- Thomas Diiorio, 40, was arrested in Mount Laurel after a video emerged of a heated argument with a neighbor over a bullying dispute.
- The confrontation involved accusations of racism linked to a dispute between their children.
- Video footage of the incident went viral, attracting over 1.5 million views online.
- Mayor Stephen Steglik commended police for their prompt actions in addressing hate-related behavior in the community.
- Diiorio is scheduled to appear in court again on July 15 after being released on conditions.
MOUNT LAUREL, NEW JERSEY — Months after a New Jersey woman received probation for a crash that killed two men, another New Jersey case is drawing attention online. This time, a father was arrested after a heated confrontation with a neighbor over a bullying dispute involving their children.
Thomas Diiorio, 40, of Mount Laurel, was charged with harassment and bias intimidation after the argument was caught on video and shared widely online.
Argument Caught on Video
The confrontation happened around 6:30 p.m. Monday inside an upscale apartment complex in Mount Laurel.
Video from the scene showed Diiorio standing close to Lakisha Spruill and shouting at her in a parking lot. At one point, he could be heard telling her to leave and get into her car.
Spruill asked someone nearby to call police as the argument continued.
The video quickly spread online and was viewed more than 1.5 million times after it was posted.
Dispute Involved Children
Mount Laurel police said officers first responded to a report of a dispute involving a “prior juvenile incident” at the complex.
Spruill said the argument started after she confronted Diiorio about a bullying issue involving their daughters. She claimed Diiorio’s children had bullied her daughter and called her an “ugly African.”
Spruill also alleged that Diiorio used racist language toward her during the confrontation.
According to court records cited in reports, Diiorio used the phrase “you people” while speaking to Spruill. The records said he later clarified that he was referring to Black people.
Diiorio denied that the argument had anything to do with race. In a Facebook comment cited by reports, he wrote that it had nothing to do with the color of Spruill’s skin.
Arrest Made After Video Review
Police said neither parent wanted to press charges at first. However, detectives later reviewed video footage that had been submitted to the department.
After reviewing the footage, police arrested Diiorio on Wednesday.
He appeared in Burlington County Superior Court on Thursday. He was released after the hearing but was ordered not to have contact with Spruill.
Diiorio is scheduled to return to court on July 15.
Mayor Responds to Arrest
Mount Laurel Mayor Stephen Steglik praised police for acting quickly after receiving the video.
He said officers contacted the victim and made sure the man in the video was arrested. The mayor also said hate-filled behavior would not be tolerated in Mount Laurel.
The case remains active as Diiorio waits for his next court appearance.
To view more cases involving viral confrontations, neighborhood disputes, and crimes caught on camera, check out our video here:
