Loaded Gun, High-Capacity Magazine Found On Unlicensed Route 17 Driver, Police Say Loaded Gun, High-Capacity Magazine Found On Unlicensed Route 17 Driver, Police Say
Loaded Gun, High-Capacity Magazine Found On Unlicensed Route 17 Driver, Police Say A motorist from North Carolina was found with a loaded firearm and a high-capacity magazine during a routine motor vehicle stop on Route 17 in Paramus this week, police said. Officer Cesar Hurtado stopped a gray 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe heading north near the Garden State Parkway for a traffic violation around 2:20 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, Paramus Police Chief Robert Guidetti said. A registration check revealed that the registered owner had a revoked driving privilege, Guidetti said. Hurtado identified the driver as Shenita J. King, 38, of Rocky Mount, NC, who said the vehicle was not hers…
Drunk Driver Slams Into Dumpster At North Bergen Police HQ, Cops Charge Drunk Driver Slams Into Dumpster At North Bergen Police HQ, Cops Charge
Drunk Driver Slams Into Dumpster At North Bergen Police HQ, Cops Charge A 66-year-old Union City man was arrested and charged with drunk driving after he struck a dumpster at North Bergen police headquarters on the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 10, authorities said. At 9:50 p.m., an officer observed a 2010 white Ford 150 pickup truck driven by Juan Mendez-Alvarado nearly collide with a street sign while making a right turn from Kennedy Boulevard onto Hillside Place, North Bergen police said. The vehicle proceeded at a slow place, nearly hitting a parked car and the brick facade of a nearby house, police said.  Mendez-Alvarado attempted to park in a designated …
Lockdown Lifted At Bloomfield High School: Police Lockdown Lifted At Bloomfield High School: Police
Lockdown Lifted At Bloomfield High School: Police Bloomfield High School was placed on lockdown after an unauthorized juvenile was located near the building on the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 11, authorities said. Officers were notified by high school staff about the juvenile and the building was placed on lockdown as law enforcement conducted a search, Bloomfield police said. Officers said the unauthorized individual left the area of the high school, police said. There were no reported injuries and everyone is safe, police said. The lockdown was lifted and normal activity resumed at the high school, police said.
Campfire Accidentally Sparked Huge Wildfire Near Jersey Shore Neighborhood: Investigators Campfire Accidentally Sparked Huge Wildfire Near Jersey Shore Neighborhood: Investigators
Campfire Accidentally Sparked Huge Wildfire Near Jersey Shore Neighborhood: Investigators An illegal and abandoned campfire started a massive wildfire that burned for three days in Ocean County, authorities said. Investigators determined the wildfire was accidentally started by "an unknown person(s) improperly extinguishing a campfire," Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release on Wednesday, Sept. 11. The roughly 189-acre wildfire burned near Fishers Pit, a sand and gravel pit in the Bayville section of Berkeley Township. In its final update, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said the wildfire was 100 percent contained a…
Multi-Alarm Fire At Bayonne Scrapyard (DEVELOPING) Multi-Alarm Fire At Bayonne Scrapyard (DEVELOPING)
Multi-Alarm Fire At Bayonne Scrapyard (Developing) Firefighters are on the scene of a fire at a scrapyard in Bayonne on the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 11, authorities said. Additional units have been requested to the multi-alarm fire at the scrapyard near East 2nd Street, the Bayonne Office of Emergency Management said in a social media post. This is a developing story, check back later for additional updates.
17-Year-Old Swimmer Brings Newark Police To Passaic River: Cops 17-Year-Old Swimmer Brings Newark Police To Passaic River: Cops
17-Year-Old Swimmer Brings Newark Police To Passaic River: Cops A 17-year-old was swimming in the Passaic River on the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 10, authorities said. At 7:50 a.m., Newark police responded to Bridge Street and McCarter Highway on a report of the teen in the water, Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé said. Police made contact with the swimmer when he emerged from the water, Fragé said. The swimmer is reportedly uninjured, Fragé said. This incident remains under investigation, Fragé said. 
