B'nai Shalom 'Intruder' Actually a Member

Police say that a man seen with a gun at Temple B’nai Shalom on Friday evening was an off-duty law enforcement officer attending the evening’s services, and that the incident was a misunderstanding.

According to Councilwoman Camille Ferraro, the East Brunswick Police Department said in a press release that information discovered on Tuesday revealed that the individual was a “legitimate law enforcement officer,” who was attending services as a member. The individual had forgotten he was armed and left after being approached so as not to alarm temple members.

Calls and emails from East Brunswick Patch to the East Brunswick Police Department for information on the incident have gone unanswered.

During Monday’s Township Council meeting, Police Capt. John Napoli updated the council on the incident.

Capt. Napoli said that at approximately 8:30 p.m. Friday, a member of the congregation “observed a suspicious male at the back of the sanctuary. He was described as a white male with scruffy brown hair, dungarees and a khaki jacket. Upon closer observation the witness had observed what appeared to be a handgun in a holster. She immediately left the chamber and contacted a custodian. The custodian confronted the individual and after they had a few words, the suspect left in a hurry and left the scene in a red car with New York plates.”

Capt. Napoli also said that the police department had been providing a level of security and advising B’nai Shalom, Young Israel and the East Brunswick Jewish Center. At the time, Capt. Napoli asked that people with information regarding the incident call 732-4-EBTIPS.

Temple President Martin Hewitt would not comment on the incident on Monday. On Sunday, he sent an email to Temple members regarding the incident.