LAKEWOOD – Police continued to their investigation this week of the circumstances surrounding a fight that forced the lockdown of Lakewood High School on Nov. 12.
Police officers from four neighboring municipalities responded to the high school on Somerset Avenue to help officers from the Lakewood Po lice Department stop a brawl which involved about 100 students, according to police.
According to Lakewood police, officers were dispatched to the high school at about 11 a.m. to respond to a report of several individuals trespassing on school property. The trespassers were identified as two juveniles: one who is a Lakewood High School student who is presently suspended from school and one who is not a student at the school.
Police did not release the names or gender of the two trespassers.
“Both individuals were placed into custody. These individuals were alleged to be involved in the assault of high school students and high school security guards,” Detective Lt. Joseph Isnardi, commander of the Detective Bureau, said in a press release.
While the officers who were first to arrive at the scene were interviewing the school’s security guards they were directed to the high school cafeteria to respond to a large fight. There were about 300 students eating lunch at that time and police said about 100 students were engaged in the physical altercation.
The officers called for assistance and the entire day shift responded (approximately
25 officers, patrol and detective
personnel, consist of 25 officers, detective personnel,
Deputy Chief
Charles Smith and Police Chief Robert Lawson).
Police officers from
Howell, Jackson, Toms
River and Brick Township came to help Lakewood police restore order.
In the midst of chaos, Lakewood Capt. Greg Miick, Lt. Michael Dennis, and Police Officer Edgardo Vega were assaulted, as were members of the high school faculty.
Police said 12 arrests were made (11 juveniles and one adult). Police did not immediately identify the adult. The individuals arrested were charged with one or more of the following: aggravated assault on officers, aggravated assault on school officials, riot, failure to disperse, terrorist threats and being a disorderly person.
Detective Steven Wexler of the Lakewood Police Department is conducting an investigation of the incident. Anyone with additional information may contact Wexler at (732) 363-0200, ext. 5344.