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Saturday, mar 15
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Law Enforcement
Police & Fire
Masked Suspects Flee From Haledon Police, Triggering School Shelter-In-Place
A routine traffic stop turned into a police pursuit Friday afternoon, March 14, leading to a temporary shelter-in-place at Haledon Public School, authorities said. At 1:50 p.m., Officer Kris Duci spotted two males wearing ski masks on a motorized scooter near West Broadway and Cliff Street, police said in a news release. The scooter had no license plates, and neither suspect was wearing a helmet, the department said. When Officer Duci attempted a motor vehicle stop, the suspects sped off toward Cliff Court, police said. As the suspects ditched the scooter and fled on foot, they discarded s…
Police & Fire
NJ Councilman Threatened Tow Truck Driver With Firearm: Prosecutor
Kerry Coley, a councilman in the City of Orange Township was arrested and charged on Monday, March 10, after he displayed a gun at a tow truck driver last October, authorities said. On Wednesday, Oct. 9, Coley displayed the gun to a tow truck driver who was in the process of towing a vehicle owned by Coley's relative, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens II and City of Orange Township Police Director Todd Warren said. Coley was released from the Essex County Correctional Facility on Tuesday and is ordered to have no contact with the victim and not possess any firearms, authorities…
Police & Fire
Video Shows Sword-Wielding Man Charge At Wayne Cops Before Being Shot: Prosecutor
Police have identified the Wayne man captured on newly-released bodycam footage coming down the stairway of his home with a long sword, prompting officers to fire their guns last month (scroll down for footage). On Friday, Feb. 14, Wayne police encountered Connor Darpino, 34, when they responded to a single-car crash, where he was identified as the driver, Passaic County Prosecutor Camila M. Valdes in a new update Wednesday, March 12. During that interaction, Darpino became argumentative and combative with officers, leading to his arrest and release from Wayne Police Headquarters after bein…
News
Bergen Prosecutor’s Lt. Faces 50-Count Indictment For Stealing Fentanyl, Heroin: AG
A Bergen County prosecutor’s office lieutenant is facing a 50-count indictment after allegedly stealing cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl from the evidence vault and depositing $600,000 in cash into his personal accounts, authorities said. A state grand jury in Trenton indicted Kevin T. Matthew, 48, of Cedar Grove, after an investigation revealed he had allegedly signed out narcotics from BCPO’s main evidence vault between January 2019 and November 2023, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced Wednesday, March 12. Authorities said Matthew was not part of BCPO’s narcotics unit, but as a me…
News
FBI Probes Alleged Arson Fire At NJ Home Of Bayer Exec: Report
A suspicious fire that broke out at the New Jersey home of a pharmaceutical company executive earlier this week is under investigation by multiple agencies including the FBI, authorities said. Yahoo Finance was first to report the alleged attack on a Bayer executive March 4 in Morris County. The blaze broke out at a home on East Lane in Madison at approximately 7:30 that morning, according to Meghan Knab, a spokesperson for the Morris County Prosecutor's Office. The fire was quickly extinguished by local firefighters and the home did not suffer significant damage. Knab could not confirmed t…
Police & Fire
Newark Officer Killed, Teen Charged In Double Shooting: Officials
Authorities have charged a 14-year-old male and detained five others in connection with the shootings of Newark police officers that left Joseph Azcona dead and another officer critical, officials said. Azcona, 26, a five-year veteran of the Newark Police Department, was killed in the line of duty during a shooting on Friday evening, March 7, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said. Another officer remains hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said. His name has not been released. A spokesperson for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office confirmed that two officers w…
Police & Fire
Breaking
: Two Newark Police Officers Shot, Prosecutor Says
Two Newark police officers were shot in the city on Friday evening, March 7, authorities said. UPDATE: Teen In Custody After Killing Newark Officer Joseph Azcona, Wounding Colleague, Officials Say One of the officers was killed while the other was left critical, officials said. A spokesperson for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office only confirmed that two officers were shot just after 6:35 p.m. near Broadway and Carteret, and that one was critical — declining to provide details on the other's condition. Both were rushed to University Hospital, where one remains in critical condition, off…
News
Search Intensifies For Missing PA Teen Enci Aubrey Wu, Last Seen In NJ, Feared Sex Trafficked
