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Monday, dec 16
Tag:
Robert Kugler
Police & Fire
Ex-Cons Nabbed In Elizabeth Taxi Driver Shooting Sent To Federal Prison
One ex-con was sentenced to a plea-bargained 8½ years in federal prison and another a little more than seven -- both without parole -- for shooting a taxi driver during a late-night robbery in Elizabeth. City police nabbed Naeem Jackson, 24, of East Orange, and Walter Williams-Lang, 22, of Elizabeth, but the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark took the case because of the government’s ability to secure much harsher penalties than under state law. There's also no parole in the federal prison system, which means both men must serve out their entire terms. Jackson and Williams-Lang were wearing …
Police & Fire
NJ Man, 68, Gets 6½ Years For Child Porn That Included Dog Fellatio, Infant Penetration
A South Jersey man who was caught with more than 27,000 mostly horrific images of child porn -- including a toddler “engaged in fellatio” with a dog and penetration of months-old babies -- must spend the next 6½ years in federal prison. Bruce Makley, 68, of Voorhees, must serve out just about all of the plea-bargained sentence because there’s no parole in the federal prison system. Makley’s wife and stepson were home when U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents raided their Dutchtown Road home in August 2020, according to a complaint. Agen…
Business
'Shark Tank's' Daymond John Granted Restraining Order Against Disgruntled NJ Contestants
Daymond John is hoping his battle with some unhappy former business partners is over. The "Shark Tank" star was granted a permanent restraining order against a family with Newark roots who unleashed a torrent of criticism against him after they partnered on "Shark Tank" to sell Bubba’s Q Boneless Baby Back Ribs. Bubba is Al "Bubba" Baker, a Newark native who was a three-time Pro Bowler in the NFL. The permanent restraining order was issued on Friday, July 21, in New Jersey Federal Court by Judge Robert Kugler. The Baker family is prohibited from making any public comments …
News
Saddle Brook Police Chief Eyes Reinstatement, Restitution After Judge Stops Funeral Escort Case
Suspended Saddle Brook Police Chief Robert Kugler is seeking reinstatement, and restitution, following a judge's ruling that he was wrongly being prosecuted for assigning police escorts to processions from his family-owned funeral home. And despite having waited 18 months for vindication, Kugler isn’t angry. “I’ve turned the page,” he told Daily Voice. “I’m moving forward and expect to proudly return to be chief of police once again and serve my community and the general public. “It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.” State authorities wrongly applied a borough ordinance meant to keep police …
News
Retired NJ Police Chief Who Lied To FBI In Assault On Black Suspect Gets 28 Months In Fed Pen
A retired South Jersey police chief whose racist rants made international headlines must spend the next 28 months in federal prison for lying to the FBI about assaulting a black suspect. Frank M. Nucera Jr., 64, of Bordentown was convicted in October 2019 of making false statements to FBI agents who were interviewing him about what was the alleged violation of the 18-year-old suspect’s civil rights during an arrest. Nucera is also awaiting a retrial in U.S. District Court in Camden on additional charges of hate-crime assault and depriving the suspect’s civil rights. The former chief must s…
News
Saddle Brook Chief Charged With Ordering On-Duty Police Escorts For His Funeral Business
State authorities on Monday charged Saddle Brook Police Chief Robert Kugler with ordering on-duty police officers to conduct escorts for his funeral business using department vehicles. The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office has temporarily assumed control over the day-to-day operation of the Saddle Brook Police Department as a result, state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced. Kugler, 59, of Saddle Brook, was issued a summons charging him with conspiracy, official misconduct and corruption of public resources, Grewal said. A hearing was yet to be scheduled. He also was suspended wit…
News
Route 46 Walmart Mall Cleared, Homes Evacuated For Hours After Snow Plow Ruptures Propane Tank
