Many different rumors are being passed around the community, about the circumstances which led to the arrest of the person who brutally assaulted Rabbi Mordechai Moskowitz with a baseball bat. The Lakewood PD was kind enough to send Yeshivaworld the FACTS:
On Wednesday October 24, 2007, at approx. 3:00PM, officers from the Lakewood Police Department, and the Ocean County Prosecutors Office arrested Lee Tucker for the attempted murder of Rabbi Mordechai Moskowitz. Tucker was also charged with possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose. The arrest took place at the corner of 4th Street and Princeton Ave, approx. 8 blocks from the original assault.
Information developed through tips and investigative leads led Detective Steve Wexler and Inv. Carlos Trujillo-Tovar to make Tucker a person of interest, who was interviewed on Tuesday October 23. Tucker was subsequently released on that date. On October 24, charges were signed by Det. Steve Wexler, and Tucker arrested.
Tucker lists his address as Ventura Drive in Lakewood, with a date of birth of 05-30-1970.
Superior court judge Barbara Villano set the bail for Tucker at $375,000.00 no 10%.
Editors Note: The Lakewood Police Department must be publicly commended for their hard work in this investigation, which led to this mans arrest.
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58 Responses
I know Steve Wexler personally and I can tell you he is a great cop who does his job ‘mit a bren’ Kudos.
Public thanks to Lakewood PD!
Credit is due!
THANKS FOR CATCHING THIS ANIMAL
everyone was quick to accuse the cops,
seems they are not that bad afterall.
I sure hop that the Moskowitz family has hired the best attorney in the country – they can sue the State of NJ for 50 Mil and get it too!
I am a real estate attorney, but know the law.
The state of NJ is 100% at fault here – and they have deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep pockets.
Besides the LPD, how about a thanks to Yeshivaworld for being the first to report the story – and get tens of thousands to daven on Rabbi Moskowitz’s behalf, and being the first to break the wonderful news of (sub-human) Lee Tucker’s apprehension last night.
I was in the coffee room at BMG this morning, and the rumors were flyyyyyyyyyying all over the place.
Seems that a particular group tried to “hijack” the credit here, and a certain person “claimed” he saw the attacker walking in the street last night.
Yeah. Suuuuuuuuuuuuuure.
And I built the Manhattan Bridge, Not.
The group I am referring to is an excellent group and they should be thanked as well.
#8 (Aliza): i think that the reason this story got an inordinate amount of feedback is because it pertains to the town of Lakewood…and Lakewood guys like to “hock” and announce their opinions. They get this tendency from their leaning lifestyle. And that’s what we like about them. 🙂
FACT: This was a result of long hard hours and solid police work.
FACT: PD took the time to build the case instead of acting impulsively like some people would’ve liked
FACT: Even if you had all the tips and the info they had you still wouldn’t have had the guy, so we owe a great debt of gratitude here
FACT: These people put their lives on the line day in and day out whether YOU see it or not
FACT: Lakewood PD and Ocean County have given this case TOP priority, not only because of the precedent it sets, but bec. it means so much to so many people
FACT: Cops are human too, and they don’t appreciate the constant NEEDLESS badgering they get from some people
FACT: Top brass in the PD have made themselves available 24/7 for develoments in this case (I personally observed them meeting at 10:30pm with the CIU and other County officials to plan the arrest)
FACT: I have been boots-on-the-ground MANY times with MANY of Lakewoods officers and yes THEY REALLY DO CARE
THANK YOU PD. WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR US!
Oh! I forgot one,
FACT: SOME PEOPLE WILL NEVER BE SATISIFIED NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO
“Is it the Rabbi Moskowitz angle (is he a big Rav, Askon or Chasava Yid in town?)”
No. He’s a JEW – and WE CARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PERIOD.
Why can’t there be 100 comments thanking the cops – why is it that there can be 100 comments bashing them when people have issues with them??!!
Why?
Sickening.
In any event…….my two cents.
Oh! I forgot! THANKS TO LAKEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT!
Part of reason there is so much interest is because many in Lakewood know Rabbi Moskowitz. He was my son’s rebbe, and as every parent who’s son he taught knows he is the sweetest, kindest person. It is hard to believe such a nice, caring person was so brutally attacked. It sounds cliche but he really loves every talmid and treats them like his children. We all pray for a complete recovery. It would be nice if we could all reach the same level of concern for every Jew whether we know him or not, but…..
“Why can’t there be 100 comments thanking the cops”
YOUR RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks to all the dedicated officers who helped in this investigation.
Shimmy.
I don’t live in Lakewood, but as a former resident and as someone who has many friends and relatives there, I want to thank the LPD for a job well done. You deserve lots of credit for saving the lives of possible future victims by locking up this animal before he could strike again. Thank You!!
Credit due to Lakewood PD! and special thanks to Lakewood PD!
THANKS TO LAKEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT
We are all very thankful to the Lakewood Police Dept. & their staff for having the tremendous willpower to solve this awful case. Let us all not forget to thank the ONE above that allowed that willpower to be successful.
one Question here .The sketch of the suspect does not have a mustache and the description given at that time was that he was clean shaven. The photo of the arrested suspect( APP.com),Lee Tucker does.
