Bias Crime Reported In Downtown South Orange: Racial Slurs, Assault Alleged

South Orange, NJ – South Orange police arrested an 18-year-old Orange resident and four juveniles after they allegedly shouted racial slurs at a passing family and assaulted a teen on Tuesday.

According to the South Orange Police Department, the incident allegedly took place around 7 p.m. as a local man and his two adolescent children were walking in the downtown village area.

The man told police that the group of teens began to make racial slurs at them while blocking their way on the sidewalk, then assaulted one of his children by throwing an object at his head and pulling his hair.

Responding officers apprehended five suspects as they attempted to flee the area on foot north on Vose Avenue, police stated.

Two additional suspects were able to elude apprehension while fleeing on foot, authorities said.