
NJ man accused of harassing neighbor charged with hate crime
CLIFTON — A 71-year-old city resident has been charged with bias intimidation, stemming from a summer incident in which he used racial slurs to harass a neighbor, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes announced.
Following an investigation, Antonio Delevante was arrested in connection with an encounter that took place on Aug. 24, in the area of Graham Place and Atkins Court in Clifton.
That afternoon, officers responded to a report of a dispute and found a 51-year-old woman who said a male neighbor had approached her, using racial slurs and told her “to go back from where she came from.”
Police traced the encounter to Delevante, who was arrested on Wednesday afternoon.
He was charged on a summons-complaint with fourth-degree bias intimidation and harassment, a disorderly persons offense, and was released.
If convicted of bias intimidation, he could face up to a year-and-a-half in prison.
Anyone with potential information about this incident can contact the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office on its tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO, the Community Policing Division of the Clifton Police Department at 973-803-5716 or by sending an email to tips@passaiccountynj.org.
Erin Vogt is a reporter and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach her at erin.vogt@townsquaremedia.com
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