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Fox News
28-05-2025
- General
- Fox News
Jersey Shore boardwalk mayhem puts blue state's 'soft' crime approach under microscope
Print Close By Hanna Panreck Published May 28, 2025 New Jersey assemblywoman Vicky Flynn told "Fox and Friends" on Wednesday that "soft-on-crime policies" in the blue state were to blame after a series of brawls and stabbings occurred over Memorial Day weekend at a popular Jersey shore boardwalk, leading to dozens of arrests. "Over the last seven years, there have been numerous policies adopted and lack of enforcement that prevent law enforcement from taking action to prevent what's going on and what you're seeing at the shore," said Flynn, a Republican who represents Monmouth County, along the Jersey shore. "We have laws that prevented law enforcement from engaging with minors who might be caught drinking alcohol or smoking pot, just because of left-leaning type policies to allow these type of behaviors." POLICE SEEK 2 IN ASSAULT ON POPULAR EAST COAST BOARDWALK WEEKS AFTER MEMORIAL DAY CHAOS At least 73 people – 52 adults and 21 minors – were arrested in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, during the mayhem that began early Friday and ended around 6 a.m. on Monday, according to local reports. A string of brawls and stabbings erupted on the boardwalk, forcing authorities to temporarily shut down the tourist site. "We've taken a lot of action to reverse those policies, but it was that, plus even the COVID shutdowns. I think kids were not in school for long periods of time, their maturity levels were impacted, all of this together, but really, the soft-on-crime policies of our state are what led to what we're seeing right now on our boardwalks," Flynn added. Host Lawrence Jones noted that a lot of the people in the videos posted to social media were wearing masks. Flynn explained that both Houses of the New Jersey state legislature unanimously passed a bill that would have allowed law enforcement to crack down on the people instigating the brawls, which was blocked by Gov. Phil Murphy, D-N.J. "These people are coming to these areas, putting masks on, so that they can't get caught, so they're coming to these events, they're coming to the boardwalk, causing chaos, but covering their faces so they can't be caught later on through an investigation," Flynn said. Murphy conditionally vetoed the bill, citing concerns that it would infringe on First Amendment rights, according to NJ POLICE EYE ABSENT PARENTS AFTER YOUNG MOBS UPEND FAMILY-FRIENDLY VACATION HOT SPOTS Flynn called for the legislature to override the governor's veto, but said the "Trenton Democrats decided to motion my attempt to override the veto." Three young adults were stabbed in separate incidents, Seaside Heights Detective Steve Korman told local media, adding that the third stabbing prompted officials to temporarily shut down the boardwalk just after midnight on Monday. SWAT teams were on standby ahead of the weekend after a similar incident occurred during last year's long holiday weekend involving large groups of unruly juveniles, according to FOX 29 Philadelphia . CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Jones asked Flynn if there was room for a common-sense Republican candidate in the blue state. "Absolutely, I do think Republicans, we're going to have a great year this year because of incidents like this. New Jerseyans are not dumb, especially the voters. They're going to come out strong because of these type of actions. They are sick and tired of their state being overrun by soft-on-crime type policies," Flynn said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Fox News' Pilar Arias and Bonny Chu contributed to this report. Print Close URL
Fox News
27-05-2025
- General
- Fox News
Dozens arrested after Memorial Day violence rocks Jersey Shore boardwalk
Dozens of people were arrested after a string of brawls and stabbings involving young adults and juveniles erupted at a popular Jersey Shore boardwalk over Memorial Day weekend, forcing authorities to temporarily shut down the popular tourist site. At least 73 people – 52 adults and 21 minors – were arrested in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, during the mayhem that began early Friday and ended around 6 a.m. on Monday, local reports say, citing local police. Rep. Paul Kanitra, R-N.J., said in a social media post on Sunday that "40+ arrests have been made in just the past two days by the Seaside Heights Police Department." "Their strong leadership is cracking down," Kanitra continued. "If you go there with bad intentions, you will likely leave in handcuffs." Three young adults were stabbed in separate incidents, Seaside Heights Detective Steve Korman told local media, adding that the third stabbing prompted officials to temporarily shut down the boardwalk just after midnight on Monday. SWAT teams were on standby ahead of the weekend after a similar incident occurred during last year's long holiday weekend involving large groups of unruly juveniles, according to FOX 29 Philadelphia. Despite efforts to control this year's situation with a 10 p.m. curfew for minors and increased police presence, dozens of teens and young adults flooded the area and engaged in violent altercations near the boardwalk, the local station reported. "We call them gangs," visitor Michele Benangus said to FOX 29. "I don't know what they are, just groups of kids, some tougher than others, and we've seen them pushing and stuff." Kanitra blamed the surge in teen violence on the state's "lax" crime laws. "Seaside Heights, one of the great towns in the 10th Legislative District, continues to deal with the repercussions of New Jersey's lax on crime policies," Kanitra said. "But they aren't taking this sitting down. There is now a strict curfew in place to deal with the juveniles who have increasingly become more and more emboldened as a result of our weak Attorney General." The office of New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin and Seaside Heights Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
73 arrested — including 21 kids — during Memorial Day weekend mayhem that closed popular Jersey Shore boardwalk
