The white teen is put on a nearby 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. Bridgewater mall incident reignites New Jersey debate over police and Terms of Use Bridgewater Schools To Gain $1.1M In State Aid Next Year, Volunteers Needed For Raritan River Cleanup In Bridgewater, Bridgewater I-287 Pedestrian Crash Prompts Delays Thursday: DOT, Hoboken's Official St. Patrick's Day Bar Crawl, NJ Camp Fairs at Menlo Park Mall Mar 4, 2023 - FREE to Attend (12-3PM), Now Hiring!! The officer lied about an illness and failed to report for duty, causing overtime for the department," read the report. The Bridgewater Police Department, with seventy-eight officers, serves and protects a diverse residential population of over 45,000 persons. Social media postings have drawn law enforcement attention nationally, Bridgewater Township Police said, but no real threat has been found. Please feel free to stop in to our Headquarters or send us and e-mail with any comments, concerns, and suggestions. Thomas A. Gallo was sworn in at the town council meeting. Carrier Clinic, Taxes in Retirement Seminar on March 7th and 9th at Raritan Valley Community College. "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. | 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. Toll Free: (800) 544-3318. 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. International Womens Day Event! 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. https://t.co/ck9yCXMmL0. The Attorney General completed its investigation and sent a comprehensive Internal Affairs Report and Findings to Bridgewater in Sept. 2022. Bridgewater Commons mall fight video sparks police use - Courier News | Video of NJ mall fight sparks controversy | PIX11 Ebon said: Its not fair that we are constantly having to fear the cops. In a Facebook post Monday, the Bridgewater Police Department said it was aware of the video. 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. The Bridgewater Police Department, with seventy-eight officers, serves and protects a diverse residential population of over 45,000 persons. By: News 12 Staff A viral video of two Bridgewater police officers responding to a fight between two teens at the Bridgewater Commons Mall has angered and disturbed many people. Bridgewater mall fight: Attorney considers civil rights lawsuit - Yahoo! 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. /. John Mitzak as the next chief of the Bridgewater Township Police Department, and the council is expected to vote on the recommendation at Monday's council meeting. 0:05. Crump added: "ZKye was no more of a threat to those officers than the white teen who fought with him. Officers' handling of Bridgewater Commons Mall fight sparks concerns of racial discrimination Feb 16, 2022, 10:14pm Updated on Feb 17, 2022 By: News 12 Staff Matt Kemper, who worked at his family's former business Kemper Pontiac Cadillac, was last seen in Las Vegas on Jan. 5. Phil Murphy expressed his concern. 2023 www.mycentraljersey.com. A pair of New Jersey police officers are facing criticism for how they responded to a fight between teenagers at a shopping mall. 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. She said the officers' responses weren't "fair.". We have to let the investigation play out. The officer failed to call out sick for multiple days, according to the report. He was kind of saying, like, Youre a little kid, youre my little pet, and stuff like that, he told NBC New York. In a post on the department's Facebook page, the fire company is reporting BRIDGEWATER, NJ - A Sherlin Drive resident reported that their vehicle had been stolen from their driveway at about 2:15 p.m. Thursday, according to Bridgewater Police. BREAKING: Black teen restrained by police in NJ mall fight video hires George Floyd's family lawyer, Although an investigation is still gathering the facts about this incident, Im deeply disturbed by what appears to be racially disparate treatment in this video. BRIDGEWATER, NJ - The attorney general's office released an official statement Friday regarding the February 2022 police response at the Bridgewater Commons Mall, and said that although it. South Bound Brook childrens book author Apara Mahal Sylvester's new book, Mousies Way Home, focuses on the plight of feral cats. Bridgewater NJ mall fight: NAACP wants police officer removal Just stay calm and not move and do what they tell me to do.. Two Bridgewater Police Department cops arrive and pull the White teen onto a nearby couch, as they pin the Black teen, 14, to the floor and handcuff him. His mother, Ebon, who only shared her first name to NBC New York, was outraged. Violation of the Employee Handbook concerning the use of Township vehicles. The video cuts off at this point. Bridgewater Cop Suspended 180 Days For 'Truthfulness' The teen and his mother could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Bridgewater Patch - Home | Facebook "In light of the volume and nature of communications that have been received by our township staff and Police Department, the decision has been made, in the interest of protecting the safety of the public and staff, to postpone the town hall meeting," according to a statement on the township's website. BRIDGEWATER - The township has found itself in the center of the national controversy over police use of force after a video showing two officers breaking up a fight between two teens, one. The video shows no sign of resistance from the Black teen. Route 22 East was closed for about an hour on Monday morning as a result, said Bridgewater Police. We strive to enhance the quality of life for all members of the community. All rights reserved. Zachary Menendez was among 38 new firefighters to graduate from the Somerset County Fire Academy. "When Bridgewater police found two youths fighting, the immediate reaction was to aggressively throw the Black child to the ground, knee placed around the neck area and cuffed behind the back. Public safety:Tasers, hailed as a way to avoid deadly police shootings, are seldom used in NJ. Bridgewater Police also reported making arrests for driving while intoxicated