A 26-year-old Hoboken man was arrested for writing “Free Palestine” on a local synagogue. He faces charges of bias intimidation and criminal mischief, with the community and officials strongly condemning the act.
- Daniel Estreicher, 26, from Hoboken, was arrested for writing “Free Palestine” on the United Synagogue of Hoboken.
- He faces charges of bias intimidation and criminal mischief.
- Local authorities and community leaders strongly condemned the act, emphasizing Hoboken’s commitment to safety and tolerance.
Man Arrested for Graffiti on Hoboken Synagogue
A Hoboken man was arrested after he wrote “Free Palestine” on the United Synagogue of Hoboken. On Wednesday morning, July 24, staff at the United Synagogue of Hoboken found graffiti written in green letters on a cement ledge.
The words “Free Palestine” were written there. Sgt. Anthony Russo, Detective John Quinones, and Police Officers Chelsea Tamborra and Jesse Castellano quickly arrived at the scene.
Officer Tamborra led the investigation, working with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office. They found out that Daniel Estreicher, a 26-year-old man from Hoboken, was responsible.
Estreicher turned himself in at the police station on Wednesday afternoon, July 31, around 2:10 p.m. He was charged with bias intimidation and criminal mischief, given a court date, and then released.
Leaders Address Safety Concerns After Graffiti Incident
The graffiti incident caused safety concerns and drew strong reactions from local leaders.
Mayor Ravi Bhalla said, “I will never stop reminding the world that Hoboken is a fair and welcoming city, and while we celebrate free speech, we do not tolerate any form of harassment or intimidation. I look forward to continuing to work with our Police Chief and Public Safety Director to ensure all of our residents remain safe and feel secure, especially in our places of worship,”
Public Safety Director Ken Ferrante added, “The Hoboken Police Department deals with many incidents that come close to crossing the line from free speech to criminality. But when graffiti appears on a house of worship, it’s not just unacceptable; it’s illegal. I thank Chief [Steven] Aguiar and his team for their quick response and hard work in bringing the offender to justice.”
Hoboken Police Swiftly Resolve Hate Crime Case
Chief Steven Aguiar praised the investigators and officers for their quick response.
“I am proud of and commend the team of dedicated investigators who responded and quickly solved this case, which had many in our community on edge. Their efforts, and those of our officers every day, send a clear message that hate and intimidation have no place in Hoboken,” he stated.
The Hoboken Police Department’s prompt and thorough investigation, combined with the cooperation of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, ensured that the case was swiftly resolved, reaffirming the community’s commitment to zero tolerance for hate crimes and bias intimidation.
