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Dangerous Air Quality Levels Reported, New 1,800-Acre Wildfire Burns In West Milford
Three active wildfires in New Jersey are keeping firefighters busy this weekend as the air quality continues to worsen.
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service is working to contain fires in West Milford, Pompton Lakes, and Englewood Cliffs (scroll for details on each one).
AirNow.gov shows an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 171, or unhealthy, across North Jersey, as of 7:30 p.m., caused by the smoke that blanketed the region. Click here to see an active AQI map or click here to check your town's AQI.
Prolonged dry conditions, unseasonably warm temperatures, and strong winds have contribut…
Feds Dismantle Luxury Interstate Car Ring, 7 NJ Men Charged
Eight men, including seven from New Jersey, have been charged in Newark federal court on Thursday, Nov. 7, for their roles in a conspiracy to steal luxury cars and transport them across state lines, authorities said.
Arrested were: Ahmad Franks, 24, Shaquan White, 23, Nathan Braswell, 20, Ibn Bellamy, 24, Zamir Wright, 20, all Newark residents, Ryan Bowen, 26, Khyree Lawrence, 20 both East Orange residents and Mohammed Buhari, a 45-year-old Virginia resident.
Federal officials detailed the thefts:
Audi Q5, Jersey City: On Nov. 5, 2021, a 2021 Audi Q5 was reported stolen in Jersey City…
Newark Man Gets 4+ Years For Distributing Cocaine, Fentanyl: Feds
A 37-year-old Newark man was sentenced to 4.8 years in prison on Tuesday, Nov. 5, for distributing cocaine and fentanyl in 2022, authorities said.
In December 2022, Carlos Gonzalez and another individual conspired to distribute approximately one kilogram of cocaine and 100 grams of fentanyl and were arrested shortly after arriving at an agreed-upon location in Kearny to complete the sale, US Attorney Phillip Sellinger said.
After their arrests, a search of Gonzalez’s home and an apartment uncovered two loaded firearms, an unloaded firearm, ammunition, drug packaging materials, a…
Newark Man Robbed Pharmacy At Gunpoint: Feds
A 26-year-old Newark man was arrested and charged on Monday, Nov. 4, with robbing a pharmacy at gunpoint last year, authorities said.
On Saturday, Dec. 30, Nariq Petes and an accomplice drove to a pharmacy wearing black masks, US Attorney Phillip Sellinger said. Once inside the pharmacy, Petes brandished a handgun and demanded prescription drugs, Sellinger said. Petes and his conspirator took at least six bottles of prescription medication, Sellinger said.
Petes was charged with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a weapon, Sellinger said. He faces…
Brush Fire Ravages 19 Acres On Palisades: Firefighters Battle Blaze Amid Statewide Restrictions
Firefighters are battling a 19-acre brush fire that erupted Thursday night, Nov. 7, on the cliffs of the Palisades Interstate Park.
Visible from across the Hudson River, the blaze has turned the scenic cliffs into an intense battle zone, with flames licking at the steep, rocky terrain and sending plumes of smoke billowing into the evening sky.
The fire, fueled by dry brush and challenging cliffside conditions, remains only 30% contained as of Friday morning, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. Crews from Fort Lee, Englewood, Ridgefield, Leonia, Edgewater, and more have jo…
Five Arrested After $7K In Ecstasy, Coke, Heroin, Meth Seized: Essex County Prosecutor
Five people were arrested after multiple raids in Hudson, Essex and Union counties last month uncovered $7,000 in illegal drugs, authorities said.
The raids, which took place Wednesday, Oct. 30 and Thursday, Oct. 31, were the result of a four-month investigation and targeted individuals believed to be involved in the distribution of controlled substances, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens II said.
Recovered in the raids were approximately 27 grams of heroin, 20 vials of cocaine and crack cocaine, 84 Ecstasy pills, Oxycodone and Xanax pills as well as drug packaging paraphernali…
Two Men Smashed Windshields, Tossed Urine At Cops: Jersey City Police
Two men were arrested and charged on Sunday, Nov. 3 after they smashed six windshields in Jersey City and later threw urine on a cop, authorities said.
