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Woman Escapes Violent New Milford Sex Abuser Who Threatened To Kill Her, Prosecutor Says Woman Escapes Violent New Milford Sex Abuser Who Threatened To Kill Her, Prosecutor Says
Woman Escapes Violent New Milford Sex Abuser Who Threatened To Kill Her, Prosecutor Says A violent New Milford ex-con sexually and physically assaulted a woman -- holding her against her will and threatening to kill her -- before she managed to escape, authorities said. Matthew Harries, 29, remained held Saturday in the Bergen County Jail awaiting a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack following his arrest by borough police, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. He’s charged with sexual assault, aggravated assault, criminal restraint and making terroristic threats, as well as simple assault and disorderly conduct, the prosecutor said. Harri…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Pre-Dawn Blaze Damages Ski Slope At American Dream Mega Mall Pre-Dawn Blaze Damages Ski Slope At American Dream Mega Mall
Pre-Dawn Blaze Damages Ski Slope At American Dream Mega Mall UPDATE: The indoor ski slope at the American Dream mega malls in the Meadowlands will remain closed until at least the end of this coming week following a fire that drew nearly 20 companies before dawn Saturday. "We can promise you that Big SNOW will be back and better than ever, just as soon as we can safely do so," an Instagram post by the company read. "At this point, we are uncertain of how long that will take." Firefighters doused the electrical blaze, which caused severe fire damage to the roof and ceiling and smoke damage elsewhere in the East Rutherford attraction after breaking ou…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Prosecutor: Alleged Kidnap Victim Of Instagram Influencer Took $100,000 Payoff To Change Story Prosecutor: Alleged Kidnap Victim Of Instagram Influencer Took $100,000 Payoff To Change Story
Prosecutor: Alleged Kidnap Victim Of Instagram Influencer Took $100,000 Payoff To Change Story The twisting tale of a Wayne man allegedly kidnapped by Instagram influencer “Jay Mazini” took another turn when Bergen County authorities charged him with taking a $100,000 bribe to back off his story. Amjad Mashal, 29, was arrested outside his business in Clifton, where detectives also found drugs, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said Friday. The trouble began when “Mazini” – whose real name is Jebara Igbarra -- picked up Mashal at the 7-Eleven on Palisade Avenue in Fort Lee on March 15, authorities said at the time. Igbarra, of Edgewater, had cultivated a reputation for distribu…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Weather
Brace For Isolated Twisters, Flash Flooding Across NJ, Forecasters Say Brace For Isolated Twisters, Flash Flooding Across NJ, Forecasters Say
Brace For Isolated Twisters, Flash Flooding Across NJ, Forecasters Say Up to three inches of rain, flash flooding and damaging winds were expected Thursday across New Jersey. A flash flood watch was in effect for Bergen, Essex, Hudson,  Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties Thursday morning into Friday. Severe thunderstorms with potential for isolated twisters were also possible, the National Weather Service says. The main threat was expected midday Thursday into the early overnight hours, the NWS says. Storms were, however, expected to move out quickly Friday.

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by Cecilia Levine
News
WILD CHASE: NJ Route 287 Pursuit Ends With Crash, Two In Custody On NY State Thruway WILD CHASE: NJ Route 287 Pursuit Ends With Crash, Two In Custody On NY State Thruway
Wild Chase: NJ Route 287 Pursuit Ends With Crash, Two In Custody On NY State Thruway UPDATE: A driver chased by police more than 40 miles from New Jersey into New York State before crashing a stolen car was identified as an ex-con who’s been involved in previous pursuits and has an arrest record that numbers in the dozens. Dustin Jeandron, 37, recently of Keyport and Trenton, gave New York State troopers a Hell’s Kitchen address after they took him into custody following Wednesday afternoon’s chase. Jeandron was driving a Hyundai sedan reported stolen out of Harrison when a Wayne police officer "spotted the vehicle in Wayne with fictitious plates and attempted to make a st…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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CONFIRMED: Male, Female Bodies Pulled From Passaic River Are Couple Drowned By Ida CONFIRMED: Male, Female Bodies Pulled From Passaic River Are Couple Drowned By Ida
Confirmed: Male, Female Bodies Pulled From Passaic River Are Couple Drowned By Ida UPDATE: The New Jersey Medical Examiner's Office on Friday positively identified two bodies pulled from the Passaic River over the previous two days as a former high school prom king and queen swept away in Hurricane Ida's floodwaters last week. A search for Nidhi Rana, 18, and Ayush Rana, 21, had ended when the medical examiner's office finally confirmed their identities Friday afternoon based on dental and medical records, Passaic Mayor Hector Carlos Lora said. Nidhi and Ayush were swept into a storm drain that empties into the river after getting out of their car on Main Street during l…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
STILL MISSING: Search For Former Passaic Prom King, Queen Helped By Lowest Tide In Days STILL MISSING: Search For Former Passaic Prom King, Queen Helped By Lowest Tide In Days
Still Missing: Search For Former Passaic Prom King, Queen Helped By Lowest Tide In Days UPDATE (SEPT. 10): The New Jersey Medical Examiner's Office on Friday positively identified two bodies pulled from the Passaic River over the previous two days as a former high school prom king and queen swept away in Hurricane Ida's floodwaters last week. CLICK HERE FOR THE STORY.... ****** UPDATE: With the Passaic River tide the lowest its been since before Tropical Storm Ida, authorities resumed on Saturday their search for a former prom king and queen. The Passaic couple, Nidhi Rana, 18, and Ayush Rana, 21, apparently were swept into a storm drain that empties into the river after get…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Passaic Man Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Child, 8 Passaic Man Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Child, 8
Passaic Man Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Child, 8 A 23-year-old Passaic man was accused of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old child. Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes said detectives from her Special Victims Unit began investigating after the victim’s mother contacted her office directly. They arrested Manuel Figueroa and charged him with aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault and child endangerment for an incident that the child said occurred at a home in Passaic between and March of this year, she said. Figueroa remained held in the Passaic County Jail pending court action, the prosecutor said.