Horses Extricated From Trailer In NJ Turnpike Crash, Firefighters Say Horses Extricated From Trailer In NJ Turnpike Crash, Firefighters Say
Horses Extricated From Trailer In NJ Turnpike Crash, Firefighters Say Several horses were medically treated after the trailers they were being towed in were struck on the New Jersey Turnpike Tuesday, Sept. 10, firefighters said. The Cherry Hill Fire Department said the crash happened in the southbound lanes near milepost 26, and involved a utility van and a truck towing the trailer. "There were no injuries to humans, however the horse trailer had significant damage to the rear door and ramp trapping the horses inside," the fire department said. "To complicate things further, the trailer was disabled and could not be moved off of the highway and one of the hor…
LA Fitness Stabbing: Boxcutter-Wielding Suspect From Union County In Custody, Cops Say LA Fitness Stabbing: Boxcutter-Wielding Suspect From Union County In Custody, Cops Say
LA Fitness Stabbing: Boxcutter-Wielding Suspect From Union County In Custody, Cops Say A 22-year-old Scotch Plains resident was arrested and charged on Monday, Sept. 9, with attempted murder after he stabbed another man with a boxcutter at an LA Fitness in Clark on Sunday, authorities said. Officers responded to the LA Fitness at 1255 Raritan Rd. and located the victim, while the perpetrator, Antonio Lampon, fled from the scene before law enforcement arrived, Clark police said in a release. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital where he was treated and released, police said. Lampon was charged with attempted murder, multiple counts of aggravated assault and multiple…
Motorcyclist, 37, Killed In Route 17 Crash In Bergen County Motorcyclist, 37, Killed In Route 17 Crash In Bergen County
Motorcyclist, 37, Killed In Route 17 Crash In Bergen County A 37-year-old motorcyclist was killed in a crash on Route 17 in Bergen County on Tuesday, Sept. 10, police said. Police responding to multiple 911 calls of a motorcyclist down on the southbound side of the highway near the Essex Street ramp in Maywood found the operator unresponsive and not breathing just before 10:30 a.m., Maywood Police Detective Sgt. William Phayre said. The motorcyclist had collided with another vehicle, causing it to veer off the roadway into a grass median, Phayre said citing findings of the investigation. The driver of the second vehicle remained on scene. …
Smoke Diminshes As Crews Begin Containing Wildfire Near Jersey Shore Neighborhood (UPDATE) Smoke Diminshes As Crews Begin Containing Wildfire Near Jersey Shore Neighborhood (UPDATE)
Smoke Diminshes As Crews Begin Containing Wildfire Near Jersey Shore Neighborhood (Update) Smoke has diminished as a massive wildfire burned for a second day in Ocean County, officials said. The fire was first spotted at the Cedar Bridge fire tower at 4:44 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 9, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said in an update. The roughly 189-acre wildfire was burning near Fishers Pit, a sand and gravel pit in the Bayville section of Berkeley Township. Conditions have improved after "erratic fire behavior" caused problems for the first firefighters at the scene. "Fire crews continue to secure and reinforce containment lines by mopping up hot …
Elizabeth Man Gets 25 Years For Bludgeoning Woman To Death: Authorities Elizabeth Man Gets 25 Years For Bludgeoning Woman To Death: Authorities
Elizabeth Man Gets 25 Years For Bludgeoning Woman To Death: Authorities A 34-year-old Elizabeth man was sentenced to 25 years in state prison on Friday, Sept. 6, after he bludgeoned a woman to death in 2022, authorities said. On Sept. 11, 2022, at 2 a.m., police in Elizabeth found Carmen Lopez Barahona, a 30-year-old Elizabeth woman, dead after sustaining blunt force trauma to the head, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel, Elizabeth Police Chief Giacomo Sacca, and Elizabeth Police Director Earl Graves said. Gomez fled the scene and his vehicle was later located in Perth Amboy, where he was apprehended and transported back to Union County, authoriti…
Newark Man Struck By Vehicle In Linden: Police Newark Man Struck By Vehicle In Linden: Police
Newark Man Struck By Vehicle In Linden: Police A 63-year old Newark man was struck by a vehicle in Linden on Tuesday, Sept. 10, authorities said. The crash occurred at midnight on the 1700 block of Route 1, Linden police said in a release. A 2018 Honda CRV was traveling southbound when it collided with the man, police said. The man was treated on scene and taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. He is listed in serious condition, police said. No additional injuries were reported, and the driver of the vehicle is cooperating with Investigators, police said.
