Suspects Didn't Pee On Students In Lawrence Bias Incident: Police

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ — A third 17-year-old boy has been charged in connection with an incident in which middle school students were the target of racially abusive language at a Lawrence High School football game last month, authorities announced on Friday.

However, a lengthy investigation conducted by the Lawrence Township Police Department and the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office shows no evidence that the students were peed on during the incident at the game between Lawrence and Steinert on Oct. 18, authorities said.

Two Lawrence Township High School students were already charged with multiple counts of bias intimidation, harassment and lewdness in the incident, in which they hurled racial slurs at middle school girls. On Friday, a third person was charged with harassment.

However, the victims’ claims that they peed on one of the girls was not found to be valid, the prosecutor’s office and the police department said on Nov. 1.

Detectives determined that the students had some type of liquid, possibly water or soda, not urine, thrown in their direction while they were in the vicinity of the auxiliary/overflow section of the bleachers, authorities said.

The investigation does support the allegations that racially derogatory language was used by the 17-year-olds towards the girls during the incident, according to authorities.

Detectives were able to establish the aforementioned information after countless hours of witness statements, interviews and reviewing video footage obtained of the incident, authorities said.

The Lawrence Township Police Department would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have participated and cooperated throughout this difficult investigation.

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is asked to call Lt. Joseph Lech of the Lawrence Police Department at 609-896-1111 or jlech@lawrencetwp.com.

See related:
Residents Question Police Response To Lawrence Bias Incident
2 Arrested For Peeing On Students At Lawrence Football Game
Students Hurled Racial Slurs, Peed On Girl At Football Game: LPD