Seven Youths Nabbed In Series Of Clifton Car Thefts, Multi-County Pursuit, Crash Seven Youths Nabbed In Series Of Clifton Car Thefts, Multi-County Pursuit, Crash
Seven Youths Nabbed In Series Of Clifton Car Thefts, Multi-County Pursuit, Crash A Clifton police officer dove into a moving car after the teenager who stole it bailed out during one in a series of incidents involving out-of-town car thieves -- one of whom is only 14. Six of them were captured following a pursuit and crash involving another stolen vehicle and a Clifton police car later that day, Lt. Robert Bracken said. Officers interrupted the theft of a 2017 Mazda on Chittendon Road around 3 a.m. Monday, Bracken said. The thief hopped out of the car while it was still moving, forcing an officer to dive in to keep it from damaging nearby property, he said. The teen a…
Arrest Made In Florida Shooting That Killed 25-Year-Old Essex County Man Arrest Made In Florida Shooting That Killed 25-Year-Old Essex County Man
Arrest Made In Florida Shooting That Killed 25-Year-Old Essex County Man A 19-year-old gunman was arrested in a shooting that killed a 25-year-old Essex County man and hurt another in Florida, authorities said. Michael Cappella, 19, of Plant City, FL, admitted to authorities at the scene that he shot at Solomon Cohen and his passenger around 2 a.m. last Tuesday, WFLA reports. Cohen, an Orange native, apparently lost control of the vehicle and crashed, the outlet said citing the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Cappella and the victims apparently had an interaction before the shooting, but authorities did not comment further on that. A GoFundMe for Co…
NJ Dating App Serial Killer Gets 160 Years In State Prison NJ Dating App Serial Killer Gets 160 Years In State Prison
NJ Dating App Serial Killer Gets 160 Years In State Prison A New Jersey man who used dating apps to lure and kill three women -- and tried to kill a fourth -- was sentenced to 160 years behind bars. Khalil Wheeler-Weaver, now 25, of Orange, was sentenced for three murders, an attempted murder and other counts of aggravated arson, desecration of human remain and kidnapping. Weaver was convicted in 2019 in on three counts of murder in connection with the deaths of Sarah Butler, 20, Robin West, 19, and Joanne Brown, 33.  He was also found guilty of the kidnapping, sexual assault, and attempted murder of a fourth woman, Tiffany Taylor, who surviv…
NJ Teen Shot Walking Sister Home From School Was 'Hard-Working, Loving Dad' NJ Teen Shot Walking Sister Home From School Was 'Hard-Working, Loving Dad'
NJ Teen Shot Walking Sister Home From School Was 'Hard-Working, Loving Dad' The New Jersey teen who was shot and killed while walking his sister home from school earlier this week is being remembered as a hard-working and loving father. Siam Neblett, 20, was shot in the head outside the Central Avenue fire station in Orange around 3 p.m. Monday. He was pronounced dead at the hospital a short time later. Neblett — lovingly called ‘Bit-Bit’ by his family — was raised by his grandmother and has a two-month-old daughter, according to a GoFundMe started for his funeral expenses. “[Neblett] took pride in taking care of his daughter and grandmother,” reads the fundraise…
Deadly Shooting Rattles NJ Community After Schoolchildren Find Bleeding Victim Deadly Shooting Rattles NJ Community After Schoolchildren Find Bleeding Victim
Deadly Shooting Rattles NJ Community After Schoolchildren Find Bleeding Victim Children walking home from school in one Essex County community found a shooting victim bleeding on the sidewalk Monday afternoon -- leaving parents angered, saddened and desperate to slow local crime. The 20-year-old man was shot in the head outside of the Central Avenue fire station around 3 p.m. in Orange, witnesses said.  The victim was identified as Siam Neblett, according to RLS Media. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. Orange Schools Superintendent Gerald Fitzhugh, several school principals and police rushed to the scene. Resident and business owner Quantavia Hilbert…
Man Crushed By Car In His Own NJ Driveway By Driver With Cocaine, Prosecutor Says Man Crushed By Car In His Own NJ Driveway By Driver With Cocaine, Prosecutor Says
Man Crushed By Car In His Own NJ Driveway By Driver With Cocaine, Prosecutor Says Authorities have identified the 65-year-old man crushed to death by a car in an Essex County driveway early Thursday morning.  Donald Banks was standing in his Pierson Street driveway in Orange when he was hit by Chadane Bailey, 26, sometime around 12:45 a.m., Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, said. Bailey was pulling in when she hit banks, who was rushed to University Hospital, Stephens said alongside Orange Police Director Todd Warren. Bailey, the driver, remained at the scene and was charged with causing death while on a suspended license and p…
