Shomrim, Victim, Assist in Arresting Suspect in Attempted Crown Heights Tasing Attacks

By Matis Glenn

A suspect was arrested after trying to fire a taser at two Orthodox Jews last week in Crown Heights, Shomrim reported.

The first incident occurred on Empire Boulevard and Kingston Avenue last Tuesday at around 9:25 p.m., when a teenage girl was allegedly approached by Lequan Stephens, who pulled out a taser and struck the back of the visibly Jewish girl. Baruch Hashem, the taser did not shock the victim. She proceeded to report the incident to Shomrim, who launched an investigation.

At around 11:25 p.m., Stephens, 22, allegedly attempted to tase a 21-year old Orthodox Jewish man on Kingston Avenue. After the suspect left following the failed attempt, the young man was able to keep track of the suspect’s movements, and alerted Shomrim. A Shomrim member was passing by the scene at the time of the call, and responded immediately, following the suspect until police arrived. Stephens was arrested in front of his residence on Kingston Avenue, and charged with multiple counts of assault, harassment, menacing, criminal possession of a weapon and other charges. Those charges were upheld by the District Attorney’s office, and bail was set for $25,000/$50,000.

Despite targeting people who were clearly Jewish, he was not charged with a hate crime, as no words were exchanged during the incidents.

Incidents targeting Orthodox Jews – the most targeted group in New York City – have been on the rise citywide in recent years, as reports of bias crimes targeting Jewish people have broken records for two years in a row.