Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bellmawr mayor, police say they may pause parish festival after May 10 disturbances
Summary
Mayor Charles J. Slaughter III and the police chief described widespread disorder at a May 10 parish festival and said the borough will evaluate whether future events can proceed safely; residents urged the council to preserve the carnival while the police and state investigators continue their probe.
Mayor Charles J. Slaughter III said Bellmawr officials are weighing whether to allow recurring community festivals after “chaos ensued” at the St. Joel’s Parish Festival on May 10, 2025, which the mayor said included multiple fights, a head injury to an elderly attendee and a traffic accident involving a pedestrian.
In a statement to the council, Slaughter said the borough and St. Joel’s Parish are “carefully evaluating whether to continue such events in the future” and that any decision would prioritize public safety and input from the police department and surrounding communities.
Police Chief Bill Peret told the council the department is investigating and has received mutual aid from neighboring jurisdictions. “This group of lawless, unruly young adults and teenagers ruined a wonderful event,” Peret said, adding that state police and other agencies are assisting the ongoing probe.
Residents who spoke during the public comment period urged the council to find ways to preserve the carnival cultural tradition while addressing safety concerns. “It would be a shame to see the carnival go away because of the unruliness of a group of juveniles,” resident Blake Shasheski said, asking the council to explore targeted measures to prevent a repeat.
Officials said preliminary information indicates more than 400 juveniles were involved and that social-media apps were used to promote congregating at the event; investigators said there was no reliable prior notice to cancel the festival. The mayor and police stressed their preference is to avoid canceling community events if safety measures can be put in place.
Next steps: the borough will review police findings and coordinate with regional partners before deciding whether to permit similar large-scale events in the future. No formal moratorium or ordinance was adopted at the meeting.
