Officials: NJ Election Day racial bias incident no longer declared a bias incident, suspect identified
MIDDLE TWP. N.J. - Cape May Court House officials and officers with the Middle Township Police Department announced on Tuesday that they have identified the suspect who was wanted for a bias incident in the Rio Grande section of Middle Township. Authorities also say they are no longer investigating the incident as a bias crime.
On November 7, the Middle Township Police Department say they received a notice that there were stuffed animals hanging in rope nooses above a political sign for Time Alexander, a Black candidate for Congress.
A subsequent investigation revealed video footage that shows a woman with blonde hair exiting a late model, dark-colored sedan, that appeared to be a Buick. After exiting the vehicle, police say the woman began hanging stuffed animals from a tree using rope nooses.
After about a week of investigating, officials identified the suspect as a 36-year-old Rio Grande woman. Family members of the woman told police she is suffering from behavioral health issues and that she has been treated in the recent past for these issues.
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Given the facts and circumstances, officials say no charges will be filed against the woman at this time. Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland has since declared that this incident is not a bias incident.
Authorities with the Prosecutor's Office say they contacted Tim Alexander and advised him of the outcome of the investigation. They say Alexander was appreciative and that he agrees with and accepts the decision to not charge the woman.
"This office has and will continue to thoroughly investigate any claims of Bias Intimidation based on race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, nationality or ethnicity in accordance with the strict laws in New Jersey and I encourage anyone who has witnessed an act of Bias Intimidation or feels they were a victim of any Bias Intimidation to come forward and report the incident to the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office," said Prosecutor Sutherland.
The Cape May Prosecutor's Office can be reached at 609-465-1135. Information regarding other crimes can also be submitted through the office's tip line here.