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Monday, jan 6
Tag:
Child Welfare
News
Neighbor Wrestled Gun From Victim's Estranged Husband Before Town-Wide NJ Lockdown: Campaign
A New Jersey mother is opening up about the horrifying moments on New Year's Eve when she said her estranged husband shot her, grazing the back of her head and prompting a town-wide lockdown. A GoFundMe page was created for Nikki Williams after she survived a shooting that forced the entire borough of Allentown to shelter in place on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. Her "soon-to-be ex," 52-year-old Daniel Williams of Allentown, was arrested after the attack which happened at around 12:51 p.m. An update from Nikki was shared on the GoFundMe page on Tuesday, Jan 2. The campaign had rais…
Police & Fire
Charges Filed In Allentown Shooting Prompting Town-Wide Shelter In Place
A 52-year-old New Jersey man has been charged in connection with a shooting that left a woman injured prompting a town-wide shelter-in-place on Tuesday, Dec. 31,2024, authorities said. Daniel Williams, of Allentown, is facing charges of first-degree attempted murder, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and multiple weapons offenses, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago said. The endangering charge stems from a child being present in the home at the time of the shooting, authorities said. The incident occurred at approximately 12:51 p.m., bringing officers from t…
News
Forgotten On The Bus: 4-Year-Old Girl Never Made It To School, NJ Mom Demands Answers
A 4-year-old New Jersey girl was left on a school bus for nearly six hours in what her mother is calling a traumatic and preventable incident. Darielle Lugo said her daughter, Makani, was supposed to arrive at the Bargaintown Preschool in Egg Harbor Township around 9:25 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, after being put on the bus by her father. But Makani never made it to class. The ordeal came to light when Darielle’s husband arrived at the school around 2:05 p.m. for a class party. After signing in with security, he discovered Makani had been marked absent. “I thought it was a joke…
Police & Fire
Former Jersey Shore Gymnastics Coach Sexually Assaulted Girl, Police Say
A former Galloway Township gymnastics coach was accused of sexually assaulting a girl under 16 years old, authorities said. The Galloway Township Police Department announced the arrest of 51-year-old Matthew Shriver in a news release on Tuesday, Nov. 19. The Brigantine man was a co-owner of Everest Gymnastics and Tumbling Center in Galloway Township. The investigation began after officers received a report regarding the abuse accusations. Police said they obtained cell phone evidence that corroborated the victim’s statements. This evidence led to search warrants for Shriver’s phone, perso…
Police & Fire
NJ Performing Arts HS Teacher Confesses To Molesting Female Student, Prosecutors Say
A former teacher at an Ocean County performing arts academy admitted to molesting a female student, authorities said. Douglas Bollinger of Neptune City, pleaded guilty on Monday, Nov. 18, to endangering the welfare of a child, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. Investigators said Bollinger, 57, engaged in "inappropriate sexual contact" with a student. The incidents happened in Point Pleasant Beach and Asbury Park between February and August 2019. Bollinger was a teacher at the Grunin Performing Arts Academy, part of Ocean County Vocational Tech…
Police & Fire
NJ Mom Believed Killed By Husband Survived By 4 Daughters, Campaign Says
Support is on the rise for four girls mourning the loss of their 40-year-old mother, who authorities said was stabbed dead by her husband this weekend in New Jersey. A GoFundMe campaign launched for Rosana Rodriguez's daughters had raised more than $10,000 as of Sunday, Sept. 22, more than 24 hours after she was found lying on the kitchen floor of a Perth Amboy home with stab wounds next to her husband, Wellington Leonard, as previously reported by Daily Voice. Officers were called to the Bertrand Avenue home around 3 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ci…
News
New Brunswick Pastor Charged With Sexually Assaulting Juvenile, Prosecutor Says
A 61-year-old pastor has been charged with sexually assaulting a juvenile in Middlesex County, authorities said. Roby D. Cruz-Hernandez, a pastor at Iglesia Pentecostal El Mesias in New Brunswick, was arrested without incident at his home in Somerset, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and New Brunswick Police Chief Vincent Sabo said. Cruz-Hernandez was charged with second-degree sexual assault and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Castro of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit at 732-7…
Police & Fire
New Brunswick Camp Employee Sexually Assaulted Minor Multiple Times, Police Say
A 26-year-old New Brunswick summer camp worker is accused of having sexual contact with a minor, authorities said. Dwany Cruz, who works as a recreation assistant of an undisclosed summer camp, had sexual contact with a child on multiple occasions, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and New Brunswick Police Chief Vincent Sabo said. Cruz surrendered to New Brunswick police on Aug. 15, and was charged with third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, police said. The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Leyva, of th…
Police & Fire
NJ Performing Arts High School Teacher Molested Female Student, Prosecutors Say
