Former Committee Candidate Arrested At Cranford Meeting: Court Record

CRANFORD, NJ — A longtime critic was arrested at the Cranford Township Committee meeting on Tuesday after he refused to stop speaking during public comment, court records show.

Will Thilly, who ran for Township Committee this year, has been charged with aggravated assault with bodily injury on a law enforcement officer, according to court records.

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Details about what Thilly is accused of doing to the officer were not immediately available.

The arrest occurred outside the Township Committee meeting room after Thilly was removed from the meeting.

The incident occurred after another speaker, who approached the podium using the name "Bong Holio," carried a bong prop and sang a Lizzo song as part of his public comments.

A short time later, Thilly stepped to the microphone holding a sign reading "Refuse a government abuse" while criticizing what he described as government overreach.

When his five minutes expired, Mayor Kathleen Miller Prunty repeatedly instructed Thilly to stop speaking and turn off his portable sound system.

"Mr. Thilly, turn off the sound system," Miller Prunty said. "That's a first warning. Your time has expired, sir."

Thilly continued speaking despite the warnings as the exchange with the mayor continued for several minutes.

The Township Committee then voted to recess the meeting, and Thilly was removed from the meeting.

After officials returned from the recess, interruptions continued during public comment.

Leon Truth used his speaking time to criticize how the situation had been handled, describing Thilly as "creative" and "courageous."

Truth also read a parody poem aimed at the Township Committee before ending his remarks by repeatedly chanting, "Free Will Thilly."

Later in the meeting, audience members again interrupted commissioner reports.

Diana Senn repeatedly called out, "Point of order!" while attempting to speak after public comment had already closed.

Miller Prunty reminded those in attendance that public comment had ended and repeatedly asked audience members to stop interrupting the meeting.

As the interruptions continued, the Township Committee voted to take a second recess before eventually returning to complete the meeting.