McCarter Highway mural and traffic light boxes near City Hall defaced
NEWARK – Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose reports the arrests of Alexa Lipke, 25, of Greenbrook, Jayrone Rivera, 25, of Bergenfield, and Brendan Roura, 29, of Brooklyn, for vandalizing incidents.
“I’m grateful that our police officers apprehended the individuals who defaced City of Newark property, because we will not tolerate vandals who criminally devalue the city’s beauty,” Mayor Baraka said. “Newark has a vibrant arts community that we are working with to further beautify our city and coming here with malintent from another town is not acceptable.”
“I applaud the officers who quickly identified and arrested these vandalism suspects,” Director Ambrose said. “We will continue vigorously investigating all incidents involving property damage or other criminal activities that occur in the City of Newark. Individuals will not get away with committing these criminal acts here.”
On June 28, 2020, police observed Lipke writing graffiti on traffic light boxes at Broad and Franklin streets, near Newark City Hall. Officers also found Lipke in possession of CDS marijuana and drug paraphernalia. She faces charges of graffiti to City property, CDS possession (marijuana) and possession of drug paraphernalia.
On July 5, 2020, Roura and Rivera were observed spray painting a mural at McCarter Highway and Hamilton Street. Each man was arrested and charged with criminal mischief.
These charges are merely accusations. Each suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
