Charges Dropped Against NJ Mayor, But Congresswoman Now Faces Federal Assault Case Charges Dropped Against NJ Mayor, But Congresswoman Now Faces Federal Assault Case
Charges Dropped Against NJ Mayor, But Congresswoman Now Faces Federal Assault Case The U.S. Attorney for New Jersey has dropped the trespassing charge against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, but is now pursuing federal assault charges against U.S. Congresswoman LaMonica McIver, officials announced Monday, May 19. In a statement, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said her office agreed to dismiss Mayor Baraka’s misdemeanor charge of trespass “for the sake of moving forward.” “The citizens of New Jersey deserve unified leadership so we can get to work to keep our state safe,” Habba said. “The dismissal against the mayor is not the end of this matter.” Habba confirmed her office is n…
DoorDash Driver Shooting: NY Highway Super Gets Attempted Murder Charge (UPDATE) DoorDash Driver Shooting: NY Highway Super Gets Attempted Murder Charge (UPDATE)
DoorDash Driver Shooting: NY Highway Super Gets Attempted Murder Charge (Update) A grand jury has indicted an Orange County town's Highway Superintendent, John J. Reilly III, on 13 felony counts, including attempted murder, stemming from the Friday, May 2 shooting of a DoorDash driver outside his home, prosecutors announced.   Reilly, 48, is now facing a slew of serious charges, including two counts of first-degree assault, attempted second-degree murder, and multiple weapons charges, the Orange County District Attorney's Office announced on Monday, May 19.  The indictment was handed up in Orange County Court on Monday. A date for Reilly’s arraignment is …
‘Should I Smoke Em?’ Maryland Man’s Viral Gun Threat To Cop Blows Up In His Face ‘Should I Smoke Em?’ Maryland Man’s Viral Gun Threat To Cop Blows Up In His Face
‘Should I Smoke Em?’ Maryland Man’s Viral Gun Threat To Cop Blows Up In His Face A Montgomery County man who pointed a loaded gun at a police officer while recording himself on Instagram—captioning the video “Should I smoke em”—has learned his punishment, prosecutors announced. William Alvarenga, 21, of Gaithersburg, will serve five years in prison as part of a 33-year sentence, with all but five years suspended.  He will also be placed on five years of supervised probation when he gets out, according to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office on Friday, May 16. It all started on Nov. 4, 2024, when detectives were tipped off about a disturbing video circul…
Fairview Man Who Stabbed Salman Rushdie On NY Stage Sentenced To Decades In Prison Fairview Man Who Stabbed Salman Rushdie On NY Stage Sentenced To Decades In Prison
Fairview Man Who Stabbed Salman Rushdie On NY Stage Sentenced To Decades In Prison A New Jersey man who nearly killed world-renowned author Salman Rushdie in a knife attack on a New York stage has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. Hadi Matar, 27, of Fairview, NJ, was sentenced Friday, May 16, in Chautauqua County Court after a jury found him guilty in February of attempted murder and assault. The charges stem from a brutal ambush on Aug. 12, 2022, when Matar stormed the stage at the Chautauqua Institution, stabbing Rushdie more than a dozen times in front of a stunned audience. The attack left the 77-year-old Booker Prize-winning author blind in one eye and with seve…
DoorDash Driver Shooting: NY Town Board Asks Highway Super To Step Down (UPDATE) DoorDash Driver Shooting: NY Town Board Asks Highway Super To Step Down (UPDATE)
DoorDash Driver Shooting: NY Town Board Asks Highway Super To Step Down (Update) Nearly two weeks after a DoorDash driver was allegedly shot by a New York town's highway superintendent, town officials are publicly responding to increasing calls for his removal and addressing the limits of their authority to act.  John J. Reilly III, 48, who serves as Highway Superintendent for the Hudson Valley town of Chester in Orange County, was arrested on Saturday, May 3, after allegedly shooting a lost DoorDash driver who had pulled into his driveway asking for directions on Valerie Drive the night before. Police say Reilly told the driver to leave, and as the driver atte…
25-Year-Old Knocked Unconscious In Brutal Beatdown Stemming From NJ Karaoke Bar Dispute: Cops 25-Year-Old Knocked Unconscious In Brutal Beatdown Stemming From NJ Karaoke Bar Dispute: Cops
25-Year-Old Knocked Unconscious In Brutal Beatdown Stemming From NJ Karaoke Bar Dispute: Cops A 25-year-old man was knocked unconscious and seriously injured after being brutally beaten on a Bergen County street, police said. The attack happened just after 12:04 a.m. on Sunday, April 27, on Broad Avenue near Cleveland Place in Palisades Park, according to a news release issued by Palisades Park PD's Capt. George Beck. Police said the incident began moments earlier with a dispute inside Soosanghan Pocha, a restaurant at 243 Broad Ave., which appeared to have ended. The victim walked north on Broad Avenue when, unbeknownst to him, the other party followed and attacked him from behind…