Newark School Locked Down After Shooting: Police Newark School Locked Down After Shooting: Police
Newark School Locked Down After Shooting: Police A school in Newark was briefly locked down following a shooting at a gas station on Monday, Sept. 9, authorities said.  At 1:52 p.m., police responded to Bergen Street and South Orange Avenue on a report of shots fired, Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé said. Police did not locate any victims but recovered ballistic evidence of a shooting at a gas station on the 200 block of South Orange Avenue, Fragé said. Lead Charter School, at 571 Central Ave., was temporarily locked down to ensure the safety of students, Fragé said.  No injuries were reported and the shooti…
Crews Battle 150-Acre Wildfire Across Ocean County (DEVELOPING) Crews Battle 150-Acre Wildfire Across Ocean County (DEVELOPING)
Crews Battle 150-Acre Wildfire Across Ocean County (Developing) Firefighters were battling a massive wildfire in Ocean County that broke out late Monday, Sept. 9, officials said. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service said the fire was burning near Fishers Pit, a sand and gravel pit in the Bayville section of Berkeley Township. The NJFFS first posted on Twitter about the wildfire at 7:30 p.m. Monday. As of Tuesday morning, the fire had been 20 percent contained to 150 acres, after spreading near Northern Boulevard in the Barnegat Pines neighborhood of Berkeley. "When firefighters arrived on scene initial attack efforts were unsuccessful due to erratic…
Arrangements Set, Obituary Posted For Fairfield Officer James 'Jimmy' Ciampi Arrangements Set, Obituary Posted For Fairfield Officer James 'Jimmy' Ciampi
Arrangements Set, Obituary Posted For Fairfield Officer James 'Jimmy' Ciampi Arrangements have been finalized for Fairfield Police Officer James "Jimmy" Ciampi, who died Monday, Sept. 9, following a battle with cancer. He would have turned 32 in October. According to his obituary on the Ippolito-Stellato Funeral Home website, visitation will be held Thursday, Sept. 12 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home in Fairfield. The funeral will be at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 13 at the funeral home, with a Funeral Mass set for 10 a.m., at the St. Thomas More R.C. Church. Ciampi graduated from West Essex High School before earning his bachelor's from Rutgers University…
Three Men Had More Than 150 Grams Of Cocaine: Hudson County Prosecutor Three Men Had More Than 150 Grams Of Cocaine: Hudson County Prosecutor
Three Men Had More Than 150 Grams Of Cocaine: Hudson County Prosecutor Three men were recently arrested and charged after a narcotics investigation in Secaucus resulted in the recovery of over 150 grams of cocaine and approximately 20 grams of MDMA, authorities said. Nelson Villegas-Rios, a 33-year-old Lyndhurst resident and Sebastian Ospina Osorio, a 34-year-old New York resident were arrested on Wednesday, Aug. 7 and charged with distributing cocaine and ecstasy, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said. They were arrested on Plaza Drive in Secaucus. Larry Marin, a 27-year-old Lodi resident was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Tuesday,…
Woman Assaulted, Spat On NJ Transit Bus By Man: Newark Police Woman Assaulted, Spat On NJ Transit Bus By Man: Newark Police
Woman Assaulted, Spat On NJ Transit Bus By Man: Newark Police A man spat on a woman and assaulted her on an NJ Transit Bus in Newark on Tuesday, Aug. 27, authorities said. At 1 p.m., the woman and the man engaged in a verbal altercation while on the bus at Broad Street and Branford Place, Newark Public Safety Director Fritz G. Fragé said. The man spit in the woman's face and a physical altercation ensued with the man punching the woman in the face, Fragé said. The woman received medical treatment for her injuries at an area hospital, Fragé said. The suspect is described as 5'8" and 140 lbs. with a medium brown complexion…
11 People Evacuated In East Orange Three-Alarm Fire 11 People Evacuated In East Orange Three-Alarm Fire
11 People Evacuated In East Orange Three-Alarm Fire A three-alarm fire in East Orange caused 11 people to be evacuated on the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 7, authorities said. Firefighters responded to 291 Glenwood Ave. at 4:30 p.m. and the fire escalated to three alarms, necessitating additional firefighters to the scene, a spokesperson for the City of East Orange said. It took firefighters more than 2.5 hours before declaring the blaze under control, authorities said. The fire also spread to 289 Glenwood Ave., authorities said. Three families consisting of 11 people were safely evacuated and are receiving assistance from the Office of Eme…
Few Details Released After Officer Shoots Newark Man On Jersey Shore Few Details Released After Officer Shoots Newark Man On Jersey Shore
Few Details Released After Officer Shoots Newark Man On Jersey Shore Authorities have released few details after a police officer shot a burglary suspect in Monmouth County last week. Police responded to burglary reports in Rumson near the intersection of Avenue of Two Rivers and Shrewsbury Drive at around 4:45 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 6, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said in a news release. A Fair Haven officer found two suspects driving in a vehicle and fired their gun at them. A 27-year-old Newark man was shot and brought to a nearby hospital. The names of the officer and the man who was shot haven't been released. The susp…
Man Shot In Newark: Police Man Shot In Newark: Police
Man Shot In Newark: Police A man was shot in Newark on the early morning of Sunday, Sept. 8, authorities said. At 4:38 a.m., police responded to the 400 block of Washington Street and located the man who had been shot, Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé said. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he is in stable condition, authorities said. The shooting remains under investigation, authorities said.
