2008 Woodie Awards
Local Building Vandalized with Swastikas; Suspect Confesses
Alan Goldsmith
Issue date: 8/31/05 Section: News
On August 5, swastikas were painted throughout a building in the Yeshiva area, covering the threshold of almost every apartment with a mezuzah on the doorpost. According to the New York Post, that same day, police took a suspect into custody for the crime and the suspect confessed.
The incident occurred between 1:00 and 2:00 AM at 501 West 189th Street, at the corner of West 189th and Amsterdam Avenue. In addition to the painting of swastikas on twelve doors, the door of a non-Jewish tenant was heavily vandalized with an upside-down cross, the number 666 and the word "Satan" painted upon it.
Later that day, the New York Police Department's Hate Crimes Task Force arrested building resident Shawn Lawyer. According to the Post, the police officers focused on Lawyer after seeing a large amount of paint by his door, but no swastikas painted upon it.
Again, according to the Post, Lawyer, 25, confessed to the crime in police custody. He is charged with criminal mischief in commission of a hate crime, a D felony, and aggravated harassment in commission of a felony. His case is pending, with the next court date on November 15, in Part F of the Criminal Court Case. Lawyer will voluntarily move from the building by September 15.
Reports differ as to Lawyer's motive. The Post reported that Lawyer had a dispute with the building's management, but landlord Anthony McCool denied that claim. "I had no problems with the man," said McCool. "He was always very polite, very friendly." New York One reported that Lawyer's hostility was towards the non-Jewish tenant whose door was especially vandalized.
While the building's management already had security cameras in place before the incident, it is in the process of adding additional ones. "I'm hoping this incident will bring more police activity to the area," said McCool. Incidents of anti-Semitic vandalism in the neighborhood are occasional but rare, according to Yeshiva Chief of Security Donald Sommers, and usually stem from personal animus between tenants.
Over ninety percent of the building's tenants are students or alumni of Yeshiva, and the university offered student residents of that building emotional support and the option to speak with Dr. Chaim Nissel, associate dean of students.
McCool does not believe that the incident will affect his business, and building residents, while disturbed, did not view the incident as reason for alarm. "The incident gave me cause to worry initially," said Drew Kaplan, a rabbinical student at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, "until I saw the red paint throughout the hallways, realizing it must have just been something [someone] did without much serious malicious intent, and certainly none directed towards me. As a Washington Heights resident and an Orthodox Jew, I am not worried about the potential for further incidents here under the present conditions."
The incident occurred between 1:00 and 2:00 AM at 501 West 189th Street, at the corner of West 189th and Amsterdam Avenue. In addition to the painting of swastikas on twelve doors, the door of a non-Jewish tenant was heavily vandalized with an upside-down cross, the number 666 and the word "Satan" painted upon it.
Later that day, the New York Police Department's Hate Crimes Task Force arrested building resident Shawn Lawyer. According to the Post, the police officers focused on Lawyer after seeing a large amount of paint by his door, but no swastikas painted upon it.
Again, according to the Post, Lawyer, 25, confessed to the crime in police custody. He is charged with criminal mischief in commission of a hate crime, a D felony, and aggravated harassment in commission of a felony. His case is pending, with the next court date on November 15, in Part F of the Criminal Court Case. Lawyer will voluntarily move from the building by September 15.
Reports differ as to Lawyer's motive. The Post reported that Lawyer had a dispute with the building's management, but landlord Anthony McCool denied that claim. "I had no problems with the man," said McCool. "He was always very polite, very friendly." New York One reported that Lawyer's hostility was towards the non-Jewish tenant whose door was especially vandalized.
While the building's management already had security cameras in place before the incident, it is in the process of adding additional ones. "I'm hoping this incident will bring more police activity to the area," said McCool. Incidents of anti-Semitic vandalism in the neighborhood are occasional but rare, according to Yeshiva Chief of Security Donald Sommers, and usually stem from personal animus between tenants.
Over ninety percent of the building's tenants are students or alumni of Yeshiva, and the university offered student residents of that building emotional support and the option to speak with Dr. Chaim Nissel, associate dean of students.
McCool does not believe that the incident will affect his business, and building residents, while disturbed, did not view the incident as reason for alarm. "The incident gave me cause to worry initially," said Drew Kaplan, a rabbinical student at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, "until I saw the red paint throughout the hallways, realizing it must have just been something [someone] did without much serious malicious intent, and certainly none directed towards me. As a Washington Heights resident and an Orthodox Jew, I am not worried about the potential for further incidents here under the present conditions."