A New Jersey man is now facing federal charges after police say he repeatedly rammed his car into the Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights on Jan. 28. No one was hurt, but the building’s wooden side doors were badly damaged and the site was evacuated in the middle of a large observance.
Federal Complaint Finally Sees Daylight
According to ABC7 New York, federal authorities have now stepped in, and a magistrate judge ordered a criminal complaint unsealed this week. ABC7 reported that the specific federal counts had not yet appeared on the public docket. The outlet also noted that the suspect had already been hit with state charges carrying hate-crime enhancements and remains in custody after failing to post bail.
Caught On Camera
Bystander and surveillance video circulated by local media show a gray Honda slamming into the basement-level doors, then reversing and hitting the entrance again while people were gathered inside. ABC7 New York shared footage and reported that as officers led the driver away, he shouted, “I dunno, it slipped! It slipped, you f-king a-hole!” In separate coverage, CBS New York reported that the NYPD bomb squad searched the vehicle and found no explosives.
Who Police Say Was Behind The Wheel
Police identified the driver as 36-year-old Dan Sohail of Carteret, New Jersey, and say he had recently connected with the Lubavitch community. As reported by the AP, prosecutors say CCTV footage shows him parking several blocks away, removing barricades, then returning to ram the doors. State charges include attempted assault, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and aggravated harassment, each flagged as a possible hate crime.
How Federal Hate Crime Law Works
Federal prosecutors typically use 18 U.S.C. § 247 to pursue cases involving damage to religious real property. The statute and Justice Department guidance explain that if the damage tops $5,000, a defendant can face up to three years in prison. Use of a dangerous weapon or causing bodily injury can trigger much stiffer potential penalties. The law also requires the Attorney General to certify a federal prosecution under § 247 before the United States can move forward, according to the federal statute and DOJ civil-rights summaries.
Neighborhood On Edge, Security Tightened
City leaders and Jewish organizations quickly condemned the crash and urged heightened vigilance. Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the incident “deeply alarming,” and officials said the NYPD would boost security at houses of worship across the city, NBC New York reported. Chabad representatives said repairs at the 770 Eastern Parkway site were already underway.
What Happens Next In Court
Sohail remains in custody on the state case while the federal matter develops behind the scenes. Court filings and a federal hearing schedule have not yet appeared on the public docket. Once the unsealed federal complaint is posted, it is expected to spell out the government’s theory and the exact counts prosecutors plan to pursue, after which defense counsel and federal court staff will set the next steps in the case.
