Two Charged with Assault on Police

An adult and three juveniles have been charged in connection with a scuffle with police in the Revere Run development this afternoon that came following a report that juveniles threatened a clerk at a nearby store.

Two police officers sustained what a law-enforcement official labeled "minor" cuts and bruises during the struggle in the area of Presidential Drive and Noble Road, in the township's Sicklerville section. Both were treated by a doctor and released, Gloucester Township Police Capt. Anthony Minosse said in a statement.

One of the juveniles sustained a "minor laceration" to his face and was treated at the scene by emergency-medical personnel, police said. His parents refused further medical treatment.

That juvenile was identified in a WTFX Fox 29 report tonight as 13-year-old William Turenne.

The initial incident was reported to police at around 12:25 p.m.

It was alleged during a 911 call received by township police that two juveniles charged in the Revere Run fracas had threatened to kill a clerk at Slim and Tone, a business located in the Strawberry Square shopping center at 1703 Sicklerville Rd. That group reportedly ran toward Jarvis Road.

A police officer located one of the two juveniles who allegedly made the threat against the store clerk on Noble Road and began speaking to him. This juvenile is the individual identified in the Fox report as Turenne.

Deputy Police Chief David Harkins identified the officer as Ptl. Paul Byers

The teen allegedly shoved Byers and ran.

Byers and a second officer caught up to the suspect, who allegedly resisted arrest as the officers wrestled him to the ground, at Presidential Drive and Noble Road, according to police.

It was during this time that police say a crowd of bystanders approached and began shouting obscenities at the officers.

The crowd reportedly ignored back-up officers' orders to disperse, with a juvenile attempting to "strike" an officer, police said. The Fox 29 report identified that juvenile as Turenne's 14-year-old brother, Serge Turenne.

Both Turenne boys told Fox 29 they did not resist arrest during the incident, which remains under investigation, according to Police Chief W. Harry Earle.

Earle, who also went on camera with Fox 29 during tonight's Township Council meeting, told Patch that no formal complaints have been filed against any police officers involved in the incident.

"Obviously, it's still under investigation," the police chief said. "We're still reviewing the incident, as we do with any incidents that involve the use of force by an officer."

Earle encouraged anyone who saw anything they felt to be improper actions by his officers in Revere Run this afternoon to contact the police department's Professional Standards Unit at professionalstandards@gtpolice.com or 856-374-5701.

Both juveniles and two other males, including 18-year-old Phillip Lowe, of Fox Chase Drive, were taken into custody and transported to the police station.

Two juveniles, identified by police only as 13- and 14-year-old Gloucester Township males, were charged with aggravated assault on police, resisting arrest and obstruction of justice.

Lowe and a second 13-year-old boy were charged with obstruction of justice and resisting arrest.

All four individuals charged in connection with the incident have been released on their own recognizance.

No charges have been filed in connection with the alleged threat to kill, police said, but the case remains open for further investigation.