Fair Lawn HS substitute charged with stealing student’s phone

YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: A Fair Lawn High School substitute teacher was arrested after he was found with a student’s cellphone and charger, police said this afternoon.

Photo Credit: *Cliffview Pilot File Photo*

Jerry DeMarco

05/12/2014 7:05 p.m.

The 17-year-old student said the black Samsung Galaxy was missing form a classroom where he’d left it charging, then asked substitute Joseph Decker whether he’d seen it.

Decker, 26, of Fair Lawn, said he hadn’t, according to Sgt. Brian Metzler.

School Resource Officer Mark Wyka investigated and got Decker to return the phone, Metzler said.

Decker told him he’d taken the phone and charger as a prank, the sergeant said.

He was released pending a Municipal Court hearing on a charge of theft of mislaid property.

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