East Brunswick police investigating after chaos near carnival

EAST BRUNSWICK – Though police are continuing to investigate incidents that occurred around Brunswick Square Mall over the weekend, organizers of the L.E.A.D. Fest Carnival said the event is a safe family-friendly experience.

Nick DeMauro, CEO of Law Enforcement Against Drugs (L.E.A.D.), said the event, which runs Wednesdays through Sundays through Memorial Day weekend on the grounds of the mall, said no negative incidents occurred at the carnival itself.

"We had a very nice event this weekend," DeMauro said. "There were no crimes committed inside the carnival. And it's a shame that those incidents happened. It's sad. But we will not tolerate it − if people want to cause problems, go somewhere else."

L.E.A.D, a nonprofit organization supported by police, is committed to protecting youth and communities from the proliferation of drugs, drug-related crimes, peer-to-peer/cyber bullying and violence, according to its website. L.E.A.D. offers the only 10-week, evidence-based, tested and proven effective, K-12 curriculum delivered by law enforcement in the U.S, and the carnival at the mall is one of several events held throughout the year by the organization throughout the state.

This is the second year that the L.E.A.D Fest Carnival has hosted on the Brunswick Square Mall grounds. Last year the event was held for 10 days without any incidents, DeMauro said. This year's fair kicked off on Friday.

DeMauro said the organization is implementing even stricter security measures for the upcoming carnival dates. Besides "high-tech" metal detectors which were already in place, L.E.A.D. is increasing the number of police officers on site and instituting new admission regulations.

Children under 18 will not be allowed in for the $5 admission ticket unless accompanied by an adult 21 or older. If unaccompanied, the admission cost is $40, and the child must wear an identifying wristband. Police are stationed at the admission gate, DeMauro said.

"Safety is our utmost priority. We had very strict rules already but have intensified security measures to make sure that this is a very safe family event," DeMauro said. "We are working with the local police on this. The mall has been great, and the police have been fantastic. We're not going to let people congregate. We don't want any issues and we will not tolerate any bad behavior. We feel we have a lot of things in place for fun event."

There were a "couple of inappropriate kids" that started "horsing around" and "acting stupid" within the carnival grounds Saturday night, but DeMauro said they were quickly stopped.

"Was there a criminal act at the fair? No, absolutely not. Other than that, it was good − good crowds," DeMauro said.

"We want the residents of East Brunswick to know that we have their back," he added.

Police said Sunday they are investigating several incidents connected to the L.E.A.D. Fest Carnival at Brunswick Square Mall. Police said they responded Saturday evening to the mall on southbound Route 18 for disturbances in and around the carnival.

"Like many of you, I am outraged by the events that took place at the L.E.A.D. Fest Carnival this past Saturday night," said East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen. "While I cannot comment about an active investigation, I can say that this was the result of an internet based pop-up mob that targeted our town, among others, on Saturday."

Police said they received a call Saturday evening from the SureStay Hotel By Best Western across Route 18 from the carnival reporting people were running from the mall because they heard gunshots coming from the area of Habit Burger in the mall complex. Officers initially found no victims or evidence of a shooting, but a spent shell casing was located in the parking lot of Habit Burger later that evening, police said.

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Later, police said, a parent approached officers and reported an armed robbery. Three juveniles were walking together from Habit Burger when an individual brandished a handgun and demanded their sneakers, police said.

The suspect, who fled from the area with the victims’ sneakers, was described as a male, approximately 15 years old, wearing a ski mask, police said.

There were no reported injuries that occurred in the robbery, police said, which occurred near Route 18 and Cindy Way.

Police said they later received a report of a female yelling that she was being kidnapped from inside a black pickup truck in the Brunswick Square Mall parking lot. A check of the area could not locate the suspect vehicle or victim, police said, and there were no reports of a missing person or other independent witnesses to the incident.

All the incidents remain under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the East Brunswick Police Department’s Tips Line at (732) 4EB-TIPS or email tips@ebpd.net.

email: cmakin@gannettnj.com

Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter for MyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: Cmakin@gannettnj.com or @CherylMakin. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: East Brunswick NJ police investigating after chaos near carnival