April 30, 2005

Thompson
14 charged with trespass after squabble over camp

   Two congregations of Bobover Hasidim squabbled Thursday over the right to use a summer camp, leading to police intervention.
   Sullivan County sheriff's deputies were called just after 4 p.m. to Camp Shalva on Heiden Road in Thompsonville. The call came from the camp's security company, IronGuard Protection Agency.
   The security firm works for the Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion, and police said they produced proof of ownership of the camp.
   Police said the other group, from Congregation Machna Shalva, had used the camp last summer. They had made improvements to the grounds and believed they were entitled to return.
   Police said the Machna Shalva group refused the security company's repeated requests to leave.
   Police charged 14 members of Congregation Machna Shalva with trespass, a violation. They were released pending Thompson Town Court dates.

Heather Yakin    TH-Record