Fighting Closes Middlesex Firemen's Carnival

MIDDLESEX, NJ - Have you ever gone to the Middlesex borough firemen's carnival? There were so many people and reports of fighting Saturday night that extra police officers had to be called in, as well as State Police. The carnival was shut down early Saturday night, as well.

The carnival is an annual event put on every spring by the Middlesex firefighters, usually held at Mount View Park, next to Middlesex High School. But this year it was inundated with large crowds and reports of fighting. The carnival, which was scheduled to operate until 11:00 p.m., was ordered closed at 10:30 p.m. An excessive number of carnival-goers — coupled with reports of minor disturbances on the carnival grounds — posed a threat to public safety, said Police Chief Matthew Geist.

Extra police patrols from nearby towns were also called in, as were the State Police.

"Police from numerous surrounding towns and troopers from the New Jersey State Police responded and assisted with crowd control," said Chief Geist. "The crowd was dispersed without incident. No injuries were reported and there were no arrests."

There was no evidence to support the rumors circulating that gangs or gang violence was involved, he added.

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