Suspect Arrested in Beating and Robbery of Crown Heights Activist

By Hamodia Staff

BROOKLYN — Police have arrested a teen suspect in the robbery and beating of a Jewish man in Crown Heights.

The incident occurred July 13 on Montgomery Street, as Yossy Hershkop, 31, a community activist driving in his car with his five-year-old child, was attempting to park his vehicle in a tight spot, and may have lightly bumped the car behind him by accident.

Hershkop then began searching for another parking spot, as the car behind him followed, catching up to him a block later and cutting him off. The four men in the car said Hershkop had hit their car and demanded money for damage to their vehicle, but after realizing that the conversation was not going to end well, Hershkop brought up the option of calling the police for a police report.

The men then became irate and began pummeling Hershkop with punches to the face. The assailants also stole $100 from Hershkop.

Thursday night, the NYPD arrested one suspect in the case: Derrel Cooper, 19, who was charged with multiple counts of robbery. Cooper lives two blocks from where the assault occurred.