Bias, Aggravated Assault Charges For Burlington County Woman In Neighbor Dispute

MAPLE SHADE, NJ — A Burlington County woman faces bias intimidation and aggravated assault charges after an altercation with her neighbor, police said.

Officials arrested 51-year-old Ceatta Thomas at a Maple Shade apartment complex on Wednesday morning after she refused to open her door for some time, police said in a news release. They also recovered a .32 caliber revolver inside her apartment after securing a search warrant.

The woman's neighbor said they had been in a physical altercation, and that Thomas later brandished a gun at her and her friends while "making bias statements" based on gender, township police said. The neighbor said that Thomas also hit her door with a golf club, and she had injuries from the altercation, said police.

Maple Shade officers were dispatched to a building at the Woods Edge Apartment Complex (220 South Lenola Road) at 12:10 a.m. Wednesday, police said. They spoke to the victim and first responders took her to the hospital for her injuries, police said.

Officers "were able to corroborate the victim’s account of the incident through apartment complex video surveillance," the department said. However, they were not able to contact Thomas at her apartment, "as she refused to answer the door."

The New Jersey State Police TEAMS Unit arrived at the scene, and officers arrested Thomas at 8:50 a.m. with the help of a state police negotiator, according to Maple Shade Police.

Thomas has been charged with second-degree crimes of bias intimidation, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, Maple Shade police said. She also was charged with third-degree terroristic threats; fourth-degree aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose; and disorderly persons charges of simple assault and criminal mischief.