SOUTHFIELD (WWJ) — Southfield police officials say they have found no evidence of antisemitism after a home invasion at a rabbi’s home last week during a Rosh Hashanah gathering.
Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren announced Monday afternoon that 18-year-old Bryson Trice of Southfield was arrested in connection with the home invasion on Wednesday, Oct. 2. He has been charged with armed robbery and home invasion.
The incident happened at the rabbi’s home on Hilton Street, near 10 Mile and Greenfield, around 10:30 p.m. while the rabbi was hosting about 25 University of Michigan students for Rosh Hashanah, a holy holiday marking the Jewish New Year.
After days of searching, Trice was arrested Sunday night. A woman is also being charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly letting Trice hide at her home while police were searching for him.
Authorities said last week the suspect, who was armed with a handgun, came in the backdoor and said, “I’m taking everything, give me everything.” The people inside the home were able to flee out the front door and no one was injured.
Barren said Monday investigators have found no evidence of antisemitism, but the department took the matter very seriously in the wake of other recent targeted attacks.
“This happened on Wednesday. My phone never stopped ringing from Wednesday all the way to this morning, asking about what the apprehension attempts were, or was the suspect in custody. Our commitment to the community was that he was going to be placed in custody and it would be very soon,” Barren said.
Several Metro Detroit-area communities are investigating incidents of antisemitism this week, as Monday marks one year since the deadly Hamas attack on Israel, which sparked the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
Bloomfield Township police are investigating after the Jewish Federation of Detroit building was defaced with antisemitic graffiti, early Monday morning.