Eleven people, including nine teenagers, were arrested at a community drone light show in South Jersey Saturday after multiple fights were instigated by a crowd that swelled to more than 500 kids and young adults, according to police.
Three police officers were also injured in the chaotic crowd gathered at the Veterans Memorial Park in Gloucester Township Saturday night, local police said Sunday.
One of the officers was struck by a bicycle, leading to a 33-year-old man from Camden being arrested and charged with aggravated assault on a police officer. The same man was also charged with attempted escape for slipping out of handcuffs while being transported to jail, police said.
Another man, 18, was arrested for disorderly conduct.
The officers involved with the bike collision declined medical treatment. The other injured officers, one from Gloucester Township and the other from Clementon, sustained minor injuries while mediating multiple fights, police said.
The show was part of Gloucester Township Day, an annual event the municipality holds with rides, games and food vendors. It was scheduled to begin at noon and last until 10 p.m., according to Gloucester Township’s website.
“The lawless of groups of unsupervised juveniles and young people acting with total disregard for others ruined a great family-oriented event, which has taken place to raise funds for the Gloucester Township Scholarship Committee for over 40 years,’' Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkins said in a statement Sunday. “This type of lawlessness and violent riotous behavior will not be tolerated, and will not define the great community of Gloucester Township.”
The nine teenagers arrested ranged from 13 to 17, police said. Eight of the nine were from towns in Camden County. Seven were boys and two were girls. All were charged with disorderly conduct and released to their guardian.
Families congregated in the park off Chews Landing Road were awaiting the drone show to begin when an influx of kids and young adults began to be dropped off at the event, police said. The crowd is believed to have swelled to more than 500 people.
Fighting between large groups began around 8:40 p.m., police said. They ran “recklessly” through the crowd while officers fought to maintain order, describing their actions as “hostile and disorderly,’' according to police. Two people were arrested for disorderly conduct.
Additional officers from across Camden County were called to the scene to tame the crowd, police said.
The light show, police said, began early because of the dangerous situation, leading to officers dispersing the crowd from the park’s field once it ended. Large groups moved to a shopping plaza nearby, continuing to fight and causing more police to be sent to the area.
Fighting continued for two hours, ending at around 11 p.m., when police deemed the situation under control. Two minors were injured because of the melees but were released into their guardian’s custody.
Many of those inciting the fights were dressed in black clothing and covered their face with medical masks and sweatshirts, police said.
The scenario was similar to that of Memorial Day weekend in Ocean City in Cape May County, where teenagers sparked a brawl on the town’s boardwalk, resulting in a 15-year-old being stabbed. Similar disarray happened in Wildwood and Seaside Heights.
The New Jersey State PBA condemned the actions of the teenagers in a statement on X on Sunday.
“Out of control juveniles with no accountability is not limited to the Jersey shore,’' the PBA statement said. “Officers were injured, and the event was canceled yesterday. Things must change.’'
Sixty-eight Gloucester Township officers were assigned or responded the event, and at least 30 were considered mutual aid from towns nearby, police said. The fights were being investigated.
Harkins credited the officers for showing restraint to limit injuries while working to control the violence.
“I was proud to serve with all of these officers who put their safety on the line to bring this difficult situation under control,” Harkins said. “I am thankful that more injuries were not sustained to officers, the families attending the event, and even those involved in this disorderly conduct.”
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Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.
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