Fair 66°
Police & Fire
Motorcyclist Killed In Central Jersey Crash Was Aspiring Mechanic Motorcyclist Killed In Central Jersey Crash Was Aspiring Mechanic
Motorcyclist Killed In Central Jersey Crash Was Aspiring Mechanic Nelisson De La Rosa was just more than a year out of high school and had a bright future ahead of him, those who knew him said. He was an aspiring mechanic and, no matter the circumstance, had a positive attitude. The 19-year-old Franklin Township resident died in a Somerset crash Wednesday, July 20, leaving his single dad to grieve the loss of yet another son.  More than $6,800 had been raised as of Thursday, July 21 on a GoFundMe to help bring his body to the Dominican Republic, where his mother lives. De La Rosa collided with a Toyota Camry turning left on Easton Avenue …

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Driver Wanted On Warrants Leads Route 202 Pursuit-Crash: Prosecutor Driver Wanted On Warrants Leads Route 202 Pursuit-Crash: Prosecutor
Driver Wanted On Warrants Leads Route 202 Pursuit-Crash: Prosecutor A 25-year-old woman wanted on warrants out of multiple Central Jersey towns arrested for leading a Route 202 police pursuit before crashing, authorities said. Police tried stopping Jerrie Lee Williams, of Bound Brook, around 11:05 p.m. in Branchburg when they noticed she had an expired registration, Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said. Williams failed to stop when signaled by the officer activating his emergency police lights and siren, McDonald said. Instead, she fled on Holland Brook Road at a high rate of speed.  The officer deactivated his police emergency l…

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by Cecilia Levine
Sports
NJ Youth Baseball Coach Arrested In Umpire's Assault: Prosecutor NJ Youth Baseball Coach Arrested In Umpire's Assault: Prosecutor
NJ Youth Baseball Coach Arrested In Umpire's Assault: Prosecutor A North Jersey youth baseball coach from Staten Island has been arrested in the assault of a 72-year-old umpire that left him with a broken jaw earlier this month, authorities announced. Jerry Otero on Tuesday, June 21 surrendered to the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office in connection with the June 4 incident at White Oak Park in Branchburg, Acting Somerset County Prosecutor Annmarie Taggart said. The incident happened during a 13-and-under game around 8:10 p.m., Taggart said. Otero had left the park before police got there. The umpire told police that Otero had been ejected fo…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
UPDATE: Missing Somerset County Woman, 29, Found Safe UPDATE: Missing Somerset County Woman, 29, Found Safe
Update: Missing Somerset County Woman, 29, Found Safe UPDATE: Dover has been located and is safe, authorities confirmed. --------------------------- Seen her? Authorities in Somerset County are seeking the public’s help locating an endangered 29-year-old woman who has been missing for more than a week. Shekinah D. Dover, of Franklin Township, was last seen walking on Grove Street towards Main Street in Somerville around 2:45 p.m. on Sunday, May 29, Acting Somerset County Prosecutor Annmarie Taggart said in a release with local officials on Tuesday, June 7. She was reported missing to the Franklin Township police department by her mother arou…

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by Valerie Musson
News
UPDATE: Bronx Man Snared In NJ Child Sex Sting Takes Deal UPDATE: Bronx Man Snared In NJ Child Sex Sting Takes Deal
Update: Bronx Man Snared In NJ Child Sex Sting Takes Deal A financial services worker from the South Bronx pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography as part of a deal with authorities who caught him traveling to New Jersey for what he thought would be sex with a 13-year-old, federal authorities said. Jesus Modesto-Sanchez, 31, was caught dead to rights when he showed up at a pre-arranged, undisclosed location in Somerset County on Oct. 17, 2020 only to be arrested by investigators. Modesto-Sanchez was among a dozen men bagged in an accused predator sting dubbed "Operation Spotlight." The joint operation involving the FBI, U.S. Attorney's …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
NOT SO FAST: Thief Hops Inside Woman's Unlocked Car And Drives Off, Police In NJ Say NOT SO FAST: Thief Hops Inside Woman's Unlocked Car And Drives Off, Police In NJ Say
NOT SO FAST: Thief Hops Inside Woman's Unlocked Car And Drives Off, Police In NJ Say A Somerset County man hopped behind the wheel of a woman's car  left unlocked and parked outside of her job and drove off, authorities said. Surveillance tapes show James Owens, age 39, Somerville, getting inside of the vehicle parked at a business on Route 22 before heading east on Route 22 around 11:35 a.m. on Thursday, April 28 in Branchburg, Acting Somerset County Prosecutor Annmarie Taggart said. Owens took the car to Somerville and parked it near Mechanic Street, Taggart said alongside County Detectives John W. Fodor. Police found the stolen car soon after, and identifi…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Ski Masked Men Demand Cash From NJ Victim In Midnight Home Invasion Ski Masked Men Demand Cash From NJ Victim In Midnight Home Invasion
Ski Masked Men Demand Cash From NJ Victim In Midnight Home Invasion A trio of ski masked men broke into a New Jersey home wielding handguns and fled with the owner’s cash over the weekend, according to authorities who are seeking clues on their identities. Franklin Township Police responding to the home invasion report on Cedar Grove Lane were told by the owner that three men had forced their way in through the garage entrance shortly before 12:35 a.m. on Saturday, April 30, Acting Somerset County Prosecutor Annmarie Taggart said in a release alongside local officials. The armed men — donning ski masks and gloves — fled after demanding money from the homeow…

