New York police charged a suspect accused of being responsible for a string of attacks on synagogues in the Bronx with multiple hate-crime-related offenses.
Authorities said the suspect, 29-year-old Jordan Burnette, faces more than 40 charges after his alleged attacks last week on multiple Riverdale neighborhood of Bronx synagogues. The incidents resulted in broken windows, damaged prayer books, and a stolen bike.
Synagogue Attacks
During a Saturday news conference, New York Police Department Deputy Inspector Jessica Corey said they charged Burnette with “burglary as a hate crime and also faces numerous charges related to the many acts of vandalism as hate crimes that have taken place in this community.”
Authorities held the suspect on $20,000 cash bail or $30,000 bond. Judge Louis Nock said Burnette’s shattering of glass was considered a violent felony which deserved bail despite New York law limiting charges for which a suspect can be held on cash bail.
Corey said police arrested the suspect on Saturday when officers saw him biking against traffic. They then tried to issue him with a moving violation. However, Burnette was uncooperative and did not provide identification. The officers took the suspect back to the precinct building and matched him with a wanted suspect in the string of attacks.
Later, police investigated the area where Burnette was arrested. They discovered a van with a broken windshield. Officers reviewed video footage that showed a man smashing the vehicle’s windshield and leaving the parking lot of the Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel.
A caretaker on the property said religious prayer books were thrown to the ground and that the bike Burnette was seen riding was stolen from the area. While Corey said they did not believe there was any other suspect, investigations are still ongoing, USA Today reported.
