12 arrested in mass fighting at New Jersey township event – ​​NBC10 Philadelphia

A dozen people – aged between 33 and 13 – were arrested after large groups of people got into a fight during a drone light show to celebrate Gloucester Township Day on Saturday evening.

According to police, security officers began noticing “an influx of juveniles and young adults being dropped off” and began gathering near the basketball courts at Veterans' Memorial Park along Chews Landing Road in the Gloucester Township, New Jersey, as the community gathered for the annual ceremony. celebration event.

Authorities said that at the time, police estimated the crowd at around 500 people.

Around 8:40 p.m., law enforcement officials said, large groups within the crowd “began fighting and running recklessly through the crowd.”

Police responded and made two arrests for disorderly conduct, officials said.

But the crowd remained “hostile and disorderly” and, meanwhile, authorities said the municipality decided to launch a drone light show ahead of schedule.

After the show ended, authorities worked to disperse the crowd, but, authorities said, the crowd instead moved toward the nearby Marketplace shopping center along the 1200 block of Chews Landing Road, where multiple fights broke out.

Law enforcement said that over the next two hours, fights broke out in the parking lot involving juveniles and adults among a large crowd in the mall parking lot.

During the fighting, at least two people were slightly injured and were treated at the scene, officials said.

As police worked to disperse that crowd, police said Ronald Jones, 33, of Camden, rode his bicycle at high speed into a group of officers, hitting one officer in the back and knocking him to the ground .

Jones was charged with aggravated assault, disorderly conduct and escape, as officials said he attempted to free himself from handcuffs during his arrest.

The officer hit by the bike was slightly injured, but refused treatment, according to police.

Additionally, officials said a Gloucester Township officer and a Clementon Borough officer also suffered minor injuries while trying to break up a fight that evening.

In total, the police arrested 12 people, including two men and ten minors.

“The lawlessness of groups of unsupervised minors and youth acting with complete disregard for others, ruined a large family event that was held to raise funds for the Gloucester Township Scholarship Committee for over “This type of lawlessness and violent rioting will not be tolerated and will not define the greater Gloucester Township community,” Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkins said in a statement. a statement.

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

Authorities also arrested eight boys aged 13 to 17 and two teenage girls, both aged 15.

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 from Deptford Township responded to assist.

The incident was declared under control around 11:04 p.m., according to police.

Initially, authorities reported 11 arrests, but released details of the arrest of 12 people. NBC10 has reached out to the department for clarification.

However, police officials did not immediately respond to calls for comment.

This article will be updated when new information becomes available.

Saturday's problems follow problems along the Jersey Shore over Memorial Day weekend, after large crowds caused problems in Wildwood and Ocean City, New Jersey.