Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that detectives with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Professional Standards/Bias Crimes Unit arrested Douglas Brown, 36, Newark.
Assistant Prosecutor Portia Downing authorized harassment, bias intimidation and criminal mischief charges against Brown.
In May of 2011 Brown began harassing his former neighbors, a homosexual couple living on Oliver Street, in the Ironbound section of Newark, by calling them homophobic names. He began chanting and putting oil on their home. The harassment escalated to various forms of destruction of property and other incidents, including slashing their tires.
Brown was arrested today. Bail was set at $25,000 by the Honorable Judge Peter J. Vazquez, J.S.C. He is scheduled to be transported to the Essex County Correctional Facility tonight.
These are accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they plead guilty or are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
