Manhattan, NY – Rabbi Confronts NYPD Commish Over Williamsburg Hit-and-Run

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    FILE photo, by Shimon GifterManhattan, NY – The annual pre-Passover briefing between the NYPD and the Jewish community turned ugly today when a rabbi confronted Police Commissioner Ray Kelly over Sunday’s hit-and-run that killed a young Hasidic couple and their son.

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    DNAinfo.com (http://bit.ly/XTzpUM) is reporting that Rabbi David Niederman, head of the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg, demanded an explanation from the city’s top law enforcement official as to why Julio Acevedo wasn’t stripped of his driver’s license following his DUI arrest last month.

    “He was caught before in drunken driving and now, unfortunately, he has killed,” Niederman told Kelly. “How can we strengthen that the justice system working with the police department that this guy should never had the ability to drive a car in public and kill such [a] wonderful family?”

    After the press conference, Niederman asked, “How is it possible a person like this walks the streets?”

    Despite the fact the NYPD makes drunk driving arrests, it does not decide who qualifies for bail, or whether a person’s driver’s license is suspended or revoked.

    Acevedo was arrested and charged with DUI—with a blood alcohol level of .13, more than the legal limit of .08—after a road rage incident involving a cab driver at 3:15 a.m. on Feb. 17, a source said.

    “He was released, which is not that unusual, pretty much standard in cases like that,” said Kelly at a press conference after the Passover briefing. “So that is pretty much standard practice. I don’t see anything unusual.”

    Kelly also said police continue to turn up the heat in their search for Acevedo, who has been promising through conversations with media outlets, family, and friends that he would turn himself in since Sunday.

    Kelly added that officials have been in contact with Acevedo’s friend, Derrick Hamilton, who told police Acevedo intends to turn himself in Wednesday.

    “[Hamilton] said [Acevedo] wants to turn himself in and that he was going to do it he believed today, with an attorney,” said Kelly. “No location was given and no time was given.”

    Kelly noted that the NYPD is not taking Acevedo at his word that he plans to turn himself in, adding that they have spoken to an Acevedo friend, but not with Acevedo himself, nor any attorney claiming to represent him directly.

    “We don’t know if this is a game or what,” Kelly said. “We are actively looking for him. We are not waiting for him to turn himself in.”

    Kelly also slammed Acevedo’s claim he was fleeing from gunfire at the time of the crash.

    “There are no reports of gunshots in the area at that time,” Kelly said. “There were reports in Brooklyn North, which is the borough command for us far away from that location and not anywhere near the time of the accident.”

    Kelly’s comments came just as Bronx prosecutors said they have no plans to pursue charges against the woman who owned the vehicle Acevedo was driving at the time of the crash.

    Takia Walker, 29, of The Bronx, was arrested after the incident and charged with insurance fraud, The Bronx DA’s office confirmed Wednesday.

    Kelly said today’s announcement does not mean the initial charges against her have been dropped, and added that she could still face possible prosecution.

    “As more information comes forward, perhaps that case resurfaces,” Kelly concluded.


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    37 Comments
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    PowerUp
    PowerUp
    11 years ago

    Pure emotions

    Truthforever
    Truthforever
    11 years ago

    Kudos to Rabbi Niderman for speaking up!

    Stickpick
    Stickpick
    11 years ago

    I’m sorry Kelly but the time has come for you to retire. You are by no means doing your job right. In such a serious case you have to get to arrest all jullio’s friends till they bend to the pressure of releasing his whereabout details, so you can catch this meshunadige murderer. Don’t sit idea and talk the talk. But walk the walk too. Your every word to neiderman shows how little heart you have. Had this been a cop and his wife the suspect wud’ve no doubt been in jail by now.
    looks like he’ll get off with a slap on his wrist too. Bad country, terrible leaders.

    ABlogger
    ABlogger
    11 years ago

    “turned ugly”!? Sorry, the report that follows does in no way support this characterization. Or is something missing in the report…?

    GevalDigeh
    GevalDigeh
    11 years ago

    I think it was a dumb move of the rabbi to speak like this to the PC. After all we need the cops. We need the bond with the cops especially the heimish people. We have many yiddishe heimish cops in the NYPD. We really do not want them to hate us. They can do things that can cost us.

    noreminah
    noreminah
    11 years ago

    Hmmmmm. So the police is waiting patiently for him “to turn himself in” what is he waiting for? A personal invitation???
    How about seeking him out???

    ABlogger
    ABlogger
    11 years ago

    I think Niederman did the right thing. However, the point is that this guy is a convocted killer and not the typical DUI. Niederman should have stressed more this point.

    11 years ago

    Stupid move, blame the judge why blame pc looks he tries to get his 15 min. Of fame

    sasregener
    sasregener
    11 years ago

    Does the rabbi really believe that this oisvorf wouldnt drive because he didnt have license? Get real

    LindaAT
    LindaAT
    11 years ago

    Ray Kelly enforces the law – he does not legislate nor is he a judge ….

    LindaAT
    LindaAT
    11 years ago

    Did Rabbi N. speak out so loudly against sex offenders?

    cse7070
    cse7070
    11 years ago

    Rabbi N. –

    First off, he was told by the judge that he may not drive, and it is a fact that in NYC, anytime anyone gets arrested for DUI or DWI, they license is automatically suspended as soon as they see the judge.

    Secondly, Please make sure that you are never ever caught trying to help a poor yiddishe yinga man who gets arrested for DUI or DWI (not like you will, you seem to prefer to defend child molesters), so that you won’t play double standards.

    This was tragic, and we must learn, Drunk Driving kills, and we can not tolerate any of these crimes, even if it is one of our own.

    missyid
    missyid
    11 years ago

    ““How is it possible a person like this walks the streets?”

