BRICK – A Brick woman was charged with harassment after sending offensive statements over Facebook Messenger.
Police said Denise Scaltrito, 48, was charged with harassment and bias intimidation after allegedly sending threatening and offensive messages to someone via Facebook Messenger. The messages included “KKK is alive and well in Brick,” and that “the victim should move.”
Police said that there were derogatory comments regarding the victim’s race and references to the Aryan Brotherhood.
Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer stated “it is against the law to intimidate someone based on their race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, national origin, disability or gender identity/expression. This type of behavior is on the rise, especially on social media. Individuals that exploit hatred, intolerance and prejudice with a purpose to intimidate will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“The Brick Township Police Department will investigate all allegations of bias intimidation thoroughly. This type of language directed at an individual with a purpose to intimidate will not be tolerated,” Brick Police Chief James Riccio said.
The prosecutor’s office reminded readers that defendants are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
