Route 22 East was closed for about an hour on Monday morning as a result, said Bridgewater Police. Feb 17, 2022, 2:45pmUpdated on Feb 17, 2022. SOLD OUT! To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. Two people reported being shot in the head by a BB or pellet gun in separate shootings at the mall in January, said police. Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. He was released with a pending court appearance. Two dirt bikes and a catalytic converter were also stolen within the last month in the township, according to police. 0:57. The campaign raises awareness about the dangers of impaired driving through a combo of high-visibility enforcement and public education. Privacy Policy 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. 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. The 2021 report shows that six Somerset County agencies had at least one officer subject to "major" discipline: one from Bernards Township Police, one from Bridgewater Township Police, one from Franklin Township Police, one from North Plainfield Police, and one from Somerset County Sheriff's Office Corrections Division. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. . 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. Authorities identified Gary T. Curtis, 58, of Washington, as the man who fatally shot Russell D. BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Bridgewater Township has confirmed that the states investigation into the incident at the Bridgewater Commons Mall in February 2022 has been closed. Violation of the Employee Handbook concerning the use of Township vehicles. We recognize that this video has made members of our community upset and are calling for an internal affairs investigation, the statement said. Heres how to get your minty green fix before it's gone: Justice Philip, 23, is accused of crashing into another man's car and shooting a gun at him, according to Somerville police. The fire broke out on Sunday in the Finderne section of Bridgewater Township. A victim reported Sept. 15 that their vehicle had been burglarized while it was parked in the lot of Seasons 52, on Commons Way. Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com. 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. 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. The officer lied about an illness and failed to report for duty, causing overtime for the department," read the report. At the same time, the white youth, at least equally at fault for the fight as his Black counterpart, was carefully eased onto a couch and treated like a victim," said Smith, adding that this issomething Blacks in New Jersey experience too often. Bridgewater, NJ 08807 . His mother, Ebon, who only shared her first name to NBC New York, was outraged. BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Bridgewater Township is one of many receiving a grant from the state for 2020 recycling efforts, according to a release. Video of the . Scott Edge, 47, was charged with criminal mischief, theft and trespassing. Richard T. Smith, president of the NAACP New Jersey State Conference, called for the immediate removalof the officers pending an investigation. 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. The winning name was chosen by sixth grader Timmy Miessler, of Branchburg, and Ruthanne Ungerleider, a BRIDGEWATER, NJ - A 25-year career police officer in Bridgewater Township, John Mitzak was sworn in Oct. 20 as the eighth police chief of the township department. "Except to say that I am completely confident that the prosecutor's review will be impartial, objective and thorough," Moench said. The seasonal cult favorite has returned to McDonald's. 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. The Department covers over thirty-four square miles of land, 3,600 acres of public and private parks, and major highways such as US 202, US 202/206, US 22, NJ 28, and Interstate 287. 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. "The time for the #nj Governor and Attorney General to put a stop to this type of behavior by the police is NOW." The Black 8th grader, named Z'Kye Husain, and his mother spoke to Eyewitness News. NJ School Aid 2023: Whos Getting More, Whos Getting Less, Bridgewater Schools To Gain $1.1M In State Aid Next Year. 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. Get involved by signing 7,678 people like this 8,626 people follow this http://patch.com/new-jersey/bridgewater alexis.tarrazi@patch.com A pedestrian crash on I-287 in Bridgewater has prompted commuting delays Thursday morning, authorities said. Some three dozen individuals were in attendance, including Gallos family, the five council members and about a dozen Bridgewater police RARITAN, NJ - A Flemington man was arrested for criminal mischief after allegedly breaking a window at Char Restaurant, on Route 202, Jan. 23, according to Raritan Borough Police. According to police, at 3:16 p.m. Jan. RARITAN, NJ - The Raritan Borough Police Department is seeking the public's help to find three adults who did not pay their bill after dining at Char Steakhouse on Route 202. Copyright 2023 TAP IP LLC, All rights reserved. The confrontation escalated with the two throwing punches at each other as onlookers shouted, according to the video. By: News 12 Staff. The report displays the names and agencies of officers who were fired, demoted in rank or suspended for more than five days. 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. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters. These officers need to be reprimanded and retrained to overcome the implicit bias that results in unequal and often dangerous treatment of Black people.. /. Bridgewater police have called for an internal affairs investigation with assistance from the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office. Contact Us It just doesnt make sense, she said. "There is no threat to the high school," he said. | 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. The directive came after the New Jersey Supreme Court authorized the public release of such info on a going-forward basis. Thomas Gallo took the oath of office during the Jan. 19 Township Council meeting. pic.twitter.com/ThJPQFNEzO. Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com. New Jersey: After Bridgewater Commons mall fight, NAACP calls for police officers removal. Removal Requests To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. Crump added: "ZKye was no more of a threat to those officers than the white teen who fought with him. The men and women of the Bridgewater Township Police Department are committed to providing effective police service to all persons within our jurisdiction. 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. According to the report, at 3 p.m. Nov. 6, two suspects attempted to shoplift power BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Bridgewater Township Police released its police blotter for the week of April 26, with incidents from the end of March through mid-April. The theft happened in the middle of the day on Thursday, according to Bridgewater Police. Bound Brook Police used a garden hose on the fire before volunteer firefighters arrived and extinguished the blaze. 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. "The Black kid was the only one who was getting tackled," she said. Ina CBS New York report, the 14-year-old Black teen, identified as Kye, and his mother, Ebone, who asked that their last names not be used, called for the officers to be fired. The officer failed to call out sick for multiple days, according to the report. Internal Affairs. Bridgewater school district officials are warning parents of a fake email account claiming to be a Bridgewater-Raritan Regional official. "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. We are a community oriented force and are always looking for ways to improve our service to you. Violation of the Employee Handbook concerning alcohol-free workplace. The trio ordered $321 worth of food and then fled the area, according to Raritan Police. The video cuts off at this point. Sarah Berkovits began her career as a substitute teacher in the Bridgewater-Raritan school system before moving to Buildings and Grounds. Bystanders stepped in to restrain Faris N. Salem of South Bound Brook until Bridgewater Police Officers arrived, according to the report. Smith said the state conference was disappointed to see police actions "irrefutably showing the disparate treatment of African-Americans in our police institutions.". Were committed to increasing trust between law enforcement and the people they serve," Murphy wrote on Twitter. International Womens Day Event! To register complaints about emails from TAPinto.net, please email, Bridgewater Police Release Police Blotter, With Car Thefts, Shoplifting Incidents, Bridgewater Police Release Blotter With DWI, Burglary Charges, Bridgewater Police Release New Blotter, Including Thefts, DWI Reports, Raritan Police Blotter Include Arrests for Lewdness, Alcohol Possession, More, Bridgewater Police Blotter Includes Theft, DWI Charges, Bridgewater Police Release New Police Blotter, with Burglaries, DWI, More, Bridgewater Police Blotter Includes Arrests for DWI, Reports of Vehicle Burglaries, Bridgewater Police Release Police Blotter, With Arrests for Shoplifting DWI Since April, Bridgewater Police Blotter Includes Motor Vehicle Thefts, DWI Charges, Bridgewater Police Report DWIs, Burglaries, Thefts in March 10 Police Blotter, Raritan Police: Be Careful of Fraudulent Calls Demanding Money, Bridgewater Police Investigating Shoplifting Incidents at Nordstrom Rack, Macy's, Bridgewater Police Investigating Shoplifting Attempt at Home Depot, DWI, Shoplifting, Other Charges in Bridgewater Police Blotter. 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 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. Toll Free: (800) 544-3318. ", Public safety: Tasers, hailed as a way to avoid deadly police shootings, are seldom used in NJ, Watchdog: NJ AG reveals names of cops who have been suspended, demoted, terminated. To the best of our knowledge, the New Jersey Attorney General has concluded their investigation, said a township official BRIDGEWATER, NJ - The Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District has released information related to a cybersecurity incident involving information about some employees and individuals on the districts employee insurance plan. New Jersey State Police and Finderne Volunteer Firefighters came out to the snowy scene to help early Tuesday morning. Dedicated to Service, Committed to Community. The men and women of the Bridgewater Township Police Department are committed to providing effective police service to all persons within our jurisdiction. Mitzak has been BRIDGEWATER, NJ - The second week of October will mark Fire Prevention Week in Bridgewater Township, from Oct. 9 through Oct. 15. In a letter to residents,Mayor Moench said it's not appropriate to comment on the details of the incidentwhile an investigation is ongoing. Hospitality Opportunities in Food Services, Housekeeping And Others! Please feel free to stop in to our Headquarters or send us and e-mail with any comments, concerns, and suggestions. "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. Bridgewater Police also reported making arrests for driving while intoxicated and shoplifting in the latest blotter. The Bridgewater Police Department, with seventy-eight officers, serves and protects a diverse residential population of over 45,000 persons. Were committed to increasing trust between law enforcement and the people they serve.. The Bridgewater Police Department, with seventy-eight officers, serves and protects a diverse residential population of over 45,000 persons. 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. Tactics used by police breaking up a fight between two teenagers prompts demands for an internal investigation. 661 were here. 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. Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. 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. 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. See district-by-district changes proposed as part of the $834 million in school funding in Gov. Carrier Clinic, Taxes in Retirement Seminar on March 7th and 9th at Raritan Valley Community College. Marlene Lenthang is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. All rights reserved. Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. All results are expected to be certified Feb. 23. Both ZKye and the other teen involved have been banned from the mall for three years, Bridgewater Commonssaid to NBC News in a statement. Proudly created withWix.com. International Womens Day Event! 