Ewing police break up fight at chicken restaurant, arrest one for assault

on January 03, 2012 at 7:00 AM
Prince Fried Chicken Ewing.JPG

EWING — For two men, beating up on a woman in the parking lot of a chicken restaurant was the chosen method for ushering in 2012, and it took pepper spray to stop them.

Township police were dispatched to the Prince Fried Chicken restaurant in the 1600 block of North Olden Avenue at 2:24 a.m. Sunday on the report of a large fight.

Officer Nieves Mendoza arrived to find approximately 30 people fighting and running from the front of the shop. He also witnessed a woman on the ground being kicked and punched by two black males.

Mendoza ordered the men to stop, but they continued fighting. He then utilized pepper spray to break up the fight.

One of the men fled across Prospect Street into a wooded area, but Mendoza was able to take the other man, 28-year-old Trenton resident Devon Bell, into custody. Bell was charged with simple assault.

Sgt. David LaBaw said the location has seen its share of violent episodes in recent years.

In early June, officers arrived to find a large group of disorderly persons outside the restaurant. Patrol cars arrived, and officers activated emergency lights and issued verbal orders over their p.a. systems for the people to disperse. The business was closed for the night after the crowds dissipated.

Officers also investigated reports of individuals fighting and breaking windows at the location, and broke up another fight later in the month.

Police were also dispatched to the location in September for a group of rowdy patrons.

In 2007, police officers monitoring a large late-night crowd at the same location heard a gunshot. Neither officer saw who fired the shot, and no victims were located. However, officers did find a .380-caliber shell casing. It appeared at the time that there was a dispute between two individuals inside the business shortly before the shot was heard.

Contact David Karas at (609) 989-5731 or

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