Oakland NJ Press Release
At approximately 1:45 am on the morning of Sunday, April 1st, the Oakland Police Department responded to Portobello Feasts Restaurant on Ramapo Valley Road on report of a fight in progress.
Upon arrival, officers were met outside by numerous victims, some of whom displayed visible facial injuries.
Through interviews with both victims and witnesses it was determined that a physical altercation had started between two woman inside the restaurant, when the Fiancee of of one of the woman intervened the fight quickly escalated. As a result the single male suspect punched or otherwise assaulted at least six people, two women and four men, several of whom were initially knocked unconscious.
As result of their investigation, officers determined that the suspect had fled the scene prior to their arrival. A suspect description was obtained along with a description of the vehicle and the vehicles registration, it was subsequently determined that the suspect was a resident of Wayne, NJ.
The Wayne Police were contacted and subsequently took the suspect into custody as he arrived home. Wayne Police transferred custody of the suspect to Oakland Officers The suspect was positively identified at the scene by several victims and witnesses, then transported to the Oakland Police Station.
The suspect, identified as Christian Bender, age:41 of Wayne, NJ was subsequently charged with Five Counts of Aggravated Assault and three Counts of Simple Assault along with some lesser charges His bail was set at $100,000.00 by the Oakland Municipal Court Judge. His bail was posted at the Oakland Police Station and he was subsequently released pending a Court hearing.
The charges will be transferred to the Bergen County Prosecutors Office in Hackensack for adjudication.
The Oakland, Franklin Lakes and Pompton Lakes Volunteer First Aid Squads as well as Paramedics from Valley Hospital all assisted in the treatment and transport of the victims In all six persons were transported to area Hospitals for treatment of their injuries, four to Hackensack University Hospital and two to Valley Hospital in Ridgewood. Reportedly, all of the victims were treated and released from their respected Hospitals