Police and prosecutors say Joshua Scott chose the start of Chanukah to leave hate-filled and threatening voicemails for the temple located on the edge of Capitol Hill and the Central District.
“Six million isn’t going to be enough by the way, you fucking Jew rat,” went one message left the night of December 12th a few days before the start of Chanukah. “Six million is gonna be a fucking starter pack.”
The Seattle Police Department began investigating the Friday night call immediately after the synagogue reported it, tracking the phone number to an apartment in a First Hill “luxury” apartment tower. There, police say Scott answered the door but tried to close it on officers —
Eventually Scott’s wife reopens the door and asks the officers “he’s drunk, so can you tell me what happened?” When Officer Thometz explains the voicemails left to the synagogue, Scott’s first response is “I have no guns” before saying “brother, I don’t even remember the crime.”
Police say Scott eventually left the apartment without incident and was taken into custody.
The threatening calls in Seattle were made prior to the attacks on people celebrating the Jewish holiday in Sydney.
CHS reported here on Chanukah celebrations continuing in Seattle in the shadow of the attack as a menorah lighting ceremony was held in Capitol HIll’s Volunteer Park. Temple De Hirsch Sinai Synagogue also held its Family Chanukah Celebration event Sunday night at its E Pike synagogue as scheduled.
Scott, 30, has been charged with one count under the state’s hate crime statute. He remains held in King County Jail on $150,000 bail.
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