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. We strive to enhance the quality of life for all members of the community. Public safety:Tasers, hailed as a way to avoid deadly police shootings, are seldom used in NJ. Bridgewater school district officials are warning parents of a fake email account claiming to be a Bridgewater-Raritan Regional official. According to the release, on Dec. 12, the district detected BRIDGEWATER, NJ - A suspect in a homicide investigation died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a parking lot in Bridgewater Township Wednesday morning after allegedly shooting a man in the parking lot of PSEG in Somerset, according to a release from Somerset County Prosecutor John BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Nearly a year after the incident at the Bridgewater Commons Mall Feb. 12, 2022, there is still no update on the investigation into a video on social media of officers breaking up a fight and arresting only the darker skinned boy. The 2021 report also shows 17 agencies in the county had no police with major violations. She said the officers' responses weren't "fair.". Sienna's . "Except to say that I am completely confident that the prosecutor's review will be impartial, objective and thorough," Moench said. Gov. Bridgewater Police Thomas Gallo took the oath of office during the Jan. 19 Township Council meeting. | "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. But days after then-Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd in May 2020, Grewal issued several directives involving police reform. Carrier Clinic, Taxes in Retirement Seminar on March 7th and 9th at Raritan Valley Community College. Black teen handcuffed by police at mall while white teen was scared of what could've happened. Just stay calm and not move and do what they tell me to do.. Bridgewater/Raritan, NJ Police & Fire Section | TAPinto 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. To get unlimited access to her work,please subscribe or activate your digitalaccount today. The victim, police said, put the bicycle in the BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Bridgewater Township Police have released the police blotter for the weeks leading up to Oct. 13. Bridgewater NJ mall fight: NAACP wants police officer removal "To deepen that trust and walk in the other guy's shoes, I think we've made an enormous amount of progress. Branchburg Township Police responded to the call at the elementary school on Wednesday afternoon. Download here. 2023 www.mycentraljersey.com. Ebon said: Its not fair that we are constantly having to fear the cops. Bound Brook Police released photos of a dark-colored vehicle (appears to be a Ford Escape) wanted in connection with the abandoned dog. Home | Bridgewater Police A Bridgewater Officer was also named to this list. News from the Courier News | MyCentralJersey.com Bridgewater/Raritan, NJ Police & Fire | TAPinto These officers need to be reprimanded and retrained to overcome the implicit bias that results in unequal and often dangerous treatment of Black people.. 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. Joe Hernandez. Phil Murphy commented Wednesday that the "racially disparate treatment is deeply, deeply disturbing.". 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. 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. "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. 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. "There is no threat to the high school," he said. 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. Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. SOLD OUT! Homeowner injured, pets die in Hillsborough townhouse fire: police. "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/. A video began circulating on Sunday showing the fight between a white teen and a Black teen at the Bridgewater Commons mall. But it's the police response that some, including voices heard on the video and Gov. The teen and his mother could not be reached for comment Wednesday. 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. Copyright 2023 TAP IP LLC, All rights reserved. No Credible Threat To Bridgewater From 'Day Of Hate' Posts: Police Richard T. Smith, president of the NAACP New Jersey State Conference, called for the immediate removalof the officers pending an investigation. New Jersey: After Bridgewater Commons mall fight, NAACP calls for police officers removal. Thomas A. Gallo was sworn in at the town council meeting. Please feel free to stop in to our Headquarters or send us and e-mail with any comments, concerns, and suggestions. We talked about thepride we had post the murder of George Floyd, we had thousands of demonstrations and very, very few incidents. Bridgewater mall incident reignites New Jersey debate over police and Morristown NJ man killed walking along Route 287 in Bridgewater SOLD OUT! Terms of Use Somerset County Sheriffs Office - Corrections Division. She RARITAN, NJ - Raritan Borough Police are warning residents to be aware of fraudulent emails and phone calls after a Raritan man was the victim of a theft when he received an email from someone claiming to be a sick friend. 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. Police response to N.J. mall fight sparks outrage after Black teen No other information was provided on the report. One officer pushed the white teen into a seated position on the couch, according to the video. In the video, a female and male officer grab the white teen off the Black teen. 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. Bridgewater Township Municipal Building 100 Commons Way, Bridgewater, NJ 08807 (908) 725-6300 Monday- Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM The officer failed to call out sick for multiple days, according to the report. Privacy Policy Raritan Police said Scott Edge, 47, of Flemington, was found sitting at the bar smoking a cigarette while the restaurant was closed. After several seconds of punching, two uniformed Bridgewater police officers ran onto the scene and pulled the two apart. Phil Murphy, are questioning as racially motivated. The video cuts off at this point. 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 driver of the Volkswagen Tiguan remained on scene and was not injured, State Police said. 