Multiple Teenagers Arrested and Charged With Hate Crimes In Rockland County

The Ramapo Police Department’s Investigations Division is reporting on two suspicious incidents that have occurred over the last two weekends. On Friday, April 19th, 2024, at approximately 9pm, while a 17 y/o juvenile defendant was operating a vehicle on Cragmere Rd, Ramapo, a 17 y/o passenger in the same vehicle shot an Orbeez water pellet gun at individuals walking on the side of the roadway. One victim was hit by the water pellets but was uninjured. The vehicle’s occupants yelled anti-Semitic slurs towards the pedestrians and then sped away. Both occupants were arrested and charged with the following as hate crimes:

• 17 year old driver from Airmont, NY with Aggravated Harassment2nd (A misd)

• 17year old passenger from Suffern, NY with Aggravated Harassment 2nd A( misd)

On Friday, April 26, 2024, at approximately 9:20 pm, a continued investigation determined that the same 17 y/o juvenile defendant was operating the same vehicle on Oxford Dr, Montebello, with three co-defendant passengers. An 18 y/o passenger in the car threw trash from the vehicle at pedestrians walking ni the roadway, striking a pedestrian/victim on the leg. The victim was uninjured. A witness states that as this vehicle drove by, the vehicle’s occupants all yelled anti-Semitic slurs and fled the scene at a high rate of speed. At the conclusion of their investigation, Ramapo Detectives charged all of the vehicle occupants with the following as hate crimes:

17 year old driver from Airmont, NY with Reckless Endangerment 2nd E( felony) and Aggravated Harassment 2nd (A misd) Same driver as in previous incident

17 year old passenger from Suffern, NY with Aggravated Harassment 2nd (A misd) Same passenger as in previous incident 18 year old passenger from Airmont, NYwith Aggravated Harassment 2nd (A misd) • 18 year old passenger from Hillburn, NY with Aggravated Harassment 2nd A( misd)

The above listed suspects were processed at Ramapo Police Department. Due to the fact that these crimes were not bail qualifying, all suspects were released with appearance tickets for a future court date.

It should be noted that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.