Viral footage of a stranger targeting a Jewish woman's home by hurling antisemitic abuse at her through her front door sparked a police investigation that culminated with an arrest on Monday.
The 9-second clip was captured by the victim's Ring doorbell camera and was shared online by StopAntisemitism on Sunday. The video of the incident, which took place in Bexley, a suburb of Columbus, Ohio, sparked widespread outrage and has been viewed more than 2.7 million times. Bexley Police Department took suspect Jacob Thomas Reidy into custody this week and charged him with two counts of criminal trespass, alleging he was also responsible for a similar incident at another home nearby.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions as a result of the violence raging in the Middle East, sparked when Palestinian Islamist group Hamas—designated a terrorist organization by the U.S.—launched a surprise attack against Israel on October 7.
Posting the clip of the antisemitic attack in Ohio on social media site X, formerly called Twitter, StopAntisemitism captioned it: "Bexley (Columbus area) Ohio - random male walks up to a Jewish woman's home and yells "you Zionist pigs are f*cking disgusting!" Are we in 1939 or 2023? Share and help identify this appalling antisemite!"
The organization later said the woman's nephew had asked them to share the footage to "help find the antisemite."
Bexley (Columbus area) Ohio - random male walks up to a Jewish woman’s home and yells “you Zionist pigs are f*cking disgusting!”
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) October 15, 2023
Are we in 1939 or 2023? Share and help identify this appalling antisemite! pic.twitter.com/d9AX42Ldew
The clip begins with a man putting his face close to the camera, and he initially seems calm as he appears to suggest he wasn't sure how to communicate through the Ring doorbell. "I've never used one of these," he says.
A woman replies: "Yeah, go ahead! What can I help you with, Sir?"
"Er, you Zionist pigs are f***ing disgusting," he snarls.
Newsweek reached out by email to Bexley Police Chief Gary Lewis on Monday, who confirmed his officers were investigating. He emailed an update later the same day to reveal a suspect had subsequently been identified and arrested.
He attached a police statement, which read: "On October 15, 2023, The Bexley Police Department was made aware of incidents at two Bexley homes, involving the same individual making antisemitic remarks.
"After following up on leads, an individual was identified. On October 16, 2023, officers arrested Jacob Thomas Reidy at his home and charged him with two counts of Criminal Trespass. Mr. Reidy was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Franklin County jail."
Officers "encourage residents to report suspicious activity," the statement added.
Reidy is 39, according to reports.