Fair 66°
Police & Fire
Raritan Man Arrested In Stabbing: Prosecutor Raritan Man Arrested In Stabbing: Prosecutor
Raritan Man Arrested In Stabbing: Prosecutor A 31-year-old Raritan man was arrested and charged with a stabbing that occurred in the early morning of Monday, April 1, authorities said. Jose Cruz-Guzman stabbed another man in the hand during an argument just before 4 a.m., Somerset County Prosecutor John McDonald said. Following an investigation, Cruz-Guzman was arrested in Raritan Borough later that day and charged with aggravated assault and multiple weapons offenses, McDonald said.  Cruz-Guzman was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing in this matter, authorities said. Prosecutor McDonald would l…

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
Philadelphia Fugitive Found With Loaded Rifle In Atlantic City: Police Philadelphia Fugitive Found With Loaded Rifle In Atlantic City: Police
Philadelphia Fugitive Found With Loaded Rifle In Atlantic City: Police A fugitive from Philadelphia was captured in Atlantic City with a loaded rifle, authorities said. Atlantic City police arrested 64-year-old Robert Parker on Tuesday, Apr. 9, the department said in a news release on Thursday, Apr. 11. He was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of high capacity magazine, and fugitive from justice. Officers responded to a report of an unknown weapon in a bag on the first block of South Kentucky Avenue at around 2:31 p.m. Paramedics were treating Parker for a medical emergency when an EMT…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
New Jersey State Police Mourns K-9 Echo, Explosive Detection Dog New Jersey State Police Mourns K-9 Echo, Explosive Detection Dog
New Jersey State Police Mourns K-9 Echo, Explosive Detection Dog Echo, who served in the New Jersey State Police K-9 unit for 11 years, was laid to rest on Thursday, April 4 due to health issues, the NJSP announced on Facebook. Echo worked as an explosive detection dog, working for New Jersey's Detect and Render Safe Taskforce. Working with his partner, Sgt. Christopher Pastor, Echo conducted sweeps for the State House, state government buildings and events at MetLife Stadium, including ay Super Bowl XLVIII. "I am so impressed by these K-9 police dogs," said one mourner. "Thank you for your service Echo, what an amazing example of canine intelligence and…

