Latest news with #GloucesterTownshipDay
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Yahoo
Gloucester Township Day postponed indefinitely: Mayor weighs in
The Brief The decades-old Gloucester Township Day celebration has been posted indefinitely for 2025. The news comes after hundreds of teens and young adults created chaos during last year's event and posted social media threats ahead of this year's event. Gloucester Township's mayor has addressed the decision to postpone Township Day. GLOUCESTER TWP., N.J. - Officials in Gloucester Township made the disappointing announcement Tuesday afternoon that the town's popular 40-year-old summer carnival planned for June 7th has been postponed indefinitely due to credible online threats. The threats came after the 2024 event where hundreds of rowdy teens took over Veteran's Park and hundreds of officers responded. What we know Officials say the safety and well-being of its residents, families, and visitors remain their top priority. Threats of firearms and chaos were among some of the social media posts threatening a decades-old community tradition in Gloucester Township. As of Tuesday night, that popular event is officially off. "In light of the experience of last year's Gloucester Township Day and our readership and analysis, we cannot provide a venue to allow this type of behavior to repeat itself this year," said Chief David Harkins of the Gloucester Township Police. The Gloucester Township Police Chief announced the disappointing news that the town's popular 40-year-old summer carnival planned for June 7 has been postponed indefinitely due to credible online threats. The threats followed last year's event, where hundreds of rowdy teens took over Veteran's Park, prompting a response from hundreds of officers. More than a dozen teens were charged with disorderly conduct during the melee. "A group of hundreds of unruly and unparented juveniles disrupted that nice gathering, turning it into chaos," said David Mayer, Mayor of Gloucester Township. Officials say they didn't want to postpone the event, but after seeing threats discussing gunfire and causing terror, they felt they had no choice. "What happened after that posting is both alarming, as one post was circulated around the internet 20,000 times by what appears to be juveniles expressing their excitement about showing up and once again causing disruption and chaos," Mayer explained. The event is also a major fundraiser for a township scholarship program for high school students going to college, meaning some kids won't receive that money this year. "Last year we raised approximately $30,000 for Gloucester Township Day, so you can imagine that represents a substantial majority of the money we raise," Mayer noted. What's next New legislation in New Jersey that would enhance fines disorderly conduct and create new penalties for inciting public brawls is awaiting Governor Murphy's signature. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Paul Moriarty (D) of Gloucester. Township officials say if signed into law they may reconsider their decision. The Source The information in this story is from the Gloucester Township police and mayor.
CBS News
06-04-2025
- CBS News
Police in Westampton, New Jersey investigate teen chaos after rec center gathering: "It was a riot outside"
A South Jersey neighborhood was thrown into chaos Friday night after a large group of teens poured out of a party at the Westampton Recreation Center and into the nearby Spring Meadows development, disturbing residents and damaging property. Tatiana Iglesia had just put her newborn to bed when her partner, Eric Rodriguez, ran in, alarmed by the noise outside. "He's like, 'call the cops — call the cops! They're on top of the cars — they're destroying them…they're fighting,'" Iglesia recalled Rodriguez saying. "They were just on top of the cars — it was a riot outside." That chaos was captured on a video the couple shared from their Ring security camera. The footage showed dozens of teens running through the streets and jumping on cars. At one point, what sounded like a taser could be heard in the background. "When I look out the window, I just see hundreds of kids everywhere…on my lawn, in my driveway, in my neighbor's driveway…in the middle of the street," Iglesia said. Police helped disperse the crowd, but Iglesia and Rodriguez soon realized both of their vehicles were damaged. The roofs and hoods were all dented in. The mirrors and lights were also damaged, and footprints were visible the next day. Westampton Township police said they responded to the neighborhood and are now investigating the incident , which they say appears to have started at the recreation center. Fourteen-year-old Mikaela Barclay said she was at the party, which drew students from at least four different area high schools. She said the evening started off without issue — there was music and dancing — but things escalated once the party ended and the crowd left the building. "That's when it went all sorts of crazy," Barclay said. "There were kids trying to fight in the middle of the road…jumping on cars." Barclay, who lives