Swastika Scratched Into Classroom Chair Reported In Westfield

WESTFIELD, NJ — A swastika was reportedly scratched into a classroom chair in Westfield recently, according to the police blotter.

On Sept. 19 at 7 p.m., Westfield Police went to Tamaques Elementary School located in the 600 block of Willow Grove Road.

A report was taken for an act of criminal mischief, discovered by the parent of a student during back-to-school night on Sept. 19, said police.

The criminal mischief included a swastika being scratched onto the back of a chair, which was then removed from the classroom, said police.

Other Westfield Police Blotter items from Sept. 15 to Sept. 21:

On Sept. 15 at 6:04 p.m.: Rianna Williams, 24, Brooklyn, NY, was placed under arrest for unlawful possession of a weapon after a further investigation during a motor vehicle stop in the 200 block of Lynn Lane. Williams was transported to Westfield Police Headquarters where she was processed and taken to the Essex County Correctional Facility. Williams was charged with the following: unlawful possession of weapon, obstruction of administration of law, and criminal mischief.

On Sept. 16 at 11:25 a.m.: Subsequent to a motor vehicle stop on South Avenue and LaGrande Avenue, Fanwood Sylivia Fields, 67, Roselle, was arrested on the strength of an outstanding warrant from another jurisdiction. Fields was released on the scene on their own recognizance. Fields was given a future court date to address the matter.

On Sept. 16 at 3:10 p.m.: A resident of the 900 block of Boulevard reported being a victim of identity theft. The victim received a letter from the bank who holds his mortgage, stating an individual purporting to be himself entered a bank in North Carolina recently using only a paper copy of his New Jersey driver's license, and opened an account while simultaneously moving $5,000 from his home equity line of credit. Once the money transfer went through the fraudulent account, all the money was withdrawn.

On Sept. 16 at 5:07 p.m.: A resident in the 500 block of First Street was notified that their personal information was fraudulently used to open an unauthorized credit card account. The victim received a credit card and initial account documents via mail, which they did not request or sign up for. At the time of report, the victim did not suffer any monetary loss as a result of this incident.

On Sept. 19 at 6:35 p.m.: Glenn Banks, 35, of North Plainfield, was stopped while operating his motor vehicle on West South Avenue, near the intersection of Boulevard, after Westfield Police Dispatch received a LPR hit for an active NCIC Warrant flagged against Banks' vehicle's registration. After the validity of the warrant was confirmed, Banks was placed under arrest on the strength of the warrant and turned over to the Somerset County Sheriff's Office, who later committed him to the Somerset County Jail for failure to pay child support.

On Sept. 20 at 10:14 a.m.: A resident in the 600 block of Hanford Place reports that they were the victim of identity theft. Specifically, that unknown actor(s) established property agreements at different properties in their name. The resident stated that they are unaware who signed the agreements without their authorization or what information was used to open the account. The victim reports no financial loss at this time.

On Sept. 21 at 8:37 a.m.: A property owner from the 300 block of First Street reported an act of criminal mischief. Sometime between 8 a.m. on Sept. 20 and 8 a.m. on Sept. 21 a suspect spray painted an anarchy symbol over a pro-life poster.

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