Fight between neighbors leads to arrest of man accused of hurling racial slurs

A man was arrested Wednesday following an investigation into an incident where he was accused of harassing a neighbor and hurling racial slurs at her, authorities said.

Officers from the Clifton Police Department were called to a home in the area of Graham Place and Atkins Court shortly before 2 p.m. on Aug. 24 for a report of a dispute and met with a 51-year-old woman who said that her neighbor approached her and starting using racial slurs and told her to go back from where she came, according to a statement from the Clifton Police Department and the Passaic County Prosecutors Office.

The man was identified as a 71-year-old Clifton resident and following an investigation, he was arrested on Wednesday and charged with bias intimidation, a fourth degree crime, and harassment, which is a petty disorderly persons offense, police said.

He charged and released from police custody, but the charges were referred to the Passaic County Grand Jury for possible indictment, the office said.

If tried and convicted, the bias charge could carry a sentence of 18 months in New Jersey State Prison, and the harassment charge up to 30 days in jail.

A spokesperson for the office said he could not provide information on the races of the neighbors.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.