BRICK – A group of teenagers threatened police following an incident where a female spat on an officer leading to eight arrests.
Township police responded to the Maple Leaf Complex at 254 Sawmill Road around 3:44 p.m. on January 3.
The officers were responding to a report of a fight in progress. Two officers discovered a group of six to eight juveniles engaged in a dispute.
The officers attempted to investigate the cause of the dispute when a female juvenile started to walk away refusing one of the officers’ order to stop.
During the encounter, the juvenile turned and spit on the officer and at that point she was placed under arrest.
A large crowd began to gather and had grown to over 12 people each being unruly. They encroached on the officers and started to threaten them with violence. Two of them threatened to kill the officers.
The officers attempted to keep the crowd at bay as they secured the female.
Yelling ensued by the crowd along with threats and taunting toward the officers.
Despite the officers’ attempts to keep the crowd at a distance, several members of the crowd kept pushing up against them and pushing past the officers resulting in one of them being struck.
Additional officers of the department arrived at the scene joined by members of Toms River and Point Pleasant Borough police departments.
The crowd continued to grow and failed to heed the officers’ instructions to disperse. Seven additional arrests were made and all of them were juveniles ranging in age from 14 to 17. They were residents of the complex.
Each were charged with riot and additional charges which ranged from aggravated assault, resisting arrest, obstruction, terroristic threats and disorderly conduct.
A Brick officer received minor injuries and was treated by Brick Police EMS. All of the juveniles were lodged in the juvenile detention center.
The identities of the juveniles are not being released due to their age.