Do they have the right guy? or did he grow a mustache in 15 days?
Lakewood PD deserves much credit, & we should give them a big thank you.
Also, I think that the Vaad & the ADL putting up the reward really helped & they also should be thanked.
MANY THANKS are due to the LPD detective team and all the law enforcement personnel who’ve worked so diligently on this case. It is important to everyone in the community that this terrible period be brought to closure.
Real closure, however, won’t come until there is a legal decision handed down by a judge protecting society from this animal. The community looks forward to the prosecution team exercising all in its power to keep our local and county streets safe from these beasts.
Again, absolutely everyone is pleased that this criminal was taken off the streets. We continue to pray that he doesn’t have any likeminded cohorts out there. To be sure, his out-of-custody environment should be further investigated to make certain there wasn’t any sort of prodding to commit this unspeakable act.
Also, there needs to be some serious revisiting of the regulations pertaining to the release of these dangerous characters back onto our neighborhoods. Shouldn’t there at least be some sort of community notification system similar to the Megan’s law??
So ironic and sad that this all happened to Rabbi Moskowitz.
He’s a person who has always been a Mentsch , even with non-Jews!!!! (I know him since we’re kids)- he’d give the shirt off his back even to another of a different race!!!!!
Secondly, he shies away from well deserved praise and publicity.
careful –
Good question. Last time I saw him was in August and he did have the mustache and facial hair.
It may be that it was dark outside or..
As someone on another blog wrote “Can we be certain it was this guy, or is this another scapegoat that is being charged with a crime he could have possibly done just to quiet down the Orthodox community.”
i dont get why everyones thanking the “LPD”. theyre the idiots who allow these people on the streets in the first place. you see them walking around town- they outnumber the cops here 50-1! next time don’t let them come here in the first place.
Abe the Attorney I am a lawyer also and I dont agree with you, on what grounds are you going to sue. You are not making any sense. Are you really an attorney??
S801 – his fingerprints matched those on the baseball bat.
Don’t read other blogs & then bring their junk here!
#21, You takeh don’t get it. Shomer P’saim Hashem.
Coffee,
Are you sure that’s what’s in your Cup?
The LPD is as inept as it gets. For every piece of expensive HAZMAT equipment they purchase their ability to solve crimes seams to diminish. They have a long history of NOT doing their job properly. So now all of the sudden they aprehend one creep and we’re supposed to bow down like the’re supermen. Let them begin aprehending real criminals for a while and then we’ll be more than happy to give them their props. Give me a break.
Sorry, make that #24 (or just Yichin Yoidil)….
sharpestnail,
go ahead an read my post again, don’t worry I won’t tell anyone. When you are done, please tell us what bearing any of your ignorant drivel has to do with what I said. I say ignorant because I see what you don’t, ok sharpie?
#27, apology accepted.
TO EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO TAKE A CHEAP SHOT AT THE LPD, THE NEXT TIME YOU NEED AN OFFICER, TRY TELLING THEM HOW INEPT THEY ARE. SHOOT YOUR BIG MOUTHS OFF AND SEE HOW FAR IT GETS YOU. I TRUELY THINK THEY DO THE BEST THAT THEY CAN. OR IF YOU THINK YOU CAN DO BETTER TAKE THE NEXT POLICE EXAM AND PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS.
For the record, LPD doesn’t have HAZMAT equipment. In fact, not even Lakewood Fire…Lakewood Hazmat is handled by Berkeley Twnshp’s Hazmat Response Team.
If it’s true that this scoundrel was diagnosed with having ‘homicidal tendencies’ then some explaining needs to be done – because according to NJ State law (See N.J.A.C. 10:36-5.1) this guy warranted classification as a “Level 1 Patient” [There are 4 levels with Level One being the most restrictive] and it is prohibited to release him ‘even briefly’ back onto the streets.
Thanx LPD for a job well done. Just ignore these creeps who put you down. And Steve Wexler: What a guy. He is as good as it gets!
The reason this is such big news is because when man eats dog its news. So the LPD finally made an arrest!!!!!
Moishe4675,
If they actually showed up when you called them, you could try telling that to them.
Coffee,
Since you seem to be SO in the know (I guess you see all the crime fighting the rest of us have been yearning for) kindly tell us the percentage of total crimes that the LPD actually solves (and please don’t include all the parking tickets in BMGs parking lot).
thank you lpd
Yatzmich,
Please come visit the real world from time to time. We’re not creeps we’re realists.we actually have to be protected by these nights in shining armorless.
Job well done LPD,
#24 what’t the need to bash the cops,
when all you do is criticize them, why would they help you?
police read this also,
and just because you don’t have your real name, it doesn’t mean it’s not a chillul hash-m!
#25. Lakewoodman, the grounds are easy to find; the challenge would be getting past the state’s limited immunity to liability. If a private entity were to have acted in the way this government facility allegedly did, there would be a negligence case a 1L could win.
sharpestnail: you wrote before that Tucker’s home is like bais bilga, sukkah (56b??). i am (once again) missing your connection.
