Tag:

Raymond Hayducka

South Brunswick Gets $500K Federal Grant For New Police Officers South Brunswick Gets $500K Federal Grant For New Police Officers
South Brunswick Gets $500K Federal Grant For New Police Officers South Brunswick has received $500,000 from the federal government to hire new police officers, according to Police Chief Raymond Hayducka. Hayducka announced the funding through a U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant. The grant was for four new officers. The federal award will support up to 75 percent of the new officers’ salary and fringe benefits for three years, the chief said. In addition to the four officers hired under the COPS grant, two other officers were hired recently to replace retired officers, he said. “We have a long history of excel…
Israeli Helicopter Pilot Killed In NJ Crash (UPDATE) Israeli Helicopter Pilot Killed In NJ Crash (UPDATE)
Israeli Helicopter Pilot Killed In NJ Crash (Update) Authorities have identified the 44-year-old pilot killed in a helicopter crash on Thursday, Aug. 31. Josef Yitzhak of Israel died in the crash, South Brunswick police said.  "We worked with Israeli Consul and Israeli police overnight to notify his family," police said on Twitter. Police Chief Raymond Hayducka extends his deepest sympathy to the pilot's family.  The pilot's Robinson R22 copter went down in a South Brunswick canal near Princeton at 3:15 p.m., the FAA said.  Tragedy - At 3:27pm a single-engine Robinson R22 crashed in woods and a stream off Lakeview Avenue. The pilot was…
Catalytic Converter Thefts On Rise In Central Jersey Town: Police Catalytic Converter Thefts On Rise In Central Jersey Town: Police
Catalytic Converter Thefts On Rise In Central Jersey Town: Police Thefts of catalytic converters, particularly from Hondas, have spiked in recent days in a Central Jersey township, authorities said. South Brunswick police are asking the public to be alert for an increasing number of thefts during the overnight hours, Chief Raymond Hayducka said, “The catalytic converter problem in New Jersey is at epidemic levels," Hayducka said. "We are partnering with county and State law enforcement to track these suspects, but there are multiple crews operating throughout the state.”  Suspects have intensified their recent efforts in southern Midd…
Woman, 43, Killed In Central Jersey Crash; Other Driver Flees On Foot: Prosecutor Woman, 43, Killed In Central Jersey Crash; Other Driver Flees On Foot: Prosecutor
Woman, 43, Killed In Central Jersey Crash; Other Driver Flees On Foot: Prosecutor A 43-year-old woman was killed in a hit-and-run crash in Middlesex County over the weekend, authorities said. Kerri Lynn Shea, of East Windsor, was struck at the intersection of Route 130 and Route 32 in South Brunswick, just before 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka said. The other driver fled on foot and Shea was pronounced dead, authorities said. The investigation is active and ongoing. At this time, law enforcement is actively pursuing the identification and apprehension of the other driver and a…
Chronic 'Brake Checker' Arrested After Months Of Road Rage Incidents In Central Jersey: Police Chronic 'Brake Checker' Arrested After Months Of Road Rage Incidents In Central Jersey: Police
Chronic 'Brake Checker' Arrested After Months Of Road Rage Incidents In Central Jersey: Police Police say they've arrested a suspect believed to have been involved in multiple road rage incidents including "brake check" incidents over the course of three months. Mark Lauri, 40, of South Brunswick, has a history of suddenly stopping in front of others and erratic driving, Police Chief Raymond Hayducka said. His behavior "increases the potential for crashes." The incidents included at least two crashes on Route 1, and were the result of intentional acts dating back to Nov. 3, 2022, Hayducka said. That incident resulted in a crash. Two additional incidents took place hours apart o…
Suspect 'Zoom-Bombed' High School Student's Virtual Memorial Service: Police Suspect 'Zoom-Bombed' High School Student's Virtual Memorial Service: Police
Suspect 'Zoom-Bombed' High School Student's Virtual Memorial Service: Police A suspect has been identified and charged in a Zoom attack on a virtual memorial service for a South Brunswick High School student, authorities said. The memorial service was being held for 17-year-old Emily Murillo who tragically died in January 2021, according to South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka. Due to the coronavirus, the memorial service was broadcasted virtually.  During the service, an unknown person entered the Zoom and threatened to blow up the funeral home and make the casket turn to ashes. The suspect is a juvenile from North Jersey. “It was unspeakable …
