Lynn Woman Charged With 8 Civil Rights Violations In Swampscott

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — A Lynn woman accused of shouting racial slurs as she drove toward a group of women and children in Swampscott this summer was arraigned on eight civil rights violation charges on Thursday.

Swampscott Police Chief Ronald Madigan said Rhonda Wozniak, 60, drove at the group of three women and five children and accosted them in a Vinnin Square parking lot on July 28.

"This behavior has not place in this community," Swampscott Police Chief Ronald Madigan said. "This incident is particularly troubling given that children were present and were subject to the vile racial slurs. I am hopeful that our response in this incident sends the message that this behavior will not be tolerated in Swampscott."

The arraignment comes one day after Swampscott police said racist and anti-Semitic graffiti was spray-painted on the rocks and walkway at Preston Beach Park in Swampscott and Marblehead overnight Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, according to police.

Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said Wozniak pleaded not guilty to the eight counts of civil rights violations, assault with a dangerous weapon, disturbing the peace and disorderly conduct.

Police said the group of women and children was returning from visiting Cookie Monstah on Paradise Road when they said the suspect came speeding toward them, and close to hitting them. One of the women said she asked Wozniak to slow down, and said Wozniak shouted racial insults and slurs at them, telling them to "go back where they came from."

Police said the women reported the incident when the suspect left.

Wozniak's bail was set at $1,000 an she was ordered to have no contact with the victims.

A pre-trial hearing is set for Oct. 28.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Information for this article was supplied by the Essex County District Attorney's Office. Patch follows a name removal policy for those listed in its published police reports.

(Scott Souza is a Patch Field Editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)