Scarecrow Vandalism in Freehold

Manny Rivera installs vandalized scarecrows at Borough Hall

Manny Rivera installs repaired scarecrows at Borough Hall Wednesday

The news probably hit Manny Rivera the hardest: Several of the decorative scarecrows placed around town this month were damaged by a man allegedly offended by what he perceived to be their religious undertones.

"To steal away something from the kids...really upsets me the most," said Rivera, who for the first time this year chaired the borough's scarecrow committee. The committee is responsible for the town's annual contest and for placing scarecrows created by local businesses and organizations throughout town.

But it seems not everyone is a fan of Rivera's work. On Tuesday, police arrested a Millstone man they say pulled three scarecrows out of the ground at the corner of Broad Street and Manalapan Avenue and proceeded to stomp on them.

His reason? The scarecrows, which were attached to frames that resemble crosses, offended him because Jesus died on the cross, according to Freehold Police Lt. Mark Wodell.

"It's not like we're worshipping Satan," said Rivera.

Three scarecrows created by local businesses - Especially for You florist and gift shop, Federici's Restaurant and Applebee's - were damaged in the incident. A scarecrow created by a resident was also vandalized, but Rivera said that was not reported to police because he originally thought the scarecrow just wasn't finished.

After surveying the scene, Rivera, describing Especially for You's "florist" scarecrow, said, "Her head was laying on her chest...It reminded me of a broken doll."

This story has a happy ending, though.

Police were alerted to the vandalism around 7:50 a.m. Tuesday. At the scene, Ptl. Sean Healey found a cell phone next to one of the scarecrows that he traced to the suspect, Patrick A. Necerato, Jr. Police later located Necerato by the county courthouse, said Wodell.

Necerato, 39, who lives in Millstone's Clarksburg section, was charged with three counts of criminal mischief and released on summonses, Wodell said.

And by Wednesday evening, two of the scarecrows had been repaired and re-erected. This time, though, they have been placed in front of Borough Hall.

"I'm not going to take a chance of having them torn down again," said Rivera.

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16 Responses to “Scarecrow Vandalism in Freehold”

  1. Rob  on October 22nd, 2009

    i think it is real offensive to christians to put monsters on a cross . It is very clear the motive of Mr Rivera . Take a good look around NJ i havent seen any monsters on a cross . ISA 5-20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

    Reply

  2. ScrewRob  on October 23rd, 2009

    i think you’re an idiot for being offended by something so harmless and meaningless. a cross is just a convenient way of putting a scarecrow up, there are no anti-religious undertones…

    Reply

  3. Mrosseel  on October 23rd, 2009

    Hats off to Manny Rivera the scarecrows look awesome. Thats what makes freehold a nice little town is doing things like this.

    The “wood” crosses are a very easy way to build a scarecrow, not a shot at the Christian faith. As a Christian i am more embarasshed at the gentlemens actions that riped them down, please people dont we have bigger issues that a scarecrow, this man that ripped them down is NUTs!

    Reply

  4. Greg  on October 23rd, 2009

    Turn from you sins of witch craft and turn to Jesus and stop worshipping the Dead

    Reply

  5. relax  on October 23rd, 2009

    if you are opposed and offended by something than don’t participate. you think that people are shoving there evil views down your throat but they may be offended by you shoving your religious beliefs down their throats as well. it’s really not that deep. there isn’t any religious offense intended you are choosing to see negativity where there isn’t any.

    Reply

  6. Mrosseel  on October 23rd, 2009

    great point relax….its like there digging to find an issue to make a stink about. its wood, thats it. houses sometimes have cross like areas in the walls when framing, should we rip them down, whats next the letter “t” is offensive???

    halloween is not worshiping the dead, people are uptight

    Reply

  7. ROB  on October 23rd, 2009

    After reading some of these post i see alot of intolerant people here . If putting monsters on crosses is offensive to someone who is Christian then we should take them down . Look closely on the crosses dracula is not a scarecrow . The problem it is on a main street for all eyes to see . It is offensive for kids where we have to take another route around freehold every halloween .There is enough horror in this world we dont need it shove down our throats . Once again this is what the word of God says about people who call evil good .ISA 5-20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

    Reply

  8. kathymommy  on October 24th, 2009

    Anyone who believes in Jesus knows that the Cross is a symbol of torture and execution. It’s only by the resurrection of Jesus that the Cross speaks of grace and salvation. HOWEVER, the scarecrow structures are not Crosses (with a capitol “C”); they are props. They resemble “the Cross” but they are NOT “the Cross”; any more than a hamburger bun is “the Body” or a glass of sangria is “the Blood” of the Lord. Pat N. would have done better speaking to love than vandalizing private property.

    Reply

  9. Sammie  on October 24th, 2009

    First, remember that Jesus was Jewish.

    Tom, I know many good Christians who do a lot of nice things for people.

    Rob, you are stricken with the fervor. Most people enjoy the commercialism of today’s Halloween and think nothing about religion. Just laughter and goofy costumes and anything pumpkin and apple flavored. let people have innocent fun, OK? They are not evil.

    Reply

  10. OriginalFreehold76  on October 24th, 2009

    This is crazy, i walk my kids to school where this MONSTER violated these scarecrows (lol)…im glad we didnt witness it that morning, its wrong and for kids to something like that…but really its halloween, ive lived in Freehold my whole life and the town has been doing this scarecrow thingy for a long time…please if you find it offensive and you dont like Halloween because you think its evil then HIBERNATE for the month of October and let the kids enjoy. GOD was the one who reached into that mans pocket and took out his phone and dropped it on the ground…making sure the idiot got caught! HA HA! To bad nobody had a video of it we couldve put it on WORLD MOST INSANE/STUPID CRIMINALS…

    Reply

  11. Greg  on October 24th, 2009

    Revelation 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie

    Reply

  12. Greg  on October 24th, 2009

    Leviticus 20:6 And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.

    Reply

  13. Greg  on October 24th, 2009

    2 Kings 21:6 And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

    Reply

  14. ROB  on October 26th, 2009

    Once again very intolerant post . There are so called Christians on here that want to delight in the dark as well as the light .
    1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 (“Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.”)
    3 John 1:11 (“do not imitate what is evil
    Deuteronomy 18:9-14 (do not learn to imitate detestable ways, including spiritists, sorcerers and witchcraft)
    Ephesians 5:11-12 (“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness” / “live as children of light”)
    John 14-15 If you love Me, keep My commandments

    Reply

  15. ROB  on October 26th, 2009

    Yes i grew up in america all my life, we need to be tolerant of everyone . Lets be consistent here .If saying Merry Christmas offends someone , We say happy holidays. If halloweeen is offends people then we need to be tolerant. Keep it out of the schools and main streets like they do with Christmas. Tired of the intolerant people toward Christian in parts of USA. a quick note being a Christian is someone that surrenders there life to Jesus . Jesus surrendered his life for your sin on the cross . So you surrenders your life to him , Taking the name of a Christian and live exactly the opposite is the biggest problem i see today . 1 cor 10-21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

    Reply

  16. ROB  on October 26th, 2009

    Once again another intolerant comment to a post . From a Christian hater, You call someone a bigot can you tell me what standard do you use to call someone a bigot?. Then you try to tell someone what Jesus taught. Then you say the bible is false.

    Reply


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