Man Who Vandalized 3 UES Synagogues Indicted by DA
A 21 year old man who vandalized a Jewish volunteer ambulance and three upper East Side synagogues has been charged with four counts of criminal mischief as a hate crime.
| 06 Nov 2023 | 03:42
Police had distritbuted this photo of a man wanted in connection with hate crimes against three synagogues on the UES and a Jewish volunteer ambulance committed with a 48 hour period in August. Lenny de la Rosa was arrested two days later and charged with criminal mischief hate crimes. Photo: NYPD Crimestoppers
A 21 year old man was indicted on four counts of criminal mischief as a hate crime for vandalizing a Jewish volunteer ambulance and three synagogues on the Upper East Side within one 48 hour period last August.
Lenny de la Rosa scrawled “Jesus Saintizz” on a screen in front of a synagogue near East 85th St and Lexington Ave. on Aug. 12, at around 7 p.m., according to prosecutors.
Two days later, at around 3:45 on Aug. 14 he struck again writing “DEAD RIIP” on a glass display in front of a synagogue near E. 79th St and 2nd Ave.
He moved to deface a Jewish volunteer ambulance service near E. 85th and Lexington Ave. before quickly moving to a third synagogue on E. 82nd and Lexington Ave. where he scrawled “Dead B-P” on the front door.
The crimes occurred in the 19th Pct. and were investigated by the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force. DA Alvin Bragg thanked detectives Ashley Breton and Lysette Felicianotengco.
De la Rosa was arrested two days after the Aug. 14 incident when police recognized him from a wanted flyer.
”Synagogues are sacred places where everyone should be able to practice their faith safely,” said DA Alvin Bragg, Jr. “We will not allow our houses of worship to be violated by hateful acts and we do not tolerate bias and antisemitism.”
The FBI has said there has been an increase in threats against the Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities since the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7 and the subsequent bombings in Gaza by Israeli forces.