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Beachwood, NJ

Seaside Heights Voters Reject Merger With Toms River School District: Unofficial Results Seaside Heights Voters Reject Merger With Toms River School District: Unofficial Results
Seaside Heights Voters Reject Merger With Toms River School District: Unofficial Results Seaside Heights voters rejected a plan to merge the island borough's school district with the Toms River Regional School District. According to unofficial results, 232 voters in Seaside Heights voted "no" on the merger, while 167 voters said "yes" in the referendum on Tuesday, Apr. 16. The plan would have eventually closed the Seaside district's only school Hugh J. Boyd, Jr. Elementary School. Mainland voters overwhelmingly approved the merger plan, which would have gone into effect in the 2024-25 school year. In Beachwood, Pine Beach, South Toms River, and Toms River, 7,186 voters sai…
Children Ambushed Gym Class With Toy Guns In Toms River, Hitting 26 Students: Police Children Ambushed Gym Class With Toy Guns In Toms River, Hitting 26 Students: Police
Children Ambushed Gym Class With Toy Guns In Toms River, Hitting 26 Students: Police Four children were charged after more than two dozen students at an Ocean County school were hit by beads fired from high-powered toy guns, authorities said. Officers received a report of 26 students at Toms River Intermediate School South who were shot by Orbeez guns at around 2:40 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 26, the Beachwood Police Department said in a news release. It happened while the students were walking around an outdoor track during gym class. Orbeez guns or blasters are powerful water guns that shoot out small, colorful beads instead of water. Police nationwide have warned parents …
Teacher Hit With New Charges In Case Involving Jersey Shore Student, Nude Photos: Prosecutor Teacher Hit With New Charges In Case Involving Jersey Shore Student, Nude Photos: Prosecutor
Teacher Hit With New Charges In Case Involving Jersey Shore Student, Nude Photos: Prosecutor A middle school teacher and high school advisor has been hit with new charges in a case involving a student and nude photos, authorities said. Andrew Fantasia, 27, of Beachwood, originally was charged on Wednesday, Oct. 25 with aggravated criminal sexual contact, child endangerment and official misconduct, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Jackson Township Police Chief Matthew Kunz. On Wednesday, Nov. 1, Fantasia was additionally charged with possession of child pornography and an additional count of child endangerment, Billhimer said. A full forensic analy…
Teacher Had Sexual Contact With Student On Jackson High School Property: Prosecutor Teacher Had Sexual Contact With Student On Jackson High School Property: Prosecutor
Teacher Had Sexual Contact With Student On Jackson High School Property: Prosecutor A middle school teacher and high school advisor has been charged with having sexual contact with a student, authorities said. Andrew Fantasia, 27, of Beachwood, was charged on Wednesday, Oct. 25 with aggravated criminal sexual contact, child endangerment and official misconduct, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Jackson Township Police Chief Matthew Kunz. An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and Jackson Township Police Department determined that between February and June of this year, Fantasia — while employed in…
Jersey Shore Man Sent Texts With Racial Slurs, Threats: Prosecutor Jersey Shore Man Sent Texts With Racial Slurs, Threats: Prosecutor
Jersey Shore Man Sent Texts With Racial Slurs, Threats: Prosecutor A 44-year-old man from Ocean County is accused of texting another man with racial slurs and threats, authorities said. Walter Maxim, of Beachwood, was charged with three counts of bias intimidation, terroristic threats, stalking, and harassment, according to Ocean County First Assistant Prosecutor Michael T. Nolan. On Monday, Oct. 23, an individual appeared at Beachwood Police Department Headquarters to report that he and members of his family had been the victims of bias-related threats and communications.  The victim stated that his son attends school outside the state of New J…