in the neighborhood, said most of the teens involved didn't live nearby and showed little regard for the people who did. "They were so disrespectful," she said. Other South Jersey towns that have experienced similar incidents are now taking measures to ensure it doesn't happen again. The incident unfolded the same weekend Gloucester Township Day was postponed due to what officials described as "credible threats of violence and unlawful activity." Last year, ten teens were arrested during the event following reports of large groups causing disturbances. In another preventative move, Wildwood officials recently announced they would strictly enforce a 10 p.m. curfew for minors ahead of the busy summer season, warning that any violations would result in arrests — not only of the teens but also their guardians. In Westampton Township, police say they're now reviewing how the situation unfolded and are working to ensure similar disruptions don't happen again. CBS News Philadelphia has reached out to the mayor and the recreation department to learn what additional measures may be put in place. Iglesia said she wants accountability. "We came here after we started having our kids, trying to have a better life," she said. "We worked really hard to get our cars, and for kids just to come out and do things without repercussions is so, so frustrating."
CBS News
05-04-2025
- CBS News
New Jersey community celebration postponed after police notified about threats of violent activity
A summertime community celebration in South Jersey was postponed after law enforcement officers discovered threats of violent activity were being shared on social media. The Gloucester Township Day Scholarship Committee broke the news to the community on Thursday, saying that the 2025 Gloucester Township Day, which was scheduled for June 7, has been rescheduled until further notice. The committee said the decision to postpone the celebration was made after Gloucester Township police were notified about social media posts containing "credible threats of unlawful and violent activity." "Gloucester Township Day is a beloved tradition that brings our community together in celebration. However, we must take all potential threats seriously," Mayor of Gloucester Township, David Mayer, said. "Out of an abundance of caution and with the safety of all in mind, we are postponing this year's event until a later date." Last year's Gloucester Township Day took a turn when 10 teenagers and two adults were arrested after multiple fights broke out . Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkins said the problems at the 2024 event began when at least 500 teenagers and young adults arrived at Veterans Park ahead of the event's drone show. Police said large groups began fighting each other and running through the crowd at the summertime celebration. To protect families at the park, officers moved the large group of teenagers and young adults to The Marketplace, a shopping center across from the park on Chews Landing Road, where multiple fights continued to break out. "Right in front of the officers, they didn't care. They start fighting, violently fighting," Harkins said last year. "Our officers interjected themselves heroically to keep them from getting hurt." In total, 10 teenagers, one 13-year-old, four 15-year-olds, three 16-year-olds and two 17-year-olds, were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct before being released to their guardians, police said. Along with the teens, two adults were arrested during the chaos, including an 18-year-old and a 33-year-old man from Camden, who police said rode his bike into a crowd of officers and knocked one GTPD officer to the ground. In total, 68 GTPD officers were assigned or responded to the chaos at the 2024 Gloucester Township Day, along with at least 30 mutual aid officers from Camden County and Deptford Township. Police also said that a countywide EMS Task Force was called to bring more EMS resources to the scene, and the Gloucester Township Police Special Response Team also responded. Police previously said they believe most of the people involved in the fights were not from Gloucester Township and had been dropped off at the event.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Yahoo
Annual Gloucester Township Day postponed amid threats of violence
The Brief An annual decades-old tradition is postponed this year until further notice. Officials announced threats revealed on social media. Last year's event was ruined due to violence by teens and young adults. GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, N.J. - A beloved tradition in Camden County may be off this spring. Gloucester Township Day, usually filled with fun and games for the whole family, has been postponed until further notice. What we know A notice is posted on the Gloucester Township Scholarship Committee website announcing a joint decision with the Township of Gloucester. It states that annual Gloucester Township Day event scheduled for June 7th this year is postponed until further notice. The decision was made in the interest of public safety. It follows incidents