Male Escort Gives Graphic Testimony On Day 1 Of Sean Combs' Trial In Manhattan Male Escort Gives Graphic Testimony On Day 1 Of Sean Combs' Trial In Manhattan
Male Escort Gives Graphic Testimony On Day 1 Of Sean Combs' Trial In Manhattan A male escort gave graphic testimony on the first day of Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial on charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution being held in Manhattan. Daniel Phillip, age 41, provided information on sexual encounters with Combs and his then-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura from around 2012 to 2014.  He said he was paid between $700 and $6,000 on several occasions to have sex with Ventura, while Combs watched and directed him.  One time, Ventura told him to urinate on him while Combs masturbated, according t…
'Dawson's Creek' Star, NJ Native Assaulted Ex With Cinderblock: REPORTS 'Dawson's Creek' Star, NJ Native Assaulted Ex With Cinderblock: REPORTS
'Dawson's Creek' Star, NJ Native Assaulted Ex With Cinderblock: Reports Michael Pitt, who starred on "Boardwalk Empire," "Dawson's Creek" and "Funny Games" has been charged with sexual abuse in New York City, according to numerous records. Pitt, a West Orange native, was arrested and arraigned at Kings Supreme Court in Brooklyn on Friday, May 2, charged with two counts of sexual abuse, assault injury with a blunt object and strangulation, Variety reported.  According to the New York Post, Pitt sexually assaulted an ex-girlfriend, striking her with a wooden plank. He later assaulted his ex-girlfriend with a cinderblock, the Post reported. The incidents occu…
Highway Superintendent Shot DoorDash Driver Asking For Directions: NYSP Highway Superintendent Shot DoorDash Driver Asking For Directions: NYSP
Highway Superintendent Shot DoorDash Driver Asking For Directions: Nysp A New York township's highway superintendent has been identified as the homeowner charged in the shooting of a lost DoorDash driver asking for directions over the weekend, officials confirmed. John J. Reilly III, 48, is facing charges of assault, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, and criminal possession of a firearm in the Friday, May 2 shooting around 9:50 p.m. on Valerie Drive in Chester, according to New York State Police and Town of Chester Supervisor Brandon Holdridge. "We are deeply troubled by what has been reported so far," Holdridge said. "We hope the …
Mugshot Out For NJ Driver Who Dragged Cop, Nearly Hit Pedestrian Fleeing NY Traffic Stop: PD Mugshot Out For NJ Driver Who Dragged Cop, Nearly Hit Pedestrian Fleeing NY Traffic Stop: PD
Mugshot Out For NJ Driver Who Dragged Cop, Nearly Hit Pedestrian Fleeing NY Traffic Stop: PD A New Jersey woman dragged a Nassau County police officer and nearly struck a pedestrian while fleeing a traffic stop in Valley Stream, authorities announced on Friday, May 2. Charmaine N. Norville, 47, of Irvington, was behind the wheel of a black 2010 Volkswagen Jetta with multiple violations — an expired inspection sticker, a missing front plate, and an unregistered rear plate — when officers stopped her in the parking lot of 77 Green Acres Road West at 1:50 p.m., on Thursday, May 1, according to detectives with the Fifth Squad. Norville allegedly refused to provide her license and regis…
Off-Duty NJ Cop Arrested In Home Invasion Can Leave Jail If She Seeks Treatment: Officials Off-Duty NJ Cop Arrested In Home Invasion Can Leave Jail If She Seeks Treatment: Officials
Off-Duty NJ Cop Arrested In Home Invasion Can Leave Jail If She Seeks Treatment: Officials A 32-year-old off-duty New Jersey police officer charged with resisting arrest in a home invasion burglary last week was allowed release from jail by a judge Friday, May 2. On a few conditions. Rebecca Sayegh may leave the Ocean County Jail provided she enters an in-patient mental health treatment facility, enrolls in an anger management program, and undergoes mental health/substance abuse evaluations as first reported by the Asbury Park Press and confirmed by the prosecutor's office. Sayegh must also comply with all treatment recommendations, the judge said. As previou…
Off-Duty NJ Officer Arrested, Prosecutor Announces: What We Know Off-Duty NJ Officer Arrested, Prosecutor Announces: What We Know
Off-Duty NJ Officer Arrested, Prosecutor Announces: What We Know A 32-year-old Toms River police officer has been arrested following a domestic disturbance over the weekend, authorities said. Berkeley Township officers responded to a home on Evernhan Avenue for a domestic disturbance where they discovered that Rebecca Sayegh, an off-duty Toms River officer, had smashed the front glass door of the residence, entered the residence, and then assaulted and threatened two victims inside at approximately 11:20 p.m. Friday, April 25, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. Sayegh also damaged the hood of a vehicle belonging to one…