Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) had the highest praise for Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson following the announcement today of a resolution in the case of Yitzchok Shuchat.

In 2008, Shuchat, a member of the Crown Heights Shmira patrol, responded to a call for help from a local female resident which led to a confrontation with another male. Shuchat was then accused of assault following the confrontation but saw the additional charge of bias crime added to his charges over a year later by former D.A. Charles Hynes after Shuchat left Brooklyn to reside in the State of Israel.

Shuchat served four years of house arrest in Israel before agreeing to return to Brooklyn to face the charges against him. After taking office, D.A. Thompson reviewed the facts in Shuchat’s case and agreed that no bias crime had been committed and Shuchat pleaded guilty to felony assault.

Assemblyman Hikind, who took an early interest in the case, stated all along that he feared the charge of bias was being used as a political tool.

“Bias is a very serious crime,” said Hikind. “We want our police and our courts to pursue bias crimes with full vigor, but only when the charges are justified. No one should ever be accused of this if it is not true.

“I am delighted that we have a man of Ken Thompson’s caliber as the Brooklyn District Attorney, pursuing justice, and happy that everyone involved in this case can now move forward with their lives.”

(YWN Desk – NYC)