Man Charged with Hate Crimes After Violent Disruption at Manhattan Synagogue
Larry Montes, a 46-year-old man from the Bronx, has been charged with hate crimes following a violent disruption during Shabbat services at Central Synagogue in Midtown Manhattan. The incident occurred around 6 p.m. on Friday, August 14, 2026, when Montes allegedly entered the synagogue, behaved erratically, and disrupted the congregation. During a confrontation with security personnel who attempted to remove him, Montes is accused of punching a 63-year-old female congregant, head-butting a security guard, and spitting on him. Additionally, Montes allegedly broke two candlesticks valued at approximately $20,000. A New York Police Department (NYPD) sergeant, present as part of a paid security detail, detained Montes until responding officers arrived. The NYPD is treating the incident as an antisemitic hate crime, and Montes faces two counts of assault as a hate crime and one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who grew up attending the synagogue, expressed relief tha...