Sidewalk Save: Bodycam Footage Shows NJ Officers Saving Choking Baby Sidewalk Save: Bodycam Footage Shows NJ Officers Saving Choking Baby
Sidewalk Save: Bodycam Footage Shows NJ Officers Saving Choking Baby Newly-released body-worn camera footage shows two New Jersey police officers saving a choking baby. Hightstown Officers Daniel Abbatemarco and Kenneth Larsen responded to a call of a choking baby girl on March 31. Upon arrival, they were met by a man holding the girl. Larsen arrived on scene and quickly performed the Infant Heimlich Maneuver on the girl, who was breathing again in a matter of seconds. Meanwhile, Abbatemarco and Larsen comforted the man holding her and a woman crying at the scene. "She's breathing, she's clear," the officers say. "Let's let out a cry sweetheart!" …
DUI Driver Wrecks Route 78 Memorial For Trooper Killed By Car, Police Say DUI Driver Wrecks Route 78 Memorial For Trooper Killed By Car, Police Say
DUI Driver Wrecks Route 78 Memorial For Trooper Killed By Car, Police Say A 38-year-old man is facing charges after police say he wrecked a roadside memorial for a fallen trooper along Route 78 last month while driving under the influence. David Neufield, of Berkeley Heights, was found inside of the vehicle that had struck the memorial for NJSP Trooper Thomas Hanratty at milepost 46.8 in Summit around 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, State Police said. Arriving troopers saw Summit firefighters conducting first-aid on Neufield, who was taken to a nearby hospital before he was arrested and charged with various drug offenses, including DUI. Police also said drugs were foun…
Former West New York Police Officer Johnny Lara Dies, 53 Former West New York Police Officer Johnny Lara Dies, 53
Former West New York Police Officer Johnny Lara Dies, 53 Johnny A. Lara, a former West New York resident and police officer, died on Wednesday, Sept. 4. He was 53 years old. Lara was born in Colombia and grew up in West New York, having served as a police officer before retiring and moving to Houston TX, according to his obituary on the Barquin Funeral Home website. He is survived by his wife, Cindy Valderramos Lara; their children Brandon, Bella and Jeremy Lara; his mother Emma J. Lara; and his siblings, Rosario Crabtree, Jimmy and Sammy Lara. Lara was preceded in death by his father, Marcelino and his brother Henry Lara. Servic…
Motorcyclist Killed, Dirt Biker Seriously Injured In Garden State Parkway Crash (UPDATE) Motorcyclist Killed, Dirt Biker Seriously Injured In Garden State Parkway Crash (UPDATE)
Motorcyclist Killed, Dirt Biker Seriously Injured In Garden State Parkway Crash (Update) A 26-year-old motorcyclist was killed and a 49-year-old dirt bike operator was seriously injured in a crash Sunday, Sept. 8 on the Garden State Parkway in Toms River, authorities said. Antonio Caprara, 26, of Beachwood, was heading south on the right shoulder while Lenny Ritorto, of Toms River, was heading south on the acceleration lane from the Exit 81 entrance ramp when the two collided near milepost 81.7 around 1 p.m., New Jersey State Police Sgt. Jeffrey Lebron said. Both vehicles overturned and both Caprara and Ritorto were thrown from their bikes, Lebron said. Caprara died while&…
Sidewalk Pedestrian Airlifted After Being Struck By Man With History Of Careless Driving In NJ Sidewalk Pedestrian Airlifted After Being Struck By Man With History Of Careless Driving In NJ
Sidewalk Pedestrian Airlifted After Being Struck By Man With History Of Careless Driving In NJ A woman was flown to the hospital after a careless driver drove onto the sidewalk and struck her while she was walking her dog in an Ocean County town on Friday, Sept. 6, police said. Eugenio Carta of Berkeley Township was operating a 1999 Buick Sedan when he drove off the roadway, struck the victim walking her dog on the sidewalk, then came to rest after hitting a tree around 3 p.m. at the intersection on Doral Drive at Cohansey Drive, local police said. The woman suffered a head injury from the crash and was airlifted to Jersey Shore Medical Center where she was in critical but stable con…
Newark Man Gets Nearly 11 Years For Firing Gun During Robbery: Feds Newark Man Gets Nearly 11 Years For Firing Gun During Robbery: Feds
