Grounds Worker From Essex County Spends All Year Planning Massive Halloween Display Grounds Worker From Essex County Spends All Year Planning Massive Halloween Display
Grounds Worker From Essex County Spends All Year Planning Massive Halloween Display James Joanow was just two years old when he and his dad began decorating his grandparents' lawn for Halloween. Back then there were only a few items.  Joanow slowly grew his collection of Halloween decorations, and now — 16 years later — completely transforms the Bloomfield home with ghouls and goblins galore. "I plan for this all year," said Joanow, 18, who works for the West Essex Regional Schools Buildings and Grounds Department. "I write my ideas down, and buy decorations for different scenes I want to do." Joanow grew up visiting dentist Wayne Gangi's Grove Street Hallo…
Bail Reform Poster Boy Wanted On Warrants Out Of Eight North Jersey Towns Nabbed By Maywood PD Bail Reform Poster Boy Wanted On Warrants Out Of Eight North Jersey Towns Nabbed By Maywood PD
Bail Reform Poster Boy Wanted On Warrants Out Of Eight North Jersey Towns Nabbed By Maywood PD A serial burglar wanted on warrants out of no fewer than eight towns in four counties was captured by Maywood police and charged with a break-in at a local dry cleaner. Nicolas G. Torres, 40, of Passaic, has been repeatedly arrested and then subsequently released under New Jersey’s 2017 bail reform law, mostly on commercial burglary charges, over the past several years, records show. His criminal record stretches back more than a decade before that, however. Earlier this year, Torres was linked to break-ins at businesses in Fort Lee, Leonia, Englewood Cliffs, Little Falls, Montclair, Ridg…
22-Year-Old Motorcyclist Killed In Essex County Crash 22-Year-Old Motorcyclist Killed In Essex County Crash
22-Year-Old Motorcyclist Killed In Essex County Crash A 22-year-old motorcyclist was killed in an Essex County crash Tuesday, Sept. 27, authorities said. Jordan A. Mayrant, of Bloomfield, was riding on Bloomfield Avenue when his Yamaha YZF collided with an Audi Q5 at High Street in Glen Ridge around 4 p.m., Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II and Glen Ride Police Chief Sean Quinn said. Mayrant was taken to University Hospital, Newark, where he was pronounced dead at 4:45 p.m. No charges have been filed against the Audi driver. The investigation is active and ongoing.
'Don't Call Police,' Says Cell Phone Thief With Heroin Who Spit In Officer's Face: Hoboken PD 'Don't Call Police,' Says Cell Phone Thief With Heroin Who Spit In Officer's Face: Hoboken PD
'Don't Call Police,' Says Cell Phone Thief With Heroin Who Spit In Officer's Face: Hoboken PD A 28-year-old cell phone thief was busted with heroin spit in an officer's face after warning his victim not to call police, authorities in Hoboken said. A man later identified as Matthew Soler of Bloomfield had stolen a victim's phone while he was eating lunch at McDonald's around 1:10 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, Hoboken Police Det. Jonathan Mecka said. The victim called his own phone and was able to speak to Soler, who told him to meet him in the terminal so he could return the phone, and then told him not to call police, Mecka said. The victim had already called police and the officers accom…
Feds: Major NJ Drug Trio Admits Killing Informant, Innocent Bystander, Among Others Feds: Major NJ Drug Trio Admits Killing Informant, Innocent Bystander, Among Others
Feds: Major NJ Drug Trio Admits Killing Informant, Innocent Bystander, Among Others A trio of ruthless Essex County gang members admitted their roles in a major drug operation responsible for gunning down a government informant -- following the murder of an innocent bystander who was mistakenly believed to be the snitch. In exchange for their pleas, Tyquan Daniels and Thomas Zimmerman, 27, face a minimum of 33 years in federal prison each, while Ali Hill, 29, is looking at a minimum of 20 years. There's no parole in the federal prison system, which means Daniels and Zimmerman would be turning 60 when either tastes freedom again. Hill would be nearing 50. Federal prosecuto…
Support Surges For 2-Year-Old NJ Boy Battling Leukemia Support Surges For 2-Year-Old NJ Boy Battling Leukemia
Support Surges For 2-Year-Old NJ Boy Battling Leukemia Support is on the rise for a two-year-old New Jersey boy battling a rare form of cancer. Justin Corino, of Bloomfield, is beginning his fight against T-cell leukemia, according to a GoFundMe launched for his ongoing medical expenses. "Due to medical advances, we have high expectations that Justin will make a full recovery and go on to live a healthy and happy life," reads the fundraiser launched by Kira Bjornberg. "However, it is a terrifying and all-consuming experience to have your child diagnosed with cancer, and he will need to undergo extensive treatments." The boy, who is …
HEROES: Trapped Trucker Rescued By Two Towing Operators (VIDEO) HEROES: Trapped Trucker Rescued By Two Towing Operators (VIDEO)
