New Jersey police are under fire for their response to a fistfight after a Black eighth grader was pinned to the ground and handcuffed while a white teen involved in the weekend mall scuffle was left seated on a couch. That video says it all," he said. The nearly 9 percent increase in funding is part of the Gov. Get involved by signing 7,678 people like this 8,626 people follow this http://patch.com/new-jersey/bridgewater alexis.tarrazi@patch.com | It just doesnt make sense, she said. In the video, a female and male officer grab the white teen off the Black teen. At the same time, the white youth, at least equally at fault for the fight as his Black counterpart, was carefully eased onto a couch and treated like a victim," said Smith, adding that this issomething Blacks in New Jersey experience too often. To the best of our knowledge, the New Jersey Attorney General has concluded their investigation, said a township official BRIDGEWATER, NJ - The Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District has released information related to a cybersecurity incident involving information about some employees and individuals on the districts employee insurance plan. In a Facebook post Monday, the Bridgewater Police Department said it was aware of the video. The post says police have received videos from community members and asks that anyone who has a video of the incident to email it totips@bridgewaterpd.com. A new program aimed at beefing up community policing in Bridgewater is scheduled to make its debut in the coming months. A pedestrian crash on I-287 in Bridgewater has prompted commuting delays Thursday morning, authorities said. Faris N. Salem, 42, was charged with unlawful possession of BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Two Somerville teens were arrested on weapons charges stemming from two incidents involving a pellet gun at theBridgewater Commons Mall Jan. 4 and Jan. 14, according to a release from Bridgewater Township Police Chief John Mitzak. This is another example of the kind of racial bias that we need to root out of our system of policing. "We have requested that the Somerset County Prosecutors Office assist us in this matter and are requesting patience as we strictly adhere to the New Jersey Attorney Generals Internal Affairs Directivehttps://www.njoag.gov/iapp/. Were committed to increasing trust between law enforcement and the people they serve," Murphy wrote on Twitter. A video began circulating on Sunday showing the fight between a white teen and a Black teen at the Bridgewater Commons mall. 2023 www.mycentraljersey.com. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. Moench noted in a statement that the rules governing use of force by police officers in New Jersey are codified by the state attorney generals office. Bridgewater Township officer Anne Alosi was suspended for 180 days in 2020 for "Neglect of Duty and Truthfulness. Two people reported being shot in the head by a BB or pellet gun in separate shootings at the mall in January, said police. "This rumor started last week, and it has spiraled in reference to a student bringing a BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Bridgewater Police released a message warning residents to keep their valuables close after investigating a number of thefts of purses and wallets that have been left unattended. The video shows two male teens, one Black and the other white, having an argument before pointing fingers at each other. Bridgewater Police Department100 Commons Way Bridgewater, NJ 08807. At about 2:29 a.m., a Volkswagen Tiguan was traveling in the left lane of southbound I-287 and a pedestrian, Alfred Hernandez, was walking near the left lane ahead of the vehicle, State Police said. Hospitality Opportunities in Food Services, Housekeeping And Others! Gov. The report displays the names and agencies of officers who were fired, demoted in rank or suspended for more than five days. SOLD OUT! At about 2:29 a.m., a Volkswagen Tiguan was traveling . Removal Requests During his COVID-19 news conference on Wednesday, Murphy reiterated his concern for the apparent racially disparate treatment in the video. "The rules governing the use of force by police officers in New Jersey are codified by the Office of the Attorney General," Moench's letter said. You had to load up the car Come and see 15 Morningside Road in Verona; open house 3/4 1-3pm and 3/5 1-4pm. 1:16. According to police, the department has been investigating incidents where the items were stolen SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ - Sheriff Darrin Russo has introduced the newest K9 officer, a male yellow Labrador retriever, named Patriot following a contest that received more than 1,000 entries. The fire broke out on Sunday in the Finderne section of Bridgewater Township. It doesnt take two cops to hold a 14-year-old boy down whos not resisting, while the other boy is just kind of going free and still going off on my son. According to Superintendent Robert Beers, the district experienced a service disruption Monday that BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Rumors about a threat to Bridgewater-Raritan High School are completely unsubstantiated, according to Bridgewater Police Lt. Kevin Lamey. /. "Major discipline" is defined as police officers who were terminated, demoted, or suspended for more than five days. According to the report, at 1:11 p.m. Dec. 10, two Hispanic males shoplifted 17 pairs of designersunglasses from BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Bridgewater Township Police are investigating a report of an attempted shoplifting of power tools from the Home Depot, on Promenade Boulevard, according to a report from the police department. "ZKye, an 8th grader, was noble to defend his friend from bullies; however, it is evident that officers immediately assumed that because of the color of ZKyes skin, him acting nobly was not even in the realm of possibility. International Womens Day Event! Authorities are searching several states for the veteran, who may be in severe emotional distress and in need of medical