88°
Anthony Griffiths, 52, of Paterson was being held on $30,000 bail in the Bergen County Jail, charged with third-degree child endangerment through inappropriate contact.
The girl, who authorities said is between 12 and 14 years old, called her parents from the Benjamin Franklin Middle School last Thursday, Ridgewood Capt. Forest Lyons told CLIFFVIEW PILOT this morning.
They told her to go straight to school officials, who called police, he said.
Officers immediately responded and took Griffiths into custody, Lyons said.
The alleged behavior “didn’t rise to the level of [second-degree] sexual contact” but was enough to warrant charges, he said.
“School officials took immediate action to ensure the safety of the child and, together with our officers, confrmed that there were no threats to the safety and security of the other children.” Ridgewood Police Chief John Ward told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
MUGSHOT: Courtesy BERGEN COUNTY SHERIFF
Click here to follow Daily Voice Ridgewood and receive free news updates.
