Bridgewater Mall Investigation Continues, Officials Want Answers: Video

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — As authorities continue to investigate the Bridgewater Police's handling of a teen mall fight with questions of racial disparity, Somerset County officials are looking for answers.

"The video of the incident at the Bridgewater Mall is upsetting and that there must be a full investigation to uncover all the facts and deliver accountability," said Shanel Y. Robinson, who is the first African American to serve as the Commissioner Director of Somerset County.

Robinson, who is a mother and grandmother, said watching incidents like this over the past few years have been particularly difficult.

She has since spoken with Governor Phil Murphy, Attorney General Platkin, both of the teen families involved, and will also be reaching out to Bridgewater Mayor Moench "to discuss how we can work together to restore the trust between law enforcement and the people they serve."

"We as a community are being challenged, but I am convinced that we will rise to the challenge together," said Robinson. (Watch her full statement below)

A video began circulating on Sunday showing the fight between a white 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 the white 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

When Patch asked for the status of the officers' Bridgewater Police referred the question to SCPO who declined to comment as a result of the investigation.

Bridgewater Councilman Filipe Pedroso released a statement on Thursday saying he like everyone else wants answers but asked the public to wait before casting judgment.

"I support our Constitution and that all people are innocent until proven guilty. And that we shouldn't pass judgment on people and make presumptive conclusions no matter the color, race, or employment of that person. Just because a person is Black does not mean he or she is a criminal. Just because the person is a white police officer does not mean he or she acted with racism," said Pedroso.

While the investigation is underway, Pedroso praised department as a whole and said he remains "optimistic that the different conduct of the police officers that we witnessed on that video was not due to race, but other factors, but the process only works if we all keep an open mind."

"I am proud that we live in a time where we can question the conduct of each other and stand up against racism. Irrespective of the outcome of this investigation, I will say again what I've said many times before in public: Bridgewater welcomes all people. There is no place for racism here," said Pedroso.

See his full statement below:

"Dear fellow residents:

Like most of you, I too have watched a 56-second video clip of an incident that happened at the Bridgewater Commons over the weekend. And like many of you, I have questions that I want answered.

Although I am a Council Member, I don't have any more information than what I read in the news and see on social media. The matter is under investigation, and so the Somerset County Prosecutor's office isn't releasing any information until it concludes that investigation.

I've watched the video several times, trying to make sense of what happened. I see two police officers who, in a split second, decided to take different action with two different individuals.

Would the outcome have been reversed if the situation was crisscrossed and the officers had initially approached the alternate teenager? Would the teenager that was sitting on the couch then be on the floor being handcuffed? I don't know. I want answers.

In the meantime, I support our Constitution and that all people are innocent until proven guilty. And that we shouldn't pass judgment on people and make presumptive conclusions no matter the color, race, or employment of that person. Just because a person is Black does not mean he or she is a criminal. Just because the person is a white police officer does not mean he or she acted with racism.

You and I watched a short video of an incident that doesn't have a complete story; it requires understanding all the facts before and after. If in the end, there was racial profiling or racially motivated conduct by any police officer, it cannot be accepted. Racism has no place in the people that have the task of enforcing the law. The law MUST be applied equally to all. In the meantime, we need to let the investigation conclude. I hope and encourage that it concludes as quickly as possible. We want answers.

I want the community to know that the Bridgewater Police Department is an exceptional organization, composed of men and women who care deeply about our Township and keeping us safe. I remain optimistic that the different conduct of the police officers that we witnessed on that video was not due to race, but other factors, but the process only works if we all keep an open mind.

Being a police officer is complicated work. The officers enter a high-tension area with a crime in progress and have to immediately diffuse the situation and make split-second decisions. Everyone perceives things differently, analyzes information quickly, and reacts differently. We see it amongst our own friends and family. And so we truly need to let the investigation play out and get the full facts before we rush to conclusions.

I am proud that we live in a time where we can question the conduct of each other and stand up against racism. Irrespective of the outcome of this investigation, I will say again what I've said many times before in public: Bridgewater welcomes all people. There is no place for racism here."

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