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Newark Police Sergeant Charged In Traffic Officer's Death: Prosecutor
Victor Ortiz, a Newark police sergeant, was arrested and charged on Thursday, Jan. 2 in connection with the death of Newark Traffic Control Officer Jairo Rodriguez last month, authorities said.
At 12:42 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12, Rodriguez was struck by a vehicle while directing traffic following an event at the Prudential Center, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda said.
Rodriguez was found by police unresponsive and was transported to University Hospital where he was pronounced dead soon after, authorities said. Ortiz, a Hillside resident, was of…
Man Robbed Exxon Minimart At Gunpoint: Newark PD
A man is at large after he robbed an Exxon gas station minimart at gunpoint in Newark on Friday, Dec. 27, authorities said.
At 12:40 a.m., the suspect entered the minimart at 1425 McCarter Highway, pointed a handgun at the clerk, and forced the worker to open the store’s safe and cash register before fleeing eastbound on 3rd Avenue and McCarter Highway towards Passiac Street, Newark Public Safety Director Eugene Miranda said.
The suspect is described as a Black male, 6’1” tall and 195 pounds, Miranda said. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, face mask, green New York Je…
Security Guard Stabbed At Nightclub: Newark PD
A security guard was stabbed at a nightclub in Newark on Monday, Dec. 30, authorities said.
At 2 a.m., a private event was ending at Lit 21 at 1034 McCarter Highway, Newark Public Safety Director Eugene Miranda said. As the security guard escorted people from the club’s lower level, the suspect walked into that area from upstairs and refused to leave, Miranda said. An argument ensued and the suspect swung at the guard, who hit the man in the face, causing him to fall to the floor, Miranda said.
The guard got on top of the suspect to hold him down, but the suspect, a 5’8” Bl…
Newark Man Trafficked Guns, Drugs: Feds
A 30-year-old Newark man was arrested and charged on Monday, Dec. 23, with dealing guns and drugs, authorities said.
On Thursday, Feb. 22, police officers recovered from Raishaun Lofton a privately made firearm with no serial number, nine rounds of 9mm ammunition, 81 glassine envelopes containing fentanyl, and plastic jugs commonly used to distribute illegal drugs, US Attorney Philip Sellinger said.
On Monday, April 22, video surveillance footage depicted Lofton firing a different firearm into the air during an argument. One of the bullets from the firearm that Lofton shot entere…
Two Newark Men Plead Guilty To Trafficking Fentanyl: Feds
Two Newark men pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Dec. 18 to being members of a drug trafficking organization that distributed hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl analogues, authorities said.
From January 2014 through September 2020, Thomas Padovano, 50, and Bartholomew Padovano, 72, agreed to import and distribute various controlled substances and controlled substance analogues, including fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, methylone, and ketamine, US Attorney Philip Sellinger said.
The Padovanos placed orders with a source in China and distributed the controlled substances and analogues in Ne…
East Orange Drug Trafficker Possessed Assault Rifles, Dealt Cocaine, Heroin: Feds
A 32-year-old East Orange man pleaded guilty on Thursday, Dec. 19 to distributing cocaine and heroin and possessing two assault rifles, authorities said.
Azmar Carrer pleaded guilty in Newark Federal Court to two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine, US Attorney Philip Sellinger said.
In 2021, law enforcement began investigating a drug trafficking organization based in Orange, Sellinger said. During the investigation, Carter di…
Five Jersey City Victims Identified In Deadly Newark Crash: Prosecutor
Five of the victims in a fiery Newark crash that killed six people earlier this month have been identified, authorities said.
At 10:47 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, a vehicle carrying six people was traveling on Raymond Boulevard toward the Route 1&9 southbound on-ramp, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens II said. The vehicle then veered off the roadway, went airborne, and struck a support column for the Pulaski Skyway, Stephens said.
Lamar McKnight, 31, has been identified as the driver. Darryl McKnight, 29, Darnell Carr, 22, Bradley Cunningham, 41 and Veronica Bailey, 31 h…
Inmate Serving 43-Year Sentence Dies In NJ State Prison After Encounter With Officer, AG Says
The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office is investigating the death of a Northern State Prison inmate who died following an encounter with correctional police officers earlier this month, authorities said.
David Silva, 46, was involved in an encounter with officers on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, at the Newark prison, the AG's office said Monday, Dec. 16. Silva was later pronounced dead at a hospital on Thursday, Dec. 12, officials confirmed.
The names of the involved officers are not being released, and no further details have been provided as the investigation remains ongoing.
Records show Sil…
