Fights and large crowds of unruly teenagers forced the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office to institute a curfew at Pier Village in Long Branch at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
The News 12 crew on scene observed police with riot shields clearing out the last of the crowds around 9:15 p.m.
Videos sent to the newsroom show teens fighting. Others posted on social media show a large group of young people gathered at the location. Loud music could be heard in the background.
News 12 has previously reported on the so-called “pop-up” parties that have occurred at Pier Village, where hundreds of people arrive unannounced. Local officials have been working to stop these gatherings.
Last year, a man was shot and killed at a concert in Pier Village.
Tuesday’s crowd happened before Memorial Day Weekend – considered by many to be the start of the summer shore season. Tuesday happened to be an unseasonably warm day where large crowds enjoyed the shore up and down the state.
Even NJ Transit was impacted – a train on the North Jersey Coast Line was subject to delays of 45 minutes due to the police activity in Long Branch.
Police from several other boroughs, including Deal and Eatontown, were on scene to assist.
