By Kelsey Durham
A former NYPD officer from Bellerose has been charged with vandalizing buildings and vehicles in Borough Park with anti-Semitic graffiti, according to the Brooklyn district attorney,.
Michael Setiawan, 36, was arraigned May 23 in Brooklyn Supreme Court and pleaded not guilty to a 39-count indictment. The former police officer from the 69th Precinct, in Canarsie, Brooklyn is accused of using pink spray paint to post anti-Semitic graffiti on the Bnos Zion Bobov Elementary School, a Jewish institution, on the night of May 3, Kings County DA Kenneth Thompson said.
Setiawan has been held for observation at Bellevue Hospital since his May 4 arrest and was arraigned via video conference, the DA’s office said.
The DA also alleged he was responsible for painting anti-Jewish graffiti on cars and stores surrounding the school, at 5000 14th Ave. in Borough Park, a predominantly Jewish neighborhood.
The indictment details 15 separate acts of vandalism Setiawan is alleged to have committed, including nine involving hate crimes.
Setiawan was a member of the NYPD until 2007, when he quit the force for what his family previously said were unknown reasons.
His bail was set at $75,000 and he returned to court May 30 for pre-trial conferences. The DA’s office said there was no court date scheduled for when he was set to appear again.
The former police officer faces up to four years in prison for each hate crime charge if convicted, the DA’s office said.
Reach reporter Kelsey Durham at 718-260-4573 or by e-mail at kdurham@cnglocal.com.
