Suffolk cops locate man accused of antisemitic acts in Kings Park; hospitalize him for medical condition
The Professor’s Diner, located in a shopping center off of Indian Head Road in Kings Park, is shown on Wednesday, May, 15, 2024. Police are investigating an incident where a man attempted to take down the Israeli flag. Credit: Newsday/John Paraskevas
Suffolk County hate crimes detectives have located a man accused of committing several antisemitic acts in Kings Park.
Authorities, including Suffolk's mobile crisis unit, evaluated the man and determined he was suffering from a medical incident, police said.
The man, whose name was not released, was transferred to a hospital for a mental health evaluation, police said.
Police said the man, who was riding a motorcycle, went to Professor’s Diner on Indian Head Road about 9:45 a.m. Saturday and tore down an Israeli flag outside before throwing it to the ground. Police said the man left without saying anything.
The same man returned to the diner at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, wearing a helmet with an antisemitic symbol and message. He revved his engine in the parking lot and made obscene gestures at customers, police said.
He next went to the Kings Park Jewish Center on Main Street and revved his engine in the parking lot, according to police.
John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.
Updated now Newsday travel writer Scott Vogel took the ferry over to Block Island for a weekend of fun.
Updated now Newsday travel writer Scott Vogel took the ferry over to Block Island for a weekend of fun.
