We are very relieved to share today’s news of an arrest made for Tuesday’s home invasion and sexual assault on Longfellow Avenue. The details of the arrest and charges can be found in the press release below from the Union County Prosecutor's Office.

This arrest, less than 72 hours after this horrific incident, is the result of extraordinary police work and a close collaboration between the Westfield Police Department, the UCPO, and the State Police. We are immensely grateful for the dedication of these law enforcement professionals and their expertise that has brought this case to a swift resolution.

This has been an extremely upsetting time for our community, knowing that the unthinkable can truly happen anywhere. We want to reassure you that, above all else, the safety of the residents of Westfield community remains our top priority and your Police Department is working with every resource at its disposal.

We join the community in offering continued thoughts and prayers of healing for the victim, and we thank the residents of Westfield for their outpouring of concern. We are grateful to live in a town where neighbors always offer ongoing support and look out for one another during trying and unpredictable times.

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PRESS RELEASE FROM UCPO AND THE WESTFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT

For Immediate Release 
October 22, 2021 
Contact: Mike Sheets, Union County Prosecutor’s Office     
908-558-2054; msheets@ucnj.org    


Plainfield Man Arrested for Westfield Sexual Assault 
 
A Plainfield man was arrested early this morning after being criminally charged with sexually assaulting a woman during a home invasion in Westfield on Tuesday, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel and Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro jointly announced Friday.

Terence Rhue, 22, is charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, first-degree robbery, second-degree burglary, third-degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon in connection with the attack on a female resident. 

Westfield Police Department patrol units responded to the area Forest and Longfellow Avenues at approximately 12:50 p.m. on Tuesday in response to a report of a sexual assault by an armed intruder, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Caroline Lawlor, who is prosecuting the case.

An exhaustive investigation led by the Union County Special Victims Unit and the Westfield Police Department, and assisted by the Union County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit, the New Jersey State Police Regional Operations Intelligence Center (R.O.I.C.), as well as the Plainfield, Scotch Plains and Fanwood Police Departments, resulted in the identification of Rhue as the suspect and led to his eventual capture and arrest.

“We are grateful for the collaboration with the local and State law enforcement agencies who assisted our Office in quickly locating and apprehending the suspect,” Prosecutor Daniel said. 

Rhue is currently being held in the Union County Jail pending a First Appearance. 

Anyone with information about this matter is still urged to contact Prosecutor’s Office Detective Annie Coll at 908-347-2474 or Westfield Police Department Detective Betsy Savnik at 908-789-6078.

Convictions on crimes of this nature are commonly punishable by terms of up to twenty years in state prison.

These criminal charges are mere accusations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.