A 29-year-old Washington Township man was arrested after he allegedly solicited donations for months following his fake brain tumor diagnose.
According to police, on October 12th the Hillsdale Police Department arrested Joseph O'Connell, 29, of Washington Township, on a charge of Theft by Deception.
In early October the Hillsdale Police Department received information that O'Connell, who claimed to be ill, was receiving donations to help him in his fight against a cancerous brain tumor. The tip questioned the veracity of O'Connell’s illness and the legitimacy of his need for donations.
A subsequent investigation revealed that O'Connell was not ill and was merely soliciting donations and food for his own personal use.
At the conclusion of the investigation O'Connell was charged and released from the Hillsdale Police Department with a complaint summons and is scheduled to appear in Bergen County Central Judicial Processing Court on November 1st.
Anyone who made donations to O'Connell is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Adam Hampton at 201-497-1537 or AHampton@hillsdalepolice.com