Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announced the arrest of 47-year-old Yudel Antonio Herrero on Monday after he willfully disrupted a congregation at a Sunny Isles Beach synagogue.
Herrero spewed antisemitic speech toward people entering the King David Chabad and interrupted its services by standing outside and blowing a ram’s horn, also known as a shofar, to drown out worshippers’ prayers. He was later charged with disturbing a school or religious assembly.
(Miami-Dade Corrections)
Yudel Antonio Herrero
“There is no place in our community, or any community, for those who revel in spouting hate,” said Rundle. “Individuals who feel that they have license to desecrate the religious ceremonies and sentiments of Shabbat services and to desecrate the holiday of Sukkot are in for a surprise. Neither my prosecutors, the Sunny Isles Beach Police Department nor the law enforcement community of Miami-Dade County will allow that to happen.”
Herrero’s charge may be the first use in the state of a newly enacted statute that allows for the disturbing of a religious service to be considered a felony crime, according to a press release. Herrero’s case is listed as a misdemeanor, although his charges are currently being upgraded to a third degree felony.
“As chief of police, my officers and I will not tolerate any form of hate towards our community and places of worship,” said Sunny Isles Beach Police Chief Edward Santiago. “Our residents and visitors will have peace of mind when attending religious services because they know that our officers are out here vigilantly protecting them from individuals like this. We will continue to work with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office to ensure that there will be consequences for this type of hate.”
Herrero’s bond is set at $1,500. He will be required to remain under house arrest once a bond is posted.