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UPDATE: Aging Career Criminal Gets 16 Years In Bizarre Murder-For-Hire Of NJ Politico UPDATE: Aging Career Criminal Gets 16 Years In Bizarre Murder-For-Hire Of NJ Politico
Update: Aging Career Criminal Gets 16 Years In Bizarre Murder-For-Hire Of NJ Politico An aging Connecticut ex-con would have to turn 90 to taste freedom again after he was sentenced for stabbing a political consultant to death and then torching his Jersey City apartment in a murder-for-hire hit with a longtime crony from Philadelphia. The odds are stacked against George Bratsenis, 74, of Monroe, who reportedly has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer. There's also no parole in the federal prison system. Unless he’s granted a compassionate release for health reasons, Bratsenis will have to serve just about all of the plea-bargained 16-year sentence approved by …

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
UPDATE: Ferocious Fire Destroys Building Housing Longtime Pickle King Business In Paterson UPDATE: Ferocious Fire Destroys Building Housing Longtime Pickle King Business In Paterson
Update: Ferocious Fire Destroys Building Housing Longtime Pickle King Business In Paterson A ferocious, fast-moving fire early Saturday destroyed a Paterson building that housed a 65-year-old pickle company. The blaze broke out in the single-story Pickle King plant on Ellison Street at Straight Street around 6 a.m. March 25, several hours after the last employees working on Friday had left, city authorities said. It went to two alarms within minutes, then hit three bells shortly before 7 a.m., as flames blew through the roof and it eventually collapsed. A firefighter was taken to St. Joseph’s University Medical Center after falling off a ladder and injuring his hand, responders…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Car Flips, Burns Closing Route 70 In Toms River Car Flips, Burns Closing Route 70 In Toms River
Car Flips, Burns Closing Route 70 In Toms River A car overturned and burst into flames prompting the closure of Route 70 in both directions in Toms River, authorities said. The crash occurred at about 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, March 23 near Massachusetts Avenue (Route 637), according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The Lakewood Scoop, which reported serious injuries, posted a video of the fiery crash here. 

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by Jon Craig
News
Cherry Hill Mom Was Walking Dog, Son Was In Shower When Fire Broke Out, Loved Ones Say Cherry Hill Mom Was Walking Dog, Son Was In Shower When Fire Broke Out, Loved Ones Say
Cherry Hill Mom Was Walking Dog, Son Was In Shower When Fire Broke Out, Loved Ones Say A family from Cherry Hill lost their home in a fire last weekend, but the community is rallying to help them. Nearly $10,000 has been raised for Anya Rozenblit and her family, who lost everything when the fire destroyed their home.  A GoFundMe campaign has been organized by Anya's friend, Lyann Figueroa. Figueroa wrote: "On the afternoon of Saturday, March 18, she was out walking her dogs & on her way back realized that her house was on fire." Her son Jacob was home in the shower when the fire broke out. "The fire moved quickly through her home & she lost absolutely eve…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Jersey Shore Woman Set Fire To Her Home: Prosecutor Jersey Shore Woman Set Fire To Her Home: Prosecutor
Jersey Shore Woman Set Fire To Her Home: Prosecutor A 44-year-old woman from Ocean County has been charged with setting fire to her home, authorities said. On Tuesday,  March 21, Lisa Ziobro, of Barnegat, was charged with two counts of aggravated arson and four counts of arson, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer Billhimer did not disclose a motive for the arson. Earlier Tuesday at about 7:30 a.m., Barnegat Township police and firefighters were dispatched to a structure fire on Waterfall Lane. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire. The family dog was rescued and unharmed. A pet bird was unab…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Fatal Jersey Shore House Fire Ruled Accidental Fatal Jersey Shore House Fire Ruled Accidental
Fatal Jersey Shore House Fire Ruled Accidental A fire that killed one person and critically injured another in Manchester has been ruled accidental, authorities said. A "smoking material" had been thrown into the trash on a patio and set the dwelling on fire, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. The fire destroyed part of a multi-family home on Sunday, March 19.  The names of the victims have not been released. One remained in critical condition on Tuesday, March 21. The decedent’s body was taken to Community Medical Center for a post-mortem examination and identification. The fire broke out at 6:51 p.…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Firefighters Battle Massive Church Blaze In South Jersey Firefighters Battle Massive Church Blaze In South Jersey
Firefighters Battle Massive Church Blaze In South Jersey A fire ravaged a Florence Township church on Monday evening, March 20, and burned into the following morning. Firefighters worked to put out the 8-alarm blaze at the Fountain of Life Center, on the 2000 block of Columbus Road. Fire officials tell 6abc that kids playing basketball behind the church noticed smoke on Monday evening. The blaze climbed to eight alarms bringing fire companies from across New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the scene. Responders remained at the scene controlling hot spots as of 5 a.m. Tuesday, March 21. Fountain of Life Center Academy, a school next door, was not dam…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
1 Dead, 2nd Critical In House Fire In Manchester 1 Dead, 2nd Critical In House Fire In Manchester
1 Dead, 2nd Critical In House Fire In Manchester One person was killed and a second woman is in critical condition after a fire at a multi-family home Sunday night, March 19, authorities said. Three Manchester police officers were brought to the hospital for smoke inhalation and released, they said. The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said one woman was killed and a second remained in critical condition on Monday, March 20. The fire broke out at 6:51 p.m. at a quadplex on Heron Street in the Cedar Glen West section of town, Manchester police said. Arriving police saw a home fully engulfed in flames and were told by family members that …