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
STILL MISSING: Search Intensifies For Young Passaic Couple Swept Away In Ida's Floodwaters STILL MISSING: Search Intensifies For Young Passaic Couple Swept Away In Ida's Floodwaters
Still Missing: Search Intensifies For Young Passaic Couple Swept Away In Ida's Floodwaters UPDATE (SEPT. 10): The New Jersey Medical Examiner's Office on Friday positively identified two bodies pulled from the Passaic River over the previous two days as a former high school prom king and queen swept away in Hurricane Ida's floodwaters last week. CLICK HERE FOR THE STORY.... ****** UPDATE (SATURDAY): With the Passaic River tide the lowest its been since before Tropical Storm Ida struck, authorities resumed their search for a former prom king and queen swept away in floodwaters. The Passaic couple, Nidhi Rana, 18, and Ayush Rana, 21, apparently were swept into a storm drain that …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Weather
IDA: Death Toll Climbs To 23 In New Jersey IDA: Death Toll Climbs To 23 In New Jersey
IDA: Death Toll Climbs To 23 In New Jersey The death toll caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida that tore through New Jersey Wednesday had climbed to 23 as of Thursday afternoon, Gov. Phil Murphy said at a press conference. Most of these deaths were individuals who got stuck in vehicles due to flooding and were overtaken by water, he said from fire station in Hillsborough. The governor reminded residents New Jersey is still in the midst of Ida, and urged people not to travel. Those who died include: Four Elizabeth residents -- a couple ages 71 and 72, their 38-year-old son and a 33-year-old neighbor. Their bodies were found by…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
STILL MISSING: Little Falls Woman, 56, Swept Away By Floodwaters Presumed Dead STILL MISSING: Little Falls Woman, 56, Swept Away By Floodwaters Presumed Dead
Still Missing: Little Falls Woman, 56, Swept Away By Floodwaters Presumed Dead UPDATE: A Little Falls woman swept away by floodwaters during Tropical Storm Ida was still missing and believed dead, authorities said Thursday. Donna Lomagro, 56, got out of her stranded car on Lackawanna Avenue near Browertown Road and was knocked under by the current around 9 p.m., witnesses told Woodland Park police. The current continued into Dowling Brook, which eventually feeds into the Passaic River, they said. Two good Samaritans had to be rescued themselves after they tried to save her. The West Paterson Fire Department Water Rescue Team continued searching through the nigh…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Weather
9 Dead, 3 Tornados, Torrential Flooding: NJ Recovers From Storm 9 Dead, 3 Tornados, Torrential Flooding: NJ Recovers From Storm
9 Dead, 3 Tornados, Torrential Flooding: NJ Recovers From Storm A total of nine people had died as of Thursday morning as a result of Wednesday night's storm in New Jersey, according to authorities and unconfirmed reports. That number was, unfortunately, expected to rise.  Responders in Piscataway found a victim who later died was reportedly sucked into a sewer grate on Stelton Road on Thursday morning. Earlier in Elizabeth, four people were found dead in an Elizabeth apartment complex, where police were called to perform door-to-door apartment checks, City Spokeswoman Kelly A. Martins said. The four victims found at 430 Irvington Ave. were a husband …

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by Cecilia Levine