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
NJ Movie Extra Who Had Help From Parents Covering Up Killing Convicted Of Murder: Prosecutor NJ Movie Extra Who Had Help From Parents Covering Up Killing Convicted Of Murder: Prosecutor
NJ Movie Extra Who Had Help From Parents Covering Up Killing Convicted Of Murder: Prosecutor A New Jersey man who allegedly had help from his parents covering up a rapper's shooting death has been convicted of first-degree murder, authorities announced. Ryan D. Keough shot Terrence "T.R." Coulanges, 29, of Old Bridge, on Jan. 9, 2019 at a home on Farm Lane in Bound Brook around 5:45 p.m., when neighbors said they heard gunshots, the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office said. Keough — who reportedly made appearances in  Creed and The Dark Knight Rises — told police he was in a carriage house when Coulanges banged on the door, reached into his jacket and pulled out a gun, NJ Adva…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Woman Gave False Report In Deadly NJ Hit-Run Crash: Prosecutor Woman Gave False Report In Deadly NJ Hit-Run Crash: Prosecutor
Woman Gave False Report In Deadly NJ Hit-Run Crash: Prosecutor The driver who struck and killed a pedestrian earlier this year was arrested, as was a woman who lied about the incident to police, authorities in Central Jersey said. Raulito Peralta, 22, of Highland Park, struck and killed New Brunswick's Treasa M. Daye-Fennie while she was crossing a street in Franklin Township last February, Acting Somerset County Prosecutor Annmarie Taggart said. Estrella Caballero-Cruz, 21, of Highland Park, was charged with providing a false report to police. Daye-Fennie was crossing Somerset Street near High Street around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 22, wh…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
NJ Man Sexually Assaulted 14-Year-Old Girl: Prosecutor NJ Man Sexually Assaulted 14-Year-Old Girl: Prosecutor
NJ Man Sexually Assaulted 14-Year-Old Girl: Prosecutor A 42-year-old New Jersey man was arrested after a teenage girl told authorities that he sexually assaulted her multiple times. An investigation into Carlos B. Deleon-Sis began on Thursday, March, 17 when the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office received information about a 14-year-old sexual assault victim, they said. The girl told investigators that Deleon-Sis sexually assaulted her multiple times between June 2021 and February 2022 in Bound Brook, Acting Somerset County Prosecutor Annmarie Taggart said in a joint release. On Wednesday, April 6, Deleon-Sis was charged with s…

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by Nicole Acosta
Police & Fire
Family Of Girl Killed While Riding Bike In Bridgewater Sees Support Family Of Girl Killed While Riding Bike In Bridgewater Sees Support
Family Of Girl Killed While Riding Bike In Bridgewater Sees Support Support is surging for the family of an 11-year-old girl who was struck and killed by a 22-year-old woman in a pickup truck while biking with a friend in Bridgewater. Victoria Bastos was struck near 3rd Street on Fulton Street around 6:10 p.m. Saturday, April 2, according to local police and a GoFundMe launched for the girl's family. Police said she was rushed to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital Somerset where she was pronounced dead following the crash. More than $12,300 had been raised on the GoFundMe as of Monday morning. Victoria is survived by her father, Vitor Bastos, her mother Cyn…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
2 Nabbed In Deadly Shooting Of Somerset County Man, Prosecutor Says 2 Nabbed In Deadly Shooting Of Somerset County Man, Prosecutor Says
2 Nabbed In Deadly Shooting Of Somerset County Man, Prosecutor Says Two suspects have been charged in connection with the deadly shooting of a Somerset County man earlier this month, authorities said. Kenneth Hill, of Plainfield, and Daniel Carrera Cardona, of Piscataway, are charged with first-degree murder and other offenses in the homicide of Steve J. Camino, 26, of North Plainfield, Acting Somerset County Prosecutor Thomas Chirichella said alongside other county officials. Camino was found wounded as officers responded to the shooting report near Grove Street and Prospect Place in North Plainfield just after 9:35 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1, Chir…

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by Valerie Musson