Elmwood Park Man Masturbated Aboard Public Bus, Police Charge

An Elmwood Park man allegedly masturbated in the presence of passengers while aboard a public bus passing through Saddle Brook Wednesday, police said.

John Lafferty, 43, of Elmwood Park, was arrested and charged with lewdness after he allegedly exposed his genitals and began masturbating on a New Jersey Transit bus traveling down N. Midland Avenue, Deputy Chief Robert White said in a statement.

New Jersey Transit police contacted Saddle Brook police at 7:10 p.m. Wednesday reporting that a female passenger had claimed a male passenger exposed himself to her, White said.

Saddle Brook police said the bus driver described the suspect as a white male wearing a black baseball hat and yellow jacket. Since the suspect had already exited the bus and boarded another bus headed toward Broadway in Elmwood Park, police relayed the man's description to surrounding agencies in an effort to apprehend him en route, White said.

In short order, Elmwood Park police stopped an NJ Transit bus on Boulevard and Broadway reportedly carrying a passenger that matched the suspect's description, White said

That passenger, identified as Lafferty, reportedly admitted to both Elmwood Park and Saddle Brook police that he had been involved in the earlier bus masturbation incident and was placed under arrest, police said.

Lafferty was processed at police headquarters and released on his own recognizance. He has a municipal court date on Wednesday.