2 Arrests, Cop Hurt After 400 Show Up To House Party In Brick: PD

BRICK, NJ — A Brick Township police officer was injured Monday night as a car sped off from a house party that spiraled out of control, drawing more than 400 people to the Baywood section, Brick police said Tuesday.

Darius Edwards, 24, of Brooklyn, has been charged with two counts of assault by auto, eluding, obstruction and possession of marijuana, after he sped off in a white Mercedes and hit Patrolman Joseph Riccio and a detective in the Brick Township Police Department's Street Crimes Unit, Sgt. Jim Kelly said.

Riccio suffered a knee injury and was treated at the hospital, but the detective was not injured, Kelly said.

Police were called to Atlantic Drive in the Baywood section, at the eastern end of Drum Point Road, about 9:30 p.m. and found more than 400 partygoers, he said. Atlantic Drive and the surrounding streets were blocked with parked vehicles, some of them with people inside, Kelly said.

In addition to loud music, there were reports of littering, public urination and trespassing, and drug use was also evident, he said.

Michelle Cicchillo, the homeowner, told police the party continued to grow until it was beyond her control. She told them she tried to make guests leave "but they were being defiant and refused," Kelly said.

With help from officers in neighboring towns, police dispersed the crowds, "systematically scour(ing) the neighborhood, engaging partygoers and instructing them to leave," he said. It took officers several hours to get all the partygoers to leave, and traffic control was necessary on Drum Point Road and side streets to help.

Most people left without a problem, Kelly said, but there were "a few intoxicated and belligerent subjects."

It was while police were breaking up the party that Edwards took off in the white Mercedes. Kelly said police pursued as Edwards fled west on Drum Point Road and onto the Garden State Parkway, but broke off the pursuit because of the dangerous operation and excessive speeds.

The car was found in Brielle within an hour of fleeing, Kelly said, and Edwards was arrested.

In a separate incident while breaking up the party, Dakari Smith, 23, of Brooklyn, was charged with obstruction after he refused to obey orders, Kelly said. He was released on a summons.

Cicchillo was charged with maintaining a nuisance and violating the township noise ordinances against excessive loudness and mass gatherings, Kelly said.

"Chief James Riccio would like to thank the law enforcement agencies that assisted and helped to bring this incident to a successful conclusion," Kelly said.

Among the agencies that assisted throughout the event were Lakewood Police, Toms River Police, Wall Township Police, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, Howell Police, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and the New Jersey State Police.

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