Man Yelled Slurs, Slashed Tires As Woman, Child Sat In Vehicle In Brick: Prosecutor

BRICK, NJ — A Brick Township man was arrested Tuesday after he slashed the tires on two vehicles and used racial slurs toward an older woman and a child in one of the vehicles, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced Wednesday.

Ryan M. McDonald, 32, has been charged with three counts of bias intimidation, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon and two counts of criminal mischief, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Brick police were called to the 7-Eleven on Mantoloking Road about 2 p.m. Tuesday, where they were told a man had become "agitated" with other customers in the store, authorities said. He went out and grabbed a knife from his vehicle and stabbed the tire of a customer's vehicle, authorities said.

He then approached a second vehicle and stabbed two tires on that vehicle, while using racial slurs, authorities said, as an older woman and child sat in the second vehicle.

The man took off, but authorities were able to determine the man was McDonald, the prosecutor's office said.

Brick Township police found McDonald nearby and arrested him, the prosecutor's office said. He is being held at the Ocean County Jail in Toms River pending a detention hearing.