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Small Alligator Spotted In Middlesex County Park Small Alligator Spotted In Middlesex County Park
Small Alligator Spotted In Middlesex County Park See you later, alligator... hopefully. Authorities are searching for a small alligator spotted in a Middlesex County park. The 3 to 4-foot gator was seen submerged in Ambrose Park in Middlesex Borough, but hadn't been seen since Friday, Aug. 25. "We are working closely with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Conservation Police to capture and relocate the reptile," police said.  "If observed, please contact the Middlesex Police Department immediately at (732) 356-1900 extension 0 or dial 9-1-1. DO NOT approach or attempt to capture the animal."

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by Cecilia Levine
Business
Brothers Bring Tex-Mex Taco Chain To New Jersey Brothers Bring Tex-Mex Taco Chain To New Jersey
Brothers Bring Tex-Mex Taco Chain To New Jersey A small-town taco shop that later turned nationally-acclaimed is heading to New Jersey. Tex-Mex restaurant franchise, Capital Tacos, has sealed the deal on the brand's first-ever franchise agreement for the Garden State. Brothers Parth and Yash Patel are the New Jersey natives responsible for bringing the latest franchise deal to market. The Patels share a family background steeped in entrepreneurship that spans a multitude of industries.  They saw an opportunity to introduce an innovative and award-winning take on Tex-Mex cuisine that doesn't exist in their region.  "Our curren…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
Parents Of Drowned NJ Toddler See Surge Of Support Parents Of Drowned NJ Toddler See Surge Of Support
Parents Of Drowned NJ Toddler See Surge Of Support The drowning of a New Jersey toddler has prompted a wave of support for his parents. Witten Steigerwald, 18 months, was found in a pool in Spotswood and wasn't breathing around 11:20 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9, officials in Middlesex County said.  Responders performed CPR, and Witten was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. "No one is ever prepared for the loss of a child and as such no funeral preparations had been made," Witten's uncle, Scott Steigerwald, said on a GoFundMe page for his brother, Kevin, and Witten's mother, Renee. "Their family is now suddenly havin…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Detective Justified In Shooting Knife-Wielding Man At NJ Apartment Complex, Grand Jury Finds Detective Justified In Shooting Knife-Wielding Man At NJ Apartment Complex, Grand Jury Finds
Detective Justified In Shooting Knife-Wielding Man At NJ Apartment Complex, Grand Jury Finds UPDATE: A Middlesex County sheriff’s officer was justified in shooting a knife-wielding man who charged at him outside an apartment complex in Plainsboro, a grand jury has found. Four other officers firing Tasers couldn't disarm an agitated Atiba Lewis, 45, as he advanced on them at the Crest at Princeton Meadows Apartment Complex off Plainsboro Road on Feb. 16, 2022, video from the scene shows. The standoff ended when Lewis rushed Detective Phillip Nguyen. Despite the circumstances, state law required a grand jury review of the incident. The presentation by prosecutors included eight vi…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Jersey Cash 5 Lottery Ticket Wins $1.2M Jersey Cash 5 Lottery Ticket Wins $1.2M
Jersey Cash 5 Lottery Ticket Wins $1.2M One lucky ticket matched all five numbers drawn winning the $1,167,215 Jersey Cash 5 jackpot from the Saturday, Aug. 12, drawing.  The winning numbers were: 21, 26, 36, 41 and 45 and the XTRA number was: 03.  The retailer will receive a bonus check for $2,000 for selling the winning ticket.  The winning ticket was sold at Park Deli and Grill, 2625 Woodbridge Ave., Edison in Middlesex County.

