Kiryas Joel, NY - A Town of Monroe jury has cleared Kiryas Joel dissident leader Joseph Waldman of a harassment charge stemming from a run-in with the head of the village’s public safety force in August 2009.

Kiryas Joel Director of Public Safety Moses Witriol had charged Waldman with harassment and obstruction of governmental administration, accusing Waldman of “putting his arm around my neck while I was attempting to stop a vehicle from hitting my public safety officers.”

Monroe Justice Maria Vazquez-Doles dismissed the obstruction charge, and a jury found Waldman not guilty of harassment after a trial in Town Court.