Jersey Shore Code Enforcement Officer Double-Dipped In 3 Towns He Worked For: Prosecutor Jersey Shore Code Enforcement Officer Double-Dipped In 3 Towns He Worked For: Prosecutor
Jersey Shore Code Enforcement Officer Double-Dipped In 3 Towns He Worked For: Prosecutor A former code enforcement officer who worked for three towns in Ocean County has been charged with official misconduct, authorities said. Michael Ruvo, 56, of Toms River, was charged on Wednesday, Sept. 20, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. Among the offenses were instances of double-dipping in the towns he worked for, totaling more than 150 excess hours paid, the prosecutor said. The investigation revealed that while Ruvo was employed in Beachwood as the Code Enforcement-Zoning Officer, he was also employed by the Borough of Point Pleasant Beach as a Code Enf…
Jersey Shore Man Charged In Fatal 86 MPH DWI Crash: Prosecutor Jersey Shore Man Charged In Fatal 86 MPH DWI Crash: Prosecutor
Jersey Shore Man Charged In Fatal 86 MPH DWI Crash: Prosecutor A 41-year-old man from the Jersey Shore has been charged with vehicular manslaughter in connection with a fatal high-speed crash in May, authorities said. John Zinkoski, 41, of Beachwood, surrendered himself to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, Aug. 22, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. The charges are in connection with the alcohol-related crash that occurred in Plumsted Township which resulted in the death of Judi Smith, 59, of Browns Mills, the prosecutor said. On May 12 at approximately 5:50 p.m., Plumsted Township police re…
Jersey Shore Man Was Driving 86 MPH In Fatal DUI Crash: Prosecutor Jersey Shore Man Was Driving 86 MPH In Fatal DUI Crash: Prosecutor
Jersey Shore Man Was Driving 86 MPH In Fatal DUI Crash: Prosecutor A 41-year-old man from Beachwood has been charged with vehicular homicide in a fatal crash, authorities said. John Zinkoski, 41, of Beachwood, was charged  in connection with a motor vehicle crash that occurred in Plumsted Township in May resulting in the death of Judi Smith, 59, of Browns Mills, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. On May 12, at approximately 5:50 p.m., Officers from the Plumsted Township Police Department responded to the area of Pinehurst Road and Long Swamp Road for a report of a serious motor vehicle crash. An investigati…
Jersey Shore Mom Stephanie Kearney Dies At 39: ‘Encouraged People To Be Their Best Selves’ Jersey Shore Mom Stephanie Kearney Dies At 39: ‘Encouraged People To Be Their Best Selves’
Jersey Shore Mom Stephanie Kearney Dies At 39: ‘Encouraged People To Be Their Best Selves’ Jersey Shore native and devoted mother Stephanie Kearney died at her home in Beachwood on Tuesday, June 20. She was 39. Born in Toms River, Stephanie graduated from Toms River High School South in 2002 before earning her Bachelor’s degree from Georgian Court College, her obituary says. She was known for her compassionate spirit and sense of humor, loved ones say. RIP Stephanie Kearney From our Intermediate West days to graduating from Toms River South (Class of 2002)!!! You were... Posted by Sean Thornton on Monday, June 26, 2023 Above all, Stephanie was an incredibly caring and devo…
Proposed Improvements To Parkway Exits Could Make Trip To Jersey Shore Better Proposed Improvements To Parkway Exits Could Make Trip To Jersey Shore Better
Proposed Improvements To Parkway Exits Could Make Trip To Jersey Shore Better A trip to the Jersey Shore might be a little less stressful by the end of this decade. The New Jersey Turnpike Authority is proposing a series of improvements on the Garden State Parkway from Milepost 80 to Milepost 83 in Ocean County. The project would go through Beachwood, South Toms River, Berkeley Township and Toms River. Drivers, residents, and other stakeholders are invited to watch this 18-minute presentation to learn about the proposed improvements between Mileposts 80 and 83 on the Garden State Parkway. New Jersey Turnpike Authority The project includes the addition of two ra…
