MATAWAN – A man who allegedly stole a pride flag from a local donut shop and made a Nazi salute before scuffling with the store’s owner has been arrested and charged with several crimes, including bias intimidation, police said.
Maciej Wojciak, 61, of Holmdel also allegedly “simulated sexual acts in the roadway” and threatened to burn down the shop, according to a police statement.
Joe Rizzuto, 54, who runs Main Street Donuts with his husband, Rick Canero, said the altercation occurred around noon Saturday at the eatery, which has been in business since 2022.
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“I was in the back and an employee said someone just took the flag,” Rizzuto said during an interview Sunday. “I ran out and saw him across the street parked and yelling. He was dressed like Trump, with a MAGA hat and a wig.”
The flag had been placed on a pole attached to the front of the store, Rizzuto said. He also has an American Flag on the other side.
Customers lined up out the door at Main Street Donuts in Matawan Sunday after a bias incident in which a man stole the shop’s pride flag. He was later arrested and charged with bias-related crimes
Rizzuto said he struggled with the man and took the flag away before the man drove off but Rizzuto took down his license plate number. He said he reported it to police who told him they put out an alert to other area departments.
“Then he came back, stopped in front, rolled down his window and started threatening to burn down the building before driving away,” Rizzuto said. “But he returned again and started blocking traffic.”
Police then appeared and chased the man down the street where he was apprehended, Rizzuto said.
Police said Wojciak was taken into custody and charged with bias intimidation, terroristic threats, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct. He is being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution following his processing at Matawan Police Headquarters.
“I couldn’t believe it when I saw him,” said Ava Steele, the employee who first spotted the suspect, whom she said was wearing a shirt as a mask. “He just stopped at the door, looked at me, opened his arms and tore the flag off the pole.”
Rizzuto and Canero, who have a 17-year-old son, also operate a donut store in Belmar, which has been in business for seven years. They married 26 years ago.
Main Street Donuts co-owner Joe Rizzuto outside of his Matawan shop that was the target of a hate crime when a pride flag was stolen.
Rizzuto said a similar incident occurred about two years ago and that person was also arrested. But he chose at that time not to make a big issue out of it publicly.
That has changed.
“I will not stay quiet,” Rizzuto said. “In 54 years as a gay man I have never had a hate crime occur until these.”
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Department of Justice data finds that hate crimes are on the rise nationwide and in New Jersey. The most recent statistics reveal there were 11,862 bias incidents nationwide in 2023, up from 11,634 in 2022.
In New Jersey, the number of such cases grew from 1,282 to 1,422 in the same time span, with those targeting sexual orientation increasing from 174 to 177.
Signs of support drawn by young customers at Main Street Donuts in Matawan after a bias incident in which a man stole the shop’s pride flag. He was later arrested and charged with bias-related crimes
Rizzuto’s supporters took to social media on Saturday and Sunday to promote his business and decry the hate with posts and messages of thanks for his ongoing aid to the community and devotion to local causes.
The result: customers packed the donut shop Sunday morning, with lines out the door and so much demand that the store ran out of donuts before 11:30 a.m.
“It is great people are being so supportive, I can’t believe it,” Rizzuto said. “I’m extremely grateful and overwhelmed by the outpouring.”
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Customers, several of whom had never been to the shop but wanted to support Rizzuto in his time of need, offered sympathy and outrage at the events.
“This should not be tolerated in any way shape or form,” said Paul Friend, a Matawan resident. “It is surprising. You can have an opinion, but violence is never acceptable.”
Kristen Fischer, who waited in line with her nephew for donuts, echoed that view.
“It is sad this is happening so close to our home,” said Fischer, an Old Bridge resident. “A lot of hate is trickling down.”
Joe Strupp is an award-winning journalist with 35 years’ experience who covers Lakewood and several local communities for APP.com and the Asbury Park Press. He is also the author of four books, including Killing Journalism on the state of the news media, and an adjunct media professor at Rutgers University and Fairleigh Dickinson University. Reach him at jstrupp@gannettnj.com and at 732-413-3840. Follow him on Twitter and TruthSocial at @joestrupp
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Bias crime charges in theft of pride flag from Matawan donut shop
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