At about 9:20 p.m. on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, a 66-year-old rav who leads a shul was beaten outside 375 Dahill Road. He was punched repeatedly and his shoulder was fractured. He asked not to be named. VIN reported the attack as unprovoked.
Police arrested Eric Avrutov, 31, of Brighton Beach. He was charged with two counts of assault, criminal obstruction of breathing and harassment.
No bail
Prosecutors asked for $10,000 cash bail or a $20,000 bond. Judge Edward Daniels instead granted supervised release, in this case and in a separate case in which Avrutov is accused of punching someone at a Shell station, Hoodline reported. Another judge released him in a third, misdemeanor assault case.
Hoodline counted five prior arrests, including a 2024 gun possession charge, and a criminal contempt charge for allegedly violating a June 2026 order of protection at his grandmother's home.
No hate crime
No hate-crime count was filed. Hoodline reported that police found the attack was not hate-motivated. We found no statement from the Brooklyn DA.
What we are checking
Kol America will ask the Brooklyn DA's office for the next court date and whether it will seek to change the release conditions.
How we reported this: from VIN and Hoodline. The charges have not been tested in court. Tips: [email protected].