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 . Shelley Mugavero, 27, of Bridgewater, was arrested at 7:04 p.m. Jan. 30 for driving while intoxicated after being found unresponsive in a vehicle on the shoulder of Route 22 eastbound. Mitzak has been BRIDGEWATER, NJ - The second week of October will mark Fire Prevention Week in Bridgewater Township, from Oct. 9 through Oct. 15. Joey's friend, Sienna Freidinger, filmed the video. Murphy's 2024 budget. He was released with a pending court appearance. 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 Schools To Gain $1.1M In State Aid Next Year, Bridgewater Area Pets Up For Adoption: Clara, Casper, Caleb & More, Volunteers Needed For Raritan River Cleanup In Bridgewater, Bridgewater I-287 Pedestrian Crash Prompts Delays Thursday: DOT, 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. South Bound Brook childrens book author Apara Mahal Sylvester's new book, Mousies Way Home, focuses on the plight of feral cats. Mike Voorhees, the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District security coordinator, was joined by four members of the school RARITAN, NJ - A settlement has been reached between Raritan Borough and the estate of Matas Ortega, who was killed in 2018 after he was hit by a car driven by Raritan resident Ronald Rebernik. Actions included expansion of Crisis Intervention Team training, development of a statewide "Use of Force Portal" and updates to the state's use-of-force policy. Police also reported car burglaries, theft of tools, and windows at the Raritan Train Station being smashed on New Year's Day. Bridgewater police have called for an internal affairs investigation with assistance from the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office. The seasonal cult favorite has returned to McDonald's. New Jersey mall fight with police handcuffing Black teen with use of 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. I am completely confident that the Prosecutors review will be impartial, objective and thorough, Moench said. Even through there was rightful anger and passion, folks had gotten a sense of a rhythm with each other," Murphy said. 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. A pedestrian crash on I-287 in Bridgewater has prompted commuting delays Thursday morning, authorities said. Hospitality Opportunities in Food Services, Housekeeping And Others! The attorney BRIDGEWATER, NJ - The attorney generals office released an official statement Friday regarding the February 2022 police response at the Bridgewater Commons Mall, and said that although it has completed its own investigation, its report may be released if the local administration does not conclude SOMERSET, NJ - The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office has released a motive in the fatal shooting of a PSEG supervisor outside his car at the office, on Weston Canal Road in Somerset, Wednesday. "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.". A business on East Main Street reported April 20 at 8:33 a.m. that someone stole catalytic converters from five of their vehicles, which were parked in a rear parking BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Bridgewater Township Police have released the police blotter for April 7, including motor vehicle burglary reports and DWI arrests. BRIDGEWATER, NJ - According to unofficial results, all budgets passed in the fire districts in the Feb. 18 elections. New Jersey State Police and Finderne Volunteer Firefighters came out to the snowy scene to help early Tuesday morning. Phil Murphy said. Bridgewater Patch - Home | Facebook "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. Sustained charges against Martin included: Martin was also previously suspended for 55 days in 2020 on the same violation, according to the report released in August 2021. The video shows no sign of resistance from the Black teen. "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. Former police chief: Bridgewater mall fight response was 'dangerous 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. Toll Free: (800) 544-3318. At about 2:29 a.m., a Volkswagen Tiguan was traveling . Smith isn't the only person calling for the officers' removal. See district-by-district changes proposed as part of the $834 million in school funding in Gov. A pair of New Jersey police officers are facing criticism for how they responded to a fight between teenagers at a shopping mall. https://t.co/ck9yCXMmL0. "Based on the nature of these communications and the number of prospective attendees, the township believes that it cannot reasonably guarantee the safety of the attendees and staff if the scheduled town hall were to proceed," the statement continues, adding a new meeting date will be announced. The bicycle had been left in a bicycle rack, but was not BRIDGEWATER, NJ - The Bridgewater Township Police Department released its police blotter for the past few months. The Attorney General completed its investigation and sent a comprehensive Internal Affairs Report and Findings to Bridgewater in Sept. 2022. This is another example of the kind of racial bias that we need to root out of our system of policing. 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. Bridgewater mayor trade barbs over cops' mall . New Jersey law enforcement is now banned from using chokeholds "except in the very limited situations when deadly force is necessary to address an imminent threat to life.". Tactics used by police breaking up a fight between two teenagers prompts demands for an internal investigation. Divisions | Bridgewater Police During his COVID-19 news conference on Wednesday, Murphy reiterated his concern for the apparent racially disparate treatment in the video. The video shows two male teens, one Black and the other white, having an argument before pointing fingers at each other. BRIDGEWATER A 38-year-old Morristown man was killed early Thursday morning while walking on Interstate 287, State Police said. 0:57. He was kind of saying, like, Youre a little kid, youre my little pet, and stuff like that, he told NBC New York. 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," Gov. Both ZKye and the other teen involved have been banned from the mall for three years, Bridgewater Commonssaid to NBC News in a statement.