Ex-Employee Stole $1.3M From Toms River Car Dealership: Prosecutor Ex-Employee Stole $1.3M From Toms River Car Dealership: Prosecutor
Ex-Employee Stole $1.3M From Toms River Car Dealership: Prosecutor A former employee of a Toms River car dealership has been accused of stealing $1.3 million from the company, authorities said. Martin D'Amato, 37, of Beachwood, who was in charge of digital advertising, allegedly ran a fake billing scheme, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. D’Amato was arrested Monday, Sept. 19, and charged with money laundering and theft.  D’Amato created multiple limited liability companies to make it look like he was retaining legitimate advertising and marketing services for the dealership, Billhimer said. He then charged the dealership's c…
Home Burglarized, Range Rover Stolen In NJ Teen Crime Spree, Police Charge Home Burglarized, Range Rover Stolen In NJ Teen Crime Spree, Police Charge
Home Burglarized, Range Rover Stolen In NJ Teen Crime Spree, Police Charge Another beneficiary of New Jersey’s bail reform law broke into a million-dollar Franklin Lakes home and drove off in the owner’s car during a months-long crime spree from one end of the state to the other, authorities charged. Records show Tamir Pitts, 18, has been arrested numerous times over the past several months only to be released almost immediately from county jails or station houses in New Jersey under the state’s 2017 Bail Reform and Speedy Trial Act.  Then he’s arrested again. It was mid-July, authorities said, when Pitts was charged with stealing and then abandoning a BMW a…
Motorcyclist, 26-Year-Old Dad, Killed In Jersey Shore Crash Motorcyclist, 26-Year-Old Dad, Killed In Jersey Shore Crash
Motorcyclist, 26-Year-Old Dad, Killed In Jersey Shore Crash A 26-year-old motorcyclist and father of a 9-month-old girl was killed in a collision on the Jersey Shore last week, authorities said. The driver of an SUV was ticketed for careless driving and making an improper turn, Berkeley Township police said. The motorcyclist, identified as Daniel Wisnewski of Beachwood, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said on Friday, Sept. 9. On Tuesday, Aug. 30 at 5:11 p.m, Berkeley police responded to 804 Pinewald-Keswick Road for a report of a motor vehicle crash with a motorcyclist down into the woods.  Officers bega…
Jersey Shore Man Gets 16 Years For Robberies At Wawa, 7-Eleven, ShopRite, Exxon: Prosecutor Jersey Shore Man Gets 16 Years For Robberies At Wawa, 7-Eleven, ShopRite, Exxon: Prosecutor
Jersey Shore Man Gets 16 Years For Robberies At Wawa, 7-Eleven, ShopRite, Exxon: Prosecutor A 34-year-old man from Ocean County has been sentenced to 16 years in New Jersey state prison for a string of robberies, authorities said. Thomas Jann, of Beachwood, was sentenced on Friday, April 8 according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. A cooperative investigation between the Toms River, Berkeley and Beachwood police resulted in Jann being identified as the individual responsible for a string of robberies that occurred in those municipalities in December 2020, Billhimer said.  According to the prosecutor:  Jann attacked a gas station att…
Pedestrian Critically Hurt, Struck Outside Crosswalk In Toms River: Police Pedestrian Critically Hurt, Struck Outside Crosswalk In Toms River: Police
Pedestrian Critically Hurt, Struck Outside Crosswalk In Toms River: Police An unidentified woman is in critical condition after she allegedly crossed against a "Do Not Cross" sign and got struck by a vehicle, authorities said. On Wednesday March 9, at approximately 1:15 p.m., Toms River police were called to the intersection of Hooper Avenue and Washington Street for a reported pedestrian struck.  Upon police arrival, EMS crews were working on the patient, who sustained head trauma and was semi-conscious, police said. She was taken to Jersey Shore Medical Center where she was listed in critical condition late Wednesday. The initial investigation re…
