HIT AND RUN: Driver Flees After Stolen Car Crash At Hank's Franks HIT AND RUN: Driver Flees After Stolen Car Crash At Hank's Franks
HIT AND RUN: Driver Flees After Stolen Car Crash At Hank's Franks UPDATE: A driver who crashed a stolen car at a popular hot dog stand on Route 46 in Lodi on Wednesday drove a couple blocks further before getting into another car, police said. The 2023 Hyundai Elantra -- which had apparently been stolen out of Edison -- crashed at Hank's Franks shortly before 2 p.m. Aug. 2, local law enforcement officers said. The driver then headed east on Charlton Avenue before bailing out at the corner of Clark Street, they said. He then entered the passenger side of another vehicle in the area of the Boulevard Apartments and was gone. Police described him as black, …
Officer Not At Fault In Death Of Pedestrian Hit By Police Car On Route 18, NJ Grand Jury Finds Officer Not At Fault In Death Of Pedestrian Hit By Police Car On Route 18, NJ Grand Jury Finds
Officer Not At Fault In Death Of Pedestrian Hit By Police Car On Route 18, NJ Grand Jury Finds UPDATE: A state grand jury has cleared an East Brunswick police officer who was responding to a crash when he struck and killed a 55-year-old Edison man as he stood on darkened Route 18 in the middle of the night. Julius Filep had gotten out of his disabled car after it struck debris scattered across the highway when a sleeping driver slammed into a utility pole on the northbound side shortly after 3:30 a.m. Aug. 1, 2021, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. A third vehicle, as well as an 18-wheel truck, drove over the debris, igniting fiery, arching electrical wires, the attor…
NJ Auto Shop Owner Who Stiffed IRS To Wager On Horses Headed To Prison, But Not Furlong NJ Auto Shop Owner Who Stiffed IRS To Wager On Horses Headed To Prison, But Not Furlong
NJ Auto Shop Owner Who Stiffed IRS To Wager On Horses Headed To Prison, But Not Furlong A New Jersey auto repair shop owner who gambled on horse races has to serve a year and a day in federal prison for not ponying up to the IRS, authorities said. Gabriel Ferrari, who was the president and CEO of Buses and Trucks in Linden, tapped his business account for bets at the track, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. Ferrari, of Edison, stiffed the government $291,600 in taxes from a cash payroll and didn’t tell his return preparer, the U.S. attorney said. Ferrari took a deal from federal prosecutors rather than risk the potential consequences of a guilty verdict at a trial. He’l…
NJ Correctional Officer Indicted In Beating Of Resident Who Died NJ Correctional Officer Indicted In Beating Of Resident Who Died
NJ Correctional Officer Indicted In Beating Of Resident Who Died A correctional police officer at New Jersey’s maximum-security facility for sex offenders was indicted for his role in the beating of a resident who died days later of a stroke. Giuseppe "Joey: Mandara, 54, of Brick Township “abandoned his equipment, including keys and radio, and thereafter used excessive or unlawful force” on Darrell Smith at the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Middlesex County, the indictment says. A grand jury in Trenton returned the indictment charging Mandara with misconduct last week, according to a statement issued by state Attorney General Matthew J. Platki…
'Incredible Talent:' Spirited NJ Performer Eric Ubl Dies, 34 'Incredible Talent:' Spirited NJ Performer Eric Ubl Dies, 34
'Incredible Talent:' Spirited NJ Performer Eric Ubl Dies, 34 Tributes are pouring in for Kean University graduate and passionate New Jersey musician Eric James Ubl, who died at Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton on Tuesday, June 13 at the age of 34. A lifelong performer at heart, Eric grew up in Edison, his obituary says. He learned to play several instruments — piano, cello, acoustic and bass guitar, drums, and various brass — but could just as easily captivate audiences with the unique quality of his voice. He  performed with groups including Pandora’s Promise, Midnight Mosaic, and Exit 10. Eric started taking music lessons when he …
Colombian Nationals Nabbed After NJ Home Break-In Nets Jewelry, Furs, Cash, More Colombian Nationals Nabbed After NJ Home Break-In Nets Jewelry, Furs, Cash, More
Colombian Nationals Nabbed After NJ Home Break-In Nets Jewelry, Furs, Cash, More Three Colombian nationals remain in federal custody and a fourth has already been deported after the government said they stole jewelry, a Rolex, an antique rifle, furs and cash in a home burglary in Union County. The quartet also took a stamp collection, luxury bags and more after breaking into the Cranford home shortly before 5 p.m. last Nov. 30, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. They then loaded the valuables into a red Honda Accord that they'd driven there, an FBI complaint on file in U.S. District Court in Newark says. Sellinger, who put the total value of the loss at more than …