and shoplifting in the latest blotter. Twitter. NAACP calls for officers in viral Bridgewater mall fight video to be The men and women of the Bridgewater Township Police Department are committed to providing effective police service to all persons within our jurisdiction. A resident of Schindler Terrace reported Aug. 27 that their Black Mongoose bicycle was stolen from in front of their home. Police Blotter; Emergency Alert; About Us. The men and women of the Bridgewater Township Police Department are committed to providing effective police service to all persons within our jurisdiction. Copyright 2023 TAP IP LLC, All rights reserved. SUMMIT, NJ - A touching tale mixing heartbreak and humor takes center stage at The Summit Playhouse LONG BEACH ISLAND REGION - Although the official start to spring is still over a month away, the About Us We endeavor to reduce crime along with the fear of it, through cooperative interaction with the community. News about Central Jersey and New Jersey for the Courier News community. 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. A victim reported Sept. 15 that their vehicle had been burglarized while it was parked in the lot of Seasons 52, on Commons Way. We will get back to you as soon as possible. Bridgewater police have called for an internal affairs investigation with assistance from the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office. Branchburg Township Police responded to the call at the elementary school on Wednesday afternoon. Somerset County 4-H Fair and theSomerset County July 4th Celebration. No other information was provided on the report. 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. | Black teen restrained by police in NJ mall fight video hires George Floyd's family lawyer, After Bridgewater Commons mall fight, NAACP calls for police officers removal, 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. Video of the . Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com. Residents Erin Kurdyla, Lisa Bratis, Maria Concetta Natale and Christy Thompson BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Bridgewater Mayor Matthew Moench has released a statement that he will be recommending Capt. 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. By: News 12 Staff. Violation of the Employee Handbook concerning alcohol-free workplace. Proudly created with. In the area of milepost 16, the front of the Volkswagen struck and killed Hernandez, according to the preliminary investigation. 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, Crump identified the white teen as an 11th grader. Branchburg Township Police were called to a business on Route 202 to check for a man who had been in a restroom for over an hour. Removal Requests Black teen handcuffed by police at mall while white teen was scared of what could've happened. Martin was convicted of driving while intoxicated(DWI) while on duty. 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. The state is awarding about $16.2 million in grants. BRIDGEWATER - A 38-year-old Morristown man was killed early Thursday morning while walking on Interstate 287, State Police said. International Womens Day Event! 0:57. 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 . After several seconds of punching, two uniformed Bridgewater police officers ran onto the scene and pulled the two apart. 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. Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com. News from the Courier News | MyCentralJersey.com After several seconds of punching, two uniformed Bridgewater police officers ran onto the scene and pulled the two apart. New Jersey State Police and Finderne Volunteer Firefighters came out to the snowy scene to help early Tuesday morning. 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. The video shows two male teens, one Black and the other white, having an argument before pointing fingers at each other. "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.". I always saw a Bridgewater BRIDGEWATER, NJ - A group of local parents have asked the Bridgewater Township Council for assistance regarding what they say is a dangerous pedestrian intersection located near the BridgewaterRaritan High School. The seasonal cult favorite has returned to McDonald's. About See all Hyperlocal news, alerts, discussions and events for Bridgewater, NJ We're a community-specific news, information and engagement network driven by passionate and experienced media professionals. Bound Brook Police used a garden hose on the fire before volunteer firefighters arrived and extinguished the blaze. In the video, a female and male officer grab the white teen off the Black teen. Raritan Headwaters is hosting its 33rd annual stream cleanup on April 15 to clean select branches of the Raritan River. To get unlimited access to her work,please subscribe or activate your digitalaccount today. February 16, 20223:11 PM ET. "The time for the governor and attorney general to put a stop to this type of behavior by the police is now," Smith said in a news release. Smith isn't the only person calling for the officers' removal. International Womens Day Event! The theft happened in the middle of the day on Thursday, according to Bridgewater Police. RARITAN, NJ - Raritan Borough Police have released the police blotter for the end of October and beginning of November. Martin reportedly has since resigned from the police department. According to the report, a 76-year-old man reported he was the victim of BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Bridgewater Township Police are investigating a number of thefts from various stores around Bridgewater in December, according to this week's police blotter. At about 2:29 a.m., a Volkswagen Tiguan was traveling . Raritan Police said Scott Edge, 47, of Flemington, was found sitting at the bar smoking a cigarette while the restaurant was closed. The burns are taking place on Monday in three locations across Somerset County. 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. The trio ordered $321 worth of food and then fled the area, according to Raritan Police. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters. BRIDGEWATER, NJ - The Bridgewater Township Police Department released its police blotter for the end of December and early January. As the Black teen is being handcuffed on the ground, the white teen is seen standing up looking at the officers before the female officersits him back on the couch as the Black teen is lifted off the ground by the male officer. The 2021 report also shows 17 agencies in the county had no police with major violations. Video shows officers handcuffed and restrained a. Proudly created withWix.com. BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Bridgewater Township is one of many receiving a grant from the state for 2020 recycling efforts, according to a release. It just doesnt make sense, she said. Bridgewater Crime & Safety News | Bridgewater, NJ Patch He said increasing trust between police and the community has been a hallmark of his administration from day one. Careers To register complaints about emails from TAPinto.net, please email. 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. Violation of the Department Mission Statement. BRIDGEWATER - The Bridgewater Police Department has called for an internal affairs investigation after a video circulated on social media showing officers' response to a fight at . He was released with a pending court appearance. Morristown NJ man killed walking along Route 287 in Bridgewater BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Bridgewater Township Police have released a police blotter from the middle of October through the end of November. Volunteers Needed For Raritan River Cleanup In Bridgewater, Bridgewater I-287 Pedestrian Crash Prompts Delays Thursday: DOT, McDonald's Shamrock Shake Returns To Bridgewater, Somerset Man Charged With Attempted Murder: Police, Car Loses Control, Hits I-287 Median, Rolls Over In Bridgewater, 'Warm Hearted,' Beloved Bridgewater Employee Retires After 30 Years, An Abandoned Cat's Rescue Featured In Somerset County Children's Book, Hoboken's Official St. Patrick's Day Bar Crawl, NJ Camp Fairs at Menlo Park Mall Mar 4, 2023 - FREE to Attend (12-3PM), Now Hiring!! Bridgewater mayor trade barbs over cops' mall . To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. Bridgewater Township Mayor Matthew Moench acknowledged the video Tuesday, and New Jersey Gov. Parks and trails will be closed at the Bridgewater park due to firearm use, officials said. 202 Crash With Utility Pole In Branchburg: EMS, Car Stolen While Resident Was Unloading Items In Bridgewater, Catalytic Converter, Purses, Packages Stolen In Bridgewater, Police Crackdown On Drunk, Impaired Drivers In Somerset County, Combating Opioid Overdoses: Somerset County Gives Away Naloxone, Hoboken's Official St. Patrick's Day Bar Crawl, NJ Camp Fairs at Menlo Park Mall Mar 4, 2023 - FREE to Attend (12-3PM), Now Hiring!! 0:00. The nearly 9 percent increase in funding is part of the Gov. The video also shows township police officers kneeling on and. The fire broke out on Sunday in the Finderne section of Bridgewater Township. The victim said various tools and BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Bridgewater Township Police have released a police blotter from the middle of October through the end of November. The settlement is for a total of $450,000, according to court documents, with $100,000 to go into a BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Phase one of Bridgewater Townships new BridgewaterSHIELD program has officially been released, with plans for improving on community policing in the township. We talked about thepride we had post the murder of George Floyd, we had thousands of demonstrations and very, very few incidents. A video began circulating on Sunday showing the fight between a white teen and a Black teen at the Bridgewater Commons mall. The white teen appeared to be left alone and at one point stood up and looked over the scene as the two officers restrained ZKye. Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. In 2021, then-Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal's ordered all New Jersey law-enforcement agencies to publicly release certain disciplinary info. All rights reserved. "The Black kid was the only one who was getting tackled," she said. These officers need to be reprimanded and retrained to overcome the implicit bias that results in unequal and often dangerous treatment of Black people.. Bridgewater/Raritan, NJ Local News | TAPinto When your child was young, visiting the pediatrician was quite an event. BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Bridgewater Township is one of many receiving a grant from the state for 2020 recycling efforts, according to a release. Bridgewater Police Department - NJ | Bridgewater NJ - Facebook A person in the background is heard saying: Yo, its cause hes Black. Don't miss local and statewide announcements. Homeowner injured, pets die in Hillsborough townhouse fire: police. Bridgewater/Raritan, NJ Police & Fire | TAPinto 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. Joey's friend, Sienna Freidinger, filmed the video. I am completely confident that the Prosecutors review will be impartial, objective and thorough, Moench said. BRIDGEWATER, NJ For the second time, the New Jersey Attorney General's Office publicly released all the names of New Jersey police officers who were subject to "major discipline" in 2021 and a police officer with Bridgewater Township police is on that list. "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. Failure to conduct himself with high ethical standards. BRIDGEWATER The township has found itself in thecenter ofthenational controversy over police use of force after a video showing twoofficers breaking up a fight between two teens, one Black and one white, at Bridgewater Commons over the weekend went viral. Bridgewater SHIELD; Body Worn Camera; Burglar Alarm Registration; Common Scams; Community Police Alliance; Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information; Driving While Impaired; Domestic Violence Response Team; Firearms Handling and Storage .