last year where cellphone video captured some of the chaos and violence. Police said hundreds of teens and young adults were fighting and surrounding officers. A few officers were hurt and more than a dozen arrests made. The cancellation notice states, quote: "This decision was made following a thorough assessment of social media posts containing credible threats of unlawful and violent activity, as brought to the attention of the Gloucester Township Police Department." A statement from Mayor David Mayer reads in part, "We must take all potential threats seriously." What they're saying "It's sad but smart on their part. I get it. I hate to see things like that canceled. It's good for most of the community, but unfortunately safety comes first," said Patrick Geer, who was at Veteran's Park Friday evening with his daughter and granddaughters Brooklyn and Lilianna. This is where the event has been held for decades. Geer recalls other South Jersey towns having similar issues. "Ocean City. Wildwood. We go down there a lot in the summer and now you gotta be a little concerned," he said. Jennifer Bohannon has lived in the township more than 30 years. "It's sad that we have to live in a world where you can't even go about your yearly traditions because of threats of violence and things of that nature," she said. She usually goes with family and likes that the event is a big fundraiser. "Gloucester Township Day is a great way to give back to the community. They generate a lot of revenue for scholarships for surrounding schools," said Bohannon. What's next Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkins tells FOX 29's Shawnette Wilson that the mayor will hold a press conference on Tuesday with more details on the decision. For ongoing updates, check Gloucester Township's website, here. The Source Information for this story was provided by Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkins, and residents.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Summer chaos in South Jersey: Higher penalties for those who incite brawls introduced in legislature
The Brief The N.J. State Legislature is considering three bills in response to large-scale, public fights that broke out at community events and the Jersey shore boardwalk. State Senator Paul Moriarty is the lead sponsor of the bills and said it would equip police officers with the tools they need to prevent incidents such as these from happening again and provide stiffer consequences. Two of the bills will be up for a full vote in the State Senate at the end of March. GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, N.J. - A set of bills in New Jersey are being considered to keep people safer in public. It's aimed at enhancing penalties for people who incite a brawl, holding parents accountable for the behavior of their children and equipping law enforcement with crowd control training. It's in response to a summer that saw several incidents of teens starting large-scale fights in public. What we know Democratic State Senator Paul Moriarity (N.J.-4th District) is the lead sponsor of the bills and says they're calling for tougher penalties for youth involved in large public brawls, a training program for local police departments to manage crowds, flash mobs and pop-up parties and accountability from parents for their children's behavior, which could mean jail time and fines. "It's so alarming when you see something like this that it closes these wonderful events down and deprives the community of an event that brings them together," said Sen. Moriarty. "These organized through social media meetups where people are taking over public events, causing melees, brawls and disturbances that are alarming. We need to have some kind of tools that we can use to detour this and let people know we mean business." The backstory Chief David Harkins of the Gloucester Township Police Department is a vocal supporter of the new bills and even testified before state lawmakers about the problem and how it impacted their annual community event last year in June. Gloucester Township Day, which is a decades-long tradition that raises money for college scholarships, was ambushed in the evening by hundreds of older teens and young adults who learned about the event via social media. Chief Harkins said the event ended with a few officer injuries and over a dozen arrests after reviewing officer-worn body camera footage. "It was horrific. They were the most disrespectful behavior. Fighting amongst themselves. Trying to surround officers," said Chief Harkins. "It was a night like no other that I've experienced in almost my 30 years as a police officer." Why you should care This year, Gloucester Township Day will end early before it gets dark at 6 p.m. as a precaution after last year's chaos. "We can't have community events. These are great events that are at the heart of our American lifestyle here to have community events, only to be ruined by this kind of lawlessness," said Chief Harkins. State Senator Moriarty said two of the bills implementing tougher penalties and police training are pending a full vote in the NJ Senate on March 24.
