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Police & Fire
NO CHOICE: Police Justified Shooting Knife-Wielding NJ Man, Grand Jury Finds NO CHOICE: Police Justified Shooting Knife-Wielding NJ Man, Grand Jury Finds
NO Choice: Police Justified Shooting Knife-Wielding NJ Man, Grand Jury Finds UPDATE: Police were justified in shooting a New Jersey man seen on bodycam video charging at an officer with a knife, a grand jury investigation required by state law found. Luke Mendez, 26, had his wrapped around the knife handle as he barreled down the steps of an Old Bridge home last April 24. Mendez was only two steps from the landing -- less than three feet from an Old Bridge officer -- when he left police no choice. Mendez was pronounced dead at a local hospital about 90 minutes later. Grand jurors reviewed various evidence but didn't really need any more than the bodycam video…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Driver Killed, Another With Life-Threatening Injuries In Five-Vehicle Absecon Crash Driver Killed, Another With Life-Threatening Injuries In Five-Vehicle Absecon Crash
Driver Killed, Another With Life-Threatening Injuries In Five-Vehicle Absecon Crash One person was killed and another was fighting for their life after a five-vehicle crash in Atlantic County, authorities said. Absecon police responded to the crash at around 6:37 p.m. on Thursday, Apr. 11, the department said in a news release. It happened at the intersection of Route 30 and Mill Road. One driver was killed in the crash. Another driver was rushed to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus, in Atlantic City with life-threatening injuries. Police didn't release any more information about how the crash happened. The traffic safety unit for Absecon police a…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Crooked Cardio Doc Admits Pocketing $2 Million In Health Insurance Ripoffs Crooked Cardio Doc Admits Pocketing $2 Million In Health Insurance Ripoffs
Crooked Cardio Doc Admits Pocketing $2 Million In Health Insurance Ripoffs The owner and sole medical provider of a Middlesex County medical practice admitted in federal court that he pocketed nearly $2 million in a long-running series of blatant health insurance scams. Dr. Fazal Panezai, a 76-year-old cardiologist from Morganville, at one point submitted claims for a single day's worth of visits to his Matawan-Aberdeen Heart & Medical Center in May 2022 that totaled 27.9 hours, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. Hei also billed health insurance providers more than $80,000 for office visits when he was out of the country, the U.S. attorney said. Panezai …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Woman High On Narcotics Indicted In NJ Crash That Killed Toddler: Prosecutors Woman High On Narcotics Indicted In NJ Crash That Killed Toddler: Prosecutors
Woman High On Narcotics Indicted In NJ Crash That Killed Toddler: Prosecutors A Monmouth County woman was indicted after she was accused of driving under the influence of drugs in a crash that killed a young girl, authorities said. Samantha Bonora, 31, of Howell, was indicted by a grand jury, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office announced in a news release on Friday, Apr. 12. She was charged with first-degree aggravated manslaughter, two counts of second-degree aggravated assault, and four counts of assault by auto. Howell police responded to a crash on Route 34 near the Colts Neck border at around 4:41 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13. Investigators said Bonor…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Atlantic City Teen Ditched Gun While Running Away From Cops: Police Atlantic City Teen Ditched Gun While Running Away From Cops: Police
Atlantic City Teen Ditched Gun While Running Away From Cops: Police An Atlantic City teen was arrested after he ran away from police while having a loaded gun, authorities said. Atlantic City police saw the 16-year-old boy near Virginia and Magellan avenues at around 3:27 p.m. on Tuesday, Apr. 9. Officers spotted him while conducting surveillance for a weapons investigation. As police approached the boy, he ran away and threw a satchel that he was carrying. He eventually surrendered and police found a loaded gun in the satchel. The teen was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of hollow-po…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Delaware Man Arrested With Child Porn In Cumberland County Delaware Man Arrested With Child Porn In Cumberland County
Delaware Man Arrested With Child Porn In Cumberland County A 40-year-old man from Delaware has been arrested for possessing child pornography, authorities said. The Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office – High Tech Crimes Unit with the assistance of the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office – Major Crimes Unit concluded a two-month Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigation with the arrest of Jeffy Mirto of Smyrna, DE. Investigators received a cyber tip referral from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding the uploading of suspected child pornography. Through investigative measures, Mi…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
