ORLANDO, Fla. -- A group of about 100 people in Central Florida claim they were harassed by deputies during a Rosh Hashanah prayer service that ended with an arrest.

The group was celebrating the Jewish New Year at an off-campus house near the University of Central Florida Wednesday night when deputies were called to the house.

Officers said neighbors complained that cars were parked illegally on lawns.

When deputies told the group where the cars needed to park, they said a young woman tried to incite the crowd.

A young man who apparently came to her defense was arrested after he allegedly threatened a deputy.

The students said they feel like they were harassed and targeted.

"We were about five minutes into praying and all of the sudden a cop shows up at the door and basically tells us we have to move all of our cars," witness Michelle Goodman said. "We asked him for 10 minutes so we can finish praying since it is one of the most important days of the Jewish year and he said, 'No.'"

Alex Golob said she was handcuffed after she told an officer Happy New Year.

"I said something like, 'Happy New Year,' and he grabbed me by the arm and took me to the car and told me to put my arms behind my back," Golob said. "He said, 'I'm handcuffing you and putting you under arrest.' The kid who is in the car now was trying to stand up for me and help me. He said, 'If you are going to arrest her, arrest all of us.' So, the deputy ended up grabbing him and cuffing him."

"As the deputy exited the home, a female made some comments and those comments incited a lot of concern with the citizens who were there," Seminole County Lt. Dennis Lemma said. "At one point in time, the deputy determined that her comments constituted criminal obstruction of justice."

Deputies said this was not a case of harassment since they offered a chance to move the cars.

The officer said he felt threatened and felt a riot may have been beginning before he made the arrest, the report said.

Rosh Hashanah Holiday

The Jewish High Holidays (or High Holy Days), the 10 days starting with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur, are known as the Days of Awe or the Days of Repentance.

This year, Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, starts on the evening of Sept. 12, and is observed by some for two days. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, begins on the evening of Sept. 21. Each lasts 24 hours, from sunset to sunset.

(Want to find out why Jewish holidays don't fall on the same date each year? Learn about the Hebrew calendar and more.)

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