Additional allegations against Mount Laurel man in viral video to be investigated

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MOUNT LAUREL, NJ – Authorities in Burlington County, New Jersey, have announced they will launch additional investigations into new allegations against a man who faces bullying charges of bias after a video of his racist rant on social networks.

In a press release on Thursday, the Burlington County District Attorney’s Office said it will launch an independent investigation into all incidents involving Edward Mathews in Mount Laurel.

Mathews, 45, remained behind bars on Wednesday as he awaits a preliminary hearing later this week on charges stemming from a now viral encounter with neighbors last Friday.

“First of all, we would like to thank the community for their involvement and advocacy in highlighting this individual’s threatening interactions within the Mount Laurel community. The video footage that was provided was essential for the office the prosecutor may file additional charges of intimidation and harassment against Mr. Mathews, ”began the statement of the prosecutor’s office.

“That being said, we fully understand the community’s frustration and anger at what was seen in this video. Many residents told us that the behavior Mathews described was not an isolated incident, but rather a model of racial bullying and hostility. Therefore, the prosecutor’s office announces that it will launch an independent investigation into all incidents involving Mathews in Mount Laurel, “the statement continued.

Last Friday’s meeting was taped, and Mathews can be heard hurling racial slurs at neighbors during a six-minute rant.

Mount. Laurel man to remain in custody until preliminary hearing after viral racist rant

Edward Mathews is expected to spend several days behind bars awaiting a preliminary hearing regarding a racist encounter with neighbors that was filmed.

When the police arrived, Mathew’s behavior continued as he then directed some of his anger at the police called to the scene.

A warrant dated Monday and other prosecution documents show at least two neighbors called police to report Mathews on Friday for harassing them in the neighborhood.

A black woman from the neighborhood called police on Friday, saying Mathews was harassing her, approaching her front door and shouting racial slurs, prosecutors said. She had previously told police she suspected Mathews of “criminal mischief” involving his car.

Doorbell camera captures Mathews bringing his dogs into his front yard, repeating a racial insult and sinking his hips in a vulgar manner after police responded and spoke to him, prosecutors said.

Police then received a second call from a nearby address and discovered that Mathews was using racial slurs to address four people, which appears to be the videotaped interaction that has gained widespread attention online.

Edward Mathews, 45, is expected to remain behind bars until his preliminary hearing at the end of the week after he was seen on video hurling racial slurs at neighbors and allegedly spat on one of the ‘them. (Burlington County Attorney’s Office)

This confrontation occurred after Mathews knocked on the door of a neighbor demanding to see her husband, who is black, and attempted to enter her home, prosecutors said. The woman, who is white, called the police and another neighbor came up to find Mathews in the driveway.

Mathews was initially charged with harassment and intimidation, but was not arrested. On Monday, protesters gathered outside his home for many hours. He apologized in a video filmed by a protester and posted online.

Police arrested Mathews on Monday evening, saying new video evidence had come to light showing him spitting on the victim.

Since then, the city’s mayor has called for a federal hate crimes investigation into the incident.

Anyone with additional information on incidents involving Mathews that they would like to share for the ongoing investigation are encouraged to send an email to [email protected].

The department said it would also investigate the circumstances of the Mount Laurel Police Department’s handling of the incident to which they were called on Friday evening.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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