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
Central Jersey Man Sentenced In Hit-Run Crash That Killed 14-Year-Old Bicyclist Central Jersey Man Sentenced In Hit-Run Crash That Killed 14-Year-Old Bicyclist
Central Jersey Man Sentenced In Hit-Run Crash That Killed 14-Year-Old Bicyclist A 64-year-old man from South River has been sentenced to 15 years in New Jersey State Prison for a hit-and-run crash that killed a teenage bicyclist, authorities said. Michael Arena was sentenced on Wednesday, April 10 for knowingly leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash resulting in death and vehicular homicide, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office. The victim was identified as Bryan Barbosa, 14, of South River.  Arena must serve 12 years and nine months of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole, the prosecutor said. On July 7, 2023, at 4:21 p.m., Sout…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Duo Accused Of Carjacking Takeout Customer In Newark Face Federal Prosecution Duo Accused Of Carjacking Takeout Customer In Newark Face Federal Prosecution
Duo Accused Of Carjacking Takeout Customer In Newark Face Federal Prosecution Two repeat offenders charged with carjacking a customer waiting for a pickup order outside a Newark restaurant are now in federal custody and aren't going anywhere. The victim was pumping air into the front passenger tire on Dec. 9, 2023 when the pair arrived in a 2015 Lexus that had been stolen from outside a Wawa on Route 34 in Wall Township. Arraqeeb Williams-Cook, 23, of East Orange, got into the driver's seat of the victim's car, then pulled a gun, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger said. As the victim ran into the restaurant to call for help, ex-con Washir Singleta…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Motorcyclist Killed In Fiery Route 18 Crash In Central Jersey Motorcyclist Killed In Fiery Route 18 Crash In Central Jersey
Motorcyclist Killed In Fiery Route 18 Crash In Central Jersey A Monmouth County motorcyclist was killed in a crash in Colts Neck this week, authorities said. Colts Neck police responded to the crash on Route 18 North near milepost 17.0 at around 6:02 p.m. on Tuesday, Apr. 9. Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago announced details about the crash in a news release on Thursday, Apr. 11. A 20-year-old Eatontown man was operating his 2017 Honda CBR motorcycle when it crashed into the back of a 2011 Ford F350 Utility truck driven by a 27-year-old man. The Eatontown man was thrown from his motorcycle, which slid to an "uncontrolled stop" and…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Lakewood Schools Paraprofessional, 57, Killed In Early-Morning Jackson Crash Lakewood Schools Paraprofessional, 57, Killed In Early-Morning Jackson Crash
Carole Stevenson Dies In Jackson Crash A 57-year-old paraprofessional in the Lakewood School District was killed in a Jackson crash early Tuesday, April 9, police said. Carole Stevenson pulled away from a stop sign in a 2018 Kia at the intersection of Toms River Road (Route 571) and Lakehurst Avenue, when she was struck by a 2007 Jeep just before 7 a.m., Jackson Police Chief Matthew Kunz said. Stevenson was attended to by Jackson EMS, and taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where she died just after 8 a.m., Kunz said. Stevenson's obituary remembered her as a talented and adventurous person who was a "master of craf…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Man Accused Of Trying To Abduct Lakewood Girl In South Jersey Crime Spree To Remain In Jail Man Accused Of Trying To Abduct Lakewood Girl In South Jersey Crime Spree To Remain In Jail
Man Accused Of Trying To Abduct Lakewood Girl In South Jersey Crime Spree To Remain In Jail A Monmouth County man will remain in jail after he was accused of trying to kidnap a teen girl and groping a woman in a Target parking lot during a two-county crime spree, authorities said. Quamel Benton, 35, of Farmingdale, was ordered by a judge on Wednesday, Apr. 10 to remain in Burlington County Jail through his trial, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. He was charged in Ocean County with attempted kidnapping, luring, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal sexual contact, two counts of eluding, resisting arrest, and obstruction. L…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Man Rescued After Blowtorch Melts His Shoes To Basement Floor In Central Jersey Man Rescued After Blowtorch Melts His Shoes To Basement Floor In Central Jersey
Man Rescued After Blowtorch Melts His Shoes To Basement Floor In Central Jersey A Monmouth County man was rescued after a blowtorch melted his shoes into the ground and fumes caused him to pass out, authorities said. In a Facebook post, Keyport police said it happened on the morning of Sunday, Apr. 7. According to Lincoln Hose 2273, Keyport firefighters responded to the home on Green Grove Avenue at around 6:30 a.m. Police said the older man was using the blowtorch when it caused his shoes to melt and get stuck to the ground. The torch and fire smoke caused him to pass out from the fumes. Officers carried him out of the basement and gave him oxygen. Firefighters quick…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Teen Drunkenly Sped Through Stop Signs, Crashed Into Business In Jersey Shore City: Police Teen Drunkenly Sped Through Stop Signs, Crashed Into Business In Jersey Shore City: Police
Teen Drunkenly Sped Through Stop Signs, Crashed Into Business In Jersey Shore City: Police An Atlantic County teen was accused of driving drunk, speeding through stop signs, and crashing into the side of a business, authorities said. The 17-year-old from Hammonton was arrested on Tuesday, Apr. 2, the Brigantine Police Department said in a news release. The teen was charged with driving while intoxicated, leaving the scene of an accident, eluding police, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and nine traffic summonses. A Brigantine officer saw a pickup speeding on Lafayette Boulevard at around 2:31 a.m. The truck then sped through several stop signs. Police tr…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
140 Shopping Carts Stolen From NJ Shop-Rite Lot, Elderly Man, Younger Pal Busted 140 Shopping Carts Stolen From NJ Shop-Rite Lot, Elderly Man, Younger Pal Busted
140 Shopping Carts Stolen From NJ Shop-Rite Lot, Elderly Man, Younger Pal Busted A 77-year-old Cuban national and a middle-aged accomplice from Newark were arrested after 140 shopping carts were stolen from the Rochelle Park ShopRite over the course of two weeks, authorities said. The carts began vanishing from the parking lot of the West Passaic Street supermarket on March 27, Rochelle Park Police Capt. James M. DePreta said.By early this week, 140 were gone, the captain said. Total value: $28,000 (or $200 per).  Reviewing surveillance video with supermarket security, Rochelle Park Detective Sgt. Jared Shatkin and Detective Nick Mercoun identified a distinctive r…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Asbury Park Teen Admits To Raping, Torturing, Killing His Pet Cat: Prosecutors Asbury Park Teen Admits To Raping, Torturing, Killing His Pet Cat: Prosecutors
Asbury Park Teen Admits To Raping, Torturing, Killing His Pet Cat: Prosecutors An Asbury Park teen admitted to raping, torturing, and killing his pet cat, authorities said. Bani Mezquititla, 19, pleaded guilty to third-degree animal cruelty by tormenting, torturing, or unnecessarily or cruelly abusing a living animal resulting in its death, and third-degree animal cruelty by using or causing or procuring the use of an animal or creature in any kind of sexual manner. Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago announced the guilty plea in a news release on Wednesday, Apr. 10. Asbury Park police began investigating after someone brought a d…

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by Chris Spiker