3 Girls Charged In Herbertsville Park Fight That Injured Teen: Police

BRICK, NJ -- Three teenage girls have been charged with aggravated assault in the wake of a fight at Herbertsville Park that left another girl in need of surgery for her injuries, police said Thursday.

The incident, which was the subject of rampant rumors, happened Monday, Sgt. Neal Pedersen said. Police were called to the 500 block of Colorado Avenue about 7 p.m. for the report of the fight and learned a girl had been assaulted by several other girls at the park, he said.

The assailants had fled the park into the woods that lead to the Greenwood Loop neighborhood, he said.

The girl had been taken to Ocean Medical Center, Brick, by her mother for treatment, and officers found her at the hospital, Pedersen said. The girl, who had an injury to her nose and right eye, ended up requiring surgery for the eye injury, which was significant, he said.

Detectives Thomas Cooney, Kenneth Steinberg, and Timothy McCarthy were assigned the case and began searching for the suspects. Over the next two days, the detectives were able to identify three suspects and arrest them, Pedersen said.

The three girls all were local residents and were released to their parents after being charged with one count each of aggravated assault, Pedersen said.

Due to the ages of all involved, the case will be transferred to the Ocean County Family Court, Pedersen said.

Brick Township Police Chief James Riccio said the police department will be increasing the police presence in the Herbertsville Park area and the officers have been told to adopt a zero tolerance policy.