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Former Bridgwater Officer, West Milford Special Officer Thomas Dinan Dies
Thomas Dinan, a police officer in West Milford, died on Tuesday, July 30, 10 days after his 66th birthday, the department announced.
Dinan joined the West Milford Police Department in June 2018 as a Class II special officer, assisting with traffic details, township events, prisoner watches and transports and court security, police said.
Prior to joining West Milford, Dinan spent 27 years in the Bridgewater Police Department, rising to the rank of lieutenant, before retiring in 2015 after serving as patrol officer, narcotics investigator, bias crimes officer and counterterrorism liaison, pol…
Somerville Man Vandalized Bridgewater Mosque: Police
A 29-year-old Somerville man was arrested and charged on Monday, July 22, with vandalizing the Al Falah Center in Bridgewater, authorities said.
At 6:34 p.m., Julian Dale drove onto the property of the mosque at 881 US Highway 202/206, before leaving a short time later, Bridgewater police said. At 7 p.m., a mosque employee observed bias graffiti spray painted on a pillar near the main entrance to the building, police said.
Detectives later located Dale and arrested him after an interview, police said. He was charged with bias intimidation and criminal mischief, police said.
Motorcyclist, 28, Killed In Route 287 Crash
A 28-year-old motorcyclist from Whitehouse Station was killed in a crash on Route 287 in Bridgewater on Thursday, June 27, authorities said.
At 7:36 p.m., a Yamaha motorcycle driven by Mazen Alnaser was traveling north on Route 287 when it exited the roadway to the left and struck a guardrail, ejecting him, Charles Marchan, a spokesman for the New Jersey State Police said.
Alnaser's motorcycle then continued north and struck the back of a Madza, Marchan said. Alnaser was pronounced dead at the scene, Marchan said.
The crash remains under investigation, Marchan said.
NJ High School Hockey Player Collin Zavoda Dies, 15
Collin Zavoda, a 15-year-old student athlete at Bridgewater High School died unexpectedly on Monday, June 10, according to a campaign launched for his family.
A native of Edison, Zavoda moved to Bridgewater in 2013 and was active in the community, playing baseball and hockey, his obituary on the Bridgewater Funeral Home website reads.
An avid hockey fan, Collin also worked as a hockey referee, according to his obituary and helped lead his club hockey team to a championship. The rising sophomore was also an active Boy Scout who enjoyed fishing, boating and skiing, his obituary rea…
NJ Man Steals Construction Vehicle, Crashes Multiple Times, Prosecutor Says
A 24-year-old man has been arrested for stealing a construction vehicle and leading a police pursuit in Somerset County on Tuesday, June 4, authorities said.
Amr Khodeer, of Somerville, stole a vehicle from Union Street and sped away around 2:15 p.m. on June 4, Somerset County Prosecutor John McDonald, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman Jr., and Bridgewater Township Chief of Police John Mitzak said.
Khodeer drove "in a reckless manner," hitting two other cars and a structure in Bridgewater Township, authorities said. One of those driver…
Red Lobster Suddenly Closes Dozens Of Locations Nationwide: Here's Where
Red Lobster has abruptly closed dozens of locations across the United States.
According to a Bloomberg, the fast-casual seafood restaurant has considered filing for bankruptcy.
The following locations are listed as being temporarily closed on the Red Lobster website, with some set to be auctioned off.
MD: Columbia, Laurel, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg
NJ: Ledgewood, Lawrenceville, East Brunswick, Bridgewater
PA: Erie
VA: Newport News, Williamsburg, Colonial Heights
TAGeX Brand, which bills itself as the world's largest after-marketplac…
Brett Clay Field Hockey Coach Arrest
A 39-year-old Flemington field hockey coach was arrested on Thursday, March 28, and charged with sending one of his players, a 17-year-old girl, sexually explicit texts, authorities said.
Brett Clay, a travel field hockey coach employed by Centercourt Field Hockey in Mount Olive, exchanged the text messages with the teen, a Bridgewater resident, Somerset County Prosecutor John McDonald said.
Clay began sending illicit text messages in late December 2023, at one point offering her money in exchange for her sending him sexually explicit images, said McDonald alongside Chief of Count…
Philly Trio Admits $1.6M Worth Of Thefts From 55 UPS Locations Across NJ, NY, PA, Beyond
UPDATE: Three young Philadelphia men admitted burglarizing 55 UPS warehouses across New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and beyond, netting more than $1.6 million worth of electronics.
Sekou Fofanah, 20, Shamaire Brown, 19, and Quamaire Brown, 19, each pleaded guilty in federal court in Camden to conspiracy to commit cargo theft, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
All three and a fourth man, Aboudramane Karamoko, had been arrested and released at one time or other since the burglaries began nearly four years ago, records show.
The most recent was last past April, when po…
Wrong-Way Tractor Trailer Crosses Double-Yellow Lines, Traps Woman In Building: Bridgewater PD
A tractor trailer driver wreaked havoc in Bridgewater when he crossed the double-yellow line, struck several parked cars, a moving vehicle, and crashed into a building trapping an occupant, police said.
Wesley Jefferson, 62, of Dansville, NY, was heading north on Finderne Avenue around 12:05 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, when he crossed the solid double yellow lines into the southbound lanes of travel in Bridgewater, local police said.
Jefferson struck a 2006 Ford Ranger operated by a 33-year-old Bridgewater woman, and continued north in the southbound lanes, police said.
That's when Jeffer…
Seton Hall Student, 21, ID'd As Person Fatally Struck By Train In South Orange: NJ Transit
A 21-year-old man was identified as the person fatally struck by a train in South Orange on Wednesday, Dec. 13, NJ Transit officials said.
Joseph DeBari, a junior accounting major at Seton Hall University, was struck by a train not in passenger service, west of the South Orange station around 7:35 p.m., NJ Transit officials said.
The train was being moved eastbound on the Morris and Essex Line and no customers were on board and no crew were injured, NJ Transit said.
A lifelong Bridgewater resident, DeBari was an avid sports fan, who rooted for the Mets and Seton Hall basketball, editing th…
Victim Confronts NJ Teacher 12 Years After Sexual, Romantic Relationship: Affidavit
At 26 years old, a woman is confronting her former New Jersey teacher who is accused of sexually abusing her 12 years ago, court documents show.
Now, the same age as her abuser when they began a relationship, the victim told now-38-year-old Lydia Pinto this month she could never fathom doing what she did: Engage in a relationship with someone 14 or 15 years old, according to the affidavit obtained by Daily Voice.
Pinto, of Newton, PA, was charged earlier this month with sexually abusing a former student.
The victim, identified only as Jane Doe, was a freshman at Bridgewater-Raritan …