A spate of stabbings and fights led to the closure of a beloved boardwalk and the arrest of more than 70 people — including 21 minors — as tens of thousands of revelers descended upon the Jersey Shore for Memorial Day weekend, according to cops and reports. The violence unfolded during a 72-hour span that began early Friday and ended around 6 a.m. Monday in Seaside Heights, despite measures taken to prevent any issues after a similar bout of chaotic violence broke out over last year's long holiday weekend. Officers arrested 52 adults and 21 juveniles over the weekend, Seaside Heights Detective Steve Korman told All three of the young men who were stabbed within a block of the famed boardwalk refused to cooperate with investigators, so there were no arrests made, Korman told the outlet. The popular two-mile stretch, which features two amusement piers, arcades and other attractions, was temporarily closed by Police Chief Thomas Boyd after the third stabbing just after midnight Monday in a 'proactive approach to ensure public safety,' Korman told the Asbury Park Press. It is not clear how long the boardwalk was closed to revelers. Among those arrested was a 21-year-old man from nearby Beachwood, who was collared after officers responded to a 911 call about a fight. He was charged with possession of a firearm, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, resisting arrest and obstruction, police said. Amid the bedlam, a pedestrian in Seaside Park was struck by a car and taken by helicopter to a hospital, Korman told APP. Cops said that Seaside Heights welcomed an estimated 100,000 visitors over the Memorial Day weekend. 'The last few days have been mayhem in this town,' Sarah Frailey, who bartends at EJ's Tap House along the boardwalk, told the outlet. 'Kids were out of control. It's like the 'Jersey Shore' show.' An additional 100 police officers were deployed this year in an effort to prevent a repeat of last year's chaos, reported last week. Borough officials had coordinated a plan to include outside law enforcement if the crowds, especially teens and young adults, got too rowdy, Seaside Heights Mayor Tony Vaz told NJ Advance Media. Dozens were nabbed during last year's festivities in the Jersey Shore enclave, where a 15-year-old was stabbed during a brawl on the boardwalk. It was also closed briefly after what authorities called 'civil unrest' that caused a panicked crowd to sprint down exit ramps amid reports of shots being fired on the boardwalk.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
What happened in Seaside Heights? 73 arrested, three stabbed over Memorial Day weekend
SEASIDE HEIGHTS - Seventy-three people were arrested here Memorial Day weekend during a 72-hour period marred by fights, unruly crowds and three stabbings that prompted police to shut down the boardwalk May 26. The boardwalk reopened later in the day, following the arrests of 52 adults and 21 juveniles from 6 a.m. May 23 to 6 a.m. May 26, said Detective Steve Korman, police spokesman. One of the arrested adults was charged with possessing a firearm, he said. Five minutes after the last of three reported stabbings in that time period, Police Chief Thomas Boyd shut down the boardwalk at 12:05 a.m. on May 26, "taking a proactive approach to ensure public safety,'' Korman said. None of the stabbings were fatal, and none of the victims cooperated in a law-enforcement investigation, he said. Also during the 72-hour period, a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle in neighboring Seaside Park and flown by helicopter to a medical facility, Korman said. The holiday weekend brought approximately 100,000 visitors to the borough, Korman said. "The last few days have been mayhem in this town,'' said Sarah Frailey, a bartender at EJ's Tap House on the boardwalk. "It's normally not like this,'' Frailey said. "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. "Kids were out of control,'' she said. "It's like the Jersey Shore show.'' After large groups of unruly teens created havoc on the boardwalk on Memorial Day weekends in the recent past, borough officials this year put in place plans to increase police presence and enforce a curfew on minors from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. "There's supposed to be a curfew for kids who are underage, who aren't supposed to be on the boardwalk after 10 p.m.,'' Frailey said. "But I think the last two nights, Friday and Saturday, there was no way they could contain that in a sense, and then they finally had enough after last (Sunday) night and did an evacuation on the whole boardwalk.'' Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said police did not shut down any businesses on the boardwalk. Billhimer said detectives from his office were in Seaside Heights all weekend to assist borough police. "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,'' Billhimer said. Also assisting borough police over the weekend were staff from the Ocean County Sheriff's Office and Brick police, including K9 units from both agencies, Korman said. Among the numerous calls police responded to were the three stabbings. The first occurred about 8 p.m. on May 24 on the ocean block of Webster Avenue, Korman said. There, officers found a 21-year-old man suffering from a stab wound to his back, the detective said. The victim was evaluated by Tri-Boro First Aid Squad and flown by helicopter to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, he said. About 6:45 p.m. on May 25, officers responded to a report of another stabbing at Sherman Avenue and Ocean Terrace, where they located a 22-year-old man suffering from a stab wound to the hip, Korman said. The victim was evaluated by Tri-Boro First Aid and taken by ambulance to Jersey Shore, he said. About 12:00 a.m. on May 26, police responded to Kearney Avenue and Ocean Terrace for a report of a third stabbing. There, they found an 18-year-old man with a stab wound to the right thigh, Korman said. He, too, was evaluated by Tri-Boro First Aid and taken by ambulance to Jersey Shore. Five minutes later, the police chief ordered the boardwalk shut down, Korman said. All three stabbing victims were "uncooperative and signed off an any further police assistance/investigation,'' Korman said. About 1 a.m. on May 26, police were called to a fight at Grant Avenue and Ocean Terrace. During the police response, Patrolman James Hans arrested Byron Czaplicki, 21, of Beachwood, and charged him with possession of a firearm, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, resisting arrest and obstruction of justice, Korman said. Billhimer pledged continued support to Seaside Heights' police chief and Mayor Anthony E. Vaz. "We will work with Seaside Heights and all of our shore towns to make sure we are continually making improvements in strategic planning for these holiday weekends,'' Billhimer said. "We will not tolerate lawless behavior anywhere here in Ocean County.'' Kathleen Hopkins, a reporter in New Jersey since 1985, covers crime, court cases, legal issues and just about every major murder trial to hit Monmouth and Ocean counties. Contact her at khopkins@ This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Seaside Heights boardwalk closed amid Memorial Day weekend mayhem
