Bridgewater's Police Mall Fight Investigation Continues 6 Months Later

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Six months since the infamous Bridgewater Commons teen mall fight, an investigation into Bridgewater Police's handling of it continues into August.

"The investigation is ongoing, and no further information is being released at this time," said Steven Barnes with the New Jersey Attorney General's Office.

The timeline to complete the investigation was initially said to take 45 days. It is unclear how long or when the investigation will be completed.

The probe was sparked after a video began circulating of a fight between a light-skinned teen and a Black teen at the Bridgewater Commons mall on Feb. 12. The video shows township police officers kneeling on and handcuffing the Black teen while the light-skinned teen is sitting on a couch raising questions of racial disparity. Read More: Cops Criticized After Stopping Teen Fight At Bridgewater Mall

On Feb. 14, Police Chief Paul Payne said he requested that the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office assist Bridgewater in an internal affairs investigation that is strictly adhering to the New Jersey Attorney General's Internal Affairs Directive.

The two officers involved in the incident are "currently not on the road," Payne previously said.

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 calling for the Bridgewater officers involved to be immediately removed from the police force pending an investigation.

Several marches by activists have since been held calling for justice for Z'Kye Husain.

Nationally known civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who has handled cases involving George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, and Breonna Taylor, has been retained by the family of the Black 8th grader handcuffed by Bridgewater Township Police following a mall fight. Read More: George Floyd Family Attorney Hired By Black Teen In NJ Mall Fight

Crump and Husain's family also held a press conference at the township. Crump said his group is contemplating filing a federal civil rights lawsuit based on "his fourth amendment rights being infringed upon based on unreasonable search and seizure. And obviously equal protection." Read More: Black Activists Halt Rally For Teen Cuffed At Bridgewater Mall

On March 3, Bridgewater held a Community Conversation with community officials and leaders to hear from the public about the incident. Read More: Bridgewater To Turn Viral Mall Video Into Racial Justice Lesson

On April 4, Bridgewater hired former Somerset County Prosecutor Michael Robertson to help the township deal with the outcome of an investigation. Read More: Bridgewater Hires Former Prosecutor To Help With Police Mall Incident

The council unanimously voted to award a contract to Robertson during the April 4 meeting for a period of one year with a cost likely exceeding $17,500 and no more than $25,000.

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