Hundreds of teens shut down NJ with fights: police

Chaos erupted at a PTA-sponsored haunted hayride in New Jersey last weekend as hundreds of wild teens feuded with each other, running “recklessly” into the family-friendly event and cutting lines, authorities said.

Police said the rowdy teens were dropped off outside the Collingwood Haunted Hayride around 8:20 p.m. Saturday night and immediately began creating a ruckus while children and parents were trying to enjoy the seasonal offering.

The Collingwood Police Department said, “The event was quickly disrupted due to fights and unruly behavior primarily among the youth attending.” said in a statement,

Authorities estimate that more than 200 minors descended upon the haunted trail.

The disruption was caused by an explosion of senseless chaos and finished fundraisingThe purpose of which was to raise cash for Collingswood High School and Middle School.

“It’s usually fun and sometimes scary, but hanging out with your friends is a fun experience,” Jude Adamoli, 11. told local ABC-6“There were punches thrown and basically when it happened I passed out.”

“We heard screaming and a bunch of police running over and saying ‘get out of the way,'” 11-year-old Mason Reece told the outlet. And after that, we were wondering what was happening and we heard like a fight.

As police tried to separate the warring factions, brawls continued as rogue bystanders pushed police officers to the ground, with many underage protesters brawling with their rivals.

According to police, several teenagers fled the scene through a nearby residential backyard.

Just as officers were dealing with that haunted street brawl – they received another emergency call, reporting that a nearby Wawa had been taken over by a flash mob.

Another 50–70 belligerent youths occupied that regionally favorite chain store, resulting in another police response.

“Officers were able to assist Wawa in dispersing a group of juveniles who were sealing items and causing a disturbance. The Wawa was closed to prevent further damage and theft,” the Collingswood Police Department wrote in a statement.

The crowd was eventually dispersed and no arrests were made, although investigators say they have not forgotten about the incident.

“That’s our intent — to identify as many people as possible,” Collingswood Police Chief Kevin Carey said at a town forum Wednesday night. to WPVI,

“And if charges are necessary, charges will be filed thereafter. Our investigation is still ongoing, but the main priority at that time was to restore order and safely evacuate people from the area.

The chief said investigators are reviewing body cam footage, surveillance video and social media to identify the culprits.