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Police & Fire
BUSTED: 31 Nabbed, 14 Pounds Of Coke, Firearms Seized In Massive Drug Distribution Scheme BUSTED: 31 Nabbed, 14 Pounds Of Coke, Firearms Seized In Massive Drug Distribution Scheme
Busted: 31 Nabbed, 14 Pounds Of Coke, Firearms Seized In Massive Drug Distribution Scheme Thirty-one people were arrested following a months-long New Jersey drug distribution scheme that netted 14.3 pounds of cocaine, two firearms and more than $193,000 in cash, authorities announced. An investigation into “Operation Triple Tragedy” involved law enforcement agencies from Somerset, Union, and Middlesex counties and the U.S. Postal Service. Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said the following arrests were made on June 4: Arrests made in “Operation Triple Tragedy”Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Joselin Castillo, aka “Tragedy," 30, Grandview Avenue Edison Po…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
4 People Shot At Central Jersey Hotel, Authorities Say 4 People Shot At Central Jersey Hotel, Authorities Say
4 People Shot At Central Jersey Hotel, Authorities Say Four people were shot at a hotel in Central Jersey early Monday morning. The shooting occurred about 2:45 a.m. at the Delta Suites hotel on Route 1 in the Iselin section of Woodbridge, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Woodbridge Police Director Robert Hubner. Two shooting victims were found inside Delta Suites, reports said. One of those victims had a gunshot wound to his chest, an unconfirmed report said.  A third victim was found by police and EMS crews on the street near Route 1 and Woodbridge Center Drive with a non-life threatening gunshot wo…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Separate Overnight Shootings Leave 1 Dead, 4 Wounded In Central Jersey, Authorities Say Separate Overnight Shootings Leave 1 Dead, 4 Wounded In Central Jersey, Authorities Say
Separate Overnight Shootings Leave 1 Dead, 4 Wounded In Central Jersey, Authorities Say Middlesex County authorities are investigating two shootings that left one person dead and four people wounded overnight, they said. The shootings occurred about three hours apart but appear to be related, authorities said Friday afternoon. A gunman allegedly fired at a vehicle at 2:08 a.m. Friday on Easton Avenue in New Brunswick, hitting two people, police said. Both victims were taken to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital, where one later died from bullet wounds, they said. A second shooting victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was in stable condition on Friday, police said. T…

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by Jon Craig
News
Feds, Locals Smash Burglary Crew That Targeted Asians In NJ, PA Feds, Locals Smash Burglary Crew That Targeted Asians In NJ, PA
Feds, Locals Smash Burglary Crew That Targeted Asians In NJ, PA A second-story burglary crew whose methods were based on “stereotype and opportunity” worked from a hit list of more than 50 homes owned by Asians in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, federal authorities charged Tuesday. Local, state and federal law enforcement authorities who teamed up to smash the ring found notes in the defendants’ cars “containing the home addresses of individuals of Asian descent with derogatory descriptive terms to identify the ethnicity of the homeowners,” Acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Rachael A. Honig said. Crew members got those addresses by breaking into the vict…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Central Jersey Volunteer Firefighter Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Woman Central Jersey Volunteer Firefighter Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Woman
Central Jersey Volunteer Firefighter Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Woman A volunteer firefighter from Central Jersey has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman, authorities announced Saturday. Raymond Brown, 67, was charged with criminal sexual contact with an adult female victim who he knew during the early afternoon on Friday, May 21, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and South River Police Chief Mark Tinitigan. Brown engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with the victim in South River, an investigation found. The investigation is active and ongoing.  Anyone with information is asked to contact Sergeant Mackiel of the …

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Off-Duty Police Officer, Father Of 3 Killed In Central Jersey Crash Off-Duty Police Officer, Father Of 3 Killed In Central Jersey Crash
Off-Duty Police Officer, Father Of 3 Killed In Central Jersey Crash UPDATED: Authorities have released the name of the off-duty police officer killed in a crash in Perth Amboy on Wednesday night. Senior Police Officer Arcadio Rivera Jr., 54, was operating his personal vehicle off-duty and apparently had a medical emergency that caused him to crash into parked vehicles, according to initial reports.  The scene of a fatal crash involving an off-duty Perth Amboy police officer. (Courtesy news12)news12 (screengrab) He was a former U.S. Marine and 26-year veteran of the police force.  Rivera is survived by three children, Arcadio III, Luis Armando and Angel…

