By COLlive reporter
Hundreds of community members packed into the main hall of the Jewish Children’s Museum Thursday to attend a briefing by the NYPD on the developments of a recent stabbing in Crown Heights.
NYPD Brooklyn South Chief Steven Powers, flanked by the new Commanding Officer of the 71st Precinct Deputy Inspector Norman Grandstaff, said he was there to announce “good news,” and related that “due to the fine work of the police officers involved,” 26-year-old Kenny Rochelin had been arrested following two stabbings he committed on Wednesday evening.
Following an investigation, Rochelin is also being charged with the February 10 stabbing of 25-year-old Leiby Brikman on Empire Blvd. in Crown Heights.
Rochelin is being charged with attempted murder 2 as a hate crime in the assault on Brikman, Powers said, citing an extensive manhunt and the “longest tracking on video of any suspect on foot, from location to location…than I’ve ever seen in my 35 years with the police department.”
Video: Remarks by NYPD Brooklyn South Chief Steven Powers
While many participants expressed their gratitude to the NYPD for their work in apprehending the suspect, many remained skeptical about the arrest, specifically mentioning the timing as “suspicious” and an “11th hour surprise,” coming mere hours before the briefing with the community.
“While I am very grateful to the NYPD who came to our home and followed up with us, I am very cautious about it and have questions about the timing,” said Mrs. Rivkah Brikman, who spoke passionately about her family’s need for certainty in the case.
“People are asking if I’m happy they caught this person,” Brikman said. “I’m happy for right now…but I need a follow up. The DNA on the knife is still pending. I need to know if the person who stabbed Leiby is the same person who stabbed the other two.”
Video: Remarks by Mrs. Rivkah Brikman
Chief Powers reiterated that the police are certain that the man they caught is the correct one, citing a search warrant of the attacker’s residence which he said turned up the clothing he had worn during the attack on Leiby Brikman, among other possessions.
“We think we’ve got a very winnable, prosecutable case,” he said.
Community members were given a chance to ask questions of Chief Powers, many of whom expressed concern for the security situation in the Crown Heights community and the growing crime in the neighborhood.
Chief Powers said that Crown Heights is assigned more cops than other neighborhoods on a regular basis, due to the unique situation that exists among residents and the many visitors who frequent the area.
Devorah Halberstam, community activist whose son Ari Halberstam was murdered in a terror attack, said she is “thrilled” about the arrest.
“I have complete faith in the NYPD, and I believe they put everything into this investigation. When they got the lucky break and caught this guy, it was because they were out there putting all their resources into solving the case,” Halberstam said.
Thank you 71st Precinct for working hard to keep the peace in our community and going above and beyond to accommodate all our Jewish and chassidic holidays not to mention the conventions where we see many extra posts and tours of duty. Although we are surrounded by precincts on al sides that are plagued with violence including weekly if not daily shootings and murders, the police that are posted at our precinct have additional responsibilities and issues to contend with. Throughout the years we are quick to criticize the officers for not doing enough, but all in all those who… Read more »
Just wondering why there doesn’t seem to be any hatzalah members present. There is a nice showing of shmira and shomrim members, and one would think since one of their own was attacked and hatzalah is such a vital part of our community there would be a sizable presence of hatzalah members at a community meeting as important as this one.
Important for them to know we care and are present.
It is quite obvious that you are not used to hearing someone speak with eloquence.
You prefer the rambling on and on of some of our CH residents.
I for one, thank the Assemblyman Dov Hikind.
CORRECTION: I for one, thank the Assemblyman Dov Hikind, and I am very grateful to him.
Dov,
Thank you for taking time out of your schedule to join us at the Brikman-NYPD event.
A CH resident.
Williamsburg doesn’t take no for an answer!!!!!!
Why is Hikind coming to Crown heights like its his area, remember this is the guy who endorsed Jeffrey Davis the man who supports the agenda of the anti-Semitic MTOPP.
If we got a few ‘Villiamsburger’ to represent us as our Community Council, Crown Heights would shape up really quickly!
So nice to see your beautiful face keeping crown heights happy
lots of valid questions were raised by mrs. brikman.
Most successful police work is usually not because they worked so hard, nor because they are so smart but because they got lucky.
This is the case here too, Police just got a lucky break today, pure luck.
And today’s lucky break does not detract from all the sloppy police work, of ignoring all CH callers with tips to the NYPD, which they were wrong for ignoring.
Police would have had their lucky break weeks ago if they did not ignore all the tips, when they mistakenly thought they had the suspect, who was later released.
There were questions about that and he said they are looking into the suspect in Leiby’s case to see if it is the same guy since he fits the MO, and if he is, he will be charged with that as well. However, I was disappointed that they didn’t let us know if they will actively pursue the perp in the first stabbing if it turns out the suspect they have is not connected.
Thanks for the briefing. When they want to get someone- they do. They go all out without stopping.
Nice to see you there
If Devorah Halberstam says so be sure and trust she surely knows, what she says is the truth and nothing but the truth!
What about the Hatzalah member who was stabed