Update: Future of Prom Showcase is TBD After Disturbance

Ten different police departments and agencies were called to Grove Park Tuesday evening to help with dispersing a crowd that had grown to about 300 people who came for Columbia High School's prom showcase, and seven arrests were made on charges ranging from disorderly conduct to possession of a weapon (brass knuckles) to possession of marijuana.

According to South Orange Police Chief James Chelel, the event—an annual happening for the last five years—was intended to wrap up at 8 p.m., but at approximately 7:27 p.m., an unknown disturbance caused people to run from the park. South Orange police headquarters called for mutual aid at 7:30 p.m., and units from Maplewood, Orange, East Orange, Newark, West Orange, Millburn, Springfield, Union, the Essex Sheriff's Office and the State Police arrived to assist. (Chelel explained that police from neighboring towns were already in the area to assist with breaking up a fight at a nearby basketball game.)

According to Chief Chelel, the crowd had dispersed by 7:40 p.m., and the area was cleared by 8:10 p.m.

Johanna Wright, an SOMS physical education teacher and the CHS girls' basketball coach, helped to coordinate the showcase and was working to break down the equipment when the commotion started on Tuesday night. She said that the prom-goers had gone, the red carpet had been rolled up and the amplifiers had been unplugged when she observed teens—many of whom were wearing white T-shirts—running toward South Orange Avenue and assumed there had been an accident there.

Shortly afterward, the police appeared, and people started running back into the park, she said.

"Kids were just running helter skelter and just didn't know what to do," she said, noting that she and her adult companions were unconcerned and continued with the clean-up.

"There was absolutely no bleach sprayed on anyone," she said. "I can't even say it was a fight; I don't think anybody fought."

The following arrests were made:

• Brian Easterling, 20, of East Orange, was charged with possession of under 50 grams of marijuana
• Quandree Manderville, 18, of Maplewood, was charged with possession of a weapon. (A juvenile from South Orange who had left the park reported to police that he felt he was about to be assaulted. He returned to the park and identified Manderville as one who had allegedly threatened him.)
• Kashmere Wade, 18, of East Orange, was charged with disorderly conduct
• Two 17-year-olds from Union and a 17-year-old from Maplewood were charged with disorderly conduct

Another summons was issued for possession of an open container of alcohol. All those who were arrested were released on Tuesday night.

No one at the park required medical attention, according to Chief Chelel, who has already had meetings at Columbia High School and South Orange Middle School on Wednesday morning to discuss whether the prom showcase can continue next year in light of Tuesday's events. He noted that there had never previously been a disturbance.

Village President Doug Newman noted that the special event permit process has become more rigorous within the last two years, and that parents of Columbia students have always been the ones to coordinate the prom showcase—not the school district. He said that he plans to meet with the police chief, Village Administrator John Gross and the Public Safety Committee to discuss the future of the event and whether it can continue at its current location.

"It's too early to say," he said. "I'd love to see it under the right circumstances."

The school district won't be involved in determining the future of the prom showcase, since it's not an official district-sanctioned event, according to district spokeswoman Judith Levy.