PARAMUS – Shoppers of the Garden State Plaza Mall shifted from parking garage road rage to a mall brawl.
#EyesOnNJ Video Breakdown report will go live at 12:00pm EST April 27, 2022
On April 11, 2022, a video uploaded to Facebook by Hosay Leeto immediately went viral.
Mr. Leeto writes “This assault happened at the parking garage of Westfield Garden State Plaza Mall in Bergen County, NJ. There was an argument between (what I am assuming a white Female) and an African-American male (at the time I didn’t know that the one that got knocked out was Female).”
In a report issued by Paramus Police Department, it noted that the simple assault occurred on January 14, 2022 at 9:53pm near Door 17 of the shopping center. Seen behind me. 35 year old Rashaad Williamson was observed on video striking the victim 29 year old female Jessica Sprofera after a verbal confrontation when she appeared to be blocked in her parking space. What isn’t clear on video, is if Sprofera made any physical threatening gestures to encourage the knockout by Williamson. Detective Mark Pinajian is observed responding to the scene and checking on the incapacitated 29 year old female and speaking with Williamson.
A passing Good Samaritan wearing a Brew Stew shirt observed the scuffle. While checking on Sprofera, he exchanged heated words with another individual wearing a ski mask, black puffer jacket and exposed underwear.
P.O. Matthew Orefice promptly arrived on scene and ordered on-lookers to back away.
The Good Samaritan and the aggressors shifted to the adjacent parking isle where a brawl began to form.
A gentleman in a blue puffer coat seen making strange comedic facial expressions to the videographer and the victim was later observed kicking the Good Samaritan.
Another gentleman wearing a white puffer coat, equipped with ski mask and belt which failed to hold up his grey skinny jeans was later seen repeatedly attempting to enter the brawl which now included Officer Orefice, the Good Samaritan, Black Puffer and two mall security officers. He is later seen swinging and beating down on the Good Samaritan.
A member of the good Samaritan’s party was seen attempting to stop blue puffer from attacking but lost her balance and fell to the asphalt.
After I requested information/confirmation of the arrested parties, Paramus Police advised holding that police incident reports, continuation reports, and property and evidence reports are criminal investigatory records as defined by N.J.S.A. 47:1‐1.1, and are therefore exempt from disclosure to my information request.
As an act of good faith of the Chief, the department provided a heavily redacted incident report.
As of this broadcast, it is unclear if any of the youth which attacked the Good Samaritan have been arrested or charged criminally.
This story was also covered by Jerry DeMarco of Daily Voice.
Original Video by Hosay Leeto
Our learning take-away from today’s clip is that although the gentleman bearing the Brew Stew shirt recieved a significant ass-whooping, his actions to protect the unconscious 29-year old female victim were heroic and worthy of mention.
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