No Additional Car Gatherings In Secaucus Since Saturday Night Attack On Police

SECAUCUS, NJ — Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller said Tuesday there have been no additional illegal car gatherings in town since Saturday night, where 100 people took over County Avenue and then swarmed and attacked Secaucus Police officers who responded.

People shot fireworks at and under police cars Saturday. There were reports on social media that people were using a flame thrower against police, but Miller said to his knowledge that is not accurate.

As of midday Tuesday, the investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made, said the police chief.

That same night, Saturday, someone set fire to several Hackensack police cars. The Hackensack Police cars were parked in a city-owned parking lot at 78 Trinity Place, where police commonly park their squad cars, and someone set fire to the cars just after 8 p.m. Saturday, said Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Deputy Chief of Detectives Jeff Angermeyer.

The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and county arson investigators are investigating. Read that story: Police Cars Set On Fire In Bergen County, Prosecutors Investigating (Sept. 2)

At approximately 2:31 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 31, more than 100 cars convened in the center of County Avenue and Secaucus Road in Secaucus, police previously said. They were driving recklessly and doing donuts, while onlookers took videos of them.

Upon the arrival of Secaucus Police, more than 50 people then began to surround the police patrol cars, while others climbed on top of the marked police cars, said police. The crowd caused some damage to police cars.

People in the crowd then shot fireworks at and under the marked police cars. Police said they were using the fireworks as incendiary devices.

“Our officers came under attack last night and I will not tolerate this unrest,” Miller previously said in a Facebook post on the incident.

No police officers were injured. Mutual aid needed to be called in to disperse the mass gathering, with officers responding from Weehawken, North Bergen, Hoboken, Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, East Rutherford and Rutherford.

Initial Patch report: People Shoot Fireworks At Secaucus Police Cars, Climb On Squad Cars As Cops Break Up Street Racing (Sunday)