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'Distressing': Chess Club Teacher Sexually Assaulted North Jersey Student, Authorities Say
Matthew Swajkowski, a 36-year-old Verona resident and teacher, was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a student, prosecutors said.
Swajkowski oversaw the chess club at Verona High School and the victim was a member of the club, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II said.
Police began investigating Swajkowski in July and determined he engaged in sexual conduct with the minor and also gave them alcohol, Stephens said. Swajkowski was arrested on Friday, Sept. 22, Stephens said.
Prosecutors did not say how old the victim is, but noted "while the ag…
Former Employees Forged Over $65K In Checks From Somerset County Contracting Firm: Prosecutor
Two former workers at a contracting firm in Somerset County were arrested for allegedly forging checks from their employer and making more than $65,000 in unauthorized purchases.
Carlos R. Escobar, 38, of Jefferson Avenue in North Plainfield, and Ciro A. Saenz-Puentes, 44, of Remson Avenue in New Brunswick, were each charged with theft by deception, forgery, and uttering a false document, Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said in a release on Monday, Sept. 25.
Escobar and Saenz-Puentes became the center of an investigation when the owner of the contracting company they were former…
Pedestrian, 18, Killed As Nissan Crosses Double Yellow Lines On Rt. 202, Veers Onto Sidewalk
An 18-year-old was walking on the sidewalk of Route 202 when he was struck and killed by a Nissan that veered off the roadway over the weekend, authorities said.
Bedminster Township Police responded to the crash on Route 202 near Elm Street in Bedminster around 6:10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23, the department said.
Investigators say a 35-year-old Flemington man was heading westbound in a 2017 Nissan Maxima when the vehicle strayed from its lane, crossed the double-yellow line, and veered off the roadway before hitting William Richardson, a pedestrian on the sidewalk.
Richardson, 18, of Bedm…
Pedestrian, 67, Critically Hurt In Hackettstown Pickup Truck Crash
A 67-year-old man remains in critical condition after being struck by a pickup truck in Hackettstown, police said.
Hackettstown Police were called to the access road near Wendy’s on Mountain Avenue around 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21, the department said.
Investigators say a 59-year-old Oxford Township man was behind the wheel of a Chevy pickup making a left turn onto the access road from the Wendy’s parking lot when he struck the victim, who was crossing the road.
The pedestrian, of Wildwood, Florida, suffered serious injuries and was flown to Morristown Medical Center, where he r…
Lyndhurst Police Lieutenant Busts Pair In MV Stop
A Lyndhurst police lieutenant out on patrol found an unlicensed driver wanted on multiple warrants and a passenger carrying Ecstasy, authorities said.
Lt. Paul Haggerty stopped their 1997 Ford Explorer – which had a cracked windshield and no front license plate -- at the corner of Ridge Road and Page Avenue, Detective Lt. Vincent Auteri said.
Officers James Colacci and Brian Kapp arrived soon after, he said.
The driver, Kevin Martinez, 25, of Newark, had outstanding warrants out of Toms River and Newark, the lieutenant said.
His passenger, Sarah Hicks, 24, was caught with Ecstasy, Auteri …
Hooked: 16 Busted, $35K Seized In Passaic Sheriff’s Countywide Prostitution Raids
Sixteen arrests were made and $35,840 in alleged profits seized by Passaic County sheriff's detectives during a two-day series of prostitution raids at massage parlors and hotels countywide, authorities said.
Key “pay-to-play” locations for illegal sex were pinpointed in Clifton, Paterson, Passaic, Wayne, and Woodland Park, Passaic County Sheriff Richard Berdnik said.
Nearly all were chosen for the quality-of-life operations following citizens’ complaints, the sheriff said.
Various units from his department supplied the detectives, Berdnik said.
These included his Bureau of Narcotics, Int…