Grieving Parents Scramble To Give Son Proper Burial Following Horrific Parkway Crash Grieving Parents Scramble To Give Son Proper Burial Following Horrific Parkway Crash
Grieving Parents Scramble To Give Son Proper Burial Following Horrific Parkway Crash The death of a 9-year-old boy on the Garden State Parkway has left his grieving family scrambling for funeral funds. Jake Olivos' dad, Fausto, of Beachwood, launched a GoFundMe page two days after the horrific crash in hopes of collecting enough money to hold a proper funeral service for his son. The page had garnered $5,300 in just four hours. Jake was ejected from a Volkswagen Passat that overturned on the entrance ramp to exit 89A south around 10:20 p.m., New Jersey Police Sgt. Philip Curry said. "I have no words right now, but I'm asking for a huge favor," the grieving father…
Police ID Boy, 9, Killed In Garden State Parkway Crash Police ID Boy, 9, Killed In Garden State Parkway Crash
Police ID Boy, 9, Killed In Garden State Parkway Crash Authorities have identified the 9-year-old boy killed late Saturday night in a crash on the Garden State Parkway. UPDATE: Grieving Parents Scramble To Give Son Proper Burial Following Horrific Parkway Crash Jake Olivos, of Beachwood, was ejected when the Volkswagen Passat he was traveling in ran off the road to the left and overturned on the entrance ramp to exit 89A south around 10:20 p.m., New Jersey Police Sgt. Philip Curry said. The crash was first reported by The Lakewood Scoop. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Lakewood…
Jersey Shore Man Admits Robbing Wawa, Shoprite, 7-Eleven, Other Stores: Prosecutor Jersey Shore Man Admits Robbing Wawa, Shoprite, 7-Eleven, Other Stores: Prosecutor
Jersey Shore Man Admits Robbing Wawa, Shoprite, 7-Eleven, Other Stores: Prosecutor A Jersey Shore man has pleaded guilty to robbing several stores and burglarizing a home, authorities said. Thomas Jann, 34, of Beachwood, pled guilty to six counts of robbery and one count of burglary, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.  The string of alleged crimes occurred between July 27, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2020, in Toms River,  Berkeley Township and Beachwood, the prosecutor said. The State will seek a term of 16 years in New Jersey State Prison when Jann is sentenced on Jan. 14, 2022. A joint investigation between the Toms River, Berke…
Prosecutor: Jersey Shore Man Sentenced To State Prison For Fatal Shooting Of Beachwood Man, 27 Prosecutor: Jersey Shore Man Sentenced To State Prison For Fatal Shooting Of Beachwood Man, 27
Prosecutor: Jersey Shore Man Sentenced To State Prison For Fatal Shooting Of Beachwood Man, 27 A 32-year-old Ocean County man has been sentenced to state prison for fatally shooting another man in South Toms River, authorities said Monday. Marcus Samuels, of South Toms River, previously pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in connection with the fatal shooting of Willie Love, 27, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said in a release. Samuels was behind the wheel of a 2004 Dodge Nitro when he pulled up to a vehicle driven by Love, of Beachwood, and fatally shot him near the Community Medical Center on June 8, 2015, Billhimer said. Love was later pronounced dead at Commu…
Jersey Shore Man Pleads Guilty In Fatal 2015 Shooting Death, Witness Tampering, Prosecutor Says Jersey Shore Man Pleads Guilty In Fatal 2015 Shooting Death, Witness Tampering, Prosecutor Says
Jersey Shore Man Pleads Guilty In Fatal 2015 Shooting Death, Witness Tampering, Prosecutor Says A 32-year-old man from South Toms River has admitted fatally shooting another Ocean County man six years ago, authorities said. Marcus Samuels, 32,  pleaded guilty  to aggravated manslaughter and witness tampering, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. Samuels also admitted to an unrelated charge of aggravated assault, authorities said. Samuels' pleas came Friday in connection with the May 2015 shooting death of Willie Love, 27, of Beachwood, in Seaside Heights, the prosecutor said. Love died of a gunshot wound to the chest at Community Medical Center in Toms River,…
