Man Who Made Racial, Homophobic Slurs At Neighbor's Visitor Indicted

TOMS RIVER, NJ - A Toms River man was indicted by a grand jury this week in connection with a bias intimidation incident that took place in the township last year, authorities said.

Patrick Pennell, 55, of Toms River, was indicted by an Ocean County grand jury on charges of bias intimidation and criminal mischief on Thursday, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said in a statement.

The charges stem from a Nov. 22, 2022 incident in which a disturbance at a residence on Parisian Drive was reported, prompting a police response. At the scene, officers from the Toms River Police Department found a vehicle with a shattered driver’s side window parked in the driveway of the home, Billheimer said.

An investigation later revealed that the victim was visiting an acquaintance at the home when Pennell, a neighbor of the acquaintance, “approached him and became confrontational” and “proceeded to make racial and homophobic slurs at the victim,” Billheimer said.

Pennell also punched the driver’s side window of the victim’s vehicle, causing it to shatter, as the victim attempted to leave, Billheimer said.

Pennell was charged on a summons pending future appearances in Ocean County Superior Court.