North Plainfield man arrested for vandalism of Rutgers Center for Islamic Life

By Alvin Wu
Domestic Affairs
North Plainfield man arrested for vandalism of Rutgers Center for Islamic Life

A view of damage that occurred at the Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University on Eid. CILRU/Handout

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., April 22 (ZFJ) — Jacob Beacher, 24, of North Plainfield, has been charged with a federal hate crime for breaking into the Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University (CILRU) on 122 College Avenue in New Brunswick, announced federal authorities on Monday, April 22.

Beacher, not affiliated with Rutgers, was arrested this morning and federally charged with one count of intentional or attempted obstruction of religious practice and one count of making false statements to federal authorities.

The criminal complaint alleges that, on April 10, during Eid al-Fitr, Beacher broke into the CILRU at about 2:41 a.m. Authorities charge that Beacher caused about $40,000 worth of damage and vandalized several religious artifacts, including Turbah prayer stones (clay stones on which Muslims prostrate during prayer) and items containing holy language from the Quran (Islam’s sacred scripture).

Eid al-Fitr is a three-day holiday that marks the end of Ramadan—Islam’s holy month of fasting.

The complaint also alleges that Beacher stole a Palestinian flag and at least one CILRU charity box.

In the course of their investigation, police reviewed video surveillance footage and historical cell-site data that placed Beacher at the scene of the crime.

Beacher voluntarily spoke to law enforcement in North Plainfield on April 12, where he confirmed that he was the man in the security footage but denied that he broke into the CILRU.

The case was investigated by the FBI, N.J. Division of Criminal Justice, Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, Rutgers University Police Department, New Brunswick Police Department, and N.J. State Police.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin and Deputy Chief R. Joseph Gribko for the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorney Daniel Grunert of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.

Beacher remains in federal custody. According to Rutgers police, the investigation is continuing and additional state charges are pending.

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