A raisin company heir accused of carrying out a months-long campaign of antisemitic and racial harassment against a Pacific Palisades rabbi was detained over the weekend after being charged with making criminal threats.
Bruce Lion, 64, whose family business Lion Raisins is based in Fresno County, was arrested early Saturday and booked on suspicion of making criminal threats, according to KTLA, which cited the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department inmate locator and Los Angeles Police Department data.
The arrest came after months of claims from Rabbi Zushe Cunin of Chabad of Pacific Palisades, who told the California Post that Lion had routinely shouted antisemitic and racist insults from his neighboring property after purchasing a multimillion-dollar home in March.
The California Post stated that it had received many recordings reportedly showing Lion harassing Cunin from the balcony of his Pacific Palisades house, including shouting antisemitic obscenities and disturbing religious services. According to KTLA, the recordings show Lion ranting from a balcony that overlooks the rabbi’s property.
According to the California Post, Cunin stated that the alleged harassment occurred at religious meetings and in front of youngsters.
According to KTLA, authorities arrived to the area shortly before midnight on Friday before arresting Lion. He was being jailed on $50,000 bail when the station reported.
Traci Park, a Los Angeles City Councilmember, issued a social media statement condemning the alleged conduct. Park described the hatred and hostility aimed at a rabbi and members of his Pacific Palisades congregation as disgusting and profoundly upsetting. “Let me be clear: hate has no home in Pacific Palisades, in Council District 11, or anywhere in the City of Los Angeles.”
According to court records examined by the California Post, Lion has had previous brushes with law enforcement, including incidents involving criminal threats and protective order violations.
Lion rejected some of the charges and blamed the confrontation on disagreements with members of the rabbi’s congregation, according to the California Post. According to the magazine, Lion admitted to playing loud music in front of his neighbors.
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