Cedar Grove Cops ID Source Of Anti-Semitic Graffiti: Authorities

CEDAR GROVE, NJ — Cedar Grove police have identified a juvenile who allegedly left “anti-Semitic” graffiti at a local elementary school last week, authorities say.

The Cedar Grove Police Department previously said that “criminal mischief” was spotted at the playground equipment at South End School on June 10.

“Unknown actors had defaced the equipment with graffiti,” Cedar Grove police said in a news release. “There were a number of things drawn, including an anti-Semitic symbol, profanities and an anti-police slogan. The incident is being investigated as biased-based and the Essex County Prosecutor's Office has subsequently been notified.”

Cedar Grove Police Chief Joseph Cirasa provided an update about the investigation on June 13:

“As previously reported, on June 10 at 10:23 p.m., Board of Education staff reported criminal mischief to the South End School playground equipment. Unknown actors had defaced the equipment with graffiti. At the time the bias incident report was taken numerous things were found drawn. Many were not legible and all were not listed. As indicated the in the original press release the incident was being investigated. The Cedar Grove Police Dept. detectives began the process of a thorough, symptomatic investigation. The investigation is still very active. Additional information continues to be gained and with the help of a recently located witness a sequence of events has developed. I would like to note, generally as a matter of practice revealing too much information publicly is not a best police investigative practice. It may not only compromise the case, but more importantly it can conflict with an individual’s right to due process and a fair and just investigation. However in this case a photo of one particular piece of the graffiti, which had not been provided to police, but was disseminated to the public via social media is generating community concern. In an attempt to reassure the public of the integrity of our investigation I will explain that specific portion of the case. The graffiti in question was an ‘expletive’ followed by ‘black lives Trump 2020.’ As the investigation proceeded, it was learned that actors who had previously wrote the graffiti, had in fact returned to the scene. They had returned after the picture was taken and before the board of education staff called police. They had actually completely removed that graffiti. Therefore, the board staff nor police were aware of that particular graffiti initially and at the time of the press release. The investigation is continuing. Once again if anyone has any additional information please share it with police, you can contact us at any time, Cedar Grove Police, 973-239-4100, and at info@cedargrovepd.org.”

Cirasa released the following update on June 16:

“The actor has been identified and charges are pending. The accused is a juvenile, a 14-year-old male resident of Clifton. The subject is being charged as a juvenile with defacement of educational properties. Additional charges of bias intimidation are being reviewed by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. As indicated previously this was an isolated incident, committed by an adolescent, and not evident of any local broader issue. I commend the members of the Cedar Grove Detective Bureau for their diligent work. I also would like to thank the Cedar Grove Board of Education staff whose assistance was essential to the timely successful conclusion.”

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