New Haven Anti-Semitism Threat Leads To Hate Crime Charge: PD

NEW HAVEN, CT — A New York man has been charged with committing a hate crime for threatening an individual outside the Westville Synagogue Friday morning, according to police.

Nicholus Smith, 29, of New York, is accused of third-degree intimidation based on bigotry/bias, and second-degree breach of peace.

Police were summoned Friday around 8:28 a.m. to the Westville Synagogue, at 74 West Prospect St., for the report of threatening and stalking.

A man told police he had been threatened by another man who had “aggressively” approached him and said, "What if I throw this hot coffee in your face...I used to beat your kind in New York." The man is also accused of using derogatory language, police said.

The complainant told police the individual then lunged at him, so he ran back inside the synagogue.

Police said they canvassed the area and located Smith on Whalley Avenue and took him into custody.

Smith was being held on a $10,000 bond as of Friday afternoon.