A former NYPD officer was charged with a hate crime after covering Brooklyn with anti-Jewish graffiti, the New York Daily News reported.
Michael Setiawan, 36, faces two counts of criminal mischief as a hate crime and aggravated harassment as a hate crime.
On Saturday night, more than 20 anti-Semitic messages were found on walls and cars in Borough Park, the Daily News said. In surveillance footage, a bald man is seen spraying the graffiti though it was initially unclear if it was Setiawan.
"The person in custody is a former MOS (member of service)," a law enforcement source told the Daily News.
Setiawan left the force in 2007 and was last assigned to the 69th Precinct. According to a police source, he was suffering from depression when he left.
An unidentified resident of 86th Road in Bellerose, Queens -- close to the Setiawan family -- described the former cop as mentally ill, possibly with bipolar disorder.
"He's got problems," the neighbor told the Daily News. "But he's a good guy. Quiet. Helpful."
His younger brother, Erik -- who worked as a traffic cop -- committed suicide in 2011.
After an arrest was made, city leaders praised the NYPD for their police work.
"We have many Holocaust survivors here, many elderly people and children who are appropriately frightened by unprovoked hate attacks upon their schools and community," said Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Borough Park). "Hate attacks on our community will not go unpunished."
Borough Park City Councilman David Greenfield expressed his shock upon learning that the culprit was a former police officer and State Senator Simcha Felder (D-Borough Park) called the incident "disturbing."
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams decried Setiawan's alleged actions too.
"Hate is not a Brooklyn value and I repudiate any low-life individual who would spread their prejudiced invective," Adams told the Daily News.
A current NYPD officer was arrested earlier this week after randomly shooting a passing motorist in Pelham.
Brendan Cronin, 27, was off-duty when he fired his NYPD 9 mm handgun at a car driving near Lincoln Avenue and Sixth Avenue around 11:55 p.m. Tuesday.
The 47-year-old victim was shot in the torso, arm, and hand, police said. According to police, he is expected to be OK.
