Lakewood, NJ - Assault Defendant Says Lakewood Police Biased

Lakewood, NJ - The case of a private school teacher charged with simple assault of a teenager two months ago has drawn repeated cries from the local NAACP chapter that it should be treated as a bias crime.

Now, the teacher Elchanan Zimmerman, alleges he was discriminated against because of his religious beliefs. Zimmerman is an Orthodox Jew; the teenager is black.
The notice, is specifically against the Police Department and five officers. It alleges Zimmerman was arrested, charged and prosecuted without probable cause or a fair police investigation. He also alleges libel, slander and defamation, and is for "injuries and damages which resulted from the arrest and detention."

The potential lawsuit is the latest twist in a case that has sparked community tensions and several investigations.
Many black residents said Zimmerman should have been charged with a bias crime, and many Orthodox Jews said Zimmerman was only protecting his property.

A bias allegation coming from Zimmerman was surprising to Warren A. Sherard, president of the Ocean County/Lakewood branch of the NAACP.
Sherard has lobbied for bias charges to be filed against Zimmerman, who he believes received preferential treatment because he is an Orthodox Jew. Police officials maintain all residents are treated the same.