South Jersey Mayor Charged With Harassment, Weapon Possession: Police

LINWOOD, NJ — Northfield Mayor Erland N. Chau was criminally charged after an incident in the Mainland Regional High School parking lot earlier this month, Linwood police said.

Chau, 72, was charged with possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, disorderly conduct and harassment following the Oct. 1 incident, according to police.

Details of the incident were not immediately available.

He was released on a summons pending an appearance in court.

Chau, who has served as Northfield's mayor since 2014 and was a city councilman for 23 years prior to that, has been on medical leave since Monday, according to Breaking AC.

He previously was a teacher at Mainland Regional, and was accused of sexually harassing a student a few years ago, the Ocean City Sentinel reported at the time.

Another former teacher accused Chau of harassment and misconduct in a letter to WPG Talk Radio. In one incident, he pretended to zip up his pants after a private conversation between the two, insinuating an inappropriate act between them in front of students, she said. In another, she said he left a can of Slim Fast in her mailbox with a note asserting she might be needing it after she had gained weight.

Chau mostly denied these allegations, according to WPG Talk Radio.