More arrests expected after Paulsboro officer punched
PAULSBORO, N.J. (WPVI) -- A community is demanding answers after Paulsboro police officers, who were attempting to break up a street fight, were then suddenly surrounded by onlookers.
Cell phone video captured a fight between two young women on Adams Street Saturday.
A few hours later and a few blocks away, police tried to arrest one of the women involved, 24-year-old Yasmeen Stafford, on unrelated warrants.
"As they were making the arrest, a crowd formed. They didn't want the officers to make that arrest so they pulled the individual away from the officers. In doing so, the one officer was punched in the face. There have been reports it was accidental or didn't mean to punch the officer, nonetheless, the officer was punched in the face," Chief Vernon Mariano said.
Frank Hardy says his granddaughter, 18-year-old Donyea Parker, was trying to strike Stafford when she accidentally struck the officer.
"She went after the girl. When they were struggling, that's how the officer got hit," Hardy said.
Neighbor Rufus Wallace told Action News what he saw during the incident.
"More officers came. More crowd came. Then the crowd was getting upset and talking back to the officers," Wallace said.
Police say some in the crowd did not disperse. At one point, a police officer grabbed a body camera. The video has been recovered and the chief says it will lead to additional charges.
"Between 20 and 25 additional arrests stemming from that incident," Mariano said.
As to what's behind the initial feud, Parker's grandmother Mrya Hardy says she was being bullied.
"It's a bully situation." Myra Hardy said.
Stafford is still being sought, but she spoke to reporters by phone on Monday. She points the finger at Parker.
"She was picking on my little sister. Her and her gang," Stafford said.
As of right now, Parker is the only one charged in the incident, though more arrests are expected later this week.
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