Black Teen's Mom Told To Pay For Damage Caused By Bridgewater Cops: Attorney

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The mother of Z'Kye Husain, who was involved in a fight at the Bridgewater Commons, says she was told by security she must pay for damage caused by police during his arrest.

"It has just been discovered that the mother of Z’Kye, the Black teenager involved, was told by the head of mall security when she went to pick him up that she would be responsible for the cost of a broken table that law enforcement knocked over as they used explicit bias and excessive force, slamming her 13-year-old son to the ground, face first, and putting a knee in his back," said nationally renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Husain's family.

Patch reached out to Bridgewater Commons but did not get a response in time for publication.

Bridgewater Police Chief Paul Payne told Patch, "We are not making any comments at this time. All requests for comments must go through the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office."

SCPO previously said they would not be commenting until the investigation is complete.

Crump called the demand of payment "offensive and unacceptable" and said it "continues to exemplify the disparate treatment of white families and Black families in America. The only people who should be asked to pay for the damaged table are those who engaged in biased policing and caused it to be damaged – The Bridgewater Police Department."

Crump, who represented George Floyd's family, began representing Husain's family last week. Read More: George Floyd Family Attorney Hired By Black Teen In NJ Mall Fight

Crump is also planning a press conference outside the municipal complex on Wednesday, March 2 at noon to discuss the case.

A video began circulating on Feb. 13 showing the fight between a light-skinned teen and a Black teen at the Bridgewater Commons mall. The video also shows township police officers kneeling on and handcuffing the Black teen while a white-skinned teen is left sitting on a couch. Read More: Cops Criticized After Stopping Teen Fight At Bridgewater Mall

Since then Murphy has said he was "deeply disturbed" by the video and the New Jersey chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a civil rights organization, is now calling for the Bridgewater officers involved to be immediately removed from the police force pending an investigation.

The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office is helping Bridgewater with the investigation as they strictly adhere to the New Jersey Attorney General's Internal Affairs Directive. The SCPO has 45 days to complete the investigation. Read More: Murphy 'Disturbed' By Bridgewater Cops' Handling Of Mall Fight

Somerset County officials have also spoken about the incident asking for answers. Read More: Bridgewater Mall Investigation Continues, Officials Want Answers

New Jersey Black Lives Matter Chapters is also hosting a rally and protest on Feb. 24 outside of the municipal complex at 100 Commons Way in Bridgewater "demanding justice for 14-year-old Z'kye Husain who was unlawfully arrested and racially profiled by Bridgewater Police" at the mall on Feb. 12. Read More: Rally, Protest For 'Justice' In Bridgewater Mall Arrest Planned

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