bridgewater, nj police news
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. 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. The video has sparked calls for the firing of the two police officers, including at a Saturday protest outside Bridgewater Township police headquarters. BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Bridgewater Township Police have released a police blotter from the middle of October through the end of November. The theme for the 2022 celebration is Fire RARITAN, NJ - The Raritan Borough Police Department is now an accredited law enforcement agency in New Jersey. 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. Hospitality Opportunities in Food Services, Housekeeping And Others! Joe Hernandez. New Jersey State Police and Finderne Volunteer Firefighters came out to the snowy scene to help early Tuesday morning. I want to thank the public for its patience in refraining from jumping to conclusions while an investigation is pending., In his statement, Murphy said: 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. Smith said the state conference was disappointed to see police actions "irrefutably showing the disparate treatment of African-Americans in our police institutions.". Hire A Bridgewater Area Pro To Get A Head Start On Spring Cleaning! The video cuts off at this point. Video of New Jersey officers pinning down and handcuffing - CBS News The man's car caught fire while delivering newspapers early Sunday morning, said fire officials. John Mitzak Sworn in as New Bridgewater Police Chief BRIDGEWATER, NJ - A 25-year career police officer in Bridgewater Township, John Mitzak was sworn . Twitter. Bridgewater News, Breaking News in Bridgewater, NJ Hello Bridgewater Today's weather Times of clouds and sun High: 49F Low: 36F Top local news Bridgewater News Somerset Man. Brendan M. Heffernan, 46, of Maplewood, Copyright 2023 TAP IP LLC, All rights reserved. Smith isn't the only person calling for the officers' removal. Officer Patrick Knapp was promoted to sergeant. According to police, the victim had parked the BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Bridgewater Township has released its police blotter for the middle of September. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Getting things done around the house has never been easier. A former New Jersey police chief has a lot to say about a viral video showing a fight at the Bridgewater Commons Mall and . Somerset County Sheriffs Office - Corrections Division. Mitzak has been BRIDGEWATER, NJ - The second week of October will mark Fire Prevention Week in Bridgewater Township, from Oct. 9 through Oct. 15. BRIDGEWATER - A 38-year-old Morristown man was killed early Thursday morning while walking on Interstate 287, State Police said. Bridgewater mayor trade barbs over cops' mall . 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!! Proudly created with. Bridgewater Police The men and women of the Bridgewater Township Police Department are committed to providing effective police service to all persons within our jurisdiction. Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. In the video, posted just after the incident BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Bridgewater Township added its newest police officer to the force Jan. 19. Bridgewater Township Mayor Matthew Moench acknowledged the video Tuesday, and New Jersey Gov. In a Facebook post Monday, the Bridgewater Police Department said it was aware of the video. Bridgewater Police also reported making arrests for driving while intoxicated and shoplifting in the latest blotter. According to a Facebook post from borough police, three adults failed to pay their bill after dining at the restaurant BRIDGEWATER, NJ - A South Bound Brook man was arrested for weapons possession and aggravated assault after a fight broke out in the McDonalds, on Promenade Boulevard, Jan. 16, according to Bridgewater Township Police Chief John Mitzak. Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. 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. Franchise TAP. Authorities are searching several states for the veteran, who may be in severe emotional distress and in need of medical help. The video also shows township police officers kneeling on and. 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. 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. 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. Bridgewater school district officials are warning parents of a fake email account claiming to be a Bridgewater-Raritan Regional official. 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. A driver involved in a Friday morning crash with a utility pole on Route 202 in Branchburg was hospitalized, officials said. NJ mall::Black teen restrained by police in Bridgewater fight hires George Floyd's family lawyer. Were committed to increasing trust between law enforcement and the people they serve.. Bound Brook Police used a garden hose on the fire before volunteer firefighters arrived and extinguished the blaze. 