TROY, N.Y. (WTEN) — A Troy man has been arrested after allegedly making antisemitic social media threats directed at a local religious leader and the Jewish community. According to the paperwork filed with Troy City Court, some of these social media postings originated in the comment section of a post on the WTEN Facebook page. Those comments have since been taken down.
Joshua Wood, 45, was charged with second-degree aggravated harassment as a hate crime. The arrest came after a joint investigation between the New York State Police Counterterrorism Intelligence Unit and the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Rabbi Matt Cutler from the Congregation Gates of Heaven in Schenectady said these comments were directed at him and flagged the comments to law enforcement. In the affidavit filed with the court by Cutler, he said the Facebook comments from Wood were concerning and made him fear for his safety.
“This is a very troubling moment for not only for me, but for many Jews in the Jewish community,” said Rabbi Cutler.
According to the felony complaint, Wood posted the comments under a WTEN Facebook post. The comments said, “He better watch his rear end,” and “He better watch his back,” followed by “Along with every other Jewish person in the United States.”
As the investigation developed, law enforcement found additional posts on Wood’s Facebook page that allegedly said, “We need to stand with Iran and destroy all Jewish businesses, their homes, and religious sites in the United States of America in the best interest of society as a whole,” and “The only good Jew is a dead Jew.”
Cutler said he was already nervous following the recent comments, but learning about the past posts, he now feels, “Rattled, vulnerable. And to be honest with you, a little scared, but more determined than ever that I’m not going to let this break me. You see, if terror wins, then we all lose.”
Local attorney Greg Rinckey said Wood’s comments alone could have warranted charges.
“I think it becomes specific and it becomes more credible when there’s an actual specific intention to commit potentially violence on someone. And I think that’s what we saw in this post,” said Rinckey.
Rinckey wants to remind everyone that what you post, share or like can follow you. “It’s like toothpaste, right? When you squeeze the toothpaste, toothpaste comes out and can’t get it back in. So it’s the same thing. You have to be very careful with what you’re posting because it never goes away.”
Rabbi Cutler expressed sincere gratitude to local law enforcement for keeping the synagogue safe. Wood is due back in Troy City Court on April 14.