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by Jon Craig
News
WINNER: Powerball Player Takes Home $50K From 7-Eleven WINNER: Powerball Player Takes Home $50K From 7-Eleven
Winner: Powerball Player Takes Home $50K From 7-Eleven One lucky New Jersey Lottery ticket sold in Middlesex County matched four of the five white balls and the Power Ball drawn for the Monday, July 17, drawing. The prize was worth $50,000. There were four $50,000 winners statewide, including in Bergen, Hunterdon and Passaic counties, state Lottery officials said. The Middlesex County prize-winning ticket was sold at 7- Eleven #11452G, 2477 Woodbridge Ave. in Edison. The winning numbers for the Monday, July 17, drawing were: 05, 08, 09, 17, and 41. The Red Power Ball number was 21. There was no jackpot winner on Monday night, rolling t…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
'I Am The Attacker': Former High School Student Admits Threat That Shook Synagogues Across NJ 'I Am The Attacker': Former High School Student Admits Threat That Shook Synagogues Across NJ
'I Am The Attacker': Former High School Student Admits Threat That Shook Synagogues Across NJ A 19-year-old New Jersey man faces up to five years in federal prison after admitting that he posted threats to a synagogue and Jewish people. Omar Alkattoul of Sayreville posted a manifesto last Nov. 1 in a forum frequented by extremists that included a claim of an attack that he said had already occurred. This triggered instant alarms because active shooters in certain instances have done the same just before carrying out fatal missions across the U.S. Alkattoul frightened Jews statewide, sparked a surge of law enforcement tactical protection at their houses of worship and prompted the F…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
FINAL MOMENTS: Video Shows Knife-Wielding NJ Man Shot Dead Charging Down Stairs FINAL MOMENTS: Video Shows Knife-Wielding NJ Man Shot Dead Charging Down Stairs
Final Moments: Video Shows Knife-Wielding NJ Man Shot Dead Charging Down Stairs A dispute over an in-home surveillance camera led to the death of a New Jersey man who charged at a police officer with a knife in his hand. Luke Mendez, 26, had his left hand wrapped around the knife handle as he barreled down a set of stairs inside the Middlesex County home, bodycam video released by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin shows. He was only two steps from the landing -- within less than three feet of Old Bridge Police Officer Christopher Hammel -- when three shots rang out. Mendez was pronounced dead at a local hospital about 90 minutes later. Platkin released the…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Winning $100K NJ Powerball Ticket Sold Winning $100K NJ Powerball Ticket Sold
Winning $100K NJ Powerball Ticket Sold One New Jersey Lottery ticket matched four of the five white balls and the Power Ball drawn for the Saturday, July 8, drawing winning the $50,000 second-tier prize. The ticket was purchased with the Power Play option, multiplying the prize to $100,000.  That ticket was sold at Middlesex Food Store, 120 Middlesex Ave., Carteret in Middlesex County. The winning numbers for the Saturday, July 8, drawing were: 07, 23, 24, 32, and 43. The Red Power Ball number was 18. The Power Play was 2X. 

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Teen Boy Killed In Hit-Run, Arrest Made: Middlesex Prosecutor (UPDATE) Teen Boy Killed In Hit-Run, Arrest Made: Middlesex Prosecutor (UPDATE)
Teen Boy Killed In Hit-Run, Arrest Made: Middlesex Prosecutor (Update) A 63-year-old man has been charged in a Central Jersey hit-and-run crash that killed a 14-year-old boy on Friday, July 7, authorities said. UPDATE: The boy has been identified in a financial campaign as 14-year-old Bryan Barbosa, of South River. Michael Arena, of South River, was behind the wheel of a white work van when he struck the boy riding his bike around 4:20 p.m. on Whiteland and Russell avenues, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and SRPD Chief Mark Tinitigan said. The boy was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Arena was arrested that day …

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
NJ Correctional Officer Indicted In Beating Of Resident Who Died NJ Correctional Officer Indicted In Beating Of Resident Who Died
NJ Correctional Officer Indicted In Beating Of Resident Who Died A correctional police officer at New Jersey’s maximum-security facility for sex offenders was indicted for his role in the beating of a resident who died days later of a stroke. Giuseppe "Joey: Mandara, 54, of Brick Township “abandoned his equipment, including keys and radio, and thereafter used excessive or unlawful force” on Darrell Smith at the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Middlesex County, the indictment says. A grand jury in Trenton returned the indictment charging Mandara with misconduct last week, according to a statement issued by state Attorney General Matthew J. Platki…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
WINNER: Jersey Cash 5 Lottery Player Takes Home $120K From ShopRite WINNER: Jersey Cash 5 Lottery Player Takes Home $120K From ShopRite
Winner: Jersey Cash 5 Lottery Player Takes Home $120K From ShopRite One lucky ticket matched all five numbers drawn winning the $119,972 Jersey Cash 5 jackpot from Wednesday, July 5. The winning numbers were: 01, 06, 16, 23 and 27 and the XTRA number was: 03. The retailer will receive a bonus check for $2,000 for selling the winning ticket. The winning ticket was sold at ShopRite #584, 4154 Route 1, Monmouth Junction in Middlesex County.

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by Jon Craig