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by Jon Craig
News
Central Jersey Prosecutor Investigates Arrest Of Teen Bicyclist After ACLU Complaint Central Jersey Prosecutor Investigates Arrest Of Teen Bicyclist After ACLU Complaint
Central Jersey Prosecutor Investigates Arrest Of Teen Bicyclist After ACLU Complaint The Middlesex County Prosector is investigating the alleged arrest of teenager in Perth Amboy for riding "an unregistered bicycle," authorities said.   His bike and several others were seized by police.  In a Twitter post by Amol Sinha, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, Sinha questioned the local arrest of a teenager for an alleged bicycle violation.   Sinha wrote: "This is Perth Amboy, NJ. Are the police really arresting kids over bike registrations? Does it really require this many officers to address whatever situation this is? Police CANNOT contin…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
'Wrong Target': NJ Woman Shoots, Kills Innocent Bystander, Prosecutor Says 'Wrong Target': NJ Woman Shoots, Kills Innocent Bystander, Prosecutor Says
'Wrong Target': NJ Woman Shoots, Kills Innocent Bystander, Prosecutor Says Authorities said they have arrested a 35-year-old New Brunswick woman who shot and killed a 46-year-old, whom authorities said was a bystander and "not the intended target." Rhadisha Maurrasse shot Delfino Aparicio-Lopez as he was driving in his vehicle on Handy Street around 4:35 p.m. on Monday, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and New Brunswick Police Director Anthony A. Caputo said. Aparicio-Lopez was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead, they said.  Maurrasse was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree unlawful possession o…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Couple Sexually Assaulted, Robbed At Gunpoint In Woodbridge Couple Sexually Assaulted, Robbed At Gunpoint In Woodbridge
Couple Sexually Assaulted, Robbed At Gunpoint In Woodbridge Authorities in Woodbridge are on the hunt for two men believed to have sexually assaulted and robbed a couple at gunpoint on Friday. The man and woman were approached near Lee Street and Scott Place, in the Port Reading section of the township, when they were approached by a black man and a white man sometime in the evening hours, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said. The pair sexually assaulted the female, Ciccone said alongside Woodbridge Police Director Robert Hubner. The public is asked not to approach the individuals as they may be armed. The investigation is …

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
BUSTED: 'Operation Price Is Right' Nabs 11 In Central Jersey Drug Ring BUSTED: 'Operation Price Is Right' Nabs 11 In Central Jersey Drug Ring
Busted: 'Operation Price Is Right' Nabs 11 In Central Jersey Drug Ring Eleven people have been arrested in Central Jersey in connection with a large-scale drug distribution ring, authorities said.  Most of the alleged cocaine and heroin deals occurred in Union and Middlesex counties, according to  Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone. The sting was called "Operation Price Is Right." More than 20 warranted searches resulted in the recovery of over two kilograms of suspected cocaine, over one kilogram of suspected heroin, approximately 149 grams of fentanyl, 70 grams of Oxycodone, one loaded Smith and Wesson revolver and over $120,000 in su…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
2nd Youth Arrested In Fatal North Brunswick Shooting 2nd Youth Arrested In Fatal North Brunswick Shooting
2nd Youth Arrested In Fatal North Brunswick Shooting A second Middlesex County juvenile has been arrested in connection with last week's fatal shooting of an 18-year-old man from Union County, authorities said. A second victim suffered non-life-threatening gunshot injuries on Feb. 3. Because of their ages, the North Brunswick suspects'  names have not been made public, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and North Brunswick Police Chief Joseph Battaglia.  Mark Atkins, 18, of Plainfield was fatally wounded in the 7:30 p.m. shooting on Marc Drive, they said. He was later pronounced dead at any area hosp…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Teenagers Charged In Fatal Middlesex County Shooting Teenagers Charged In Fatal Middlesex County Shooting
Teenagers Charged In Fatal Middlesex County Shooting A pair of teenagers have been charged with the fatal shooting of a Union County man, authorities said. The unidentified juveniles are charged in the shooting death of Mark Atkins, 18, of Plainfield, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and North Brunswick Police Chief Joseph Battaglia. One suspect is in custody and the other remains at large, they said late Friday. The 17-year-old suspects are charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder and possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, Ciccone and Battaglia said.   On Wednesda…

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by Jon Craig