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. 0:00. Were committed to increasing trust between law enforcement and the people they serve. 0:05. 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. | Hospitality Opportunities in Food Services, Housekeeping And Others! | The female officer appears to place her. Somerset County Sheriffs Office - Corrections Division. "It's cause he's Black, racially motivated," a female voice is heard saying in the video. Before the New Jersey Supreme Court decision, the Garden State shielded the identities of officers disciplined or fired from the public. 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. 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. South Bound Brook childrens book author Apara Mahal Sylvester's new book, Mousies Way Home, focuses on the plight of feral cats. He was kind of saying, like, Youre a little kid, youre my little pet, and stuff like that, he told NBC New York. The Bridgewater Police Department, with seventy-eight officers, serves and protects a diverse residential population of over 45,000 persons. Bridgewater Schools To Gain $1.1M In State Aid Next Year, Volunteers Needed For Raritan River Cleanup In Bridgewater, Bridgewater I-287 Pedestrian Crash Prompts Delays Thursday: DOT, 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!! 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. In a Facebook post Monday, the Bridgewater Police Department said it was aware of the video. Black teen handcuffed by police at mall while white teen was scared of what could've happened. The nearly 9 percent increase in funding is part of the Gov. The video shows no sign of resistance from the Black teen. Korrie Keats, 38, of Plainfield, was arrested Oct. 12 at about 1:15 p.m. for shoplifting after being found with merchandise from Wegmans, on Route 202. "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/. Martin reportedly has since resigned from the police department. 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. John Mitzak Sworn in as New Bridgewater Police Chief BRIDGEWATER, NJ - A 25-year career police officer in Bridgewater Township, John Mitzak was sworn . We have to let the investigation play out. Just stay calm and not move and do what they tell me to do.. A female officer then helped, placing her knee near the back of ZKye's neck as they put him in handcuffs, according to the clip. At about 2:29 a.m., a Volkswagen Tiguan was traveling in the left lane of southbound I-287 and a pedestrian, Alfred Hernandez, was walking near the left lane ahead of the vehicle, State Police said. A car pulled over and left the dog on the side of the road earlier this month, said police. "Major discipline" is defined as police officers who were terminated, demoted, or suspended for more than five days. Although there have been no credible threats in Bridgewater Township and New Jersey associated with social media posts circulating that reference a supposed "National Day of Hate" on Saturday,. According to Deputy Township Administrator Wells Winegar, the program addresses various community policing issues, BRIDGEWATER, NJ - The fire district elections are in February to vote on commissioners and budgets in each of the four districts. To get unlimited access to her work,please subscribe or activate your digitalaccount today. The controversy also led the township to cancel Mayor Matt Moench's town hall meeting on road improvements that was scheduled for Wednesday evening because of safety concerns. At about 2:29 a.m., a Volkswagen Tiguan was traveling . A driver involved in a Friday morning crash with a utility pole on Route 202 in Branchburg was hospitalized, officials said. 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!! 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 . After several seconds of punching, two uniformed Bridgewater police officers ran onto the scene and pulled the two apart. 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. News & Press Releases. 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. The driver was hospitalized with a serious injury on Tuesday, said police. 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. Bridgewater Police Department - NJ | Bridgewater NJ 2023 www.mycentraljersey.com. After several seconds of punching, two uniformed Bridgewater police officers ran onto the scene and pulled the two apart. When your child was young, visiting the pediatrician was quite an event. The settlement is for a total of $450,000, according to court documents, with $100,000 to go into a BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Phase one of Bridgewater Townships new BridgewaterSHIELD program has officially been released, with plans for improving on community policing in the township. . 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. During his COVID-19 news conference on Wednesday, Murphy reiterated his concern for the apparent racially disparate treatment in the video. A Sherlin Drive resident reported Dec. 22 that their vehicle was stolen from their driveway. Somerset County 4-H Association Tricky Atlantic Health Systems Morristown and Overlook Medical Centers Named Among Worlds Best Hospitals by Newsweek, United Way Offering Free Tax Prep by Appointment or Walk-In, Elon University names Lena Reilly to Presidents List, Prosecutor: Man Faces Multiple Drug Charges Following Arrest at Easton Avenue Hotel, Saint Joe's Strothers Wins NJSIAA Individual Bowling Championship, Kiessling Places Second, TAPinto Rahway Publisher David Brighouse Speaks with Rahway Chamber of Commerce Members, Mother Chronicles Son's Battle with Rare Cancer for TAPinto Coral Springs, Love and Loss Intermingle in The Old Settler, Spring Fishing Season is on the Horizon, Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association Getting Ready, Flemington - Awesome 3 Bedroom Townhome in Concord Ridge. 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. One officer pushed the white teen into a seated position on the couch, according to the video. "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.". Korrie Keats, 38, of Plainfield, was arrested Oct. 12 at about . . 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.