Monsey Man Accused Of Hate Crime After Flag Graffiti: Ramapo Police

MONSEY, NY — A 33-year-old Monsey resident accused a vandalism incident early Tuesday faces charges, Ramapo police said.

At about 4:18 a.m., a patrol officer observed a man wearing a face covering walking on Main Street
in Monsey.

He watched him approach a joint American and Israeli flag on the property of a business at 45 Main St. The man appeared to be using a can of spray paint to damage the flag, police said. The officer approached to intervene, and the suspect ran away, discarding the paint can and face covering.

After a brief pursuit, the man was apprehended and the items recovered, police said.

The flag sustained minimal damage due to the spray paint can malfunctioning.

The suspect, Benzion Rivlin, was placed under arrest and transported to the Ramapo Police Department to be processed.

He was charged with criminal mischief as a hate crime, making graffiti, possession of a graffiti instrument, and trespass. He was released on an appearance ticket for a return to the Town of Ramapo Criminal Court at later date, police said.