New London — The Anti-Defamation League and members at Congregation Beth El commended police this week for swift action in arresting a man who had allegedly yelled obscenities and anti-Semitic remarks at a congregation member over the past several weeks.

New London police have charged 29-year-old Trevor Blize of New London with repeatedly yelling at a man walking to Shabbat services at the Ocean Avenue synagogue.

On three separate occasions, a man riding a motor scooter had allegedly yelled expletive-laden, anti-Semitic remarks at the 65-year-old congregation member, identifiable as Jewish by his yarmulke, according to police reports.

The alleged victim said he thought it was an attempt at harassment because of the way the man drove his motor scooter close to him when he yelled the remarks.

Blize does not face any hate crime charges, rather multiple counts of second-degree breach of peace which stem from the alleged obscene language used, such as “(expletive) Jew,” and also a derogatory term for a Jewish person.

The congregation member told police the he was harassed on at least three occasions and he had managed to snap a photo of the suspect on July 25. The photo was distributed to officers, who later identified the man as Blize.

Police Capt. Todd Bergeson was conducting surveillance in the area of the synagogue on Saturday when he spotted Blize riding up behind the victim yelling “get out of the road you (expletive) Jew,” according to a police arrest warrant affidavit.

In court on Monday Blize was ordered to stay away from the synagogue, possess no weapons and undergo a mental health evaluation.

Beth El Vice President Judi Goldberg said the community had been troubled by the incidents.

The congregational, in light of national anti-Jewish incidents, had already formed a security committee and worked with the police and Anti-Defamation League on security procedures.

The synagogue contains a nursery school and Solomon Schechter Academy, an elementary school.

“We consider incidents of unprovoked harassment based on race, religion, or ethnic background to be an affront not only to our religious community, but to the entire New London community, which has worked consistently over the years to promote tolerance, inclusion, and mutual understanding among people of all faiths,” Goldberg said. “New London is a great community and we are all offended by this.”

The Anti-Defamation League said they are working with the congregation to help ensure they have the most up-to-date security measures and policies in place.

“We should not judge a community as a result of a singular hateful event or bigoted person,” said Marji Lipshez-Shapiro, interim director of the Anti-Defamation League’s Connecticut Office, in a statement.

“Instead, the community should be judged based on the way it responds to that hate. By that measure, we applaud the New London Police Department and Congregation Beth El for making it clear that attempts at anti-Semitic harassment and intimidation will not be tolerated in Eastern Connecticut,” Lipshez-Shapiro said.

The Anti-Defamation league reports the New London as the second community with an incident in the last three months.

In May, staff of Temple Israel of Westport helped to subdue two people who attempted to force their way into the temple to protest a women’s luncheon that benefitted the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces.

Goldberg said New London police were both responsive and professional to the congregation’s concerns. She said she hoped it was an isolated incident.

g.smith@theday.com

Twitter: @SmittyDay