Jersey Shore Man Gets 15 Years State Prison For Secretly Stashing 1.5 Pounds Cocaine In His Car Jersey Shore Man Gets 15 Years State Prison For Secretly Stashing 1.5 Pounds Cocaine In His Car
Jersey Shore Man Gets 15 Years State Prison For Secretly Stashing 1.5 Pounds Cocaine In His Car A 36-year-old man from Ocean County has been sentenced to 15 years in state prison for secretly stowing cocaine and assorted other drugs in his car, authorities said. Michael Trotman of Beachwood previously pleaded guilty to possession more than five ounces of cocaine with the intent to distribute, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. Trotman was sentenced on Friday by Superior Court Judge Michael T. Collins, the prosecutor said. Two concurrent prison sentences stemmed from separate traffic stops in Manchester and Brick townships, in 2018 and 2020, respectiv…
Jersey Shore Bookie Admits Running Own ‘Pick Six’ Lottery, Cash Prizes Topped $100,000 Jersey Shore Bookie Admits Running Own ‘Pick Six’ Lottery, Cash Prizes Topped $100,000
Jersey Shore Bookie Admits Running Own ‘Pick Six’ Lottery, Cash Prizes Topped $100,000 A Jersey Shore bookmaker admitted in federal court on Tuesday that he operated his own lottery game in Hudson County using the numbers from the New Jersey Lottery Pick Six to award winners. Up to 8,000 participants at a time selected six numbers from 1 to 49 at $20 a pop, Edward O’Neill, 54, told a U.S. District Court judge in Newark. The sole winner of the illegal lottery was whoever matched all six numbers selected in the official Pick Six drawing. Prizes often exceeded $100,000, said O’Neill, of Beachwood, who skimmed a 10% vig off the total bets. Like bookies of days past, O’Neill per…
Jersey Shore Man Faces 15 Years State Prison For Dealing Cocaine Jersey Shore Man Faces 15 Years State Prison For Dealing Cocaine
Jersey Shore Man Faces 15 Years State Prison For Dealing Cocaine A 35-year-old man from Ocean County has admitted to dealing large quantifies of cocaine,, authorities said. Michael Trotman of Beachwood pleaded guilty on Monday to possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute it, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. Trotman appeared before Superior Court Judge Michael T. Collins Trotman was stopped by Brick Township police on March 4. He'd previously been arrested in possession of more than five ounces of cocaine on May 30, 2018 in Manchester Township, Billhimer said. When Trotman is sentenced on March 5, prosecutor…
Ocean County Couple Arrested For Drug Dealing, 2,400 Heroin Bags Seized Ocean County Couple Arrested For Drug Dealing, 2,400 Heroin Bags Seized
Ocean County Couple Arrested For Drug Dealing, 2,400 Heroin Bags Seized Authorities in Ocean County have arrested a couple accused of drug dealing and seized 2,400 bags of heroin. John Vaughn, 47, and Jennifer Vuono, 38, of Beachwood, were arrested on several drug dealing charges, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer  Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force and the Beachwood Police Department Detective Bureau identified a residence in Beachwood being used to store and distribute heroin, Billhimer said. On Dec. 18, authorities made a warranted search at a Beachwood residence.…
Prosecutor: Beachwood Man Caught With Hundreds Of Child Porn Images Surrenders Prosecutor: Beachwood Man Caught With Hundreds Of Child Porn Images Surrenders
Prosecutor: Beachwood Man Caught With Hundreds Of Child Porn Images Surrenders A Beachwood man turned himself into police after he was found with 300 child porn images, authorities said. Robert Naumann, 37, was charged with possession of child pornography, First Assistant Ocean County Prosecutor Michael T. Nolan, Jr. said in a statement on Thursday. Naumann turned himself into law enforcement.on Tuesday "following an investigation into alleged acts of sexual misconduct," Nolan said. The investigation was led by members of the county Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Unit and Beachwood Police Department Detective Bureau. Naumann's home and vehicle were s…