The summer season got off to a chaotic start at the Jersey Shore with police responses at at least three of the state’s most popular boardwalks over Memorial Day weekend.
Wildwood, Ocean City and Seaside Heights all had incidents requiring police responses on Saturday or Sunday, ranging from a false alarm about a shooter that sent crowds running to a stabbing of a 15-year-old in a large brawl.
Wildwood police closed the city’s boardwalk overnight and declared a state of emergency due to what police called “civil unrest.”
In Ocean City in Cape May County, a teenager was stabbed on the boardwalk, part of a larger fight that ended with several arrests, police said.
“The City of Wildwood and Wildwood Police took the proper action to declare civil unrest and close the boardwalk to maintain control and prevent things from escalating,” Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland said in a statement Monday night. “For those who come to our communities to create unrest, be forewarned that your bad decisions and bad actions will not be tolerated and law enforcement will use all legal measures to arrest and charge all violators.”
The 15-year-old was hurt in the brawl on the boardwalk at 10th Street shortly after 9 p.m., police said. His injuries were described as non-life-threatening.
“The investigation of the stabbing is continuing and charges will be issued,” Sutherland said.
Several people were arrested, and the fight was “quickly” broken up, officials said.
“I understand the impact that this behavior has on all of our residents, guests and business owners, and I want to assure everybody that Ocean City will not tolerate it,” Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian said. “Ocean City will always be welcoming to all guests, but I want to send a clear message to parents and to teens: ‘If you don’t want to behave, don’t come.’”
It’s unclear exactly what happened in Wildwood Sunday night during the overnight hours, when there is a curfew in place for those under age 18. A state of emergency was declared in the Cape May County resort city because of “civil unrest,” officials said. There were reports of unruly crowds and teenagers breaking the curfew.
Wildwood officials said in a statement on Monday afternoon that a state of emergency became necessary after police received an “irrepressible number of calls,” mostly related to an “extremely large number of young adults and juveniles” on Sunday night.
“Wildwood will not tolerate unruly, undisciplined, unparented children nor will we stand by while the laws of the state tie the hands of the police,” Mayor Ernie Troiano, Jr. said in the statement.
The boardwalk was reopened at 6 a.m. Monday.
The problems began on Saturday night when first responders were so overwhelmed by “civil unrest” they were unable to respond to other emergencies, and had to call in help from neighboring towns, the statement said.
On Sunday, police notified city commissioners that “emergent conditions existed due to civil unrest threatening the public health, safety, and welfare of our residents and visitors alike,” the statement said. The state of emergency was called shortly after.
Wildwood officials did not detail the “civil unrest” or say if there were any arrests.
In Seaside Heights in Ocean County, a false alarm of shots fired on Saturday night sent crowds running. Beach-goers raced off the boardwalk and into the street as officers were called to try and find any potential shooters or victims.
But the reports of gunfire were all false alarms, and the night went on as usual once police cleared the scene, Seaside Heights Detective Steve Korman said Sunday.
Memorial Day is expected to be less crowded at the Jersey Shore because severe thunderstorms are forecasted to put a damper on the holiday. The National Weather Service says damaging winds and hail are likely, and a “tornado cannot be ruled out.”
Stories by Katie Kausch
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.
Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieKausch.