Butler Man Charged With Bias Intimidation, Harassment

A 43-year-old man was arrested Tuesday on charges of bias intimidation, harassment, obstructing administration of the law and resisting arrest after police responded to a report of a neighborhood dispute.

Michael Rayfield was arrested by at his Main Street apartment complex. Acting Lt. Michael Moeller, Sgt. Keith Soules and Ptl. Dimitri Clarke arrived at the complex and spoke to Rayfield’s 45-year-old neighbor who stated that he had been repeatedly harassed by Rayfield, police said. While officers were on the scene, police said Rayfield shouted sexually derogatory names at a citizen from his own apartment.

Police also said that while interviewing a second citizen, Rayfield began to shout racially-biased names at that citizen. Police asked Rayfield to discontinue the shouting, but police said he persisted and was advised that he was under arrest.

Police said Rayfield then resisted arrest but was eventually subdued and transported to the police station. Bail was set at $5,000 with no 10 percent option. Police said he was unable to post bail and was sent to the Morris County Correctional Facility.