More Charges Filed Against NJ Man In Racist Video, 4 Others

MOUNT LAUREL, NJ — A Mount Laurel man who was arrested over the summer after he was caught on tape engaging in a racist tirade now faces additional charges, and four others were charged in connection with a protest that stemmed from the incident, authorities announced on Tuesday.

The Burlington County Prosecutor also released the results of its independent review into the Mount Laurel Police Department’s initial handling of 45-year-old Edward Matthews.

Matthews is now accused of leaving a threatening note on a neighbor’s car and damaging their vehicle, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced on Tuesday.

He has been charged with fourth-degree bias intimidation and harassment, according to authorities. He was served with the charges in the Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly, where he has been held since his July 5 arrest.

Matthews has now been hit with 22 separate charges since the video emerged on July 2 that shows him repeatedly yelling racial slurs at a neighbor. Charges include bias intimidation, harassment, criminal mischief, possession of a weapon (slingshot) for an unlawful purpose, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, stalking, certain persons not to have weapons, and possession of drug paraphernalia. The charges are pending presentation to a grand jury for possible indictment.

The racially-charged words and actions of Mathews against his neighbors on July 2 went viral on social media and resulted in a large protest outside of his residence three days later, the same day he was arrested. Read more here: Mount Laurel Man's Racist Rant On Video Sparks Protest

Mount Laurel police officers who took him into custody had to work their way through the crowd to place him into a patrol vehicle, according to authorities.

On Tuesday, four people who were in the crowd were charged with crimes that included discharging pepper spray at the police and Mathews, damaging property, and spitting at the police.

Tawanda M. Jones, 48, of Camden, is accused of discharging pepper spray onto the officers who were apprehending Mathews. She was charged with third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, fourth-degree aggravated assault on a police officer, simple assault and disorderly conduct.

Daniel A. Harris, 25 of Beverly, is accused of throwing a brick-like object through a window at Mathews’ residence just after he was taken into custody. He was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.

Christopher D. Staples, 21, of Pemberton, is accused of throwing rocks toward officers as they were walking the defendant to the Mount Laurel police vehicle. The rocks struck the vehicle, causing nearly $600 in damage. He was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.

Khalil Wilson, 18, of Mount Laurel, is accused of spitting toward police officers while standing on top of a vehicle as they escorted Mathews from his home. He was charged with fourth-degree throwing bodily fluids at law enforcement officers and disorderly conduct.

The charges were filed on a summons for each new defendant. They were not taken into custody. First appearances in Superior Court will be scheduled in the near future.

“The outrage sparked by Mathews’ conduct on the viral video does not give permission to anyone to commit unprovoked assaults upon police officers or acts of vandalism,” Coffina said. “These were blatant crimes, caught on video, and the individuals responsible must be held accountable, regardless of whether they were committed in the midst of a protest or at any other time.”

The most recent charge against Mathews was filed after a handwriting analysis performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed that he wrote a threatening note left on a neighbor’s vehicle in January. Feces also had been smeared on the vehicle. Read more here: NJ Man At Center Of Racist Rants Being Investigated Over Threats

The video became public after a resident filed a harassment complaint with Mount Laurel police against Matthews. Later the same day, a Mount Laurel police officer responded to a home on a report of a male needing to be removed from the area. Upon arrival, the officer found Mathews in a verbal altercation with four residents.

Mathews, who was using racial slurs, was sent to his residence in an attempt to de-escalate the situation. The ensuing investigation resulted in Mathews being charged later that night for both incidents.

Mount Laurel police requested that the charges be placed on a warrant, which would have allowed officers to take Mathews into custody and place him in jail.

However, a Mount Laurel municipal judge instead decided to place the charges on a summons, preventing Matthews from being put in jail, police said.

Police were then able to arrest Matthews following the ensuing incident. The delay sparked outrage from the community, and prompted the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office to launch an independent investigation into any and all incidents involving Mathews in Mount Laurel. Read more here: Independent Investigation Launched After NJ Man's Racist Rant

During that review, the prosecutor’s office said it found no evidence that the police favored Matthews. There was no failure by either individual officers or the department as a whole to investigate complaints filed by his neighbors, and police weren’t dismissive of these complaints, according to the prosecutor’s office.

“However, the report notes that MLPD generally viewed the complaints raised by Essex Place residents on a case-by-case basis, rather than taking a problem-oriented approach,” the prosecutor’s office said in a prepared statement. “With a broader perspective on the situation in the community, MLPD might have been able to devise an effective solution and brought relief to the residents Mathews had victimized sooner than his July 2 arrest.”

“We empathize with the residents of Essex Place who were on the receiving end of Mathews’ conduct,” Coffina said. “No one should have to endure racial harassment anywhere, but especially not in their own neighborhood and even in their own home.”

Following his arrest, the Mount Laurel Police Department applied for an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) against Mathews, which would prohibit him from possessing any firearms, according to the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office.

Authorities applied for the order after a neighbor told police she suspected Matthews used a BB gun to damage her car, police said.

As part of the application, police executed a search warrant at his home. During the search, police said they seized a slingshot and multiple ball bearings, which matched the projectiles used to damage the vehicles. They also said they seized numerous psilocybin mushrooms, which are known for their hallucinogenic effect, along with packaging materials.

Police believe Matthews fired the ball bearings at cars belonging to his neighbor and her daughter, causing $2,350 in damage. He is also accused of stalking one of the vehicle owners, police said. Read more here: NJ Man At Center Of Racist Chant Now Charged With Stalking