On Sept. 1 at 6:16 p.m. Neptune police officers responded to Veterans Memorial Park located at 703 Old Corlies Ave. for a report of vandalism. Officers observed flowers from the bed in front of the park’s sign to have been uprooted and strewn about the area. Upon reviewing available surveillance video, the footage depicted a male subject approach the park, pull down his pants and then proceed to rip various flowers from the park’s garden and throw them about the area.
The last view of the suspect revealed him walking east on Old Corlies Ave. with some flowers still in his possession.
Through an investigation which included gathering additional surveillance and canvassing the area, additional images of the suspect were obtained, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. and identified the suspect as currently being in the area of Old Corlies Ave.
Neptune police responded to the area and confirmed the subject, Anthony Berry, 52, of Neptune City, to be the person responsible for the lewd act and damage and theft of the flowers in the park. He was placed under arrest and transported to headquarters.
Berry was charged with criminal mischief, theft and lewdness. He was released on a summons with a future court date. The damage to the flowers and the cost of replacement is estimated to be approximately $350.
