The Middlesex County prosecutor’s office is investigating an incident in Perth Amboy where police seized the bikes of at least four teens, placing one young Black male in handcuffs.
A roughly 55-second-long version of the stop drew outrage hours after it circulated on social media, including from the director of the state’s American Civil Liberties Union. Amol Sinha questioned whether police were the right avenue to address the situation.
In a 17-minute-long video of the same group, it shows about 20 teens of different races at times weaving in and out of traffic on their bikes and riding on the wrong side of the road. The video is edited several times but shows one officer stopping the group, then letting them off with a warning. Some time later another officer, identified as a sergeant, arrives at the scene, steps in to take the bikes and arrests one young man who refuses to give his up. He is later let go and the bikes are returned but it is unclear whether he was charged with a crime. The Perth Amboy Police Department did not return NJ Spotlight News’ request for comment.
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