By JOE D’AQUILA
Staff Writer The Trentonian
TRENTON — Not only did Shahid Emmanuel Avraham Watson not win the city’s mayoral election last night, but he also may soon face criminal charges after allegedly setting up shop for his campaign headquarters inside a stranger’s home that was currently vacant and up for sale.
A police source said last night that a report against Watson had been filed and that it was only awaiting the victim’s signature to press charges of criminal trespass against him.
The source said the victim, whose name is being withheld, drove past her home on Melrose Avenue at about 6 p.m. and saw several people sitting on her porch.
The source said the victim stopped to investigate because she has the house up for sale and no one is living inside.
The people on the porch told her they were there with Shahid Watson, the source said, and she saw what appeared to be an operational campaign headquarters set up in her home. There were Watson election signs all over and people were using her stove to cook food.
A neighbor told police she first saw activity at the house at about 7 a.m., the source said, when about 30 to 50 people were seen bringing in campaign literature and food.
As she walked into her home, the victim, the source said, was greeted by Kevin Taylor, of East Orange, who told her he was Watson’s campaign manager and that they were interested in buying her home.
Watson, the source said, also told the victim he was interested in purchasing the house.
The victim learned the group gained access to the house by contacting her realtor, the source said. The source said the victim was told the group toured her house on Monday, then went back to ask for a key to look at it again yesterday.
The victim’s realtor, Fareeda Stokes told police Watson’s people were given permission to see the house on Monday but not on Tuesday.
Stokes, the source said, met her client at the home while Watson was still there. The source said Watson told the two women he had family coming up from Atlanta and that he was interested in buying the house.
Stokes, the source said, told the victim that she was familiar with Watson and knew he had poor credit and couldn’t afford to buy the house, but the candidate allegedly told them he would sign a contract to purchase the home.
Stokes then went out to her car and retrieved a contract, the source said, but Watson refused to sign.
Watson, the source said, cleaned up the house and left, and the victim called police.
Watson, who received only about 200 votes in his bid to be Trenton’s mayor will now likely face the charges as issued by subpoena. He did not return a call seeking comment last night.
Copyright 2010 The Trentonian, a Journal Register Property. All rights reserved
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