Philadelphia

Brawling Guests at South Jersey Wedding Turn on Police Officer

Brawling wedding-goers at a South Jersey hotel found themselves in jail over the weekend after police say they assaulted police officers who tried to break up the fight.

The fight erupted just before 9 p.m. Sunday during a wedding at the Hilton Garden Inn on Atrium Way in Mount Laurel, according to Mount Laurel Police. As an officer responded, the brawl involving several people spilled out of the hotel. The officer tried to break it up, but a man involved in the fight and others punched and kicked the officer. The fighting crowd eventually dispersed when more officers arrived at the hotel.

Police said a family argument that happened during the wedding reception sparked the brawl. Joseph E. Mooney, 34, of Philadelphia, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault of a police officer. Mooney, according to Philly.com, was the groom. A 17-year-old, who is not being identified because he's a juvenile, was also arrested and charged with aggravated assault on police, authorities said. The teen was released pending a court hearing, and Mooney was released after posting 10 percent of $5,000 bail, police said.

The officer suffered a concussion and cuts and scrapes in the incident, police said. He was treated at an area hospital and released. 

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