A West Hartford woman was taken into custody Thursday afternoon after creating a disturbance and yelling anti-semitic and racist remarks on the Mandell Jewish Community Center property. [Updated]

By Ronni Newton

A West Hartford woman, who had previously been given a warning and arrested for trespassing on the Mandell JCC property at 335 Bloomfield Avenue in West Hartford earlier in the day, faces multiple charges after creating a disturbance and yelling anti-semitic and racist remarks both in the parking lot and inside the building Thursday afternoon.

According to Capt. Daniel Moffo, Beth Rosenberg, 42, of West Hartford, was taken into custody after initially failing to comply with requests from police. She faces a slew of charges, and is being held on $50,000 surety bond, pending arraignment at G.A. 14 in Hartford.

Beth Rosenberg. Courtesy of West Hartford Police

In an email to Mandell JCC members shared with We-Ha.com, President and CEO David Jacobs said Rosenberg had called the police from the JCC earlier in the day after an interaction with security personnel, and she was charged by police with criminal trespassing, but returned later in the day. “She was immediately stopped within the vestibule and 911 was called. She did not enter the secure interior doors. When exiting the vestibule and while in the parking lot, she caused a disturbance, including yelling antisemitic and racist remarks,” Jacobs said.

Moffo said officers responded at approximately 2:30 p.m. Thursday to a report of a female yelling anti-semitic and racist remarks but when they arrived she had left the premises. Rosenberg was located across the street, in a moving vehicle at the New England Jewish Academy at 300 Bloomfield Avenue, but did not comply when responding officers signaled for her to stop.

Officers did not pursue the vehicle, but when it was spotted at two other locations Rosenberg continued to evade police and did not stop.

Moffo said police caught up with Rosenberg at 5:14 p.m., when she was in her vehicle across town, in the parking lot of the West Hartford United Methodist Church at 1358 New Britain Avenue in West Hartford. With the assistance of other officers who responded to the scene, Rosenberg had to be forcibly removed from her vehicle before being taken into custody.

There were no injuries, police said, but while in custody Rosenberg was later transported to an area hospital “based upon an emergency committal completed by Mobile Crisis.”

Rosenberg faces the following charges related to this incident: second degree breach of peace, first-degree criminal trespass, two counts of second-degree reckless endangerment, three counts of interfering with an officer and resisting arrest, second-degree violation of conditions of release, third-degree intimidation by bias or bigotry, two counts of failure to drive in the proper lane, two counts of reckless driving, and three counts of engaging police in pursuit.

“While we understand these incidents were alarming and uncomfortable, at no time was anyone in the JCC in danger,” Jacobs said in his email. “Despite the challenges, our staff followed stringent security procedures. The Mandell JCC remains committed to the safety of our community,” he said.

“We deeply appreciate the professional response and support from the West Hartford Police Department,” Jacobs added.

Anyone with additional information related to this incident is asked to please contact West Hartford Police at 860-523-5203, or via the anonymous tip line 860-570-8969 or email [email protected].

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