Crime & Safety
Juvenile Viciously Beaten At National Night Out: Police Chief
Bayville man encouraged fight, then failed to stop it, despite victim's begging, chief says.
BERKELEY TOWNSHIP, NJ - A male juvenile was severely beaten by another at the township's recent National Night Out Against Crime and had to be hospitalized for a number of injuries, Police Chief Karin T. DiMichele said.
The juvenile was found bleeding, with cuts and scrapes all over his body, injuries that were consistant with a "prolonged assault," the chief said.
He also had several broken bones and a brain concussion and had to be hospitalized.
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Officers at the Aug. 8 event at Veterans Park responded to a report of a fight in progress at the basketball courts. They found the juvenile lying in the parking lot of the basketball court.
Berkeley detectives later arrested an adult, Jeff Borawski, 46, Amsterdam Avenue, Bayville. Borawski encouraged the fight when he arrived and failed to stop it, the chief said.
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"Borawski was allegedly yelling to inflict more injury on one of the involved juveniles, even though that juvenile was now incapacitated due to injuries," the chief said. "The victim, who had asked for the fight to stop and was severely injured at this point, continued to be assaulted at the direction of Borawski."
Borawski did not attempt to call police and allowed the assault to continue, she said.
"If not for the concern of a juvenile witnesses who bravely intervened to notify police, the brutal assault would likely have continued," DiMichele said.
Borawski was charged with employing a juvenile in the commission of a crime and endangering the welfare of a child. He was arrested without incident and taken to the Ocean County Jail in Toms River, accordance with the New Jersey Bail Reform Act. Juvenile charges related to the fight are imminent, the chief said.
The investigation included collecting physical evidence, video footage and statements.
Detective Lieutenant Peter La Rocca, Detective Joseph Santoro and Patrolman Edward Hendrickson, investigating.
Anyone with information on this incident please contact the Berkeley Township Police Department at 732-341-1132 ext. 611. Tips can be anonymous.
Photo: Patricia A. Miller
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