Three teenagers were arrested in Montclair after a larger group caused a disturbance at Montclair Place and injured an officer who was attempting to disperse the group and detain a “combative suspect,” Montclair police said Tuesday, Jan. 25.
The incident happened on Saturday, Jan. 22, when police responded to reports of a large group causing a “major disturbance” inside of Montclair Place, 5060 North Montclair Plaza Lane, the Montclair Police Department said in a statement. The group was reportedly being “extremely loud” and teens were yelling profanities at customers while roaming around the mall, police said. Authorities said the incident appeared to be a “planned event.”
After attempts were made by mall employees and security to have them removed, police contacted the group in a parking lot on the west side of the mall, the Police Department said. Officers asked the group to leave and while some dispersed, others chose to stay and challenge the officers to fight or arrest them, police said.
An officer attempted to arrest a “combative suspect” who challenged them to a fight when the larger group returned to the scene and “surrounded” the officers, according to the Police Department. A second suspect then punched an officer several times in the head and face with a metal object in the palm of his hands, causing the rest of the group to disperse, police said.
A short foot pursuit took place and officers apprehended the 15-year-old and 16-year-old suspects across the street from the mall without any additional struggle, police said.
Both suspects were arrested on suspicion of felony assault on a peace officer causing injury, taking of a person from a peace officer and trespassing, authorities said. The 15-year-old suspect was also arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, police said.
The metal object was determined to be a “large heavy spring” that was used to enhance injuries from punches thrown, authorities said.
A third suspect, a 16-year-old, was arrested on suspicion of obstructing, resisting or delaying peace officers, the Police Department said.
The officer struck in the head was taken to a nearby hospital by ambulance to treat “major injuries” that required extensive care, the Police Department said. The officer was released from the hospital and is recovering from injuries off-duty, authorities said.
Anyone with additional information was urged to contact the Police Department at 909-621-4771.
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