Police looking for man who shoved judge into tree in Brooklyn

FLATBUSH (WABC) -- Police have released surveillance images of a person of interest wanted for questioning after a judge was shoved into a tree in a random assault in Sheepshead Bay.

The incident happened Monday afternoon on East 16th Street in Flatbush.

According to the NYPD, an unknown suspect pushed 60-year old Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Leon Ruchelsman on the sidewalk, causing him to slam into the tree.

The judge, who suffered pain and redness to his left ear, refused medical attention at the scene. The suspect fled on foot southbound on East 16 Street.

Ruchelsman said it was not a robbery and he does not think it was a bias crime. The motive is currently unknown.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS.

The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Website at http://WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or texting their tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are kept strictly confidential.