Father speaks out after son assaulted on North Wildwood boardwalk; 2 suspects wanted
NORTH WILDWOOD, New Jersey (WPVI) -- North Wildwood police are hoping to identify two suspects involved in an aggravated assault on the boardwalk Saturday evening.
Action News spoke with a father who says his son was the victim of the assault.
"Like any father, all I did was just wanted to protect my son. But when that guy kicked him in the face, that was it," said Kenneth Golembewski of Lebanon, Pennsylvania.
He says it was the last night of his family's trip to North Wildwood when his 22-year-old son was assaulted on the boardwalk.
"The kid was all in his face and I just ran over there and I pushed this kid out of the way, and the next thing you know I'm being pushed and shoved around," recalled Golembewski.
Police say the assault happened at 26th Avenue on the boardwalk, but haven't released details about the circumstances.
SEE ALSO: Wildwood mayor issues statement on civil unrest that led to state of emergency
Golembewski says his son and his son's girlfriend were in a nearby arcade when a group approached them.
He says a comment was made to his girlfriend and a verbal altercation turned physical. His son ended up on the ground.
"And he kicks Lucas dead in the face. I'm like, 'Oh my God.' So I went to try and chase this kid, and I thought, 'No let me stay here with Lucas,' and these bystanders were chasing him!" said Golembewski.
One of the workers at the arcade heard the scuffle and came outside.
"He was on the concrete for a while," said the worker who wants to remain anonymous. "They picked him up and he fell back down like two or three times. They finally got him over to the bench and laid him down."
His family says he was taken to the hospital and suffered a concussion.
Several shore towns dealt with unruly crowds of teenagers over Memorial Day weekend.
Folks who saw the aftermath of the North Wildwood incident say they were surprised to see something like that happen when it was still light out around 7:30 p.m.
"That's the hour it's families that are up on the boardwalk and for something like that to happen that early it really surprised us," said Anthony Zuccarello, manager at Sam's Pizza Palace on the boardwalk.
We're told the young man who was sent to the hospital is resting at home now.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the North Wildwood Police Department by calling (609) 522-2411, emailing detectives@nwpd.org, or by texting TIP NWPD and your message to 888777.
