Repeated anonymous noise complaints resulting in police visits to Green Knoll Grill are raising questions just days before the restaurant hosts a public debate between former Bridgewater Councilman Filipe Pedroso and former Somerset County Undersheriff Tim Pino.

The October 9 debate was announced September 8 as a fundraiser benefiting the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter. Organizers say they were subsequently informed that Mayor Matthew Moench objected to the shelter’s association with the event and that the shelter would not participate.

Green Knoll Grill now reports that, after the debate was announced, police repeatedly responded to anonymous false noise complaints during the weeks leading up to the debate. The identity of the caller or callers has not been established.

The restaurant also reports that police received another anonymous complaint on Sunday, October 4, while Green Knoll Grill was hosting “Hippie Fest,” a fundraiser for the Bridgewater Democrats featuring live music, comedy and entertainment.

Pedroso said that detail is significant because it suggests the routine anonymous caller may have one common objective: to intimidate Green Knoll Grill, silence opposition and disrupt events involving those who oppose Mayor Moench.

“We know when our event was announced. We know what happened with the shelter afterward. We know Green Knoll Grill reports repeated anonymous baseless complaints leading up to the debate. And we know police were reportedly called even during Sunday’s Democratic fundraiser,” Pedroso said. “There is one common thread: These events involve people or activities that have challenged or opposed Mayor Moench. Although the breadcrumbs give us a strong suspicion as to who is behind this, an investigation needs to be done. Let’s get the records and find out.”

Pedroso and Pino called for a criminal investigation.

“Knowingly making a fictitious report to law enforcement can constitute a crime under New Jersey law,” Pedroso said. “If someone is deliberately making false complaints that repeatedly cause police officers to be dispatched, that person is wasting valuable police resources and potentially taking an officer away from a real emergency. This should be investigated.”

Pino, who spent decades in law enforcement and served as Somerset County Undersheriff and longtime commander of the Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, agreed that the facts should be established.

“If these are legitimate complaints, the records will reflect what officers encountered,” Pino said. “If somebody is knowingly making repeated false reports, that’s an entirely different matter. Whatever the investigation ultimately shows, people should not be intimidated or discouraged from participating in an open public discussion. Filipe and I definitely don’t agree on everything—that’s the point of having a debate. But we agree that residents benefit when different viewpoints can be discussed openly and respectfully.”

Pedroso said the controversy will not change Friday’s plans.

“I’ve been publicly educating residents about what I believe are the failures of Mayor Moench’s administration, including his reckless, historic and unprecedented 42 percent increase in Bridgewater’s municipal tax burden during his tenure and substantial astronomical increases in sewer charges,” Pedroso said. “The mayor has every right to disagree with me. That’s democracy. Answer criticism with facts and arguments. But nobody should be afraid to host the conversation.”

“The debate is happening,” Pedroso added. “Come support a local business. Come listen to both sides. Come enjoy the music and demonstrate that Bridgewater is a community where people can disagree and still sit in the same room and have a conversation.”

EVENT INFORMATION

Pedroso-Pino Debate & Concert Benefiting Animal Nonprofits