Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Boro Park Rabbi ‘Traumatized’ By Vermont State Trooper Holding Him at Gunpoint
A Vermont state trooper held a rabbi from Borough Park at gunpoint and treated like a common "criminal," according to a report in the New York Post. The rabbi's upset wife is demanding the trooper be removed from duty for this heinous act.
Rabbi Berl Fink's wife, Sarah, told The Post, that their horror story started on August 7 near Fairlee, Vermont, along I-91 North.
The Post reports, "Berl, who was driving, was ordered out of their 2004 Toyota Camry at gunpoint by Trooper Justin Thompson around 11:30 p.m., as their two teen kids looked on, she said. Thompson then allegedly pushed Berl to the ground, handcuffed him and frisked him for weapons, while the rest of the kin — including the couple's 16-year-old daughter and 19-year-old son — were also told to get out of the vehicle and handcuffed. Sarah claimed four other cops 'tackled' her son to the ground, 'repeatedly' frisked them and searched their car."
Sarah told the paper, "I tell you, there was brutality. He was pointing guns. I can't tell you how traumatizing it was."
The day following the incident, the family was informed by officers that they were pulled over for speeding, and trooper arrested Berl because he thought he was drunk because he was weaving between lanes. However, a Breathalyzer test to determine Berl's blood alcohol level was never administered.
According to the family, the first time they drove past the trooper, who was on the side of the rode with his lights on, they were only moving somewhere between 55 and 60 mph through the 65-mph speed zone. After they went passed the trooper, he pulled out and began tailing the family's Toyota.
Sarah told The Post, "We were frustrated. We were helpless. There was nothing to do. When someone starts up with you, you call the police. But what if it is the police?"
The trooper eventually issued Berl a summons for eluding an officer of the law, as he had to respond to a more urgent call.
The family is now threatening to sue the Vermont State Police for violating their civil rights.
Vermont Governor Phil Scott was called on by Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind to investigate the family's allegations over this "appalling" incident.
Hikind said, "My constituents' dress made it clear that they were Hasidic Jews, a sight that may be uncommon in Vermont but one that is hardly a crime. While it would be difficult to mistake the Fink family as people who might pose a danger to police officers, they were subjected to having guns pointed at them, being handcuffed, terrorized and humiliated. This entire incident has left the Fink family traumatized and fearful of travel."
On August 8, a press release was issued saying that police attempted to pull over Berl for "a motor vehicle violation." The release continued, "When signaled to stop with flashing emergency lights and sounding siren, [Berl] Fink failed to do so."
The Vermont State Police's spokesman said that it would investigate the incident further.
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