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Nearly A Dozen Need Decon After Officer Dispenses Pepper Spray In Dispute At Bergen Lake

Nearly a dozen people had to be treated at a Bergen County lake after a sheriff's officer responding to a dispute dispensed pepper spray, authorities said.

An army of sheriff's officers and police from surrounding towns converged at the public lake off Campgaw Road and Darlington Avenue. Several ambulance crews were summoned.

An army of sheriff's officers and police from surrounding towns converged at the public lake off Campgaw Road and Darlington Avenue. Several ambulance crews were summoned.

 Photo Credit: Kyle Mazza/UNF News for DAILY VOICE
One of the lake-goers who had to go through decontamination at Darlington Lake in Mahwah on Saturday, July 15.

One of the lake-goers who had to go through decontamination at Darlington Lake in Mahwah on Saturday, July 15.

 Photo Credit: Kyle Mazza/UNF News for DAILY VOICE
The incident on Saturday, July 15, began when one group of mostly juvenile lake-goers at Darlington County Park in Mahwah got into an argument.

The incident on Saturday, July 15, began when one group of mostly juvenile lake-goers at Darlington County Park in Mahwah got into an argument.

 Photo Credit: Kyle Mazza/UNF News for DAILY VOICE
Initial reports were that only one person required hospital attention.

Initial reports were that only one person required hospital attention.

 Photo Credit: Kyle Mazza/UNF News for DAILY VOICE
Jerry DeMarco

It began when one group of mostly juvenile lake-goers at Darlington County Park got into an argument that somehow involved another group.

Because Darlington is a county park, Bergen County Sheriff Anthony Cureton has officers stationed there during peak hours.

His officers responded to the dispute and summoned Mahwah police.

At some point, an unidentified sheriff's officer fired a blast of pepper spray that injured several youngsters and officers.

"Looks like a Mahwah police officer got the worst of it," one responder said.

An army of sheriff's officers and police from surrounding towns converged at the public lake off Campgaw Road and Darlington Avenue. Several ambulance crews were summoned.

In the end, it was believed only one person needed hospital attention.

At least 10 others went through a decontamination unit that members of Ramsey Rescue set up at the park's entrance.

A couple of people were taken into custody and Mahwah police quickly had matters under control.

The lake was closed for the rest of the day.

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