VIDEO: Maplewood Cop Pepper Sprays Teens After Fireworks Celebration, Report Says

Maplewood, NJ – Maplewood police allegedly pepper sprayed and arrested multiple teens after a large fight broke out following the township’s 4th of July fireworks celebration, according to a report.

Police arrested four teens, three from South Orange and one from Maplewood, around 10 p.m. on Tuesday, after arriving on the scene of a large group of disorderly youths, The Village Green reported.

Some of the teens allegedly resisted arrest and refused to leave the area, Maplewood Sgt. Christopher Black told The Village Green.

No officers were injured during the incident, but Black reportedly told Essex County Place that an officer was forced to use oleoresin capsicum - commonly known as pepper spray.

“Officers attempting to break up the fight were significantly outnumbered, and were being rushed by a group of individuals that had already been ordered to disperse,” Black told Essex County Place.

“This group was charging at officers as the officers were attempting to separate other individuals engaged in fighting,” he added. “The O.C. spray was effective in deterring these individuals from assaulting officers and the individuals involved fled into the crowd after O.C. spray was deployed.”

The MPD called for backup from the South Orange and Irvington Police Departments and several other agencies to help break up the crowd and monitor their behavior, Black told The Village Green.

The crowd eventually dispersed in the area of Elmwood Avenue near the Irvington border, Black said.

Multiple witnesses at the scene posted videos that allegedly depict the aftermath of the pepper spraying.

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