few, the people which are in it with them, the people which are shearing our money together. These past Vaad members and their friends will never endorse an outsider, they will never support a person who is not form their circle of thefts.

    It turns out that the only people representing the community (at all cost) with no personal agenda, with no strings attached, no money to take, no special IDs, is the good people of the Crown Heights Shomrim.

    Crown Heights Shomrim is self funded (and not held back by anyone). Crown Heights Shomrim has the greatest connection an organization can ask for and that is the Crown Heights Jewish residents. Time and time again we have seen the good volunteers of the Jewish community who joined Shomrim going above and beyond for their fellow Jews.

    This is the reason our so called “representatives”, who represent only themselves have been targeting Shomrim. The threat to them is simple. Shomrim is self funded, they have so little money (they survive with money from their own pockets), yet they do so much, how is it that an organization going by the name ‘Crown Heights Jewish Community Council’, which is government funded and brings in literally millions of dollars, can’t seem to get anything done. The solution for the thefts is simple, get rid of Shomrim and nobody with notice what we are or are not doing.

  • @shon

    #1: What “monkeys” are you referring to? I hope that is not a racial slur, because this website is made available to all people. Anyone viewing your comment could be wounded by your words and the purpose of this article and the work that Shomrin does would be overlooked.

  • MaDDinBklyn

    Yes, Shomrim play cops and robbers while the cops play traffic ticket agents.

  • concerned Ch resident

    I am very curious to know what the officer was trying to insinuate by stating very clearly that this is the United States of America I would like to be sure he was not trying to insinuate that being that the shomrim members are Jewish and for that matter orthodox Jews that he did not mean that this is not Israel
    I am really hoping

  • shame

    I don’t like to bash cops but this is unacceptable! if you have complainer and evidence and you have the perp, and he wasn’t even touched! the police got all this on a golden platter and they royally messed up! they get credit when its due, but they deserve the heat! a cop is a professional and if a cop acts like a coward and then keeps the 50 dollar bill which he claimed was real then why didn’t he return it to the bagel store?! the cop should be arrested for robbery! how funny would it be if the cop used this money in a store when he is off duty and be accused with counterfeit bills!

  • agree with the cops

    when you catch the guy take care of him youself and then call 911 to take care of him

  • news

    channel 7 is looking for news on facebook send them this video and article – let them make a story about ch police dept

  • cant understand it!

    if it was real, the why did the guy run? that itself should tell you its fake. whats wrong with the police?

  • 50 buck Chuck

    This is indeed a Secret Service matter. Does anyone have pics of the perp?

  • tipshim

    You people just don’t get the picture. What the cops are trying to hint to you, is very simple. Did you guys give us Chanukah gelt? I know that the parents tip you on Chanukah. So we take it as the $50 is Chanukah gelt. Case closed.

  • 1. wat dya think??

    # 19 & #28 –
    Read the important stuff here and stop looking for silly fights!!
    WE ARE NOT SAFE – OUR KIDS ARE NOT SAFE – WHAT KIND OF LIFE IS THIS???

  • Admirer!!

    U go Ben!! Proud of u – tell those cops 2 go 2 hell!! They’re trying 2 impress the stupid black guy!! They APOLOGIZE to the black guy!!

  • i dont support the curent chjcc or cops

    All the cop that were there last night just graduated from the police academy so they only have a week on the street. If you see the cops just sitting around in restaurant or store for more then an hour or more send picture, names and shield numbers to CH.info. we need to bring integrity back to the Crown Heights community and tell the police they work for us the hard working citizens of NYC and not for them self’s.

    The cops forget who they work for so let tech them a thing or too about Courtesy Professionalism Respect it’s written on all 20,000 Marked NYPD cars, vans and command posts and if they dont like how the community operates then they can go turn in there shield, ID card and gun back to one police plaza.

    IAB need to start wire tapping the 71st precinct and start firing these incompetent cop and bosses cause there hurting the moral of these new cops

  • Not Hatzalah too!

    The next thing you know, that cop or Srgnt will be telling Hatzalah, who do you think you are!
    This would never happen in Boro Park or Williamsburg!

  • Boruch Sholom Wolf

    I would like to thank Gadi Hershkop from Shomrim who helped me two days in a single week to boost my car. Then, after the big storm, when I had just finished shoveling my car out of the snow, a close to two hour job, I realized my car was dead as a beet. I had recently purchased a battery back jump box, so I attempted to boost the car but it didn’t work. I stepped outside the car and called AAA, and just then Gadi Hershkop passes by and sees me so he pulls over to see if I’m having trouble again. I say that I am, but I’m taking care of it with AAA and thank him anyways. He jumps back in his car and grabs his box and restarted my car in 20 seconds with his heavy duty pack. I have replaced the battery now, so don’t anticipate needing future assistance, but I don’t know Gadi from Adam, so I sincerely appreciate his immense ahavas yisroel.

    V’chol mi sheoyskim btzorchei tzibur…

  • Lawyer

    The Officer states: “I might have heard someone say, we got the wrong guy”.

    Let’s see how “MIGHT HAVE HEARD”, works in the court of law.

