Nooses + Racist Message Found At Local Business, Cranford Man Charged: Police

CRANFORD, NJ — A local business in Hanover found two nooses and a handwritten letter containing racist language inside their store, referencing the upcoming Juneteenth holiday, according to the most recent Hanover Police blotter.

Hanover Detective David Littman charged Robert A. Billson — a 45-year-old man from Cranford — on Wednesday, July 13 with criminal trespass and inconvenient annoyance in connection with the incident.

According to police, a potential suspect was quickly identified through various investigative means. Detective Littman found an identical rope to the nooses inside the suspect's car, which was in plain view, police said.

By obtaining a communications data warrant, Littman was then able to place the suspect at the business during the overnight hours between June 16 and June 17.

This was just days before the federal holiday Juneteenth, which commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S., on June 19.

Police said Billson was issued a summons with an upcoming court date.

Patch reached out to Hanover Police for a comment but did not receive a response immediately. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.