Last Wednesday, at approximately 8:00PM, reports came into Lakewood Police Department of assaults of persons walking on East County Line Road near Park Avenue.
An officer further investigated those reports and found five victims who were struck by eggs from persons travelling past them in a white vehicle. Assisted by additional officers they ascertained that a white vehicle with 3 to 4 occupants was responsible and a NJ registration number was obtained and tracked back to an occupant of Jackson, NJ. Working with Jackson PD, two occupants of the suspect vehicle were found and returned with police to Lakewood PD.
Detective Steve Wexler subsequently obtained information identifying partial identities of the third and fourth suspects in the suspect vehicle.
Det. Wexler working with the Ocean County Sheriffs Department warrant division gained the full identity of the third suspect. The suspects had been alleged to have travelled to a store in Brick NJ for the purpose of obtaining eggs to throw at persons of the Orthodox Jewish faith in Lakewood, NJ.
The information and photographs supplied by the Ocean County Sheriffs Department matched the video surveillance footage supplied by the retail store in Brick, NJ.
As a result of the investigation, the following persons were charged with bias intimidation: Stacey Krohn (23), Jackson NJ, Edward A. Kerby Jr (25), Jackson NJ.
As a further result of the investigation the following person was charged with bias intimidation and harassment while being on probation authorized by the superior court of NJ: Mark L. Johnson (22), Bayville, NJ.
Mr. Johnson’s bail was set at $10,000.00 full bail.
Any further victims or witnesses are asked to contact detective Steve Wexler at the Lakewood Police Department @ 732-363-0200 ext 5344.
Chief Rob Lawson of the LPD said in a statement: “On Friday May 21, 2010 additional incidents occurred in which eggs were thrown at Orthodox Jewish residents of Lakewood. These incidents are being investigated and when the suspects are identified, they also will be charged with bias intimidation 2c:16-1, a 4th degree crime, punishable by up to 18 months in jail and a $10,000 fine.
“The vast majority of these crimes are being committed by juveniles and young adults from out of town who think that this kind of activity is a fun thing to do. I view this as a very serious offense, even if the victim is not physically injured, the psychological impact can be profound causing prolonged distress to the victim. any persons caught harassing any of our residents based upon a person’s race, color, ethnicity, religion, handicap, gender or sexual orientation will be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible under the law.”
(Dov Gordon – YWN)
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5 Responses
You failed to mention that Wednesday was Yom Tov, which made the crime more horrifying for us.
WAY TO GO CHIEF LAWSON.
This type of activity would happen for many years in Boro park. Cars of young Italions from Bensenhurst would drive by throwing rocks and eggs on heimisha yidden. It all stopped when Boro park became more populated with chassidim and when anti semites tried to continue this type of attack,they found their cars turned upside down and got a good beating. I myself witnessed how some of these anti semites got a good beating. This is what stopped this behavior. Once Lakewood will have more yidden it will be safer.
heshy 1 says: correction dear heshy, lakewood has plenty of jews. once lakewood will have more boro parkers . . . .!
#3 Right on!
About 15 years ago I was walking in the area of New Utricht Ave and around 39 st crossing under the train tracks and a car that I realized afterwards had been waiting for me to cross had tried to run me over.
The only ones in the area were me and those 4 thugs in the car so there would have been no witnesses.
This also happened on a Shabbos and they looked Italian as one stuck his head out and yelled at me (no words, just a stupid scream, “eahhhhhhhhhhhhhh” ) as the car raced away, after I had run back on the curb.