[Videos and photos below.] Lakewood, NJ – A deeply troubling incident has sent shockwaves through the Lakewood community, Matzav.com has learned, as a beloved ben Torah and father of eight, R’ Binyomin Kubani, was arrested and jailed following what appears to be a gross misjudgment by local authorities.
R’ Binyomin and his wife, Adina, are residents of the Lexington Avenue neighborhood of Lakewood.
Matzav.com has learned that on Thursday, R’ Binyomin, a kollel yungerman learning at Bais Medrash Govoha, had simply pulled into a Route 88 car wash with his 3-year-old child in the van. Days earlier, over Shabbos, meat had leaked in his car, leaving a stubborn odor. Thinking nothing of it, he did what he had done before: he sought help from one of the workers there to clean the carpets, as he had before.
R’ Binyomin approached a 15-year-old Hispanic teen at the location and asked if he would be willing to come clean the carpets at his home at a convenient time, offering the type of informal work arrangement common in such settings. The boy, instead of responding verbally, backed away, snapped a photo of R’ Binyomin’s face, and waved down a passing Lakewood police cruiser.
In an astonishing and deeply unsettling turn of events, police brought the teen to headquarters to take a statement, and soon thereafter, without giving R’ Binyomin a chance to speak, present context, or offer any kind of defense, officers showed up to arrest him. He was booked and transported to the Ocean County jail in Toms River, where he remains in custody, awaiting a court appearance.
What’s more disturbing is what the police report claims: that the boy “ran away” after the alleged “solicitation” attempt. But footage from the scene tells a different story entirely. Surveillance video reportedly shows that the van R’ Binyomin was driving pulled away from the scene before the teen did, belying the suggestion that the boy fled in fear. There is no frantic sprint, no clear sign of distress, and certainly no evidence of a pursuit. Just a kollel man looking to clean his car.
Despite R’ Binyomin having an attorney present at the time, Lakewood police refused to allow him to make a statement or provide any proof. Instead, they proceeded to arrest and jail him, all based on a single unsubstantiated allegation by a teenager, reportedly an immigrant minor, without background, family context, or clarity on communication.
For a married man, a father of eight, known in his community, this incident is an egregious miscarriage of justice.
Lakewood residents, stunned and angered by the unfolding of events, gathered in protest Mon otzoei Shabbos outside the Lakewood Police Department on Third Street.
In a striking show of support, two of BMG’s roshei yeshiva, Rav Malkiel Kotler and Rav Yeruchom Olshin, joined the protest.
“An arrest without a shred of verified evidence, without even hearing his side — this is not the way justice is supposed to work,” one community member at the station remarked. “Since when is a man presumed guilty with no due process?”
The community is now rallying around the Kubani family, offering support, legal counsel, and public pressure to ensure that the truth is heard and justice is restored.
Meanwhile, R’ Binyomin remains behind bars.
Lakewood Police have yet to issue a public statement regarding their handling of the incident.
As one observer noted at the protest: “This can’t just end with R’ Binyomin’s name cleared. Someone needs to answer for how this happened.”
VIDEOS AND PHOTOS:
Why would the Lakewood wish to do this? Seemingly there is more to this troubling story.
“Seemingly there is more to this troubling story”
Why do people say this? When weird unthinkable stuff happens to you you want people to help and validate your issues, right? Not to add insult by adding your own unwarranted blame.
Did you watch the video? Why didn’t they allow his lawyers to speak?
As if it really doesn’t make sense that this happened without “more to this story”. I’ve never seen these people come to peacefully protest, that should tell you something. The fact that this only takes one hateful lpd officer should be sufficient to quell your hunches.
Your comment is cryptic and unclear.
U little pathetic embarrassment of a weasel for saying such a thing clearly u know nothing the Rosh yeshivas showed up but u with your ignorant little pea brained mind think”there must be more” I hope u rot in prison 4 something u didn’t do and then u can say there must be more u will no doubt rot in h— ur a bad person
Rav Yisroel Neuman was there as well – he’s in one of your pics.
