A man identified by police as Larry Montes was arrested after allegedly disrupting Shabbat services at Central Synagogue in Midtown Manhattan and is facing hate‑crime charges following an incident that injured a congregant and damaged valuable religious objects.
Allegations and charges
Police say the 46‑year‑old from the Bronx entered the synagogue at Lexington Avenue and East 55th Street on Friday evening, around 6 p.m., and began behaving erratically during the service. Authorities have charged him with two counts of assault as a hate crime and one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime.
According to law enforcement, during the confrontation the suspect is alleged to have:
- punched a 63‑year‑old female congregant in the face;
- head‑butted a security guard and spat on him;
- broken two candlesticks valued at approximately $20,000.
Video of the episode circulated on social media and appears to show the man shouting near the front of the sanctuary and an object breaking as congregants react. Security personnel intervened and removed him from the building before he was detained by police.
Security response and detention
An NYPD sergeant who was working as part of a paid security detail at the synagogue detained the suspect and handed him over to responding officers, according to media reports. The episode prompted alarm among those attending services and has drawn attention to the security arrangements at houses of worship.
| Alleged act | Result |
|---|---|
| Punch to congregant | 63‑year‑old female injured |
| Head‑butt and spitting | Security guard assaulted |
| Destruction of candlesticks | Items worth about $20,000 damaged |
Context and implications
Central Synagogue is a prominent Reform congregation in Midtown Manhattan. Attacks on places of worship — and alleged antisemitic incidents in particular — tend to prompt rapid responses from law enforcement and community leaders because of the potential for wider harm and the vulnerability of worshippers during services.
Officials treating this as a hate crime means prosecutors must establish that the alleged conduct was motivated, at least in part, by bias against a protected characteristic. Hate‑crime designations can carry enhanced penalties and are intended to acknowledge the broader social harms such acts impose beyond the immediate physical injuries and property damage.
The arrests and charges follow circulation of video of the incident, which shows the disruption inside the sanctuary. Media reports state the suspect continued to shout while being escorted out of the building. Law enforcement sources said no other injuries were reported beyond the individuals named in the charging documents.
The case will proceed through the criminal justice system. At this stage authorities have publicly disclosed the charges and the basic facts of the alleged attack; further details, including any formal statements from prosecutors or the synagogue, have not been provided in the initial reports.
Incidents of this nature often lead to renewed discussion about security at religious institutions, the prevalence of bias‑motivated violence and the resources needed to protect vulnerable communities while balancing access to houses of worship.
