Freehold, NJ man charged in Rittenhouse verdict riot

A Monmouth County man was among five people charged by the NYPD with rioting in Queens after protests against the Kyle Rittenhouse case in Wisconsin.

A masked group of around 40 people wearing black vandalized cars, destroyed American flags and attacked a police officer during the protest Friday night in the Middle Village neighborhood. The violence erupted hours after a jury acquitted Rittenhouse,  according to the New York Post's coverage.

The owner of a white SUV told the Post that Charles Edmonds 37, spray-painted "f--k you" on it and used it on a "blue lives matter " bumper sticker.

Edmonds was charged with obstructing governmental administration, unlawful assembly and walking in a roadway.

The Post reported that Edmonds' father said his son was a teacher in Freehold but New Jersey 101.5 found no Department of Education record of a credentialed teacher by that name.

"Incidents like this damage our brand as a city, disrespect New Yorkers and endanger visitors and residents alike," New York City mayor-elect Eric Adams said in a tweet. "All those who participated in this reckless behavior must be found and held responsible to the full extent of the law. We will not be a city of chaos."

Rittenhouse was charged with killing two men and wounding a third with a rifle during a tumultuous night of protests over police violence against Black people in the summer of 2020 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The former police youth cadet is white, as were those he shot.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNJ

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