A 22-year-old East Orange man is behind bars after he reportedly committed a spree of assaults against women in Nutley on Monday, July 13, Det. Lt. Anthony Montanari, the Nutley PD’s public-information officer said.
Quinn Mayweather, 22, was identified as the suspect and was charged accordingly, Montanari said.
According to Montanari, police got a first call at 4:44 p.m., on an assault that allegedly took place at the intersection of Hawthorne and Bloomfield avenues.
In that incident, a 31-year-old Nutley woman reported that she walking and was approached by a man who exited a vehicle and asked if he could talk to her. When she said “no,” he punched her in the face and fled toward Hillside Avenue.
Sustaining injury, the first victim entered an establishment where workers rendered first aid.
Minutes later on Hillside Avenue, the same suspect reportedly approached a 60-year-old woman and demanded she allow him to use her phone. When she declined, he reportedly threatened to assault her by making a fist and swinging several times, causing her to fall and sustain a minor injury.
He then fled to Franklin and Chestnut where he allegedly grabbed a 45-year-old woman from behind and placed her in a chokehold. The woman screamed for her husband, causing him to release her. He then crossed the street to assault a fourth victim, a 35-year-old woman, whom he punched in the face as she was waiting to enter a nail salon.
By this time, police say they were able to get a description of the suspect and his vehicle, and they broadcasted that information to surrounding agencies.
It was a short time later that Belleville officers located the vehicle, a Hyundai Sonata, that had been stolen out of East Orange earlier that day. The suspect then reportedly attempted to elude Belleville officers prior to crashing and being arrested.
Mayweather was charged by Nutley police with three counts of simple assault and one count of aggravated assault for his actions and faces a slew of additional charges for offenses he committed in other jurisdictions, Montanari said.
Police Chief Thomas Strumolo said this was an unusual series of events. Four woman walking at separate locations, minding their own business, all were assaulted for absolutely no apparent reason and this is not something seen very often.
“Nevertheless, when things like this happen, our officers jump into action and do whatever is necessary to protect the citizens in this town,” Strumolo said.
He also noted Mayweather was quickly caught and remanded to the Essex County Jail, Newark, by Belleville police.
Police Director Alphonse Petracco said although none of these women were seriously injured, it very well could have been very different.
“The man was obviously upset and took his aggression out on innocent vulnerable women,” Petracco said.
He commended all the officers, detectives and dispatchers who brought this to a conclusion and extended special thanks to Belleville, Bloomfield and Clifton for their assistance in his apprehension.
“I wish all the women a speedy recovery,” Petracco said.
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