Beach Town Marred by 73 Arrests, Stabbings Amid Memorial Day Weekend Chaos
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A New Jersey beach town shut down its boardwalk after 73 people were arrested, three stabbings occurred, and multiple fights broke out within a 72-hour period on Memorial Day weekend.
Seaside Heights Detective Steve Korman told Asbury Park Press that 52 adults and 21 juveniles were arrested from 6 a.m. on Friday to 6 a.m. on Monday. The town's boardwalk was shut down on Monday but later reopened for the holiday.
Why It Matters
Crime was reported across several New Jersey beach towns during Memorial Day weekend last year, including a 15-year-old being stabbed in Ocean City and an 11-year-old shot in Atlantic City. Wildwood, meanwhile, shut down its boardwalk last year over the holiday weekend due to "civil unrest."
What To Know
Korman told Asbury Park Press that the holiday weekend brought around 100,000 visitors to Seaside Heights.
None of the three stabbings were fatal, and the victims were "uncooperative and signed off" any further assistance or investigation by law enforcement, Korman added.
The first stabbing happened around 8 p.m. Saturday on the ocean block of Webster Avenue. A 21-year-old man suffering from a stab wound in his back was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune.
The next stabbing happened around 6:45 p.m. on Sunday at Sherman Avenue and Ocean Terrace. A 22-year-old man suffering from a stab wound to the hip was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
Officials then responded to a third stabbing around midnight on Monday where an 18-year-old man suffered a stab wound to the right thigh and was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
Korman told the newspaper that police responded to a fight at Grant Avenue and Ocean Terrace around 1 a.m. on Monday. During their response, officials arrested 21-year-old Byron Czaplicki of Beachwood and charged him with possession of a firearm, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, resisting arrest and obstruction of justice.
In neighboring Seaside Park, a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle and flown by helicopter to a medical facility.
Amusement park rides are at Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, on August 20, 2024.
Amusement park rides are at Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, on August 20, 2024.
AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey
What People Are Saying
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, in comments to Asbury Park Press: "While I am disappointed by the conduct of some of the people who came to visit Seaside Heights this weekend, the Seaside Heights Police Department and all of the assisting agencies, by and large, did a great job this weekend ensuring the safety of the majority of our visitors and our locals."
Sarah Frailey, a bartender at EJ's Tap House on the boardwalk, in an interview with the Asbury Park Press: "It's normally not like this. There's a ton of kids here over Memorial Day weekend, more than the usual in the last few years, a lot of fights on the boardwalk."
What Happens Next?
Billhimer said he will work with police and the town's mayor to ensure that improvements are continually made in planning for holiday weekends.
"We will not tolerate lawless behavior anywhere here in Ocean County," Billhimer said.
Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Billie Eilish's Brother Tear-Gassed During LA Protests
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Finneas O'Connell said he had been tear-gassed at the Los Angeles protests against immigration enforcement in the Californian city, which later descended into rioting. "Tear gassed almost immediately at the very peaceful protest downtown - they're inciting this," O'Connell, whose sister and musical partner is Billie Eilish, posted to his Instagram page. He also wrote: "F**k ICE". This is a developing article. Updates to follow.
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Khaby Lame Detained by ICE: What to Know
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A social media star detained by federal immigration officers has voluntarily left the United States, officials have said. Khaby Lame, who has more than 160 million followers on TikTok, arrived in the U.S. on April 30 and was detained in Harry Reid airport in Las Vegas on June 6 "for immigration violations" having "overstayed the terms of his visa," an Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson said. "Lame was granted voluntary departure June 6 and has since departed the U.S.," the spokesperson said of the 25-year-old who was named a UNICEF goodwill ambassador in January. Conservative commentator Bo Loudon appears to have been the first to publicly mention Khaby Lame's detention. Loudon claimed that he reported Lame to authorities on June 6 and shared what he claimed was a screenshot from the ICE website indicating that Lame was being held at the Henderson Detention Center in Nevada. This article will be updated.
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
China Issues Travel Warning Over LA Riots
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Chinese consulate in Los Angeles warned its citizens to remain alert amid the riots in the Californian city and to stay away from large gatherings. LA protests against immigration enforcement over the weekend descended into rioting and looting. U.S. President Donald Trump is deploying 2,000 National Guard troops to quell the violence. "Law enforcement actions are ongoing in many places in the Los Angeles area," said an alert by the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles posted to social media and shared by China's state media. The consulate "reminds Chinese citizens in the Los Angeles area to pay close attention to official announcements and media reports, effectively enhance safety precautions, stay away from gathering places, crowded areas, or areas with poor public security, and avoid traveling at night or alone." This is a developing article. Updates to follow.
