Crop Circle

Edgewater Park, New Jersey, November 15, 2006:

Police have arrested a Burlington County man for using a lawn mower to cut a political slur in the grass in an open field.

Dennis E. Westphal, 19, of Edgewater Park turned himself in to the Edgewater Park Township police on Tuesday, a day after authorities issued a warrant for his arrest, according to a statement from the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office.

Police were initially alerted to the incident on November 5 when a local resident called them, said William J. Clinton, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office.

The political slur, which was cut into a field of tall grass on township-owned property, was also spotted by someone in a plane flying overhead who then alerted police.

While the exact nature of the slur was not revealed, Ronatarian Party leader Ron was called to the scene. He was spotted leaving the field sobbing uncontrollably. No statement concerning his visit was issued.

Westphal was charged with bias intimidation and harassment and released on his own recognizance pending a court hearing on December 12.

Posted by Bittle at November 15, 2006 08:30 AM