A New Jersey man known for disrupting local government meetings drew attention again this week, staging a protest at a Tuesday night township session that ended with his arrest — after he briefly sang along to a Morrissey song.
William Thilly, a 52-year-old Cranford resident who has repeatedly caused disturbances at public hearings, was taken into custody after refusing to leave the podium during a township committee meeting, according to NJ.com.
Thilly stepped up to speak during the public comment period while holding a sign that said, “REFUSE GOVT. ABUSE.”
He used his time to criticize what he characterized as government abuse in various parts of the world. But when his five-minute speaking limit expired, he would not give up the microphone.
Instead, Thilly played Morrissey’s “The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get” over the meeting’s sound system and began singing along, raising his hands as he launched into the opening lyrics.
Township committee members warned him several times to stop, but Thilly continued performing the 1994 track, including the lines, “The more you ignore me, the closer I get, you’re wasting your time.”
Thilly, who previously made an unsuccessful run for a seat on the township committee, was arrested by police and removed from the meeting.
He was charged with third-degree aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, disrupting a meeting and obstructing the administration of law.
Authorities say that as Thilly was escorted out of the meeting by several officers, he deliberately fell to the ground which caused one officer to sustain a knee injury and require hospital care, the outlet reported.
Social media videos of the stunt show the wannabe crooner falling to the ground as he was being removed by police, but does not clearly show how the officer’s knee injury occurred.
“The Cranford Police Department has been dedicated to ensuring that our community can express themselves freely during the public comment portion of meetings,” Cranford Police Chief Matthew Nazzaro said in a statement to the outlet.
“However, it’s crucial to understand that freedom of speech does not equate to freedom from consequences, especially when an officer is injured in the course of his duties.”
Before Thilly’s singing snafu, another Cranford resident who identified himself as “Bongholeo,” took to the podium wearing a large purple bong costume.
The resident clutched to a fake baby named “Bongolito” that was also dressed as a bong while he belted out a parody of Lizzo’s “About Damn Time” song in his allotted time.
Thilly made headlines in September 2025 during another Cranford township meeting when he sashayed up to the podium and tried to breakdance as witnesses clamped their hands over their mouths as they tried not to laugh.
He also sued town officials and the governing body in November last year, over alleged free speech violations and claimed the council censored him during a meeting that month by staging a walk out after he showed up holding a beach ball, the outlet reported.
Cranford Mayor Kathleen Miller Prunter said that while township officials support residents’ rights to participate in the meetings, recent disruptions have caused residents to feel unsafe.
“Everyone has the right to speak, sing, dance and record our meetings and no one has ever been denied that opportunity,” she said.
“However, being continuously disruptive, combative and infringing on others’ right to speak or listen will not be tolerated,” she said.
“These disruptions have been going on since last year and I am concerned the behavior of a few has escalated to the point where residents do not feel safe at Township Meetings and that their concerns and ideas are being drowned out by the antics,” Prunter added.
Authorities said the stuntman was released from custody pending an appearance in the Union County Superior Court, NJ.com reported.
Thilly’s attorney declined to comment when contacted by the outlet.
