NJ Police Investigate After Noose Found Inside Trash Truck By Black Employee
By Cleve Bryan
EGG HARBOR Twp., NJ (CBS) -- Police are investigating the origin of a noose discovered inside an Atlantic County trash truck by a black employee.
Scotty Henry says on the morning of June 3rd he went to his assigned truck at the Atlantic County Utility Authority and found a noose hanging on the passenger side of the vehicle.
ACUA president Richard Dovey told Eyewitness News by phone on Friday that an internal investigation began immediately but he initially did not think it "rose to the level of calling police."
Tuesday evening Henry told the Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders about the noose and since then county leaders have urged a full police investigation.
Dovey says on Friday morning two members of the Egg Harbor Township Police Department collected the rope as part of an investigation.
Henry continues to work at the ACUA where he's been an employee for at least 10 years.
Freeholder Ernest Coursey, who Henry contacted prior to Tuesday's meeting, says that Henry is fearful for his safety.
"This cannot be swept under the carpet. Just look at what happened in South Carolina this week. These matters need to be taken very seriously," says Coursey, who says the decision not to report the incident immediately to police was a mistake.
Dovey says in retrospect the police should have been contacted sooner and on Friday the ACUA took to Twitter about the noose incident saying, "Together with the local authorities, we will continue to investigate this incident to determine who is behind this reprehensible act."
