Cedar Grove Teen Root Cause of Potato Incident, Police Say

A Cedar Grove teen's arm — and not a potato gun — is believed to be behind a broken window in Caldwell last month, police officials said.

Police charged a 16-year-old boy with criminal mischief for allegedly throwing a potato through the window of a home at the corner of Hillside and Hatfield. 

A borough resident reported finding scattered glass and a potato in his living room on Thursday, March 28, at about 9:30 p.m.

The resident said no one was injured as a result, although the family had been sitting in the room earlier that night.

Police at the time suspected a homemade launcher, known as a potato gun or "spudzooka", may have been used.

“The investigation revealed a 16-year-old male from Cedar Grove threw a potato through the window from the street in front of the house,” police said Thursday.

The juvenile was processed and charged on a juvenile delinquency complaint pending a court appearance in Essex County Superior Court.

Other incidents of property damage involving potatoes were reported recently in Verona and Cedar Grove. 

Verona Police were not able to comment on whether the Cedar Grove juvenile was involved in a similar incident, where a potato smashed the tail-light of a car parked in front of a Lynwood Road home on Friday, March 29.

In Cedar Grove, two homeowners reported broken front windows over the same few days.

“Based on evidence left at the scene, it is believed the suspects shot potatoes at the residences by means of a potato gun,” Cedar Grove officials said at the time.

"The two Cedar Grove incidents are still under investigation," said Cedar Grove Chief of Police Richard Vanderstreet Thursday. "As of now, no charges have been filed."