A former teacher at an Ocean County performing arts high school was accused of molesting a female student, authorities said. Douglas Bollinger, 56, of Neptune City, was charged on Monday, Aug. 12 with two counts each of endangering the welfare of a child and criminal sexual contact, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. Bollinger was a teacher at the Grunin Performing Arts Academy at Ocean County Vocational Technical School (OCVTS). The academy had 240 students as of September 2023 and offers high schoolers opportunities to take dual-credit co…
Police & Fire
NJ Youth Soccer Coach Accused Of More Sexual Crimes Against Ninth Player, Prosecutors Say
A Monmouth County youth soccer coach accused of molesting two players and sending sexual pictures to others was given more charges, authorities said. A grand jury indicted 32-year-old Ryan Gunsauls of Union Beach on 30 counts, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said in a news release on Tuesday, Aug. 14. He was previously arrested in the case in Hazlet on Friday, May 11. Investigators said one boy told police earlier in May that Gunsauls had been sending him "sexually explicit materials" and asking for them on social media. Eight more victims bet…
Police & Fire
Convenience Store Clerk Sold Vaping Products To Jersey Shore Kids, Police Say
An Atlantic Highlands convenience store clerk was accused of selling vaping products to children, authorities said. Fnu Rachna, 60, was charged with sale of flavored vaping products, the Atlantic Highlands Police Department said in a news release on Tuesday, Aug. 6. Officers received reports from parents over several months about vaping products sold to children at TNC Mini-Mart Convenience Store on First Avenue. An officer investigating the store saw Rachna sell a vaping product to a child on Wednesday, July 24. "We would like to thank the parents of this great community who have com…
News
Teenager Killed Trenton Dad Who Tried Saving Kids During Carjacking: Prosecutor
A 17-year-old boy from Mercer County has been arrested in connection with a carjacking that led to a fatal shooting, authorities said. The juvenile, from Lawrence, is charged with one count of first-degree felony murder, one count of first-degree carjacking, two counts of second-degree aggravated assault, two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and weapons offenses, according to Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri. He was arrested on Monday, July 29 without incident in Trenton by members of the U.S. Marshals New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task F…
Police & Fire
Child Sexually Abused By Central Jersey Man In Bergenfield Repeatedly, Prosecutor Says
A 20-year-old Middlesex County man was arrested and charged on Wednesday, July 17, with sexually assaulting a child in Bergenfield, authorities said. In May, Bergenfield police and the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office began investigating the sexual assault of a juvenile under the age of 16 and determined Richard Simko had assaulted them on multiple occasions, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Simko was arrested in Woodbridge and charged with five counts of sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child. He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a court …
Police & Fire
South Jersey Man, 58, Gets Prison For Sexually Assaulting 5 Girls Under Age Of 13: Prosecutor
A 58-year-old man from Vineland was sentenced to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison for sexually assaulting five girls under the age of 13 over a 10-year period, authorities said. Jesus Figueroa was sentenced on Friday, June 28, according to Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae. Figueroa must serve a minimum of 85% of the 10 years before being considered eligible for parole, she said. Upon release, he will be required to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law and be subject to parole supervision for life. On Sept. 8, 2022, Figueroa, was charged w…
Police & Fire
Special Education Teacher Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Student, Monmouth Prosecutor Says
A special education teacher in Monmouth County was accused of sexually assaulting a student, authorities said. Allison Havemann-Niedrach, 43, of Jackson Township, was charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago announced her arrest in a news release on Saturday, June 29. Prosecutors said Havemann-Niedrach is a teacher at Freehold Intermediate School and according to her LinkedIn profile, she teaches special education in the borough's district. He…
Police & Fire
Man Sent Child Porn To Undercover Central Jersey Detective, Prosecutors Say
A Passaic man was accused of sending child pornography to an undercover Monmouth County investigator through a social media app, authorities said. Joseph Velazquez, 25, was charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child (distribution of child sexual abuse materials) and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse materials). Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago announced the charges in a news release on Friday, June 21. An undercover detective from the county prosecutor's office was monitoring a group chat on the messenger app…
Police & Fire
Mom Killed By Ex-Boyfriend In 'Horrifying' South Jersey Machete Attack Identified
The identity of a Wall Township woman was confirmed after authorities said her ex-boyfriend killed her with a machete. A spokesperson for the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office identified 29-year-old Brianna Greenwood as the victim of the attack on Thursday, May 23. Alex Williams, 24, of Wall Township, was accused of killing her at the Glen Oaks apartments. Wall police responded to the complex's parking lot at around 9:22 a.m. and found Greenwood suffering from several serious injuries. She was rushed to a hospital and died a week later on Thursday, May 30. A GoFu…
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