On Monday, January 27th, at 4:42 p.m., Patrolmen James Kompany and Alexander Lanza responded to the gymnasium at the Roselle Park High School, located at 185 West Webster Avenue for a report of a group of disorderly juveniles during a girls Junior Varsity basketball game. Four (4) juvenile males were pointed out by the Roselle Park Board of Education (BOE) staff who were attending the game.
According to the staff, the juveniles were cursing and entering an area of the high school they were not privileged to enter. They were advised to leave school property but refused, becoming increasingly unruly toward staff. The disruptive conduct continued when officers arrived.
Patrolman Lanza advised the group to leave the school property. Two of the juveniles continued to refuse to comply with the officer’s directions and became increasingly disruptive. Patrolman Lanza then advised one of the juveniles he would be placed under arrest if he continued. The 16-year-old Roselle Park resident again refused to comply and was placed under arrest for disorderly conduct. A second 16-year-old Roselle Park resident placed himself between the officers and the other juvenile male being arrested. While obstructing the officers, the second juvenile became combative, striking Patrolman Lanza in the face. The first male was additionally charged with resisting arrest resulting in injury. The second male was placed under arrest and charged with obstructing the administration of law, resisting arrest, and aggravated assault on a police officer.
The other two juvenile males were escorted off school grounds without further incident.