Pack your bags. There’s a reason NJ ranks first in flights from states. For us Yidden especially , the signs are clear. Time to come home.
So these pro Hamas terrorists can tear down/burn down a City and nothing happens to them. They can punch a cop in the face and they walk scot-free. But if an honest white Orthodox male innocently asks some kid if he wants to do some work for him and get paid …. CRIME OF THE CENTURY! The cops in Lakewood are coward thugs and gangsters. Give out parking tickets and harass the white Frum community. Leave all the blacks and Hispanic criminals to roam free wreaking havoc at will.
Variation of the Beilus case but in the USA no less.
Tehillim #120
Today’s justice system where illegal immigrants are trusted without evidence.
That’s what happens in Liberal controlled states. Stop voting for Democrats. They are all anti Torah and anti Semites. Even when askanim say differently, ignore them.
Protests bring attention. Really nice. But where’s the action. I suggest immediate lawsuit. That produces results. This requires a good attorney, but not lots of money. Suits are generally done on a percent of the settlement.
Can they release him from unlawful detention without seeing a judge? If not he’s unfortunately stuck until Monday morning. July 4 Friday doesn’t make it any better. Matzav please keep us posted on his journey of suing for enough money to stay in kollel and marry off all his children.
Rav Dovid Schustal was their as well.
Why does the amount of kids that he has eight come to play if he had seven would it be different if he had nine would it be different? Very strange
By the way, I see Rabbi Cohen in the background too. This was a big effort on his part.
It’s gotta be more to this story and it usually isn’t too good
Because when a father of 8 children is sent to jail for no reason way more people are affected and in this case innocent children, than if a yungerman who does not yet have children would be. Not only is the Yungeman and his wife in pain so are the children.
There are more innocent people affected & studies show that a family man is much less likely to get involved in crime than single men.
Most times these interactions are legitimate.
The illegals use victimization as a way to get citizenship. They feel very desperate these days due to ICE crack downs. We should all be more careful dealing with them.
Sounds like the kid, new to such a situation and a tad weak in English, freaked at the weird request and sought police help. Everyone take deep breath and be calm and vigilant.
Was actually probably advised to try to frame someone in order to be a victim of a crime, as that is sufficient cause for an amnesty visa in USA. The repercussions for false accusations in USA are not nearly high enough.
Be calm and vigilant……..while an innocent man is being illegally held in a prison cell. If it was your parent/spouse/child you would be singing a different tune.
Seems like that kid was trying to get a visa to the US as a victim, anyone seeing the video gets shocked how he was ever arrested.
The biggest embarrassment of this story is, seeing a few self hating Jews which are looking to be דן לכף זכות that Mexican goy, instead of just doing what’s right and sticking up for this chosheve avreich.
We could do better.
Adding another layer to the controversy,
community advocates point to a pattern of
fabricated claims by undocumented minors in
pursuit of U Visas, which provide legal
residency to those who report being victims of
crimes. “It’s something authorities must
investigate,” said one activist. “We cannot
ignore this trend when innocent people’s lives are being destroyed.”
Where is the Governor, Phil Murphy?
And we give them tons of money for all the jobs they have with us! Who do you think virtually all the Mexicans (South Americans) in Lakewood work by?! And virtually all in peace and very respectful and appreciative of each other.
Oye, el chavo me dijo antes que lo iba a hacer pa’ sacar una visa U, ¿sabes? Iba a intentarlo en la 2da calle y Clifton, pero había un chorro de mexicanos ahí buscando jale de verdad, y pues, no le salían bien las cosas. Entonces se fue a probar suerte en el car wash, ¡vaya plan!
This translates as (using Google translate) (assuming the comment is true):
Hey, the guy told me earlier he was going to do it to get a U visa, you know? He was going to try it at 2nd and Clifton, but there were a bunch of Mexicans there looking for some real work, and well, things weren’t working out for him. So he went to try his luck at the car wash. What a plan!
B”H released!
https://matzav.com/videos-after-sham-arrest-and-imprisonment-r-binyomin-kubani-welcomed-back-with-joy/