North Brunswick Man Charged With Lewd Act In Secaucus Park

SECAUCUS, NJ - A North Brunswick man was arrested for committing an undisclosed lewd act in Buchmuller Park in Secaucus last Friday, July 5.

Children witnessed the act at the time, said police. They refused to tell Patch what that act was, citing the ongoing investigation.

The incident happened shortly before noon on Friday, July 5: Secaucus police responded to Buchmuller park after getting multiple calls reports of a man within the park committing lewd acts. After a park attendant went to approach the man, he fled.

Physical evidence was recovered from the scene and the man and his car were caught on video surveillance.

Police continued to look for him and at 12:30 p.m. today, Friday, July 12, Rizwan Ashraf, 35, of North Brunswick was arrested in the area of 700 Plaza Drive in Secaucus. His car was also seized.

He was charged with sexual assault, criminal sexual contact, lewdness and endangering the welfare of a child. According to Secaucus police, if someone witnesses someone committing a lewd act, the suspect can be charged with sexual assault and criminal sexual contact, even if they did not physically touch another person.

Ashraf was taken to the Hudson County Jail in Kearny pending his appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court.

The investigation is ongoing. If anyone has any information regarding this incident or Rizwan Ashraf you are asked to contact the Secaucus Police Department Detective Division at (201) 330-2052 or detectivedivision@secaucus.net. All calls can be kept confidential.