Newark Man Gets Nearly 11 Years For Firing Gun During Robbery: Feds A 25-year-old Newark man was sentenced to nearly 11 years in prison on Thursday, Sept. 5 after he pleaded guilty to firing a gun during an armed robbery of an Essex County store in 2021, authorities said. In December 2021, Quayon Moore entered a store and pointed a gun at an employee, demanding the employee give Moore everything he had, US Attorney Phillip Sellinger said. Moore fired the gun toward the employee's direction and the bullet hit the wall behind the employee, Sellinger sad. While continuing to point the firearm at the employee, Moore took money from the cash register, and an iPh…
East Orange Man Gets Nearly 12 Years For Dealing Fentanyl, Cocaine: Feds East Orange Man Gets Nearly 12 Years For Dealing Fentanyl, Cocaine: Feds
East Orange Man Gets Nearly 12 Years For Dealing Fentanyl, Cocaine: Feds A 50-year-old East Orange man was sentenced to nearly 12 years in prison on Thursday, Sept. 5 after pleading guilty to distributing fentanyl, cocaine and possessing firearms, authorities said. Carlos Santiago had previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon, US Attorney Phillip Sellinger said.  On Oct. 24, 2022, federal agents encountered Santiago as he was moving controlled substances from a storage unit to his vehi…
Fanwood Teen Who Killed Newark Man At Train Station Captured In Poconos: Marshals Fanwood Teen Who Killed Newark Man At Train Station Captured In Poconos: Marshals
Fanwood Teen Who Killed Newark Man At Train Station Captured In Poconos: Marshals A New Jersey fugitive wanted in a deadly train station shooting and a home invasion was arrested in northeastern Pennsylvania, authorities said. U.S. Marshals took 19-year-old Damian Bass into custody, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said in a news release on Friday, Sept. 6. Bass' last known address was in Fanwood. Bass was charged with first-degree murder and two weapons offenses. He was accused of shooting and killing 43-year-old James Hailey of Newark. Marshals from Brooklyn, NY, and Scranton captured Bass in Chestnuthill Township, PA, on Thursday, Sept. 5. "We s…
Neighbors Evacuated In 22-Hour Standoff With Armed Man In Essex County: Police Neighbors Evacuated In 22-Hour Standoff With Armed Man In Essex County: Police
Neighbors Evacuated In 22-Hour Standoff With Armed Man In Essex County: Police A 34-year-old barricaded Irvington man was arrested on Thursday, Sept. 5 after a standoff that lasted nearly 24 hours, authorities said. At 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4, Irvington police responded to the 300 block of Nesbit Terrace on a report of an armed person and encountered Karim Brunson, who proceeded to barricade himself in the home, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens, II and Irvington Public Safety Director Tracy Bowers said. Irvington officers secured the area and received assistance from the Sheriff’s Tactical Response Team, Stephen and Bowers said. Trained negotiators …
FedEx Driver From Elizabeth Zip-Tied, Robbed At Gunpoint In Edison, Police Say FedEx Driver From Elizabeth Zip-Tied, Robbed At Gunpoint In Edison, Police Say
FedEx Driver From Elizabeth Zip-Tied, Robbed At Gunpoint In Edison, Police Say Police were looking for three men who held a FedEx driver at gunpoint, tied him up, and stole items from his delivery truck in Edison, authorities said. The driver, a 35-year-old Elizabeth man, was swapping trailers on Greek Lane when three men approached him at around 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5, Edison police said. The suspects were wearing dark clothing and blue medical masks, and one man had a gun. One man pushed the delivery driver into his truck and the suspects forced him at gunpoint to drive to a parking lot on Ethel Road. Two men rode in the FedEx truck and the third followed in an…
Man Shot In Downtown Newark: Police Man Shot In Downtown Newark: Police
Man Shot In Downtown Newark: Police A man is recovering after being shot in downtown Newark on the afternoon of Thursday, Sept. 5, authorities said. At 4:40 p.m., police responded to the 700 block of Broad Street and found a man who had been shot, Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé said. The man said he observed two other men engaged in a verbal altercation before one of the men brandished a handgun, Fragé said.  The man attempted to flee the scene but ended up sustaining a non-life-threatening gunshot injury, Fragé said.  The man was transported to a nearby hospital in stable condition a…