patching...
Welcome back, Patch Blogger!

Large Police Presence at Train Station to Handle Crowd Control

Matawan, Aberdeen police handled a crowd of concertgoers headed to PNC Bank Arts Center.

 

Police officers and ambulances were on hand at the Aberdeen-Matawan Train Station Thursday night to deal with crowd control of PNC Bank Arts Center concertgoers.

The NJ Transit Police Department, the Aberdeen Township Police Department and the Matawan Borough Police Department had patrols at the station directing large crowds arriving from a northbound train. Ambulances from Matawan First Aid and Rescue Squad and South Aberdeen EMS were also at the station. Towns as far as Colts Neck also responded to stand by to assist with first aid.

Approximately 10 passengers at the Long Branch Train Station were taken to Monmouth Medical Center after passing out from heat exhaustion.

Long Branch Police Capt. Jason Roebuck said many of the "kids" were intoxicated and that the train was "overcrowded."

Roebuck said they were on their way to the 311, Slightly Stoopid concert at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel. He said there were also "some small fights" going on in the train. It is unclear if any arrests have been made at this time.

At the Aberdeen-Matawan Train Station, concertgoers were directed toward several buses headed to the Holmdel concert venue.

Aberdeen Police Chief John Powers said Aberdeen first aid units were requested to stand by.

Nancy Snyder, a spokesperson with NJ Transit Police Department, said the agency had not received reports of fights on trains.

"I know we are assisting with crowd control and assisting local police departments with crowd control," Snyder said. "Rail service is running on schedule."

Related Topics: 311, NJ Transit, Public Safety, and Slightly Stoopid

GHOLMDEL

9:04 am on Friday, August 3, 2012

so dissapointed that a residential town such as Holmdel allows construction NOISE to begin as early as 7AM. That really is so unfair for the summer!!

Reply

JosephGhabourLaw

10:13 am on Friday, August 3, 2012

It is a shame that kids trying to get to a concert had their day ruined by a few bad apples. This event begs the question of whether there was a plan by NJ Transit and the PNC Arts Center to properly handle the concert traffic, and potential security concerns. If there was an absence of such a plan, youth were put at risk, senselessly.

This may have exposed NJ Transit and/or PNC Arts Center to liability for distress and/or pain suffering -- which is far more costly then hiring a few "rent-a-cops" for the train/station and adding extra railway car.

Reply

InnocentPassenger

10:42 am on Friday, August 3, 2012

There were NOT just a few bad apples. There were a few good kids attending the concert. An ENTIRE train full of underage kids were drunk, passed out and incoherent on the train yesterday. Trains were NOT running on schedule but were delayed by over an hour and worst of all, a group of sober young girls, who were certainly in the minority on the train explained they witnessed a rape on the train. It is disgraceful and NJ Transit needs to be more prepared to handle situations like this. I have never witnessed something more horrific and I am sure a number of these kids had alcohol poisoning or worse even before getting to the concert. This should NOT be allowed for the safety of the under age kids and the innocent passengers who had to endure this eye-opening experience.

Reply
Comment_arrow
Patch_comments_icon

Jacklyn Corley

11:38 am on Friday, August 3, 2012

Patch has not received information from any area police department or from the NJ Transit police that a rape was alleged to have occurred on the train. If you witnessed or have evidence of such an incident, please contact the authorities immediately.

Herky

11:06 am on Friday, August 3, 2012

Sober young girls "Witnessed a rape and did NOTHING??? What is going on in the once Great USA?? These are our future parents ETC:: ??

Reply

debra

11:26 am on Friday, August 3, 2012

Underage drinking.. why would a parent allow a child to go alone to this kind of concert on a train unaware of whats going on..some parents just dont care what their kids are doing but they will be the first ones to put the blame on someone when something happens to their child at a show like this. And please dont tell me kids now a days know how to get over on their parents. If you are not involved in your kids lives and know what they are doing and who they are with then you better get with the program and get involved.

Reply

bud

12:38 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012

Please bring some ART back to the "arts" center!!! This facility has turned into a carbuncle on the rear end of local society. We need to return the control of this place back to the taxpayers who paid for it!!! Freeholder Curley, your next assignment after Brookdale!!! Get some help from Christie!

Reply

InnocentPassenger1

12:46 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012

I did not witness the alleged rape nor do I have any evidence. As for me, the alleged tape is hearsay by a few young girls who approached my group on tr train. What they told us is that a girl was so drunk she passed out and a boy began raping her. In the middle of the incident another boy began punching the "rapist" in the face to stop him from continuing. As far as we were told by the girls only ONE on-looker attempted to stop the rape. My group was not present fr the incident because we would have intervened and called the police immediately. Furthermore, we approached the conductors multiple times asking if they could do anything about the situation and they just told us police would e meeting them where they were getting off for the concert and this is something thaUt happens once a month. The conductors did not seem phased by the situation at all.

Reply

InnocentPassenger1

12:55 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012

As far as the police are concerned, there were police present as far as we know from what the conductors told us. Also, police were present at each stop but a far as we could see no arrests were made and no one was removed from the train. We just kept being told that they "were in for a rude awakening" when they got to the concert stop by the conductors.

Reply

thelostone

1:16 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012

If you guys think that crowd was bad just wait for Slipknot next week on the 8th. The trains will be packed with an even worse group of people.

Reply

Sir

2:09 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012

best train ride over YOLO

Reply

Anonymous

3:09 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012

All of you that say the train should stop transporting drunk "kids" back an forth from PNC are just dumb. It's people like you that ruin this world. The train doesn't only transport drunk teenagers, it also transports drunk adults. So you're going to tell me that you think all these people should have their parents drive them or take taxi's.. The train is public transportation, you can't do anything about that. You'd rather have thousands of people (90% drunk) drive to this concert that are currently taking the train? You're all out of your minds, think about when you were a child, your concerts were probably just as bad, if not worse. Im sure that if you raised your child right, they'd be able to handle themselves, you all just worry too much and complain about any little thing that may cause trouble to people that can't control themselves

Reply

Annoumous

5:13 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012

I think the PNC should also put security on the busses that transport the kids to the PNC, I am a bus driver who worked the shuttles, and these kids are out of control, it is terrible to try to drive with these kids, if only some of the parents could see what goes on, they would be appalled, I could write a book, for the money we get paid from the PNC for these shuttle busses it's disgusting we take our live in our hands not to mention the public, the PNC makes millions and we make pennies, what wrong with that picture, we deserve hazard pay.

Reply

debra

10:21 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012

Kids these days are out of control and disrespetful did you not see the video of the kids with the bus aide?yes I attended many concerts as a teen and drank alot but never did myself or friends ever behaved like kids do now,I attend many concerts with my child and she cannot believe how her peers act and the things they do.

Reply

Annoumous

10:37 am on Saturday, August 4, 2012

Thank god we bus driver's were paying attention, there was cars going up the in ramp to get out at exit 116 at the end of the concert, there was almost an accident with the busses.

Reply

Leave a comment