At 2:45 a.m., officer heard a loud bag and began pursuing two men on foot, quickly apprehending, Isman Coyoy Cahuex, a 20-year-old Newark resident and Isaiah Drouet, a 22-year-old Jersey City resident, Kimberly Wallace-Scalfione, a spokeswoman for the mayor's office said.
The two men were observed jumping on top of a North Patrol vehicle damaging the front windshield, Wallace-Scalfione said. In total, approximately 6 vehicles sustained wind…
Guttenberg Man Arrested For Serial 9-1-1 Calls Damaged Apartment Complex: Police
A 34-year-old Guttenberg man was arrested and charged for the second time this month, this time with causing thousands of dollars in damage to an apartment complex on Sunday, Oct. 6, authorities said.
At 10:54 p.m., officers responded to Galaxy Towers for a report of fire alarms activated and were informed there was a partially dressed man, Alfredo Gonzalez, running from the 26th floor to the 20th floor, behaving erratically, Guttenberg police said.
Officers made their way to the 26th floor and heard loud screaming and banging, which led them to the 20th floor, police …
Weehawken Pilot, Bayonne Passenger OK After Landing Gear Fails Mid-Flight
A plane carrying two people skidded off the runway at the Essex County Airport on Wednesday evening, Nov. 6 after its landing gear failed, Fairfield police said.
The flight began at Essex County Airport but was cut short about six miles out when the pilot noticed electrical issues, Fairfield Police Chief Anthony Manna said.
The pilot, a 58-year-old Weehawken man, immediately turned back toward the airport, but due to the electrical malfunction, the landing gear failed to deploy, causing the plane to skid off the runway upon landing around 5:35 p.m., according to Manna.
The 2011 Baron…
NJ Dad Who Assaulted Officer, Son Arrested In Jan. 6 Capitol Riot: Feds
A father-son duo from New Jersey has been arrested for their participation in the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol, federal officials announced.
Richard Andrews, 72, of Brick, and Keith Andrews, 49, of Howell, were arrested on Oct. 29 in New Jersey, the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia in a press release.
Richard and Keith Andrews attended the "Stop the Steal" rally at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., before proceeding to the restricted Capitol grounds, court documents say. Richard wore a black zip-up jacket, blue tee, and gray knit skull cap, while Keith was d…
Paterson Pair Were Trying To Kill 46-Year-Old Man In Morning Shooting: Prosecutor
The two people responsible for a shooting Monday morning, Nov. 4, were arrested less than two hours later, authorities said.
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said only that Jose Ortiz, 31, and Yesenia Adorno, 43, both of Paterson, were responsible for the shooting of a 46-year-old man that happened at North Main and Arch streets around 8:30 a.m. The victim survived and was hospitalized with injuries.
Ortiz and Adorno were identified as suspects and arrested around 10:15 a.m. at North Street and Clinton Street, Valdes said.
Ortiz, who was found in possession of an illeg…
Fifth Suspect Captured In NJ Detective's Home Invasion Killing, Prosecutors Say
A fifth person has been arrested in the violent home invasion that killed a Cumberland County detective, authorities said.
Byron Thomas of Paulsboro was charged with two counts of first-degree murder among other offenses, the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Sgt. Monica Mosley, a detective sergeant with the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office, was shot and killed in her Bridgeton home late at night on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
Nyshawn Mutcherson, 29, of Vineland; Jarred Brown, 31, of Bridgeton; and Richard Hawkins Willis, 32, of Gl…
Home Invaders Posed As Police Officers, Restrained Children In Bergen County House: Prosecutor
A New York trio has been arrested in connection with a home invasion earlier this month in Bergen County, authorities said.
Diogenes A. Rosario, 49, of New York, NY; Leonel Perez, 38, of New York, NY; and Misael Diaz, 38, of Yonkers, broke into a multi-family home on Crescent Lane in Cliffside Park around 1:50 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said.
All three were wearing dark-colored clothing and facemasks, and were outwardly displaying imitation police-style badges, portraying themselves as police officers, Musella said.
Once inside, the suspects fo…
