Mother of New Jersey Man Seeks Protective Custody After Alleged Synagogue Crash

A New Jersey mother is urging the court to place her son in protective custody after he allegedly crashed his car into a prominent Brooklyn synagogue. The incident occurred Wednesday night at the Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters in Crown Heights, bringing serious legal repercussions for 36-year-old Dan Sohail.

During his arraignment on hate crime charges at a Brooklyn criminal court, Sohail appeared subdued, sporting disheveled hair and an unzipped work jacket. Judge Philip Tisne set bail at $500,000, noting that Sohail not only faces accusations of trying to inflict bodily harm using his vehicle, but that this act is considered a hate crime against individuals based on their religious beliefs.

Following the judge’s comments, Sohail’s mother, through his attorney Gregory Marshall, expressed deep concern for her son’s mental health, stating that he has struggled with mental illness and unpredictable behavior for at least a decade. She requested protective custody, emphasizing the need to keep him safe while he awaited trial.

Judge Tisne granted the request for protective custody and also approved a psychiatric evaluation for Sohail. Additionally, an order of protection against the synagogue’s operations manager was issued. Prosecutor Adam Garmi revealed that Sohail had rammed his Honda into the synagogue’s entrance five times, prompting one person to flee inside for safety. Thankfully, Garmi noted, there were no reported injuries.

Describing the incident as an “unacceptable and brazen attack” on the Chabad-Lubavitch community, Garmi had initially sought $1 million bail, but the judge ultimately set it at $500,000. The violent act, which was caught on video, drew immediate condemnation from city leaders as an act of anti-Semitism. However, some community members later suggested that Sohail might simply be a troubled individual grappling with his religious identity, as he had shown a keen interest in converting to Judaism and attended events at the synagogue.

Witnesses noted that he had appeared enthusiastic at previous gatherings. Yet, there were concerning signs that his pursuit of the faith was becoming troubling. A rabbi from a New Jersey yeshiva recounted an unsettling encounter where Sohail claimed that “God sent him,” leading to an angry outburst when asked to leave the premises.

After the arraignment, a spokesperson for Chabad stated that Sohail’s actions were unacceptable. “Deliberately driving into a synagogue full of rabbinical students is clearly anti-Semitic,” he remarked. “This act speaks for itself.” He added that such behavior was not part of any legitimate conversion process.

Sohail’s next court date is scheduled for February 3.