A United States Postal Service letter carrier in Rockland County, New York, was arrested and charged with a felony after home surveillance video captured him violently pushing a young Orthodox Jewish child to the ground in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in Ramapo.

Gabriel Stan, 39, of Stony Point, was initially charged Thursday with two misdemeanors — endangering the welfare of a child and third-degree attempted assault — but authorities added a felony count of second-degree attempted assault on Saturday after significant public backlash over the police department's initial decision not to release the suspect's name.

The incident, which was first reported by The Monsey Scoop, was recorded by a home surveillance camera near a community mailbox. The footage showed a 4-year-old Orthodox Jewish boy walking toward the mailbox while Stan had his back turned, filling it with mail. When the child got close, Stan turned around and lunged at the boy, delivering a forceful two-handed push that sent him falling onto his back.

Surveillance Video Captures the Violent Encounter

The video showed that the force of the push knocked the boy's yarmulke off his head as he hit the ground. The child quickly got back up, retrieved his religious head covering, and ran back to a group of friends who were standing nearby. Stan could then be seen in the footage pointing demonstrably at the boy and his companions as they fled the area, as New York Post reports.

Police told CBS New York about the charges filed against Stan. Authorities said the 4-year-old was not physically injured in the encounter. Despite the nature of the incident occurring in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood involving an Orthodox Jewish child, police have not yet classified the act as a hate crime.

Stan was taken into custody on Thursday and processed through the Ramapo Town Justice Court. He was subsequently released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to return to court at a date that has not yet been publicly specified.

Public Fury Over the Decision to Withhold the Suspect's Name

The Ramapo Police Department's initial refusal to identify Stan by name drew intense criticism from residents across the region. Outraged New Yorkers took to social media to demand transparency from the department, questioning why the identity of an adult accused of assaulting a small child was being concealed. The backlash ultimately led police to publicly reveal Stan's name.

JP Gale wrote on the department's Facebook page on Friday, "Why are you hiding his name?" Gale continued in a separate comment, "You're going out of your way to protect the identity of a man who assaulted a child, and I think we can all guess why."

Other residents echoed similar sentiments. Frienda Bill commented, "We need this man's name. He is a danger." Melissa Alpegiani Fogarty also demanded answers, writing, "Where is this person's name and the news conference? He assaulted a child." In response to the criticism, the Ramapo Police Department stated that it "very rarely" identifies suspects in its news releases.

Postal Service Declines to Address the Incident

The United States Post Office declined to comment on Saturday when asked whether Stan remained employed and on duty. The agency also refused to address the contents of the surveillance video. The Ramapo Town Justice Court similarly did not respond to requests for comment on the case.

The decision not to immediately name the suspect, combined with the initial misdemeanor-only charges, fueled suspicion among community members that the incident was not being taken seriously enough. Critics have pointed out that if the roles were reversed — if, for example, a civilian had shoved a postal worker's child — the response might have been far more aggressive from the outset. The subsequent felony charge appeared to come only after sustained public pressure demanded accountability.

The fact that investigators have not designated this as a hate crime also remains a point of contention. The incident took place in a neighborhood with a large Orthodox Jewish population, targeted a child wearing religious garments, and involved what many observers consider disproportionate aggression against a small boy who was merely walking near a mailbox. Whether additional charges or classifications are forthcoming remains to be seen.

Lessons to Learn

1. Home surveillance cameras proved essential in this case. Without the footage captured near the community mailbox, this incident may never have come to light. Families and communities should consider investing in security cameras around shared public spaces, as video evidence can be critical for holding individuals accountable for violent acts.

2. Public advocacy and community pressure can make a difference in how authorities handle cases. In this instance, residents who demanded transparency on social media ultimately pushed law enforcement to release the suspect's identity and pursue additional charges. Staying engaged with local police departments and demanding accountability is an important civic responsibility.

3. Parents and caregivers should talk to children about being cautious around unfamiliar adults, even those in official uniforms. That said, it is crucial to emphasize that no matter what precautions are taken, crime can happen to anyone, and the blame for this incident lies entirely with the adult who chose to use force against a 4-year-old child. We should never blame the victim in situations like these.

Why This Story Matters

This story matters because it involves a public servant — a federal employee entrusted with serving every household in a community — using violence against one of the most vulnerable members of that community: a small child. It raises urgent questions about accountability for government employees, the transparency of local police departments when suspects hold positions of public trust, and whether incidents targeting members of religious minorities are being properly investigated and classified. Communities across the country should be paying close attention to how this case is ultimately resolved, as it will signal how seriously authorities treat violence against children and religious minorities in public spaces.

In summary, Gabriel Stan, a 39-year-old USPS mail carrier from Stony Point, was caught on home surveillance video violently shoving a 4-year-old Orthodox Jewish boy to the ground near a community mailbox in Ramapo, a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in Rockland County. Stan was arrested on Thursday and initially charged with two misdemeanors before a felony count of second-degree attempted assault was added on Saturday following intense public pressure. The Ramapo Police Department faced backlash for initially withholding his identity, and the U.S. Post Office declined to say whether he remains employed. The child was not physically hurt, the incident has not been classified as a hate crime, and Stan is due back in court at a date yet to be determined.