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Firefighters Battle Serious Blaze On Jersey Shore Firefighters Battle Serious Blaze On Jersey Shore
Firefighters Battle Serious Blaze On Jersey Shore Firefighters were battling a serious fire in Belmar on Wednesday, March 15. The fire broke out at about 4 p.m. on the 1700 block of Surf Avenue, Belmar police said. Multiple fire departments responded from surrounding towns to assist the Belmar Fire Department including: Spring Lake, Wall, Ocean, Neptune, Sea Girt, Asbury Park, Avon, and the Monmouth County Fire Marshal. No official word yet on casualties. CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Man Trapped, Killed In Fire In Ocean County, Family Says Man Trapped, Killed In Fire In Ocean County, Family Says
Man Trapped, Killed In Fire In Ocean County, Family Says A fire that left a man dead in Ocean County is under investigation. On Monday, March 6, at approximately 1:45 p.m., multiple fire companies from the Little Egg Harbor Township area responded to a structure fire on Harvest Way. During a search of the residence, the body of a dead male was discovered, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. In a GoFundMe campaign, Bobbie Ackerman said the victim was her uncle. She identified herself as the daughter of the homeowner, Christine Ackerman, and said her mother was on her way home from work when she was told her house…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
'Blow Up The House': Tenant Facing Eviction Dies In Jersey Shore House Fire, Police Say 'Blow Up The House': Tenant Facing Eviction Dies In Jersey Shore House Fire, Police Say
'Blow Up The House': Tenant Facing Eviction Dies In Jersey Shore House Fire, Police Say A tenant facing eviction who threatened to "blow up the house" died in a fire that engulfed her Monmouth County home Wednesday, March 1, authorities said. The Cedar Court in Roosevelt Borough resident had been served an eviction notice, but was refusing to leave when she made the threat, according to New Jersey State Police Sgt. Philip Curry. NJ | Roosevelt | 3-alarm structure fire | #watch #live #aerials on https://t.co/sAhpPh3gSW Source: https://t.co/77XDXI8RYd pic.twitter.com/AwJPYrtibC — EmergencyStream (@EmergencyStream) March 1, 2023 At approximately 11:10 am, troopers saw smoke …

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Suspicious Brush Fire Investigated On Jersey Shore: Prosecutor Suspicious Brush Fire Investigated On Jersey Shore: Prosecutor
Suspicious Brush Fire Investigated On Jersey Shore: Prosecutor A series of small fires is being investigated as suspicious in origin by Ocean County authorities. On Monday, Feb. 20, at approximately 2:20 p.m., the Berkeley Township Police Department and the Beachwood Borough Fire Department responded to a wooded area inside Johnson’s Pit, located in Berkeley Township, for a report of a brush fire.  Emergency personnel discovered and extinguished a small brush fire. An investigation by the Ocean County Fire Marshals Office and New Jersey State Forest Fire Service determined that there were three separate fires, including one&nb…

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by Jon Craig