A Newark man was arrested Thursday for allegedly harassing his neighbors for months, chanting homophobic slurs at them and destroying their property, prosecutors said.
Douglas Brown, 36, began by harassing his now former neighbors, a gay couple, in May, according to the Essex County prosecutor's office. Brown began chanting slurs at them and putting oil on their home, but gradually escalated to destroying their property, including slashing their tires, said the prosecutor's office.
Brown and his alleged victims were living in the Ironbound section of Newark.
Brown was charged Thursday with harassment, bias intimidation and criminal mischief. He was scheduled to be transported to the Essex County Correctional Facility, where bail was set at $25,000.
Brown had not been appointed an attorney as of Thursday evening.
