12 people arrested in mass brawl in New Jersey township – NBC10 Philadelphia

A dozen people, ranging in age from 33 to 13, were arrested after fights broke out between large groups during a drone light show celebrating Gloucester Township Day on Saturday night.

According to police, security officers noticed “an influx of teenagers and young adults being dropped off” and they began gathering near the basketball courts at Veterans’ Memorial Park on Chews Landing Road in Gloucester Township, New Jersey, where the community meets for the annual celebration.

According to official reports, police estimated the crowd at the time to be around 500 people.

At around 8:40 p.m., according to police officials, large groups within the crowd began “fighting each other and running recklessly through the crowd.”

Police responded and arrested two people for disorderly conduct, officials said.

But the crowd remained “hostile and disorderly,” and during this time the municipality decided to begin a drone light show early, according to authorities.

After the show ended, officials attempted to disperse the crowd, but the crowds instead flocked to the nearby Marketplace Shopping Center in the 1200 block of Chews Landing Road, where numerous fights broke out.

Police officials said fights broke out in the mall parking lot over the next two hours, involving teenagers and adults in a large crowd.

At least two people suffered minor injuries in the fighting and were treated at the scene, officials said.

While police were attempting to disperse the crowd, 33-year-old Ronald Jones of Camden rode his bicycle at high speed into a group of police officers, hitting one officer in the back and knocking him to the ground.

Jones is facing charges of aggravated assault, disturbing the peace and fleeing; officers said he attempted to escape from handcuffs during his arrest.

The officer hit by the bicycle suffered minor injuries but refused treatment, police said.

In addition, officials said a Gloucester Township and Clementon County officer also suffered minor injuries while attempting to break up a fight that evening.

In total, the police arrested twelve people – two men and ten teenagers.

“The lawlessness of unsupervised groups of teens and young people behaving with complete disregard for others has ruined a great family-oriented event that has been held for over 40 years to raise funds for the Gloucester Township Scholarship Committee. This type of lawlessness and violent, riotous behavior will not be tolerated and will not characterize the great community of Gloucester Township,” Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkins said in a statement.

Along with Jones, police arrested 18-year-old Kevin Coleman of Pine Hill for disorderly conduct.

Officers also arrested eight boys between the ages of 13 and 17 and two teenage girls, both 15 years old.

Police officials said nearly 70 officers from the Gloucester Township Police Department were assigned to or responded to the Gloucester Township Day event, and at least 30 officers from Camden County and Deptford Township assisted.

According to police, the incident was under control by 11:04 p.m.

Officials initially reported eleven arrests, but then released details of the arrests of twelve people. NBC10 has asked the agency for clarification.

However, police officers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

This article will be updated when new information becomes available.

Saturday’s problems follow troubles along the New Jersey coast over Memorial Day weekend after large crowds caused unrest in Wildwood and Ocean City, New Jersey.