UPDATE: More than a dozen families weren’t able to return to their homes until after 4 a.m. Saturday following a propane tank rupture that cleared a large Route 46 shopping center in Saddle Brook. A bucket loader clearing snow hit the exposed feeder neck of the underground tank shortly after 8:30 p.m. Friday, triggering a mass response and the evacuation of a Walmart and other stores and homes in and around the Saddle Brook Mall, Police Chief Robert Kugler said. “Due to the large leak and the unknown size of the tanks, there’s a chance of explosion,” Kugler said. “So the entire mall was ev…
News
Police: Fair Lawn Officer Nabs Armed Ex-Con Who Threatened To Shoot Up Saddle Brook Pizzeria
An ex-con nabbed by a Fair Lawn police officer after threatening to shoot up a Saddle Brook pizzeria was carrying a loaded gun, authorities said. Abner Morillo of Paterson and a female companion entered Gaby’s Pizza & Grill on Midland Avenue around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Saddle Brook Police Chief Robert Kugler said. The two got into some kind of dispute, after which the woman left and Morillo called a cab, Kugler said. Morillo, 31, "paid for his food but informed the employee that he had a gun," the chief said. "He then told the employee if his taxi did not come in the next 10 to 15 minut…
News
Alleged Coverup Probed After Saddle Brook Officer Leads Ridgefield PD On High-Speed Chase
A Saddle Brook police officer was suspended without pay and two of his colleagues suspended with pay Thursday following a reckless high-speed chase and alleged subsequent coverup. Saddle Brook Officer Andres Morales, 28, was off duty when a uniformed officer in Ridgefield tried to stop his speeding BMW on Broad Avenue 2:35 a.m. Oct. 3. Morales kept going, however, exiting onto Route 46 and then onto westbound Route 80, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. At the Route 80 split, Morales suddenly veered from the right local lane across several lanes into the express lanes, apparently …
Police & Fire
PD: Maywood Man Who Vandalized Police Cars Steals, Burns Firefighters Memorial Flag, Posts It
A man who was caught vandalizing Saddle Brook police cars posted photos and videos of himself stealing an American flag from a firefighters memorial in Maywood and burning it, authorities said. Maywood police on Monday arrested borough resident Mazin Musbah, 25, who told them his actions – which included leaving vulgar notes on residents’ vehicles and streets signs throughout town -- “were in response to an anti-government sentiment he recently developed from watching the news,” Police Chief Terence Kenny said. Saddle Brook police arrested and released Musbah last week after video showed h…
Police & Fire
Co-Worker Hit In Head With Hammer In Saddle Brook Remains In ICU, Accused Assailant Arrested
A Saddle Brook auto service employee was critically injured after his co-worker hit him in the head with a hammer during an argument at the shop, authorities said. Erkan Savasci, 38, of Ringwood was wearing a body armor vest when he deliberately struck the 49-year-old victim at MT Auto Service on Midland Avenue several times in the head with a tool used in auto repair work around 11:30 p.m. Monday, Police Chief Robert Kugler said. The cause of the dispute wasn't immediately determined. The victim was taken to the trauma unit at Hackensack University Medical Center. He remained in intensive…
News
1,000 N95 Masks From South Korea Donated To Saddle Brook First Responders
An Asian-American law enforcement support organization based in Ridgefield Park donated 1,000 N95 respirator masks to first responders in Saddle Brook. The U.S. Law Enforcement Coalition got the masks from South Korea to assist responders during the coronavirus pandemic. The donation was "was an act of gratitude for all the continuing support the township of Saddle Brook governing body and the police department have provided," said USLEC Chief Executive Director Daniel Song, who is also a Saddle Brook special police officer. Song was among those distributing the masks and hand s…
Police & Fire
Saddle Brook Adds 2 Needed Police Officers To Force
Saddle Brook officially added two desperately needed police officers to its depleted force on Tuesday. Both Frank Giordano and Lawrence DiBello Jr. were promoted from special police officer/dispatchers to full-fledged patrol officers in a decidedly low-key proceeding at Township Hall in which everyone wore protective masks and the officers also wore gloves. Everyone also kept a safe distance from one another -- including Mayor Robert White, who swore in the officers. Coronavirus quarantines combined with the recent death of an officer, two recent retirements, injuries and an officer on fa…
Police & Fire
CO Scare Clears Saddle Brook Day Care Center