#26 (lkwdfellow): “his fingerprints matched those on the baseball bat.”
Did they? If they did, why did the PD release the guy the day before???
Also, pardon my ignorance everyone, but all I saw anywhere was that this creep was in a phsyco hospital AFTER the attack, BEFORE his arrest. Does anyone know if he was there BEFORE the attack, and that he was in fact ever released from such a place?
Maybe his lawyer just told him to check himself in after his attack so he can plead insanity…
THANK YOU LPD AND DETECTIVE STEVE WEXLER FOR A JOB WELL DONE. ANOTHER BAD GUY OFF THE STREETS!!!!!!!!!!
Does anone know who’s house he lived in? I’m Still very curious as to which investor is responsible for this whole thing.
R’ Moskowitz is still in a desperate need of a Yeshua & your Tefilos are still very much needed and appreciated.
I have been asked to post this by a family member.
#19 maybe you can get ajob with the l.p.d
lakewood man calm down a little i am not an attorney and you are probably not either, you can sue them for releasing that psycho path even though he had homicidal tendencies.
If the culprit is an escaped mental patient what are the changes of imprisonment?
TO COMMENTER #12 “POOKIE 33” YOU ARE RIGHT ON THE MONEY WITH YOUR COMMENT…..THE VICTIM’S SOCIAL RANKING IN THE COMMUNITY IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS THE SIMPLE FACT THAT HE IS A “JEW”…. AND FOR THAT ALONE EVERYONE SHOULD CARE….PERIOD!!
smart1:
He lived in his parent’s house on ventura drive… so no investor was responsible for this whole thing! I guess you aren’t as smart as you think you are – blaming this and every piece of crime on investors. Not to say that some shouldn’t be getting rid of their bad tenants but we are in galus and will never be living in a completely frum world until moshiach comes!
as a hasidic woman in s.c. i was shocked to hear of such hatetred in the world today for the most part jews have always been a peaceful race but it seems we will always be hated just for being us. thanks to the lpd for their quick action when so many crimes go unsolved today.my prayers are with the Rabbi and his Family and students as this will affect us all as jews WE NEED MOSHIACH NOW! MAY G-D BLESS YOU ALL AND GOOD SHABBOS Tova56
#44 his address is listed in the white pages as: Tucker, Lee E & Sarah A
1331 Ventura Dr Lakewood, NJ 08701-2262 (732) 901-4716 (RAINTREE AREA)
If you look up the public property records on the county’s tax website, that address is OWNED by Lee E & Sarah A Tucker since 1983 which is 5 houses away from mayor Ray Coles!! FYI: from a simple search on the ocean county tax site, there are many houses on that block and other adjacent blocks that are clearly owned by frum investors.
I am indeed an attorney and ther are no grounds for suit here against the LPD. There might be a lawsuit brought forward towards the psychatric facility which let this madman out. The first step is to get a god lawyer who cares about the family and is not just intrested in the money they might get. I wish you all a GUT SHABBOS.
I also wanted to say that everyone is thanking the LPD a little too much. If I knew who this animal was and I was offered $25,000 I would also give a tip to the police. So it seems like the police didnt do so much they were working on a tip that someone gave them. Actually the person who gave the tip should be praised not the LPD. The LPD were only the hand who caught this EVIL PERSON but the person who gave the TIP is the real HERO. A GUT SHABBOS
Vadim: Do police have ruach haKodesh? How are they supposed to find out anything without tips? That is how all investigations work.
Police investigators will tell you that a large percentage of crimes are solved because people can’t keep their mouths shut, and the word gets around, and eventually via a tipster, to the proper authorities. (That may not be the exact circumstance in this specific case.) The most successful investigators are those who know how to obtain and properly utilize tips. So thanx does indeed go to the Lakewood PD for doing their job well.
Sharpest Nail-
Pipe down, son. Of course there is a pit in every cherry. but they are to be commended for a job well done. Trust me i’m no big fan of the LPD, but, please, givr credit where credit is due.
P.S. It’s knights in shining armor, Sharpie.
To those who are blaming local police for this mutant not being locked up:
Sorry, but the LPD can only arrest someone for criminal activity, not for the mere fact of being a homicidal mutant (which they cannot possibly know anyway). The blame lies with the leftist civil rights loonies who are behind the ridiculous policy of de-institutionalization of dangerous mental patients.
While mental illness (unless brought about by drug abuse as is often the case among the underclass) is a biological illness and it is sad that there is as of yet no medication that can help those who suffer from it, the fact is that many mental patients are dangerous to themselves and more importantly to others, and until a cure is found, they must be kept under supervision.
after everything said and done , why is there no mention about the siyata dishmaya that he was cought, and with that how many fears in lakewood calmed down,thanks to hashem which Is the siiba to everything
#57—WHOM DO YOU CONSIDED THE UNDERCLASS? BY THAT RATIONAL WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF THE UPPERCLASS? SOME OF THESE STATEMENTS HUMOR ME TO NO END. AN EXPLANATION IS REALLY NEEDED HERE.