Heroes: Trapped Trucker Rescued By Two Towing Operators (Video) Two tow truck operators came to the rescue of a dump truck driver who was trapped when his rig rolled during the morning rush on Route 46. Edward Spina Jr. from ECRB Towing & Recovery in Bloomfield and JT Sagun from Nick’s Towing Service in Rutherford were both headed to work when the trucker's brakes locked up ahead of them around 7:45 a.m. Friday. The tri-axle vehicle loaded with fill tipped onto the driver's side in the eastbound fast lane at the Totowa/Little Falls border just past the McBride Avenue exit. Spina was driving a wrecker with a dash cam that recorded the accident. …
Ex-Con Fugitive From NJ Caught With Guns, Drugs, Ammo Faces Lengthy Federal Prison Stretch Ex-Con Fugitive From NJ Caught With Guns, Drugs, Ammo Faces Lengthy Federal Prison Stretch
Ex-Con Fugitive From NJ Caught With Guns, Drugs, Ammo Faces Lengthy Federal Prison Stretch Cedric Lewis had been out of state prison all of two months when detectives from the Essex County Sheriff's Office learned that he'd armed himself with a rifle, two pistols and a pair of extended magazines while selling heroin and cocaine. With the heat on, the Bloomfield ex-con headed south. Three months later, deputy U.S. marshals in Atlanta had him in custody. Lewis, 29, will be headed to federal prison for a much longer stretch than before after taking a deal from the government. Lewis pleaded guilty via videoconference with a federal judge in Newark on Thursday, July 28,  to two …
Off-Duty Son, Lieutenant Dad Indicted In Fatal Parkway Crash, Charges Dropped Against Mom Off-Duty Son, Lieutenant Dad Indicted In Fatal Parkway Crash, Charges Dropped Against Mom
Off-Duty Son, Lieutenant Dad Indicted In Fatal Parkway Crash, Charges Dropped Against Mom An off-duty Newark police officer, his father and his cousin were indicted by a grand jury on charges of trying to conceal the death of a pedestrian struck on the Garden State Parkway last year, authorities said. Charges against the young officer's mother, however, have been dropped. Louis A. Santiago, 25, was staring at a cellphone when his Honda Accord drifted onto the shoulder and struck Damian Z. Dymka, a 29-year-old nurse from Garfield, near Exit 151 in Bloomfield around 3 a.m. on Nov. 1, 2021, they alleged. What Dymka was doing on the parkway shoulder, particularly at that time, was…
US Marshals Capture Suspect Accused Of Violating Restraining Order In 'Love Triangle' Stabbing US Marshals Capture Suspect Accused Of Violating Restraining Order In 'Love Triangle' Stabbing
US Marshals Capture Suspect Accused Of Violating Restraining Order In 'Love Triangle' Stabbing US Marshals captured a 24-year-old Hoboken man who had violated a restraining order in a double stabbing that left a 21-year-old man dead and a 22-year-old woman hurt in Jersey City earlier this week, authorities announced. Joshua Gonzalez violated was found Thursday, July 7 near Franklin Street in Bloomfield, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said. Gonzalez is accused of killing Jason Khusial, whose body was found at a home at 186 McAdoo Ave., around 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 5, Suarez said. Sources with direct knowledge of the incident requesting anonymity say it may …
NJ Transit Driver Could Be Deported For Death Of Passenger Returning Pocketbook: Authorities NJ Transit Driver Could Be Deported For Death Of Passenger Returning Pocketbook: Authorities
NJ Transit Driver Could Be Deported For Death Of Passenger Returning Pocketbook: Authorities An NJ Transit bus driver from Bloomfield was sentenced to New Jersey State Prison for dragging a passenger returning a woman's pocketbook in Newark, authorities announced. Superior Court Judge Ronald D. Wigler sentenced 36-year-old Fayola Howard to five years in State Prison for the death of 55-year-old Kevin Thomas, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said. Howard was arrested while trying to board a plane at Newark Airport on Feb. 18, 2020. A native of Trinidad, she is expected to face deportation proceedings following completion of her sentence. Under the No Early Release Act,…
Paterson PD: Detectives Nab Neighborhood Drug-Dealing Pair Paterson PD: Detectives Nab Neighborhood Drug-Dealing Pair
Paterson PD: Detectives Nab Neighborhood Drug-Dealing Pair If a pair of drug dealers thought they'd keep a low profile in a quiet Paterson east side neighborhood, they were mistaken, police said. Detectives seized nearly 1,300 heroin folds, a combined 73 Percocet and Xanax pills, 20 bags of crack and a half-pound of pot during warranted searches, Public Safety Director Jerry Speziale said. They also arrested Jeremy Rodriguez, 23, who lives at the Trenton Avenue residence a block and a half down from School No. 25, and Bloomfield resident Arismendi Acosta, 18, on various drug charges, he said. Both men were sent to the Passaic County Jail to await …