Memorial Day Weekend 2022
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May 23, 2022
Thousands of People Swarmed the Beach in Long Branch
A social media "pop-up party" drew thousands of people to Pier Village in Long Branch on Saturday night.
According to the
Monmouth County Prosecutor, scattered fights broke out in the crowd, and one police car was smashed. Eleven adults and four teenagers were arrested in all, the majority of them were charged with fighting. The police cruiser was vandalized, and one person was charged.
Police used one flash bang or stun grenade, as well as smoke, to separate the throng, according to Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey. Officers from the New Jersey Department of Corrections were brought in to assist Long Branch police with this. A stun grenade is a weapon that uses a loud boom and bright light to disperse crowds.
Because of the large crowds, the city of Long Branch imposed a tight 9 p.m. curfew for the whole city on Saturday night.
Long Branch Police were overwhelmed, and the following police agencies were called in to assist: Monmouth County Emergency Response Team (MOCERT), Monmouth and Middlesex Rapid Deployment Forces (RDF), Monmouth County Sheriff's Office, New Jersey State Police, Department of Corrections and NJ Transit Police.
State Senator Robert Singer (R-30) issued a statement on Sunday, urging Murphy and NJ Transit officials to protect Jersey Shore communities in the future from similar incidents.