18-Year-Old Driver Charged In Fatal Central Jersey Crash That Killed 'Cool Bus Driver' 18-Year-Old Driver Charged In Fatal Central Jersey Crash That Killed 'Cool Bus Driver'
18-Year-Old Driver Charged In Fatal Central Jersey Crash That Killed 'Cool Bus Driver' An 18-year-old driver from Central Jersey has been charged with hitting a beloved bus driver and custodian while he was working outside a school, authorities said. Shamantha Bolla of Monmouth Junction was charged with reckless death by auto on Thursday, July 7, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Chief Raymond Hayducka of the South Brunswick Police Department. Killed in the June 15 crash was Dean Battaglia, 53, a bus driver and custodian in the South Brunswick School District. His obituary called him the "cool bus driver."  A GoFundMe page was create…
South Brunswick Middle School Custodian Struck, Killed By Car While Working South Brunswick Middle School Custodian Struck, Killed By Car While Working
South Brunswick Middle School Custodian Struck, Killed By Car While Working A beloved custodian of a South Brunswick middle school was struck and killed by a car while working, district officials said. Dean Battaglia, 53, was spraying weeds on a curb at Crossroads North Middle School Wednesday, June 15, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office and South Brunswick district officials. Battaglia was pronounced dead at the scene. No further information was provided. South Brunswick Superintendent of Schools, Scott Feder, sent the following letter to parents: "Today is as challenging as it gets as we lost a staff member while on the job after being hit by…
Police Officer, Bicyclist Injured In Central Jersey Crashes Police Officer, Bicyclist Injured In Central Jersey Crashes
Police Officer, Bicyclist Injured In Central Jersey Crashes A 41-year-old man from Middlesex County has been arrested in connection with a series of crashes that left a bicyclist and police officer injured, authorities said. The incident began at 1:29 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10 when the bicyclist, a 40-year-old East Brunswick man, was riding on Route 522, crossing over Route 130 to Fresh Ponds Road. At the same time, a 2017 Ford passenger van driven by Ankur Khajuriwala of North Brunswick made a left-hand turn from Route 522 onto Route 130 northbound and ran over the bicyclist, South Brunswick police said.  The van never stopped and headed northbou…
Central Jersey Police Seek Help Locating Sex Assault Suspect Central Jersey Police Seek Help Locating Sex Assault Suspect
Central Jersey Police Seek Help Locating Sex Assault Suspect Authorities seek the public's help locating a suspect in a sexual assault that occurred near Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park last month. The same man is suspected in a similar attack on a woman in Somerset County in July, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone, Plainsboro Police Chief Fred Tavener and South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka. A joint investigation found that on Sept. 28 about 5 p.m., a woman was walking on a path near the canal where she was approached by a man armed with a weapon and moved to a secondary spot on the Plainsboro-So…
Driver Was DWI In Central Jersey Crash That Killed Passenger: Prosecutor Driver Was DWI In Central Jersey Crash That Killed Passenger: Prosecutor
Driver Was DWI In Central Jersey Crash That Killed Passenger: Prosecutor A 22-year-old man from Central Jersey has been charged with vehicular homicide in an alcohol-related crash that allegedly killed a passenger in his pickup truck, authorities said. A GoFundMe page has been created to help pay for the funeral expenses of the 22-year-old passenger who died as a result of the crash. More than $16,750 had been raised as of Tuesday morning.  The fatal crash occurred about 4:35 a.m. on Sept. 19 near Major Road in South Brunswick A joint investigation found  that Antonio Ferlita, 22, of Marlboro was driving a 2002 Ford F-350 on Major Road when …
SWAT Standoff: South Brunswick Hotel Guest Blew Kisses At Police, Threw Urine At Hospital Staff SWAT Standoff: South Brunswick Hotel Guest Blew Kisses At Police, Threw Urine At Hospital Staff
SWAT Standoff: South Brunswick Hotel Guest Blew Kisses At Police, Threw Urine At Hospital Staff A Central Jersey hotel guest was taken into custody after an hours-long standoff last week in which he "blew kisses" at his arresting officers, authorities said. Louis Smith, 46, remained handcuffed to a hospital bed and surrounded by patrol officers at a New Brunswick hospital on Monday, days after the Route 1 incident at Hotel Vicenza, South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka said. Smith, an ex-convict from New Brunswick, had been staying at the South Brunswick hotel for two weeks when he flashed a handgun during an argument with hotel staff around 2 p.m. Friday, police said. O…