Teen Charged With Slashing Pride Flag In Livingston

LIVINGSTON, NJ — After a Livingston pride flag was slashed during Pride Month in June by an unknown person, police received a tip about a suspect. Now, a local teen has been charged with two offenses.

The Livingston police said Friday that they had arrested a local teen in connection with the slashing.

Chief Gary Marshuetz said, "Due to an anonymous tip and a thorough investigation by the Livingston Detective Bureau, a 17-year-old juvenile male from Livingston was identified as the suspect for the Pride Banner slashing that took place in June."

The teen was charged with criminal mischief and bias intimidation, police said.

The banner was supporting the LGBT&Q+ community and was displayed at Northfield Center
during the month of June, police said.

The town has a Pride Subcommittee to support the community identifying as LGBT&Q+.

Hate crimes against members of the community are on the rise nationally, researchers say.

“These types of crimes are always considered very serious," Marshuetz said. "Any type of bias intimidation has been and will continue to be thoroughly investigated by this department and those individuals will be charged to the fullest extent when evidence indicates any type of bias intimidation.”

Marshuetz added that the Livingston Police Department "will continue to enforce NJ’s zero tolerance policy towards any type of bias intimidation or hate crime against protected classes of citizens. "

"The Livingston Police Department is always appreciative of tips from the community," Marshuetz said.

Read previous local crime stories on Livingston, NJ Patch here.