NJ Widower, 91, Charged With Exposing Himself To Three Kids NJ Widower, 91, Charged With Exposing Himself To Three Kids
NJ Widower, 91, Charged With Exposing Himself To Three Kids A 91-year-old Saddle Brook widower was jailed Friday after authorities said he exposed himself to a trio of preteens. John Urso was booked into the Bergen County Jail on April 12 following his arrest on lewdness charges hours earlier, records show. The defendant "exposed themselves to students who were playing outside at Franklin School," Saddle Brook Schools Supt. Toni Violetti wrote in a message to the community. Violetti thanked staff at the K-6 school on Caldwell Avenue "for their quick response" and township police "for their swift investigation and decisive action." Bergen Cou…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Jersey Shore Woman Who Sold Opioids, Meth Across NJ Sentenced Jersey Shore Woman Who Sold Opioids, Meth Across NJ Sentenced
Jersey Shore Woman Who Sold Opioids, Meth Across NJ Sentenced An Ocean County woman will spend time in prison after admitting to selling opioids and methamphetamine across New Jersey, authorities said. Laurie Maxson, 54, of Barnegat, was sentenced on Friday, Apr. 12 to three years in state prison, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced in a news release. She pleaded guilty on Monday, Jan. 29 to conspiracy to distribute more than five ounces of methamphetamine. The county prosecutor's office received a tip on Thursday, July 15, 2021, from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency to investigate narcotics being sold in Ocean County. D…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Seven Injured In NJ Transit Bus Crash Outside Egg Harbor Township Mall, Driver Cited Seven Injured In NJ Transit Bus Crash Outside Egg Harbor Township Mall, Driver Cited
Seven Injured In NJ Transit Bus Crash Outside Egg Harbor Township Mall, Driver Cited Seven people were injured when a New Jersey Transit bus crashed in an Atlantic County shopping mall parking lot, authorities said. Egg Harbor Township police responded to the crash in the parking lot of Harbor Square on Black Horse Pike at around 9:59 p.m. on Thursday, Apr. 11, the department said in a news release. The NJ Transit bus hit a light pole behind Boscov's after it left the pickup area. Paramedics brought the driver and six passengers to local hospitals. The bus had moderate damage to its front end. The bus driver was a 40-year-old man from Galloway Township. He was cited for ca…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Three Buildings Damaged In Early Morning Fire On Jersey Shore Three Buildings Damaged In Early Morning Fire On Jersey Shore
Three Buildings Damaged In Early Morning Fire On Jersey Shore Three buildings were damaged by an early morning fire in Cape May County, officials said. Avalon firefighters responded to the house fire on the 100 block of 32nd Street just before 1 a.m. on Friday, Apr. 12, the borough said in a Facebook post. The fire began in a single-family home under construction and a photo from the borough showed extensive damage to the house's second floor. The fire was under control by about 1:50 a.m. and no one was injured. Two neighboring buildings were also damaged by the fire. Firefighters from Stone Harbor, Sea Isle City, Ocean View, Cape May Court Hous…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
JUSTICE DELAYED: Accused Killer Of Bayonne Mom Finally Extradited To US To Face Murder Charges JUSTICE DELAYED: Accused Killer Of Bayonne Mom Finally Extradited To US To Face Murder Charges
Justice Delayed: Accused Killer Of Bayonne Mom Finally Extradited To US To Face Murder Charges A fugitive wanted for the brutal slaying of a Bayonne mom studying to be a nurse 3½ years ago has finally been extradited to the United States to face murder charges. Erick Acosta, 35, fled to Colombia after beating 40-year-old Crystal Ojeda to death with an object that local authorities have yet to identify in a public housing project on Lord Avenue near the Kill Van Kull. It was shortly before 1 p.m. Oct. 9, 2020 that city police responding to a request for a welfare check found the brutally beaten Ojeda. The mother of two, formerly of Jersey City, had been struck in the head and on her …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
South Jersey Man Convicted In Fatal Shootings: Prosecutor South Jersey Man Convicted In Fatal Shootings: Prosecutor
South Jersey Man Convicted In Fatal Shootings: Prosecutor A 44-year-old man from Vineland has been convicted in connection with a pair of fatal shootings in 2015, authorities said. On Friday, April 12, Sheldon M. Goldsborough, Sr. was convicted for two counts of aggravated manslaughter, conspiracy to commit murder and aggravated assault, according to Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae. On March 8, 2015, around 12:20 a.m., Vineland police were dispatched to the 100 block of West Grape Street for several gunshots fired.  As a result of the gunshots, the officers found Damien Mills dead at the scene. Kevin Peterson who s…

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by Jon Craig