NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Community activist and City Council candidate Heshy Tischler announced he will be arrested on Monday after a journalist said he was attacked by demonstrators led by Tischler during COVID lockdown protests in Borough Park earlier this week.
"I just got a call from the precinct. They will be arresting me Monday morning. I'll be taken in for inciting a riot," Tischler said in a video posted to Twitter on Friday afternoon.
Tischler said he planned to turn himself in with a lawyer.
"I will be of course pleading not guilty," Tischler said, adding that the journalist, Jewish Insider reporter Jacob Kornbluh, "is a very terrible, bad man" who "harassed me."
In a radio interview Friday morning, Mayor Bill de Blasio said an arrest was expected soon in the alleged attack, though he didn't say who may be taken into custody.
After de Blasio's comment, a law enforcement source told 1010 WINS that an arrest was "not imminent," while other sources said an arrest couldn't be ruled out.
Kornbluh wrote on Twitter Thursday that he was "brutally assaulted, hit in the head, and kicked at by an angry crowd of hundreds of community members" during a second night of protests in Borough Park.
Kornbluh wrote that protesters yelled "Nazi" and "Hitler" at him.
"I was saved by heroic police officers and several community members. I'm safe right now," he wrote.
Kornbluh said he is filing charges against those who attacked him. He said Tischler "recognized me and ordered the crowd to chase me down the street."
"I am filing charges against Heshy Tischler for incitement and physical assault and will seek charges against any individual who hit me," Kornbluh wrote.
Tischler responded Thursday morning, writing in part: "There was no violence. There was screaming. Seeing the commotion the police decided to escort him out. Nobody got hurt."
"But Kornbluh did what Muser Kornbluh does best, tweeted that he was 'Brutally Assaulted' by 'hundreds of community members' which is of course a lie. But Kornbluh does everything for attention. His smearing campaign worked & he got dozens of politicians to condemn our community," Tischler wrote.
Since Jacob Kornbluh was not physically assaulted by Tischler, he may only be issued a violation and not arrested, sources at the Brooklyn's DA's office told 1010 WINS on Thursday.
"I have faith in the authorities to bring this case to a closure," Kornbluh said. "However, I was disappointed to learn that the DA's office, as chief prosecutor, has decided not to take my charges against Mr. Tischler seriously. As evident by his cemetery video and in the footage from last night, the individuals as fomenting violence against me."
"He is the one who directed the crowd to gang on me and call me a snitch that resulted in assault. I hope he will not be cleared of responsibility and will indeed pay a price for his actions," he added.
The NYPD is still investigating Kornbluh being punched and kicked by others in the crowd and will make a final determination.
Rep. Jerry Nadler responded to the incident, writing on Twitter Thursday: "This is terrifying news from @jacobkornbluh. While this may be a small minority within a small community, it is disgusting and those responsible must be held to account for such violence."
Councilman Chaim Deutsch also reacted Thursday, tweeting: "It is NEVER acceptable for a protest to devolve into violence. I am disgusted by this and stand with @jacobkornbluh. Instigators of violence are not welcome in our community."
After masks were set on fire during protests Tuesday night, Mayor Bill de Blasio warned that the NYPD "will not tolerate" assaults, property damage or fires.
"There will be no tolerance for assaults, for damage to property, for setting fires," the mayor said at his Wednesday briefing. "Anything like that is unacceptable."
At least 500 Orthodox Jewish men and boys demonstrated on 13th Avenue, between 46th and 48th streets, overnight Wednesday into Thursday. Some demonstrators again set fires to masks and boxes. Other demonstrators blocked police cars, video shows.
Large Group of Protesters Gathered in Streets @CitizenApp
48th St & 13th Ave Yesterday 9:42:34 PM EDT
The demonstrators were protesting new COVID lockdown restrictions in some neighborhoods—including limits on religious gatherings and the closure of schools and nonessential businesses—which they believe are religiously motivated.
Asked about concerns in Orthodox Jewish communities that they were being singled out by the new orders, de Blasio said the neighborhoods impacted are diverse places.
"This is about protecting everyone's lives," the mayor said. "This is about all New Yorkers. And when you look at the communities in Brooklyn and Queens, it's lots of different kinds of people. Remember, we're talking about two of the most diverse places on Earth."
The leader of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn also said Gov. Andrew Cuomo's new order would unjustly hamper the diocese's ability to serve parishioners.
"Catholic Churches in Brooklyn and Queens have not had any COVID outbreaks or significant cases since re-opening on July 5th to 25% capacity. We fervently object to being told to further reduce capacity, because we have strictly adhered to COVID-19 protocols, and the safety measures have been working," Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio said.
De Blasio announced Wednesday that 14-day closures in COVID "red zones" in Brooklyn and Queens would begin Thursday.
The closures will last a minimum of 14 days; the state will then do a reevaluation after 14 days, the mayor said.
Under new rules, violators face $15,000-a-day fines for mass gatherings, as well as $1,000-a-day fines for not wearing face coverings or practicing social distancing.
In the red zones, schools are already closed, while non-essential businesses will close Thursday morning. Restaurants will go to takeout-only, mass gatherings will be prohibited, and houses of worship will be limited to 25% capacity or a maximum of 10 people.
In orange "warning" zones that encompass about a five-block radius around the red zones, there isn't a full pause at this time, but schools will be closed as of Thursday morning. High-risk businesses like gyms will also be closed. Restaurants are allowed outdoor dining only or a maximum four people per table. Gatherings must be 10 people or less—indoor or outdoor—and houses of worship will be limited to 33% capacity or a maximum of 25 people inside.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
