Police are responding to allegations of brutality after they arrested several students during a brawl at a South Jersey high school.
Investigators say the fight started in a hallway at Penns Grove High School in Salem County Friday shortly after classes ended. The fight quickly spiraled out of control and police were called to the school, according to officials.
“They were told 18 to 19 times to disperse,” said Carneys Point Police Chief Gerald Krivda.
When the responding officers attempted to lock the doors, the students allegedly started to attack them. Krivda says a County-wide police response was then called which included state police, the sheriff’s and prosecutor’s office as well as the Pennsville and Woodstown police departments.
“Additional units came,” Chief Krivda said. “We were overwhelmed, probably about 70 or 80 kids outside, 30 or 40 in.”
Five students as well as a faculty member were arrested. Krivda says 20 other students will face charges, including disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
"If you’re going to come to school and cause a problem, act disorderly, and break the law, we’re going to arrest you," Krivda said.
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A student’s cellphone video of the aftermath of the fight quickly spread on the web. In the days after the incident, several allegations of police brutality emerged, especially after a picture of a student with cuts and bruises on his face surfaced on social media. Krivda claims that student thrust himself into a reinforced glass door while he was in handcuffs however.
“He turned around and put his face first in a window,” Chief Krivda said. “We have that on video to dispel any rumors that an officer did that. That is untrue.”
Krivda also says none of the officers used excessive force.
“Our officers used the utmost restraint,” he said. “Even though there was a mob outside."
Dr. Zenaida Cobian, the superintendent of Penns Grove Carneys Points Schools, denied that there was a mob during the incident however. She sent the following statement to NBC10.
"Despite statements that have been made, to the contrary, the incident at Penns Grove High School after dismissal last Friday did not involve a hundred plus students, it was not a riot, nor did it involve a mob. Rather, it was incident that began outside of the building after the school day between two students. The High School Administration and security guards properly responded and had already separated the two students involved and were in the process of bringing them back into the building when the Carneys Point Police, who were on a normal routine patrol, came into the building to assist the Administration upon seeing the commotion outside.
At that point, some of the students that were outside watching the altercation came back into the building. As the Police and Administration were trying to clear the hallways, a small number of students began acting in an inappropriate manner towards the Police, Administration and staff that were present. From there, that small number of students began to resist and defy the orders of the Police, Administration and staff to disperse. It is our understanding that those students will be facing criminal charges, and in addition will be disciplined according to State law, Board Policy and the District’s Code of Conduct. Due to federal and state laws protecting student privacy, I am not permitted to disclose the identity of those students or any additional information related to them or any disciplinary consequences that may be imposed.
Over the weekend, the High School Administration and I worked together to put additional measures and procedures in place at the High School in order to allow for an orderly and appropriate opening and school day. Since Friday afternoon, there have not been any further incidents or disruptions at the High School, and classes have been conducted as normal. In addition, all previously scheduled after school events have been held at the High School this week , have been well attended by students, staff and community members, and most important, have also been without incident.
The safety and security of all our staff and students is our foremost concern, and everything can and will be done to maintain a safe and secure learning environment. We have a great school system, excellent staff and outstanding students. We have all worked together to help our students and schools achieve the extraordinary, and the actions of a few will not define our school district or our community."
Krivda says the entire brawl was captured on the school’s surveillance system. He claims he can’t release it however since juveniles were involved.
NBC10 also reached out to students and parents at the school. They told us they would not comment until the school surveillance video was made public. NBC10 also made an open public records request for the video which is currently under consideration.