NJ Religious Leader Sexually Assaults Young Man During Spiritual Ritual, Prosecutor Says NJ Religious Leader Sexually Assaults Young Man During Spiritual Ritual, Prosecutor Says
NJ Religious Leader Sexually Assaults Young Man During Spiritual Ritual, Prosecutor Says A self-described religious leader in Essex County sexually assaulted a young man during a religious ritual, authorities said. Wayne Ram, 44, of Newark, was meeting with the victim at a family member's home and suggested at the family member leave on Aug. 7, in Orange, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II said The victim immediately reported the assault to law enforcement, authorities said.  Ram -- citizen of Trinidad and Tobago -- was arrested on Aug. 27 on charges of with two counts of sexual assault and three counts of criminal sexual contact. He was release…
2 Powerball Tickets Good For $50K Sold In North Jersey 2 Powerball Tickets Good For $50K Sold In North Jersey
2 Powerball Tickets Good For $50K Sold In North Jersey A pair of Powerball tickets good for $50,000 a piece were sold in North Jersey. The tickets from the Saturday, Aug. 21 drawing each win the third-tier prize. The tickets were sold at the following locations: Scotland Arms Liquors, 711-713 Scotland Road, Orange Carousel Convenience Store, 96 Harrison Ave., West Orange. The winning numbers were 16, 28, 36, 39, and 59. The Red Power Ball number was 04. The Multiplier number was 02. The Powerball jackpot rolls to $293 million for the next drawing to be held Monday, August 23, at 10:59 p.m.
Feds: Lyndhurst Conspirator Admits Role In $8.2M Plot To Steal HIV Meds From Veterans Hospital Feds: Lyndhurst Conspirator Admits Role In $8.2M Plot To Steal HIV Meds From Veterans Hospital
Feds: Lyndhurst Conspirator Admits Role In $8.2M Plot To Steal HIV Meds From Veterans Hospital A Lyndhurst man admitted conspiring to steal $8.2 million worth of HIV medications from a New Jersey veterans hospital, federal authorities said Tuesday. Wagner “Wanny” Checonolasco, 34, had an accomplice in Lisa M. Hoffman, 48, of Orange, who worked in the pharmacy of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in East Orange, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig said. Surveillance cameras helped show how Hoffman “placed large orders for HIV medication, purportedly on behalf of the VAMC,” then stole the excess once it was delivered, Honig said. Encrypted messages outlined how the scheme worked, …
Grand Jury: NJ Officer Justifiably Shot, Killed Knife-Wielding Man Who Stabbed Woman Grand Jury: NJ Officer Justifiably Shot, Killed Knife-Wielding Man Who Stabbed Woman
Grand Jury: NJ Officer Justifiably Shot, Killed Knife-Wielding Man Who Stabbed Woman A Newark man who’d just stabbed a woman was justifiably shot and killed by an Orange police officer after he charged at police with the knife, a grand jury found. Jamahl Smith, 46, refused repeated commands by responding officers to drop the knife on the third floor of the Oakwood Towers on Oakwood Avenue around 3 p.m. June 13, 2019, Acting New Jersey Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck said Wednesday. Instead, he “continued to advance toward the officers,” Bruck said. Officer Willie Jones fired his service weapon three times, stopping Smith, the attorney general said. The officers rendered …
Feds: Message App Shows How Pair Stole $10M Worth Of HIV Meds From NJ Veterans Hospital Feds: Message App Shows How Pair Stole $10M Worth Of HIV Meds From NJ Veterans Hospital
Feds: Message App Shows How Pair Stole $10M Worth Of HIV Meds From NJ Veterans Hospital UPDATE: Encrypted messages outline how a former pharmacy worker stole $10 million worth of HIV medications from a New Jersey veterans hospital with the help of a black-market fence from Bergen County, authorities charged. Surveillance cameras had already caught pharmacy tech Lisa M. Hoffman of Orange stealing the drugs from the shelves of the outpatient pharmacy at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in East Orange, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig said earlier this year. According to an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Newark this week,  federal agents also s…
Newark Projects Dealer Caught With Gun Gets 5 Years In Fed Pen Newark Projects Dealer Caught With Gun Gets 5 Years In Fed Pen
Newark Projects Dealer Caught With Gun Gets 5 Years In Fed Pen A Newark drug dealer caught with a gun was sentenced to five years in federal prison, authorities said. Ricky Terrell, 24, was one of several dealers targeted for running an open-air drug market – slinging heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and more -- at the Stephen Crane Village public housing complex near the Belleville border, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig said. Several law enforcement agencies teamed up to smash the operation, making undercover buys and intercepting phone calls and text messages, among other tactics, she said. On Feb. 25, 2020, they raided Terrell’s home and found hero…