HALLANDALE BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - A man accused of harassing members of a Hallandale Beach synagogue for several days, according to police, faced a judge on Tuesday morning.
Hallandale Beach Police arrested 39-year-old Jeffrey Carl Fleming on Monday, and he now faces a hate crime charge.
Appearing in court the following day, Fleming was ordered to stay away from the Chabad of South Broward.
“You’ve been charged with stalking, looks like a committing a third-degree felony, a hate crime and littering on a private property,” said the judge.
The charges stem from what police and members of the targeted house of worship said Fleming did last week.
On Sunday night, surveillance video showed a man tossing a cooler outside of the Chabad of South Broward along East Hallandale Beach Boulevard. Inside of the cooler was human waste.
Fleming is also accused of yelling obscenities from the sidewalk. Cellphone video captured him as he went on an antisemitic rant at parents outside of the Jewish school.
Police said Sunday’s incident was the second time Fleming had left feces outside of the house of worship.
Hours later, police and witnesses said, he returned and left a bag filled with feces.
“They witnessed this Black male dump, what appeared to be, a large bag or a pillowcase or some white cloth that contained human feces,” Hallandale Beach Police Capt. Rashana Dabney-Donovan said.
Community members are grateful he was caught, but leaders said the reality is there could be others out there looking to do harm.
“I’m very grateful to the City of Hallandale Beach and the police department for their efforts,” said Rabbi Mendy Tennenhaus with the Chabad of South Broward. “We truly appreciate law enforcement and the local government for spreading the word and catching this man. We appreciate, so does all of our parents.”
More security has been added to the house of worship and others in the area.
Evan Goldman, the Jewish Federation of Broward County’s vice president, said antisemitism has risen throughout the world and also said no one should be mistreated.
“Jews, no matter where they live, across the nation or locally, should not live in fear of intimidation or personal attacks,” Goldman said.
“To deter any more possible crimes and acts of violence and hatred against the Jewish community,” said Rabbi Tennenhaus.
Fleming’s bond was set at $11,000. If he bonds out, he’s not allowed to return to the Chabad of South Broward.
“I’m glad the situation has been taken care of,” a student said.
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