help. We talked about thepride we had post the murder of George Floyd, we had thousands of demonstrations and very, very few incidents. Phil Murphy said. We are a community oriented force and are always looking for ways to improve our service to you. Don't miss local and statewide announcements. One officer pushed the white teen into a seated position on the couch . Sienna's . All rights reserved. NJ School Aid 2023: Whos Getting More, Whos Getting Less, Bridgewater Schools To Gain $1.1M In State Aid Next Year. Police also reported car burglaries, theft of tools, and windows at the Raritan Train Station being smashed on New Year's Day. We also protect and serve patrons, visitors and workers of the businesses and large corporations in town such as the Bridgewater Commons Mall, Bausch Health, iConnective, Sanofi-Aventis, J&J, MetLife, PVH, Qualcomm and events at TD Bank Park which is home of the Somerset Patriots - AA Affiliate of the New York Yankees, Violation of the Department Mission Statement. | Raritan Headwaters is hosting its 33rd annual stream cleanup on April 15 to clean select branches of the Raritan River. SOLD OUT! The teen and his mother could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Joe Hernandez. The seasonal cult favorite has returned to McDonald's. T-I-P-S Line: 877-660-INFO (4636) For any questions regarding our website or services, please contact us by clicking on the appropriate name to send an e-mail. The driver of the Volkswagen Tiguan remained on scene and was not injured, State Police said. Heres how to get your minty green fix before it's gone: Justice Philip, 23, is accused of crashing into another man's car and shooting a gun at him, according to Somerville police. Violation of the Employee Handbook concerning alcohol-free workplace. The police department's post generated more than 200 comments, some questioning why both teens weren't restrained, or if the fight could have been broken up without the use of handcuffs. The incident follows a sordid history. BRIDGEWATER - Z'Kye Husain, the Black Somerville eighth grader who was wrestled to the floor at Bridgewater Commons by a township police officer and arrested following a scuffle last month, is . The appearance of what is racially disparate treatment is deeply, deeply disturbing and it's just another reminder that the progress we've made on the relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve that our work is not done,and we need to continue that. Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. | Murphy's 2024 budget. February 16, 2022 at 11:12 a.m. EST Authorities are investigating how police in Bridgewater Township, N.J., responded to a weekend mall fight. The video shows no sign of resistance from the Black teen. Ebon said: Its not fair that we are constantly having to fear the cops. | The fight, which took place Saturday at Bridgewater Commons in Bridgewater Township, New Jersey, was captured on video and prompted a review of the officers conduct, as well as strong words from the governor. 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We endeavor to reduce crime along with the fear of it, through cooperative interaction with the community. "There is no threat to the high school," he said. Failure to conduct himself with high ethical standards. Richard T. Smith, president of the NAACP New Jersey State Conference, called for the immediate removalof the officers pending an investigation. Z'Kye said of being restrained: I was, like, calm, because I knew not to be scared. Terms of Use Ina CBS New York report, the 14-year-old Black teen, identified as Kye, and his mother, Ebone, who asked that their last names not be used, called for the officers to be fired. The theft happened in the middle of the day on Thursday, according to Bridgewater Police. Knapp comes from a family of service members, with his brother serving as captain in the U.S. Navy, another MARTINSVILLE, NJ - The intersection of Mount Horeb Road and Washington Valley Road is closed as of 6:30 p.m. Monday due to wires down from a motor vehicle accident, according to the Martinsville Volunteer Fire Department. Police are asking anyone with video of the incident to share it with the department, and they asked the Somerset County Prosecutors Office to conduct an independent review of the officers conduct. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. Thomas Gallo took the oath of office during the Jan. 19 Township Council meeting. NJ mall::Black teen restrained by police in Bridgewater fight hires George Floyd's family lawyer. Phone: (908) 722-4111 Fax: (908) 722-8246. New Jersey Attorney General's Office investigation into Bridgewater Police's handling of a teen mall fight in February 2022 is complete. Carrier Clinic, Taxes in Retirement Seminar on March 7th and 9th at Raritan Valley Community College. Toll Free: (800) 544-3318. "In order to absolutely ensure that these policies and regulations were upheld in this instance, Chief (Paul) Payne has requested that the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office conduct an independent review of the incident, with the unqualified support of the BPD.". Zachary Menendez was among 38 new firefighters to graduate from the Somerset County Fire Academy. See district-by-district changes proposed as part of the $834 million in school funding in Gov. Korrie Keats, 38, of Plainfield, was arrested Oct. 12 at about 1:15 p.m. for shoplifting after being found with merchandise from Wegmans, on Route 202. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. Social media postings have drawn law enforcement attention nationally, Bridgewater Township Police said, but no real threat has been found. By: News 12 Staff. To get unlimited access to her work,please subscribe or activate your digitalaccount today. 