By Greg Forester, Staff Writer
PLAINSBORO — Ten West Windsor and Plainsboro residents have been charged with a multitude of weapons, drug, and burglary offences in connection with a large brawl that occurred in Morris Davison Park on May 5.
Police said they received reports of a major brawl in progress and on responding to the scene pulled over a Honda Civic that was seen fleeing the area of the park.
Inside were the driver, Dorian Cornejo, 18, of Sayre Drive, and Derek Delorenzo Jr., 18 of 3499 Route 1 in West Windsor along with burglary tools, drug-related materials, and a knife believed to have been used in the fight, police said. Those discoveries led to both men being charged with aggravated assault, weapons possession, possession of burglary tools, distribution of controlled and dangerous substances, possession of drug paraphernalia, and receiving stolen property.
Mr. Cornejo had used a bat that was later recovered in a nearby neighborhood and Mr. Delorenzo had used a knife found in the car in the fight, police said.
The men were charged with burglary-related offences because of the discovery of the burglary tools, which were used in a string of car break-ins that occurred in South Brunswick Township on May 4, police said. Both men were taken to the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in lieu of $150,000 bail.
Further investigation and the use of video evidence of the brawl helped police to discover the identities of eight other individuals involved in the altercation, according to the report.
James White Jr., 18, of Pheasant Hollow Drive and Bryant Peterkin, 21, of Pheasant Hollow Drive were charged with aggravated assault, inciting a riot and disorderly conduct. Both were taken to the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in lieu of $10,000 bail.
Five juveniles from Plainsboro Township received the same charges, according to police. They were taken to the Middlesex County Youth Detention Center.
One 17-year-old received additional charges of aggravated assault with a weapon and possessing a weapon for an unlawful purpose after he brandished a knife to police officers making his arrest, police said.
Another 17-year-old was found to have a bag of marijuana in his possession during his arrest, and received a marijuana possession charge, according to police. They said a 16-year-old was also charged with aggravated assault with a weapon for striking someone with a car during the brawl.
An 18-year-old male victim refused medical treatment for injuries sustained when Mr. Delorenzo stabbed him repeatedly, according to police.
Members of the Middlesex County Gang Intelligence Unit assisted with the arrests.
