Melee At Metropolitan Cafe Leaves One Charged, Two Bleeding

A melee at the Metropolitan Café early Sunday morning sent two to the hospital with bleeding heads, one arrested and possibly others pending, police said Thursday.

Police were called to the E. Main Street business around 1:06 a.m. Sunday to find a 21-year-old café employee bleeding from the head.

The employee said he had been hit in the head with a beer bottle by a café patron, one of a rowdy group he was trying to escort from the building, Lt. Michael Sweetman said.

Police then encountered a 24-year-old patron who also was bleeding from the head, the result, he said, of being struck with a bottle by the cafe employee.

The employee said the patron and a large group he was with were told several times throughout the night to calm down. Later, the patron, who was drinking heavily, was told he was cut off and the employee tried to escort the patron and the group out of the building.

At some point, a struggle ensued among among the employee, the patron and the group and the employee was hit on the head by the patron while others in that group punched him, Sweetman said.

Both were taken to CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township, and released, Sweetman said.

Police arrested Jahmar Powell, 21, of Freehold, and charged him with disorderly conduct. Powell, in defense of one of the group, began to curse and shout at investigating officers. Powell was charged and released, Sweetman said.

Detective John Reiff is investigating the incident. Further charges may be pending, Sweetman said.