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Thomas A. Gallo was sworn in at the town council meeting. Some three dozen individuals were in attendance, including Gallos family, the five council members and about a dozen Bridgewater police RARITAN, NJ - A Flemington man was arrested for criminal mischief after allegedly breaking a window at Char Restaurant, on Route 202, Jan. 23, according to Raritan Borough Police. According to the report, at 3 p.m. Nov. 6, two suspects attempted to shoplift power BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Bridgewater Township Police released its police blotter for the week of April 26, with incidents from the end of March through mid-April. | February 16, 20223:11 PM ET. Racially motivated.. Hospitality Opportunities in Food Services, Housekeeping And Others! Meanwhile, ZKye, already on the ground, was pinned onto his stomach by a male officer, with the officers knee appearing to be on his back. Police report that, on Oct. 29 at about 3:52 p.m., someone stole a vehicle from inside the vestibule of Target, on Promenade Boulevard. The white teen is placed onto the couch while the male officer tackles the Black teen to the ground, straddles his back and crosses his hands to handcuff him while the female officer appears to have her knee on his back. Cindy and David Keogh are the parents of Ryan Keogh, who was found guilty of first-degree murder following a shooting at their home in 2019. 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Moench also thanked the public for refraining from jumping to conclusions while the investigation is ongoing, and thanked members of the Bridgewater Police Department for their service, and for keeping the public safe. When your child was young, visiting the pediatrician was quite an event. Proudly created withWix.com. Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com. International Womens Day Event! Video of the . The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) Law Enforcement Accreditation Program is a statewide, independent credentialing body that analyzes the operational Copyright 2023 TAP IP LLC, All rights reserved. Reporting for duty under the influence of alcohol. A female officer then helped, placing her knee near the back of ZKye's neck as they put him in handcuffs, according to the clip. The campaign raises awareness about the dangers of impaired driving through a combo of high-visibility enforcement and public education. In the video, posted just after the incident BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Bridgewater Township added its newest police officer to the force Jan. 19. Although there have been no credible threats in Bridgewater Township and New Jersey associated with social media posts circulating that reference a supposed "National Day of Hate" on Saturday,. The officers were able to respond quickly to this incident and stop it from escalating because of a tip we received from the community," the post says. The directive came after the New Jersey Supreme Court authorized the public release of such info on a going-forward basis. Franklin Township Officer Dexter McKelvin was suspended for 60 days in 2021 for "Lacked Integrity, failed to call out sick and report for duty." 0:00. Crump identified the white teen as an 11th grader. South Bound Brook childrens book author Apara Mahal Sylvester's new book, Mousies Way Home, focuses on the plight of feral cats. Bound Brook Police used a garden hose on the fire before volunteer firefighters arrived and extinguished the blaze. The driver was hospitalized with a serious injury on Tuesday, said police. Bystanders stepped in to restrain Faris N. Salem of South Bound Brook until Bridgewater Police Officers arrived, according to the report. Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. Matt Kemper had gone missing on Jan. 5 and was last seen in Las Vegas, Nevada. They then begin pushing and shoving each other, a move that sends a couch sliding along the floor, and the Black teen is thrown to the floor. 0:57. a video showing twoofficers breaking up a fight between two teens, one Black and one white, at Bridgewater Commons over the weekend went viral, Black teen restrained by police in Bridgewater fight hires George Floyd's family lawyer, Tasers, hailed as a way to avoid deadly police shootings, are seldom used in NJ, NJ AG reveals names of cops who have been suspended, demoted, terminated, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. A victim reported Sept. 15 that their vehicle had been burglarized while it was parked in the lot of Seasons 52, on Commons Way. The Department covers over thirty-four square miles of land, 3,600 acres of public and private parks, and major highways such as US 202, US 202/206, US 22, NJ 28, and. Twitter. 2023 www.mycentraljersey.com. He said increasing trust between police and the community has been a hallmark of his administration from day one. Bernards Township Officer David Martin was suspended for 31 days in 2021 for "violation of Bernards Township Police Department Policies and Procedures and Rules and Regulations," read the report. "The men and women of the Bridgewater Township Police Department are thankful for our community partners and look forward to continuing to build our positive relationships," the post says. Before the New Jersey Supreme Court decision, the Garden State shielded the identities of officers disciplined or fired from the public. According to police, the victim had been unloading items from their BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Bridgewater Township Police have released the police blotter for the end of November through mid December. To register complaints about emails from TAPinto.net, please email. Two dirt bikes and a catalytic converter were also stolen within the last month in the township, according to police. ", Public safety: Tasers, hailed as a way to avoid deadly police shootings, are seldom used in NJ, Watchdog: NJ AG reveals names of cops who have been suspended, demoted, terminated. The controversy also led the township to cancel Mayor Matt Moench's town hall meeting on road improvements that was scheduled for Wednesday evening because of safety concerns. The Bridgewater Police Department addressed the incident Monday in a statement on its Facebook page. The 2021 report also shows 17 agencies in the county had no police with major violations.