A Saddle Brook day care center that had 15 children and staff inside was evacuated Wednesday when carbon monoxide detectors were activated, authorities said. A propane tank being used by workers in an adjoining storefront that formerly housed the Kim-Bridge card and flower shop apparently was to blame for the incident at the TLC Plus III on Market Street, Police Chief Robert Kugler said. An ambulance was dispatched as a precaution but wasn't needed, Kugler said. "The contractor was using a propane-fueled concrete cutter," the chief said. "Fumes swept through building into the daycare cente…
Police & Fire
Crime
Spree
: Three Vehicles Stolen, Seven Burglarized Overnight In Saddle Brook -- All Unlocked
Nocturnal thieves stole three vehicles and burglarized seven others before dawn Wednesday in Saddle Brook. And once again, a North Jersey law enforcement official – this time Saddle Brook Robert Kugler – is urging owners to lock their vehicles and not become a victim. The crime spree occurred on two streets in the early-morning hours, Kugler said. “These hoodlums look for easy prey -- and, unfortunately, found some here in Saddle Brook,” the chief said. It’s happening everywhere: After being dropped off, packs of thieves prowl dark North Jersey neighborhoods while most vehicle owners are …
Police & Fire
Overnight Fire Blows Out Front Window Of Saddle Brook Deli
Firefighters quickly put down an overnight blaze that severely damaged a Saddle Brook bagel shop. No injuries were reported in the 1 a.m. fire Thursday at Metro Bagels and Deli at 5th Street and westbound Route 46, which blew out the front window. An electrical malfunction apparently was to blame, Saddle Brook Police Chief Robert Kugler said. Township firefighters were joined by their colleagues from Elmwood Park while companies from Fair Lawn, Lodi and Rochelle Park covered their firehouses. They had the two-alarm blaze under control within a half hour. "The quick response and professi…
Police & Fire
Saddle Brook Police Chief Goes To White House: Heroin, Cocaine, Fentanyl Dominate L.E.A.D. Talk
Heroin and cocaine laced with fentanyl are killing drug users nationwide in staggering numbers, Saddle Brook Police Chief Robert Kugler said after joining Vice President Mike Pence at the White House to boost the L.E.A.D. (Law Enforcement Against Drugs) program. "This was a great opportunity to let White House representatives know law enforcement is doing everything we can to enforce, reduce, prevent and educate our communities about drug abuse," said Kugler, who is L.E.A.D.’s national chairman. Pence and Jim Carroll, the White House National Drug Control Policy director, spoke during a pr…
News
Lawsuit: Bergen Sheriff Candidate Says Murphy Should Fill Post
Bergen County Sheriff candidate and Saddle Brook police chief Robert Kugler has filed a lawsuit against the county clerk in which he says Tuesday's election should be ruled invalid. The suit maintains that since former Sheriff Michael Saudino resigned within 37 days of the next election, Gov. Phil Murphy should have filled the position. The suit also says that Bergen County Clerk John Hogan created unnecessary gaps between candidates' names on the physical ballot -- causing confusion and bias. It also says that Hogan did not hold a public drawing for the ballot, a violation of New Jersey la…
Police & Fire
Saddle Brook Dollar Store Managers Step Up For Boy, 13, Who Had Bicycle Stolen
A 13-year-old Saddle Brook boy was pretty shaken up after a middle-aged thief swiped his brand new bicycle from outside the dollar store in town while he was inside shopping with his grandmother. Hearing what happened, managers at the Dollar General Store on Market Street got together and gave young Michael Duchnowski a new bike. Michael had parked his $220 black-and-lime-green Schwinn Sidewinder mountain bike against the wall of the store, then went inside to join his grandmother, who was shopping there, Police Chief Robert Kugler said. When they walked out 10 minutes later, the bicycle w…
Police & Fire
Photos
: Saddle Brook Firefighters Rescue Three Dogs From House Blaze
SADDLE BROOK, N.J. -- Saddle Brook firefighters rescued three dogs from a fast-moving blaze that blew through the roof of their home Monday -- two blocks from the scene of another devastating fire this weekend. The rear of the two-story, wood-frame house on Spruce Street was engulfed when firefighters arrived just after 11:30 a.m. Responders said they initially had trouble getting there because of a freight train. They had the bulk of the fire knocked down by noon. The roof had partially collapsed. "Due to the quick and heroic actions of the first responding Saddle Brook firefighter…
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