IS THIS THE MAN WHO ATTACKED A ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH EMPLOYEE

Calvin Battle

Two and a half years after a former St. Joseph's Church employe was severely beaten in a burglary of the church's rectory office, cops have still not caught the thug.

But is the man recently charged with similar crimes in Cranford a potential suspect?

NJ.com reports that Calvin Battle, 56, of Newark, was charged last week with two counts of burglary and one count each of criminal mischief and theft stemming from alleged break-ins at two Cranford churches on November 8.

Battle was previously charged in connection with a 2010 incident at a Newark church where he kicked a nun and stole a computer, serving 18 months for that. 

State records indicate Battle was later charged with a March 5, 2012 burglary in Essex County, but offers no specifics on the case. NJ.com reports he was sentenced in 2013 to three years for that incident, but released last August. 

The St. Joseph's burglary and assault occurred on March 14, 2012, just nine days after the Essex County burglary.

In the Maplewood incident, a female church employee was severely beaten and had to leave work for months. About a year after the attack, St. Joseph's essentially fired her from their employment without severance, according to her family. We have not disclosed her name, but sought her for comment on the latest situation.

Given that Battle has had several past church break-in incidents involving assaults, and that he was convicted of a burglary in the same county that occurred just days before the Maplewood assault, one would believe he is a valid suspect to pursue.

Asked about the status of the St. Joseph's case, Maplewood Police Capt. Michael Marrucci said in an email to Maplewoodian.com that, "Our detectives were aware of the Cranford incidents. Our investigation remains active and open."

But he had no further information on potential ties to Battle from the St. Joseph's crime.

If he is the assailant, let's hope justice is done soon. If he is not, let's hope the real thug is caught before he does damage again.