More Details On Officers Injured In Hazlet Bar Fight

HAZLET, NJ — On Monday we told you how three Hazlet police officers were injured at a Hazlet bar and grill Saturday night. On Tuesday, Hazlet police exclusively released more details to Patch about the incident:

At 9:37 p.m. Saturday night, the Hazlet police department received a call from The Park Tap and Grill that two patrons had been kicked out of the bar for causing a disturbance with other customers, and the ejected men allegedly began damaging vehicles in their parking lot.

When officers arrived they encountered Devin Fitzpatrick, 20, Hazlet, Matthew Fitzpatrick, 30, Union Beach, Sean Fitzpatrick, 24, Middletown, and Brian Fitzpatrick , 58, of Hazlet, who refused to leave and attempted to fight the bar staff, police said. The officers continued asking them to leave the premises, but they refused and then began assaulting the officers, police alleged. Three officers were injured while they were trying to arrest the men, Hazlet Deputy Chief Ted Wittke said in a news release.

A Hazlet police K9 dog even had to be deployed when one of the men refused commands to stop assaulting an officer, Wittke said. Officers from surrounding towns eventually arrived to help quell the situation.

Two of the officers, Ptl. Richard Wilhelm and Ptl. Thomas Enright, were treated at an area hospital for back and neck pain and released. The third officer, Lt. Michael Duncan, was admitted to Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank and required immediate surgery for a serious fracture to his hand.

Devin Fitzpatrick and Matthew Fitzpatrick were transported to Bayshore Hospital for their injuries and then to the Monmouth County Jail.

The suspects were charged with the following:

Matthew Fitzpatrick: Aggravated assault, resisting arrest, defiant trespassing and injury to a law enforcement animal

Devin Fitzpatrick: Aggravated assault, resisting arrest, criminal mischief and defiant trespassing

Sean Fitzpatrick: Aggravated assault, resisting arrest and defiant trespassing. He was released on his own recognizance.

Brian Fitzpatrick: Disorderly conduct and defiant trespassing. He was released on his own recognizance.

Related: Three Police Officers Injured At Bar In Hazlet

Photo of Park Tap and Grill in Hazlet from Google Earth.