Possible Hate Crime in Monsey – Bochur Assaulted

Town police were searching for a man who pushed a Jewish teenager to the ground Saturday and fled in what possibly could turn out to be a hate crime.

The 16-year-old boy was not seriously injured in the incident, which occurred at about 4:40 p.m. on Crabapple Court, police said. The residential street is about a quarter-mile north of Rockland Community College. The area is home to Orthodox Jews.

Three 16-year-old boys were walking on Crabapple Court when an orange pickup truck passed them and returned a short time later, according to police. A white man got out to the truck and pushed one of the boys to the ground. The truck then fled west toward Forshay Road.

“The injuries were minor and did not require any kind of hospitalization,” Ramapo police Lt. Daniel Hyman said on Saturday night.

The suspect is described as in his twenties, about 6-foot-0 and 250 pounds with short brown hair. He was wearing a blue shirt. The vehicle is a newer model dark orange pickup.

Hyman said it’s not clear how many people were in the truck. Initial reports said there were three white men.

Hyman said it was too early to determine if the incident was motivated by hate.

The Rockland County Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Identification is assisting Ramapo in the investigation.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or has further information on the suspect and/or suspect’s vehicle, is asked to contact the Ramapo Police Detective Bureau at 845-357-2400.