Newark Man Charged With Hate Crime Against Gay Neighbors

A Newark, N.J., man has been charged with a hate crime for harassing a gay couple who lived next door to him with actions that escalated to include slashing their tires.

According to the Associated Press, Douglas Brown was arrested Thursday and faces harassment, bias intimidation and criminal mischief charges. He was being held on $25,000 bail.

“Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray says the 36-year-old Brown began harassing his former neighbors in Newark's Ironbound section in May. She says he called them homophobic names, putting oil on their home, destroying property and slashing their tires, among other incidents,” reports the AP.

The names of any attorneys representing Brown were not immediately known.