Friday, May 01, 2020
Teen arrested outside Hasidic funeral in Brooklyn as cops seek to enforce social distancing
A police response to a rabbi's crowded funeral in a Hasidic neighborhood in Brooklyn devolved into chaos that led to a a teenager being busted on disorderly conduct charges.
The scene on 43rd St. between 13th Ave. and 14th Ave. unfolded at about 4 p.m. Thursday as mourners flouted social distancing norms to attend what was supposed to be a private funeral at the home of Rabbi Cheskel Wagshel, 95, said a family friend.
The family didn't announce the funeral, but about 100 mourners showed up on the street regardless, said the family friend, who identified himself by his first name, Joseph.
A teen, 17, crossed a police line on the street and, according to police, shoved a cop. He was charged with disorderly conduct and given a desk appearance ticket, police said.
The family friend identified the teen as the rabbi's grandson.
"The cops stopped the grandson of the rabbi. That's when the chaos erupted. The screaming went up," he said.
Video from the scene shows police officers chasing a hearse on foot as yells and taunts erupt around them.
"That's when the social distancing stopped," Joseph said.
Police did not release the name of the teenager because of his age.
The incident Thursday comes two days after thousands of mourners drew Mayor de Blasio's ire by flooding a Williamsburg street to mourn a rabbi who died of coronavirus.
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