Suspect In New Square Arson Now Facing Attempted Murder Charge
Shaul Spitzer, the 18-year-old house bucher, butler, of the Skverer Rebbe (pictured at right), has been charged with attempted murder for his arson attack against News Square dissident Chaim Aron Rottenberg and his family.
Suspect in New Square arson attack now facing murder charge
Steve Lieberman • Journal News
New Square — Ramapo police have upgraded the charges against the suspect believed to have attacked a Truman Avenue man early Sunday morning after trying to burn down his home.
Shaul Spitzer, 18, of nearby Adams Lane, now faces charges of first-degree arson and second-degree attempted murder, both felonies. He had previously been charged with felony counts of first-degree attempted arson and first-degree assault.
Police said Spitzer was responsible in the arson attack that left Aron Rottenberg, 43, with third-degree burns to 50 percent of his body.
Rottenberg was taken to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla and remains there in serious condition. He is expected to survive his injuries, police said today.
Rottenberg's family say they have been the target of violence and protests in the Hasidic enclave because Rottenberg worships at the Friedwald Center, rather than the community's main synagogue.
But at a press conference at 2:30 p.m. today Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence said he had spoken with New Square Deputy Mayor Israel Spitzer and had been assured that Sunday's attack was the result of a private dispute between the two men and not a campaign of retribution.
Rottenberg's family has strongly disputed that conclusion.
Police said they are continuing to investigate and released only a few additional details, some of them grisly.
When police arrived at Rottenberg's home on Sunday at 4:12 a.m. they found him sitting on the front steps of his home so badly burned smoke was rising from his body.
Rottenberg's son also suffered burns on his fingers after trying to put out the flames.
[Hat Tip: Seymour.]
On this evening's Fox5News (NYC area), they made it a point that Christopher St. Lawrence was supported by the Skverer rebbe in his election campaign.
Posted by: WoolSilkCotton | May 23, 2011 at 07:03 PM
Deputy Mayor Israel Spitzer and had been assured that Sunday's attack was the result of a private dispute between the two men and not a campaign of retribution.
shouldn't there be an independent investigation instead of a member of the sect stating this
Posted by: seymour | May 23, 2011 at 07:13 PM
Any relation between Deputy Mayor Spitzer and the arsonist Shaul Spitzer?
Posted by: R.W. | May 23, 2011 at 07:22 PM
Probably cousins of some kind. Spitzer is a very common Skvere name.
Posted by: Shmarya | May 23, 2011 at 07:25 PM
Any relation between Deputy Mayor Spitzer and the arsonist Shaul Spitzer?
Posted by: R.W. | May 23, 2011 at 07:22 PM
uncle at least that a commenter said on vin
Posted by: seymour | May 23, 2011 at 07:27 PM
Unfortunately, the Spitzer family name has taken quite a number of hits these past few years. From disgraced Governor Eliot Spitzer to convicted sodomizer Moshe Spitzer to accused attempted murderer Shaul Spitzer and now the attempted coverup by Deputy Mayor Israel Spitzer.
Posted by: steve | May 23, 2011 at 07:34 PM
Christopher St. Lawrence will spend his man hours now protecting the Rebbe as anyone else in power will be doing in Rockland. It's all about votes.
Posted by: Devorah | May 23, 2011 at 08:12 PM
why arent the higher ups charged as an accomplice to the murder as would anyone else in this situation. Someone who hired a hit man he is part of the crime.
Seems like honor killings are eccepted in New S just like hamas only that it is a man instead of lady to save the honor of the chief.
Posted by: asher | May 23, 2011 at 09:53 PM
H O N O R KILLINGS in NEW SQUARE...........
like hamas are trained in school he was trained to be a rotzayach to honor the chief
is there no din vedayan chas veshalom
Posted by: asher | May 23, 2011 at 10:03 PM
retzicha!!!! what is happening to us rebbe please wake up and lead us to teshuvah...please you are looked upto by klal yisroel you cant be quiet
rebbe if your not against them your with them
Posted by: asher | May 23, 2011 at 10:07 PM
WHATA U MEAN: if u r not against them u r with them, where was he few months ago when they splashed windows, if he would want, he would stop this in a second, that shows me and tells me, evrything, he lost his face in the world, evrything is about him self
Posted by: yatzmach | May 24, 2011 at 12:09 AM
here is ur proof that nishtakcha toras habaal shaim, u idiots are all ways busy that it is wrong, to say this,u are the strongest proof of it, and not only toras habaal shaim, but u dont worship toras hashaim, what was all the years coverd with kadusha and tahara showd his real face with the whole glory, its power control, and selfishnes, u owe the whole jewish nation an apolegy, u smeared our dignity in the world
Posted by: yatzmach | May 24, 2011 at 12:21 AM
Who is next on the hit list ?
Posted by: Jack Frank | May 24, 2011 at 11:30 AM
baal shem...feh...another pagan kabbalist...
Posted by: former masmid | May 27, 2011 at 11:53 AM