Unfolding Situation Involves Law Enforcement in Belleville, New Jersey

A considerable law enforcement presence was observed in Belleville, New Jersey, near Branch Brook Park on Sunday evening amid reports of an incident involving police officers that were swiftly retracted.

An NBC New York crew stationed at Mill St. and Union Ave. noted an ongoing police investigation with a vast number of officers extending into the park. Initially, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office indicated that there was an officer-involved shooting, but this confirmation was quickly withdrawn.

Authorities maintained a perimeter to keep the public at a distance, making it challenging to ascertain the circumstances inside the park where Essex County crime scene investigators directed their efforts. One witness, David Vazquez from Newark, recounted how his friend observed an officer being hit by a vehicle before gunfire was reported. Early Monday morning, no definitive information had been released regarding the events of the prior evening as investigations continued.