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. Homeowner injured, pets die in Hillsborough townhouse fire: police. Gov. Raritan Police said Scott Edge, 47, of Flemington, was found sitting at the bar smoking a cigarette while the restaurant was closed. The video has prompted the NAACP to call for the officers to be "removed" from the Bridgewater Police Department pending an investigation by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. /. 1:16. The Black teen, ZKye Husain, 14, said the dispute started when he stood up to the other boy, who is older, for picking on his friend. 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. Video of NJ police response to teen fight sparks outrage and - Fox News The trio ordered $321 worth of food and then fled the area, according to Raritan Police. New Jersey: After Bridgewater Commons mall fight, NAACP calls for police officers removal. "Except to say that I am completely confident that the prosecutor's review will be impartial, objective and thorough," Moench said. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Both ZKye and the other teen involved have been banned from the mall for three years, Bridgewater Commonssaid to NBC News in a statement. 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. WEBINAR: Learn About Wills, Living Trusts and Nursing Home Asset Protection, Saint Joseph High School Annual Basket Raffle, School Bus Company Seeking Fleet Mechanic, Protect Your Home from Ticks with Yard Guard from Viking Pest, Now Hiring Front Counter Sales/Business Development, Bridgewater Area Pets Up For Adoption: Clara, Casper, Caleb & More, McDonald's Shamrock Shake Returns To Bridgewater, Patch's Playground Spotlight: North Branch Park, Somerville Coffee Shop Rebrands Itself Again, This Time For Good, Bridgewater Boy's Love Of Pokmon Grows Into Thriving Business, Defeated: Largest Development In Bridgewater's History Since Mall, Gourmet Breakfast & Lunch Caf Opens In Bridgewater. BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Bridgewater Township is one of many receiving a grant from the state for 2020 recycling efforts, according to a release. | He was kind of saying, like, Youre a little kid, youre my little pet, and stuff like that, he told NBC New York. Moench: Delay in Report on February 2022 Bridgewater Mall Incident Rests Fire District Budgets Pass in Annual Elections, According to Unofficial Results, Crim Students Welcome Bridgewater Officers, Security Officers for National Law Enforcement Appreciation, Settlement Reached in Lawsuit Filed Against Raritan Borough, Raritan Police Following Death of Matias Ortega in 2018, Moench: Delay in Report on February 2022 Bridgewater Mall Incident Rests With Trenton, Not Bridgewater, Attorney General May Release Own Report on February 2022 Incident at Bridgewater Commons Mall, Prosecutor Reveals Motive in Killing of Employee Outside PSEG in Somerset, Bridgewater Township: Attorney General Concludes Investigation Into February 2022 Mall Incident, District Releases Information on Possible Cybersecurity Breach Involving Personal Information of Employees, Health Matters - Morristown Medical Center, Make the Most of Your School-Age Childs Well Check, Read More Health Matters - Morristown Medical Center, Home of the Week: 15 Morningside Rd Verona Twp., NJ 07044, Laurel Circles Management Company, LCS, Ranks #1 in Senior Satisfaction Study. | Bridgewater police chief, mayor to meet with Black community leaders Video showing how police treat Black and White teens in mall - MSN 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 no sign of resistance from the Black teen. In the area of milepost 16, the front of the Volkswagen struck and killed Hernandez, according to the preliminary investigation. Tactics used by police breaking up a fight between two teenagers prompts demands for an internal investigation. 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. 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. Bridgewater Crime & Safety News Bridgewater | News | 7h Somerset Man Charged With Attempted Murder: Police Justice Philip, 23, is accused of crashing into another man's car and shooting a. The directive came after the New Jersey Supreme Court authorized the public release of such info on a going-forward basis. 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. On 11/19/22 at 9:48 PM, Mohammed Rashid (age 21) of Bridgewater, NJ was arrested for DWI after being involved in a motor vehicle crash on Route 28. 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. Were committed to increasing trust between law enforcement and the people they serve," Murphy wrote on Twitter. WEBINAR: Learn About Wills, Living Trusts and Nursing Home Asset Protection, Saint Joseph High School Annual Basket Raffle, School Bus Company Seeking Fleet Mechanic, Protect Your Home from Ticks with Yard Guard from Viking Pest, Now Hiring Front Counter Sales/Business Development, Bridgewater Area Pets Up For Adoption: Clara, Casper, Caleb & More, Patch's Playground Spotlight: North Branch Park, Somerville Coffee Shop Rebrands Itself Again, This Time For Good, Bridgewater Boy's Love Of Pokmon Grows Into Thriving Business, Defeated: Largest Development In Bridgewater's History Since Mall, Gourmet Breakfast & Lunch Caf Opens In Bridgewater. Just stay calm and not move and do what they tell me to do.. After several seconds of punching, two uniformed Bridgewater police officers ran onto the scene and pulled the two apart. | The Bridgewater Police Department, with seventy-eight officers, serves and protects a diverse residential population of over 45,000 persons. "We recognize that this video has made members of our community upset and are calling for an internal affairs investigation. 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. Raritan Headwaters is hosting its 33rd annual stream cleanup on April 15 to clean select branches of the Raritan River. "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.". All rights reserved. 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To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. Feb 17, 2022, 2:45pmUpdated on Feb 17, 2022. 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 Bridgewater Commons over the weekend. 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. Violation of the Employee Handbook concerning the use of Township vehicles. The township council unveiled a proclamation in honor of the event, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Marlene Lenthang is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. In the video, a female and male officer grab the white teen off the Black teen. International Womens Day Event! Bridgewater Police Department100 Commons Way Bridgewater, NJ 08807. Copyright 2023 TAP IP LLC, All rights reserved. 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. Z'Kye's family has retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump, the law firm announced Thursday. 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. We strive to enhance the quality of life for all members of the community. No other information was provided on the report. February 16, 20223:11 PM ET. In district 1, which is the Martinsville Volunteer Fire Company, the total operating budget is set at $616,197.38, with the amount to be raised by taxation set at BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Mayor Matthew Moench responded Friday to a statement from the attorney generals office regarding the investigation into the February 2022 incident at the Bridgewater Commons Mall, saying the fault for the delay in the report lies with Trenton, not Bridgewater. Video of the incident shows a group of young people gathered in a seating area at the mall and two boys, one white and one Black, standing up in a verbal altercation. Removal Requests SOLD OUT! Parks and trails will be closed at the Bridgewater park due to firearm use, officials said. "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/. "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. The theft happened in the middle of the day on Thursday, according to Bridgewater Police. In 2021, then-Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal's ordered all New Jersey law-enforcement agencies to publicly release certain disciplinary info. Terms of Use These officers need to be reprimanded and retrained to overcome the implicit bias that results in unequal and often dangerous treatment of Black people.. Crump added: "ZKye was no more of a threat to those officers than the white teen who fought with him. News about Central Jersey and New Jersey for the Courier News community. The officer lied about an illness and failed to report for duty, causing overtime for the department," read the report. Toll Free: (800) 544-3318. "The Black kid was the only one who was getting tackled," she said. Two people reported being shot in the head by a BB or pellet gun in separate shootings at the mall in January, said police. Officers responded to Commons Way March 21 at 7:15 p.m. for a single vehicle crash with injuries. All rights reserved. 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. "Major discipline" is defined as police officers who were terminated, demoted, or suspended for more than five days. Bridgewater police have called for an internal affairs investigation with assistance from the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office. The Bridgewater Mall Fight is the clearest example of how police actively use race as a shorthand for who they perceive as a threat.See for yourself. When your child was young, visiting the pediatrician was quite an event. The burns are taking place on Monday in three locations across Somerset County. According to police, the victim had been unloading items from the vehicle when an unknown person entered the car and fled the BRIDGEWATER, NJ - The Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District has released a statement that, as of Thursday, all computer systems have been fully restored after being disrupted since Monday. Public safety:Tasers, hailed as a way to avoid deadly police shootings, are seldom used in NJ. Martin was convicted of driving while intoxicated(DWI) while on duty. N.J. police tackle Black teen in a fight, while the white participant The 2021 report also shows 17 agencies in the county had no police with major violations. See district-by-district changes proposed as part of the $834 million in school funding in Gov. The Bridgewater Police Department, with seventy-eight officers, serves and protects a diverse residential population of over 45,000 persons. 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.