    I would love to see anybody sit in the witness box and state “I might have”…“Maybe” etc…

  • shame on nypd

    Shomrim had every right to do what they did so nypd be glad we have them and start appriaciating them

  • COPY TO ALL NEWS AND REPRESENTATIVES

    ANYONE THAT HAS TIME PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND NEWS MEDIA. I DID. IT IS THE LEAST WE COULD DO. THANK YOU.

  • JJ

    send this video to internal affairs.The sergeant stole the $50 , there must be an investigation !

  • To Shomrim

    To Shomrim: Report this incident to the Secret Service. One of their primary functions is combatting counterfeit currency. Unlike the 71st precinct, they will be very interested in this incident, and will investigate it with the help of your video.

  • CHJCC and NYPD 2

    This Sargent is not new to Crown Heights, so why all of a sudden after all these years is he giving attitude?

    Could this have something to do with the CHJCC sectet meeting with the police earlier in the week?

    Could this be on the orders Inspector Simonetti to harass Shomrim?
    Is this more of the CHJCC using the police to gain control and shut down Shomrim (who volunteer their time to help the community FOR FREE)?

  • Inda Know

    I agree with JJ. Report the $50 theft to internal affairs. Any law enforcement officer confiscating a suspected counterfeit bill must issue a receipt. This is nothing short of a $50 graft robbery by the police. Notify the Secrete Service too, to investigate.

  • Ed Polestein

    The man who tried to pass the bill is known in the neighborhood as “Amazed in the Bronx”. He is well known to the police. Stop the Police Hypocriscy now!

  • who knows grant personally

    that’s not all ~~~ close to ten years ago i parked on kingston above empire and was puchasing a money order to donate to a wnew fundraiser toys for tots and found ny’s finest issuing a ticket and when i protested i was restrained and handcuffed by ny’s finest during which the swatch i was wearing fell off and wasn’t found. yup it was a ch overnight at the downtown courthouse ~~~ thank you yisroel shemtov for moving the vehicle ~~~~ it’s funny cuz i’m single and haven’t hired a lawyer

  • CCRB!

    Have the victim(s) file a complaint with the CCRB. This will put the rookies in their place. The seasoned cops know better about the use of discretion but the green newbies still need something to give them a reality check.

    https://www.nyc.gov/html/cc…

  • a crown hts homeowner

    This is so disturbing.What do you have to say now “71st precinct”? Police officers should not be acting in this way. It garners you no fans.

  • Pro Shomrim

    this should be reported the officer is tampering with evidence I have seen the new fake bills with a security strip

  • Annonymous

    I always thought that the local citizen of any community can make a citizen’s arrest. Just like the
    Auxilliary Police. The Internal Affairs should be contacted on this. especially on Officer Driggs. He may go home where ever he lives, however we have to live here as citizens and we want a safe evironment for our selves and children.

  • Blood Spilling

    “Whenever a person can save another person’s life, but he fails to do so, he transgresses a negative commandment, as Leviticus 19:16 states: “Do not stand idly by while your brother’s blood is at stake.”

    Similarly, this commandment applies when a person sees a colleague drowning at sea or being attacked by robbers or a wild animal, and he can save him himself or can hire others to save him. Similarly, it applies when he hears gentiles or mosrim conspiring to harm a colleague or planning a snare for him, and he does not inform him and notify him of the danger.

    And it applies when a person knows of a gentile or a man of force who has a complaint against a colleague, and he can appease the aggressor on behalf of his colleague, but he fails to do so. And similarly, in all analogous instances, a person who fails to act transgresses the commandment: “Do not stand idly by while your brother’s blood is at stake.”

    Rambam: The Laws of Murderers and the Protection of Life (Law 14)

  • Overhaul needed

    So it sounds like money was stolen from the Bagel Store. Did they get it back? Or is that a naive question.

  • to #22- It was intentional

    Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like they ‘messed up’. It looks like they did exactly what they planned to do. It’s a reflection of the quality of both the old and the new (there was a ‘captain’ involved, remember). Things look ominous but many people outside of the community do not yet know how things are in CH. The only way to make a change is to PUBLICIZE.

  • #30 Good idea but..

    Of course it’s a good idea to contact government and media. But before you choose whom to contact, think about this: There are still some representatives and media sources who truly respect justice and are not afraid to stand up for what’s right. But being smart means not being naive and knowing who your friends are and knowing who they are not.

  • Bklyn Fedup

    Stop running around playing Police Officer. You are going to get yourselves and other people hurt. You also open yourselves up to getting sued for illegal stops you are conducting. Stop violating peoples rights and please stop marking your vehicles to look like NYPD, that is definately going to get someone hurt. Let the real Cops do their jobs and stop stirring up BS for them to deal with, they are busy enough without your BS. If you want to be Cops take the test and don’t complain about having to work Saturdays if you do become Cops….we have to work Christmas and all other holidays…..Cops don’t get the luxury of being excused for holidays and religous puposes. Stop playing Cops if your not willing to be one.

  • antimesira

    To 54:

    We are still in America, right?

    We do still have rights, Do we?

    We are a nation of Free people, are we not?

    And, your right, put first the cops should start playing cops and stop playing robber.

  • Levi

    this is so out of hand now we have to do something about this (the police are jealous.)