Distraction Burglars Fool Montvale Resident, 87, But Joke's On Them, Chief Says Distraction Burglars Fool Montvale Resident, 87, But Joke's On Them, Chief Says
Distraction Burglars Fool Montvale Resident, 87, But Joke's On Them, Chief Says An 87-year-old Montvale homeowner was kept distracted by a burglar whose partner slipped in and swiped a lock box from the victim's home. The joke was on them, however: There weren't any valuables in it, authorities said. Dino Pizzo, 47, was arrested at his Edison home on Saturday, April 29, after Montvale Police Detective Sgt. Andrew Fedick identified him as the stealthy intruder, Police Chief Douglas McDowell said. Pizzo's partner went to the victim's home on a dead-end street on the east side of town shortly after 1:30 p.m. Thursday with a story about doing tree work and a question abou…
Boonton Police Captain Stole Personnel, IA Files From HQ, Stashed Them At Shore, In Edison: AG Boonton Police Captain Stole Personnel, IA Files From HQ, Stashed Them At Shore, In Edison: AG
Boonton Police Captain Stole Personnel, IA Files From HQ, Stashed Them At Shore, In Edison: AG A town of Boonton police veteran who claimed he’d been harassed because of his role as a union negotiator was captured on surveillance video stealing his own internal affairs records along with computer drives containing department data, state authorities charged. Capt. Stephen Jones, 42, of Toms River, was his department’s officer-in-charge when he removed at least five computer towers, “three of which contained police information, including files on internal affairs matters,” New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said on Wednesday, March 8. Jones also stole his own personnel and …
World Record Broken By NJ Man Who Dined At 18 Michelin-Starred Restaurants World Record Broken By NJ Man Who Dined At 18 Michelin-Starred Restaurants
World Record Broken By NJ Man Who Dined At 18 Michelin-Starred Restaurants A Garden State man who dined at a dozen and a half Michelin-starred restaurants in New York City has done it — he’s officially broken a Guinness World Record. Oh, did we mention that he did it in less than 24 hours? Yeah, that’s kind of a major detail. “My goal was to make every single meal a memorable one because I only had limited time left to eat there,” Edison native and current Morristown resident Eric Finkelstein, 34, told NJ.com. Finkelstein, a healthcare IT worker and obviously a major foodie, mapped out his meticulous itinerary on Oct. 26, 2022, to include Le Pavillon in Midt…
TAPPIN' IT: Manager Admits Embezzling $4.5M From NJ Brain Injury Fund For Sex With Gal Pals TAPPIN' IT: Manager Admits Embezzling $4.5M From NJ Brain Injury Fund For Sex With Gal Pals
Tappin' IT: Manager Admits Embezzling $4.5M From NJ Brain Injury Fund For Sex With Gal Pals The now-former manager of a fund for traumatic brain injury patients in New Jersey admitted diverting more than $4.5 million in public money to women he was having sex with, authorities said. Harry Pizutelli, 64, of Edison, pleaded guilty by videoconference to conspiring to commit health care fraud before a federal judge in Trenton, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced on Wednesday, Jan. 4. One of the women who benefitted from the scheme, Maritza Flores, 45, of Toms River, pleaded guilty to the same charge, as well as to tax evasion, Sellinger said. In exchange, Pizutelli had amorou…
Paul McCartney Stops Into NJ Cafe Paul McCartney Stops Into NJ Cafe
Paul McCartney Stops Into NJ Cafe A longtime Paul McCartney fan and New Jersey cafe owner got to meet his musical idol when he stopped in with his wife Nancy Shevell last week. Chris Chutnik, owner of Blue Cafe in Basking Ridge, said "Sir Paul McCartney" stopped in on Friday, Dec. 16. "I grew up on his music," Chutnik said. "It was an amazing experience to shake his hand and talk to the legend. Super nice man." Shevell is a New Jersey native, having grown up in Edison.
2 New Shake Shacks Open In NJ 2 New Shake Shacks Open In NJ
2 New Shake Shacks Open In NJ Hope you're hungry! Two new Shake Shacks have opened their doors in New Jersey.  A new Shake Shack opened on Wednesday, Nov. 30 on the third level of Newport Centre’s dining pavilion in Jersey City, the mall said in a Facebook post: Have you heard the news?! 🍔@Shakeshack at Newport Centre is officially open! $1 from every burger and sandwich purchased... Posted by Newport Centre on Wednesday, November 30, 2022 Meanwhile, the burger chain opened another new restaurant on Saturday, Nov. 26 at the Menlo Park Mall in Edison. The opening was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting by Edison Counci…