The search for missing Pennsylvania teen Enci Aubrey Wu has gained momentum as community members rally for more visibility and support in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, according to statements by her parents on Friday, March 7. Wu, 14, of Palmer Township, Easton, who goes by Aubrey, vanished after climbing out of a bathroom window at her home on Jan. 10, 2025. Investigators later confirmed she was seen in New Jersey and at a Wawa in Whitehall Township on Jan. 11, but she has not been located since. Her parents and volunteers have been tirelessly searching for her for nearly two months, p…
Police & Fire
Student Sexually Assaulted By NJ Teacher After Bonding Over 'Words With Friends': Complaint
A 45-year-old teacher at Manchester Township High School was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a student 13 years ago, according to a criminal complaint. The woman said she had a sexual relationship with Ryan Ramsay, a social studies teacher when she was a 17-year-old senior at the high school, authorities said. She started talking to Ramsay outside of school by messaging on "Words with Friends" in January 2012, authorities said. Their conversation soon became flirtatious and from February through the end of the school year, they had a sexual relationship, authorities said. Ram…
Police & Fire
NJ Cop Hacked Women's Social Media Accounts, Shared Nude Photos: Prosecutor
A 25-year-old Mount Laurel police officer pleaded guilty to hacking multiple women's social media accounts and distributing their nude photos, authorities said. Ayron Taylor, a Moorestown resident faces 12 years in prison when he is sentenced in September, per the terms of a plea agreement, Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia Bradshaw said. A woman contacted Evesham Township police in September 2022, to report her Snapchat and Facebook accounts had been hacked by an unknown person, Bradshaw said. The person then sent nude photos she had taken of herself to her Snapchat contacts, m…
Police & Fire
Hackensack Police Director Ray Guidetti Stepping Down, City Says
Hackensack Police Director Ray Gudietti is stepping down. The City of Hackensack made the announcement on Thursday, March 6. Guidetti said he will step down at the end of March. Guidetti's departure comes after "taking on a culture of corruption that had infected the Hackensack Police Department when he was appointed in 2022, and instituting major reforms with the goal of bringing the Department back to its rightful position as a premier law enforcement agency in Bergen County," the release says. Guidetti was appointed "after a storied law enforcement career to clean up a police department…
Police & Fire
23 People Arrested In Another Massive NJ Drug Bust: Fentanyl, Guns, Seized, Prosecutor Says
Twenty-three people including four women and 19 men from Bergen and Passaic counties have been arrested following a 10-month-long investigation into the distribution of cocaine and narcotics in Passaic County, authorities said. The 23 people were charged with various controlled dangerous substance offenses after an investigation that began last May, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes and numerous police chiefs said. Law enforcement in Wayne and Pompton Lakes began investigating after responding to complaints about the sale of cocaine in the area, Valdes said. The investigati…
Police & Fire
Abducted CT Toddler Found In Mexico 24 Years Later
A decades-old New Haven cold case has ended in an emotional reunion, thanks to a relentless detective, modern DNA testing, and a long trail of digital breadcrumbs. Andrea Reyes, who was abducted at the age of 2, has been found alive in Mexico, more than 24 years after she was taken by her mother, Rosa Tenorio, New Haven Police announced on Wednesday, March 5. Despite an active felony arrest warrant for Tenorio, she successfully evaded law enforcement for decades, allegedly taking her daughter across the border and raising her in Puebla, a city of over a million people. Her father, wh…
Police & Fire
Video Shows Officer Pulling Unconscious Driver From Burning Vehicle On Route 22
Newly released bodycam footage shows an officer running right toward a burning vehicle with an unconscious driver, and pulling him out of the car on Route 22 Wednesday, March 5. Footage released by the Bridgewater police department shows Officer Noah Allat arriving at the scene near the Thompson Avenue exit ramp at approximately 2:10 a.m., to find a man sitting on the curb holding his body, as a Hyundai Elantra and a 2007 Freightliner burned behind him. The man tells Allat he was a passenger in the sedan, but there was still an occupant inside, identified by police as a 44-year-ol…
Police & Fire
Njsp
Sgt Cleared In Deadly E-Bike Crash: AG
A New Jersey State Police sergeant will not face criminal charges after she fatally struck a cyclist last year A gran jury declined to file criminal charges against Sergeant First Class Kesene Grier on Monday, Feb. 24, State Attorney General Matthew Plakin said. On Monday, Feb. 5, 2004, a 6 a.m., Grier was driving an unmarked NJSP SUV when she collided with Raul Diaz, a 59-year-old Long Valley man who was riding e-bike, Platkin said. The crash happened before sunrise at the intersection of Willow Grove Street and Brook Hollow Drive in Hackettstown, Platkin said. While travel…
Police & Fire
Son Of NJ Judge Accused Of Posing As Cop In PA Speaks Out: ‘I’m No Fraud’
