Eatontown Police Say Man Distributing Religious Materials At Mall Was Given Chance to Solicit Elsewhere

By Christopher Sheldon

The Eatontown Police say the man who was arrested at the Monmouth Mall while distributing religious materials was given a chance to distribute them elsewhere.

"Mall security officers explained to the police officers that they observed (David) Wells distributing leaflets in the mall to passing shoppers," Eatontown Police Det. Lawrence Tyler said. "They stated that they approached Mr. Wells and explained to him that he needed to stop distributing the leaflets until he obtained permission from the Monmouth Mall Management to distribute the leaflets on mall property."

Tyler said Wells, 56, of Oakhurst, "refused to stop" distributing leaflets and was to leave the mall property and that the Eatontown Police were called.

"While speaking with Mr. Wells a representative from Monmouth Mall Management arrived on the scene and explained to Mr. Wells that the mall would make reasonable accommodations for him to distribute his leaflets in accordance with the malls policy on soliciting on Monmouth Mall property, but that he needed to stop distributing the leaflets at this time," Tyler said.

Wells said that he should be able to distribute the leaflets "wherever and whenever he wanted," according to Tyler.

"Wells was served with a notice from the Monmouth Mall requesting that he leave the mall property immediately," Tyler said. "Mr. Wells again refused to leave the property and at that time he was arrested by the Eatontown Police Officers for defiant trespass on the complaint of the Monmouth Mall Management Representative and the Mall Security Officers who were present."

He was taken to Eatontown Police headquarters where he was processed an released on a summons.