Neighbors: East Hanover Man Touches Self With Blinds Up

East Hanover Police have an arrest warrant for Richard Cannistra, 61, of East Hanover on a charge of lewd behavior, a crime in the fourth degree.

According to a police report filed by Detective Andrew Underwood, East Hanover police received several reports on July 25 of lewd behavior along an undisclosed street. Underwood was told by headquarters that residents complained of an older male standing naked in the window of a house masturbating while yelling and cursing at passersby.

Upon arrival, Underwood said he saw lights on in the bottom left corner room of the house. All the blinds were raised, and Underwood said he could see a male without a shirt standing in the room.

When Underwood asked to speak to the resident, the male, identified as Cannistra, came to the door wearing yellow gym shorts, he said. Cannistra said he was watching TV when a group of kids stopped in the street outside his home. He went to the window to see what they wanted and shouts ensued between them, he told police.

"[Cannistra] was adamant that he can do whatever he wants in his own home and nobody should be looking in his windows," Underwood wrote in his report. "I asked [Cannistra] several times if he had been naked in the window masturbating and he replied that he can do whatever he wants in his own home and if anyone looks at him while he is in his home then they are invading his privacy."

While speaking with Cannistra, two other males approached Underwood and told him Cannistra puts up the blinds and turns on the lights every night and masturbates in his home. They said further that when a car drives past or someone walks past the house, Cannistra stands in front of the window so he can easily be seen.

Underwood advised Cannistra that he needs to make sure he cannot be seen from the street when he masturbates. 

On July 29, Underwood informed the Hon. Vincent Pirrone of the complaints against Cannistra, and Pirrone issued a warrant for Cannistra on charges of lewdness.