    That’s funny ….. exactly what I was thinking about all the sex offenders still walking the street in Williamsburgh. When does he start speaking up about them?

    CountryYossi
    CountryYossi
    11 years ago

    Its a shame we do not have Rabbi Glanz here to talk to the media and to the NYPD..
    Rabbi glantz knew how to deal with the law enforcement officers..
    Niederman is a great community activist but not a politician..

    mendoza
    mendoza
    11 years ago

    reb niederman has learn how to talk to none chasidec men…….. this is not a chasidesha melva malkah

    11 years ago

    I understand the great anger and loss of a Yiddishe family.

    Why did Neiderman become the DA for the entire New York State??

    This accident has NOTHING to do with Williamsburg. The guy did not target Willamsburg members in any way.
    Drunk drivers are equal danger to ANYONE in the City!

    ChareidiMan
    ChareidiMan
    11 years ago

    I am all for this criminal to burn and to be locked up for life, BUT….
    The fact is that all he did was leave the scene of an accident (which incidentally is only a misdemeanor) while at the same time its painfully obvious that the driver of the car service (who had no right or license to pick up passengers) passed a stop sign and perhaps was speeding as well.

    So it is very possible that the government will have a \hard time proving anything and once again he will get away with a slap on the wrist.

    The leaders should be careful with the demand for triple homicide, it won’t work, it won’t happen and it might back fire one day in a “heimishe” accident.

    There is nothing wrong with being passionate about this, but lets not get carried away. And Neiderman should have more brains than to question or yell at the commish HE IS NOT THE JUDGE, there is a justice system in this country whether you like it or not

    11 years ago

    The liberal media may be concealing it, but there appears to be little doubt that the piece of animal drek that murdered these three Jews is an illegal alien invader from South of de border.

    But of course these types of criminal savages are the voting base of the Democrat party, which has nullified immigration law enforcement in this country with the result that millions of illegal alien criminals have invaded the country.

    When will the Orthodox Jewish community finally wake up and realize that Democrat policies, especially open borders, “multiculturalism”, and red carpet treatment for third world predators, is killing America and killing Jews? Its time for Jews to start voting their true interests and not the interests of the Democrat criminal underclass.

    From the courts dot gov site:
    “Julio Amezquito Acevedo appeals from a judgment of conviction and sentence entered on October 26, 1999 by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (Jones, J.). Acevedo pled guilty to one count of illegally reentering the United States after being deported from the country following a conviction for an aggravated felony in violation of 8 U.S.C. §1326(a), (b)(2).”

    czyrankevic
    czyrankevic
    11 years ago

    he is an ignorant idiot remember that kelly was the guy that stopped the crown heights riots when comm.brown did not lift a finger

    flower3
    flower3
    11 years ago

    this guy who caused the fatal killing should be put in jail..he has taken 3 innocent lives. and the rabbi has every right to question why this monster still had a license. this is not right. and he ran and hid knowing what he did. im for the rabbi i agree with the rabbi, i feel the same

    Conscience
    Conscience
    11 years ago

    where ? where are every every yid to lament this vicious monster and for that matter to throw out these political bums each one of them
    who always are busy after the fact
    after the tragedy to cash in on it
    despicable
    despicable each one of them
    for instance yesterday i wittnessed
    one of the liazons , no need to mention names
    here he was walking together
    with the people we like to refer as officers , what a joke in itself so here
    here he was walking ever so gllefully , sokinhg in all the
    seemingly honor and grattitude of these shattered shatterred precious family
    here he was in williamsburg walking the stairs
    from the mourners , with sort of a self patt on his back
    and so where
    where are we
    where are each and every one
    each and every yid lamenting our hurt and demand for justice
    where is we show the day to day
    that untill a yids drop of blood never goea in vain “” WHERE ARE WE ” WHERE ARE WE LEADING THE HUMAN DYNASTY IN SHOWING DEMONSTRABLY TO THE WORLD UNTILL EACH DROP IS NOT AVENGED AND KOL DEMYY OCHEECHUU TSOYAKIM ILLY””” !!!! how hurt how ashamed living in these , in these betraying times ,

    11 years ago

    Commissioner Kelly clearly understood the tone of Rabbi Niederman’s question. He responded, “I share your frustration.” Rabbi Niederman noted that he knew that the NYPD had done its job — a thorough investigation and the pursuit (and eventual arrest) of Acevedo. His complaint is with the system that allows a person arrested for DWI, having been tested and found to be over the legal limit, does not have his/her license suspended pending trial. Unfortunately, we will never know for certain whether Acevedo was again DWI since he fled the scene, avoiding a blood alcohol test. Will Acevedo’s attorneys cite the lack of a DWI test in his defense? Can anyone blame the Williamsburg community or the NYPD for being frustrated?

    charliehall
    charliehall
    11 years ago

    This is embarrassing. NYPD has no say over license suspensions. And people with suspended licenses often continue to drive.

    Butterfly
    Butterfly
    11 years ago

    I think the commish should check his facts across the city, state, and country, before he answered the Rabbi. These druinken drivers get their licenses back and ONLY when they KILL, is when their license if revoked for about 5 years!! Some go to jail for a very short time for KILLING somebody. Check it out people!! The country does not have $$$ to pay for the jails so they FREE them!! They are on the STREET!! FREE TO KILL AGAIN!!

    Raphael_Kaufman
    Raphael_Kaufman
    11 years ago

    Whatever Mr. Acevedo’s previous troubles, and notwithstanding his leaving the scene of the accident, the the individual most at fault was the cab driver. If he had come to a full stop at the stop sign instead of blowing through it, the Glaubers would still be alive.