Teens Overwhelm New Jersey Carnival, Spark Fights and Early Closure

A large group of unsupervised teens overwhelmed the annual Maple Shade Tigers Youth Football Carnival in New Jersey on May 1, sparking several fights and forcing police to restore order.

Township officials said in a Facebook statement that the juveniles took over the event. "During the course of the evening, several fights broke out, and the event became overwhelmed with unsupervised juveniles," they said. "Officers on scene, along with event organizers, directed those involved and other unruly individuals to leave the carnival grounds in an attempt to restore order and maintain public safety."

The carnival closed for the rest of the evening on Friday as a result. Officials also canceled the event for May 2, citing the teen takeover.

Lt. Daniel O'Brien of the Maple Shade Police Department said the teens tried to create confrontations with officers. "They were cursing at police officers. They were clearly trying to provoke physical confrontations with cops," O'Brien told ABC6.

Several teens faced charges in the incident. O'Brien urged parents to monitor their children more closely. "If your kid is leaving the house with a face mask to go to a carnival, I think that should be a sign that they might be getting themselves into trouble," he said.

"The safety of our community must remain our top priority. We appreciate the cooperation and understanding of the public as we continue to work together to maintain a safe environment for all," township officials said.