Monmouth Man Called For 'Physical Violence' On North Jersey BOE

WALL, NJ - A Wall Township man allegedly threatened physical violence against board of education officials in Sussex County, authorities said Monday.

In a Facebook comment, the 47-year-old resident (whose name was not released by police) argued in a thread regarding Sussex County's Sparta Township Public Schools that “if [schools] don’t open soon, it will be time for physical violence against the people keeping the schools closed.” The same subject also wrote that school parents “should be knocking down the doors of the (board of education) members and union leaders.”

The comment was made Friday amid a handful of parents voicing their dissatisfaction with the pace of returning to in-person, full-day instruction. Sparta Interim Superintendent of Schools Patrick McQueeney told Patch that he immediately called local authorities and emailed the concerning comment thread to officials.

Investigators learned the Wall Township man’s identity and made contact with him.

“This person stated that he was not from Sparta and had no intention of coming to Sparta and carrying out his threat and that he was just “venting” to the other group members," Sparta Police Department’s Lt. John T. Lamon told Patch. "He was told that the Sparta Board of Education was drafting a NO TRESPASS letter that will be sent to him by certified mail, indicating that he is not welcome on Board of ED property and will be charged with Defiant Trespass should he come onto their property.” Read more: Threats Against Sparta Educators Under Police Investigation

While Lt. Lamon says the 47-year-old’s actions weren’t enough to sustain a charge of terroristic threats or harassment, Sparta’s board of education was advised of the process to sign a complaint against the subject.

“They are now weighing their options,” Lt. Lamon said.

NJ.com reported that the man will be barred from school property in the future.

The district board of education claims that the post was made “because the individual is dissatisfied with the pace at which the return to in-person, full day learning is occurring,” according to a Sunday email sent to parents.

All schools in the North Jersey district are currently on a hybrid schedule. The Board of Education's return to school committee recently issued a letter reiterating that the return to a regular full-day schedule is a "top priority" for the district and that more details will be distributed in the middle of this week.

"This is outrageous and unacceptable. We would never accept such conduct from our children, and we certainly will not accept it from grown adults," the email reads. "As such, the Sparta Police Department is actively investigating the matter and will take appropriate action to ensure that the individual(s) will be held fully accountable and prosecuted to the maximum extent permitted by law."

With reporting by Russ Crespolini.