Crime & Safety

Wyckoff Teen Accused of Masturbating at Ridgewood Library

Matthew Widner, 19, charged with lewdness for allegedly pleasuring himself at children's section of library.

A 19-year-old Wyckoff man has been arrested for allegedly masturbating in the children's section of the Ridgewood Public Library earlier this month, police said Tuesday.

A librarian walked in on a man masturbating in the children's section on the night of April 10 and quickly called authorities, police told Patch earlier this month. The suspect, later identified as 19-year-old Matthew Widner, was interviewed that night and released.

There were no patrons in the area at the time of the reported incident, and police said Widner had been sitting alone at a desk in the children's section. He was charged with lewdness and faces an upcoming appearance in Ridgewood Municipal Court.

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