A dead pig was left on the doorstep of a New Jersey rabbi over the Jewish Sabbath — an incident that’s being probed as an apparent bias crime, police told The Post on Monday.
The small dead pig was discovered at the rabbi’s Treetop Lane home in Lakewood at about 7 a.m. Saturday during the weekly Jewish Shabbos that began at sunset Friday. Investigators later determined the animal was left behind by someone between midnight and 7 a.m., police said.
“Currently, we are actively pursuing several leads and hope to bring this to a conclusion very soon,” Lakewood police Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith wrote in an email.
No note was attached to the frightening find, which was first reported by the Lakewood Scoop.
“At this time, it’s being investigated as a bias crime,” Lakewood police Lt. Leroy Marshall told The Post, adding that no arrests had been made as of midday Monday.
Marshall declined to identify the rabbi, citing an ongoing criminal investigation. No injuries were reported at the residence, he said.
Lakewood’s police chief, Greg Meyer, told the Scoop that detectives from the agency were being assisted by the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office crime scene investigations unit.
“We will not tolerate such acts in our town,” Meyer told the outlet.
Officials from the Anti-Defamation League denounced whoever left the dead pig behind in a statement late Saturday.
“The alleged incident that took place in Lakewood on Saturday is absolutely horrifying,” said Scott Richman, regional director for the ADL’s New York/New Jersey office. “No individual or group deserves to be targeted in this way. ADL has been deeply concerned by the rising tide of antisemitism in Ocean County, and this matter is no exception. We are thankful Lakewood PD is continuing their investigation.”
People who observe kosher dietary restrictions are prohibited from eating pork.
Lakewood Mayor Raymond Coles also confirmed the incident was being investigated by police but did not provide any additional comment, the Asbury Park Press reported.
Attempts to reach Coles on Monday were not immediately successful.
Source: New York Post