February 28, 2017

Contact: Sheriff Armando Fontoura (973) 621-4105

Newark – Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura today announced that investigators from his department are working with the Prosecutor’s Bias Crime Unit regarding swastikas and intolerance language that were spray-painted on the equestrian bridge at South Mountain Reservation within the past 24 hours.

“This incident clearly supersedes mere mischievous behavior or graffiti and it cannot and will not be tolerated,” Sheriff Fontoura said.  “We have already increased our uniformed and plainclothes patrols in the area.  We have also deployed security cameras to this location.  Furthermore, we have contacted and reinforced our security measures with the many Jewish community groups where our Bomb Squad and K-9 Unit have already been deployed.”

The sheriff added that his Crimestoppers program has posted a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information in the case that leads to an arrest.