A man accused of impersonating a police officer and harassing residents in Quarryville is now speaking out, claiming he was falsely accused and unfairly targeted by authorities. John Francis McCarthy, the estranged son of a sitting New Jersey judge, was charged with impersonating a public servant and harassment in February. Now, he’s firing back, calling the charges a “twisted lie” by law enforcement. “I HAVE NEVER claimed to be a government employee to anyone, anywhere, EVER,” McCarthy wrote in a series of emails to local news outlets. Instead, he says he is a concerned Uber driver who h…
Police & Fire
Brazen Dunkin' Bandit Steals $18K From 14 Locations Across New Jersey: Prosecutor
A Newark man is behind bars after authorities say he went on a multi-county Dunkin’ burglary spree, swiping more than $18,000 in cash and leaving a trail of destruction behind. Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 24-year-old Enajaim E. Bowman, who turned himself in on Tuesday, Feb. 25, after detectives tracked him down following weeks of investigation. For nearly two months, Bowman prowled the overnight hours, prying open doors and smashing windows to loot cash registers, safes, and managers’ offices at Dunkin’ Donuts locations across Bergen, Middlesex, Morris, and…
Police & Fire
Suspended BMW Driver Leads 100 MPH Pursuit-Crash Along Route 206: Police
A BMW clocked at over 100 mph led police on a high-speed chase down Route 206 before crashing and sparking a foot pursuit that ended in the arrests of two North Jersey men, authorities said. The Byram Township Police Department said the Feb. 23 incident began at 11:11 a.m. when an officer attempted to pull over the speeding vehicle on Route 206 North. Instead of stopping, the driver, later identified as Andrew Jack Acevedo, 19, accelerated, weaving through traffic and even passing another vehicle on the shoulder, police said. The chase stretched into Andover Borough, where responding office…
Police & Fire
NJ Man Trying To Lure Girls For Sex Sent His Drivers License To Undercover Cop: AG
A 39-year-old Ocean County man was arrested and charged on Friday, Feb. 28 with trying to lure young children for sexual activity, authorities said. On Friday, Feb. 7, an undercover law enforcement officer purporting to be an adult male with access to a 6-year-old girl was contacted on an online platform by a user, later identified as Daniel Dagostino, of the platform, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. The undercover officer and the other user moved their conversation to a messaging app, where the undercover mentioned he had access to an 8-year-old girl and a 10-year-old gir…
Police & Fire
Fallen Officer Honored: Funeral For Andrew Duarte Livestreamed Today
The funeral for Officer Andrew Duarte, the Pennsylvania officer killed in the UPMC York hospital shooting, is being held today, and the service will be livestreamed for those wishing to pay their respects. Duarte, who was wearing a bullet-resistant vest, died from a gunshot wound to the torso, according to the coroner’s report. The brave officer sacrificed his life while responding to the violent hostage situation inside the hospital. The public can watch the funeral service live here. Duarte is remembered as a dedicated officer, a loving family man, and a hero whose actions saved lives …
Police & Fire
NJ Security Guard Guilty Of Hitting Homeless Shoplifter With Cop Car: Prosecutor
A 57-year-old Rutherford Family Dollar security guard was convicted on Wednesday, Feb. 26 of hitting a shoplifter with a police car, authorities said. Frederic Parisi was convicted of aggravated assault, endangering an injured victim and impersonating police officer for the 2020 incident which left the victim, Hector Rodriguez with life-threatening injuries, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens II said. On Friday, March 13, 2020, Parisi, a security guard at the Family Dollar store at 131 Clinton Ave. chased Rodriguez in a police car, struck him with the vehicle and then sprayed him in …
Police & Fire
$36 Million In Drugs Seized During NJ Traffic Stop:
Njstp
Two people were arrested after $36 million worth of drugs were seized during a motor vehicle stop in Warren County on Tuesday, Feb. 18, authorities said. The Mobile Safe Freight Unit was conducting a commercial vehicle inspection on Route 78 East in Greenwich Township when it was determined the vehicle was transporting of marijuana, New Jersey State Police said. . A subsequent search of the trailer led to the seizure of approximately 8,042.2 pounds of raw hydroponic marijuana, 12,062 pounds of various cannabis/THC products, and 13.4 pounds of psilocybin products, police said. The tota…
Police & Fire
Slain Officer’s Final Wish Revealed As Funeral Plans Announced After Hospital Shooting
West York Borough Police Officer Andrew Duarte will be laid to rest this week after he was killed in the line of duty during a mass shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York County on Saturday, Feb, 22. His family, fellow officers, and an outpouring of community support are ensuring his legacy of service and sacrifice is never forgotten. Funeral Service Details Duarte’s funeral will take place on Friday, Feb. 28, at 1:00 p.m. at Living Word Community Church, 2530 Cape Horn Road, Red Lion, PA. Due to high attendance expectations, seating arrangements are as follows: Seating inside the c…
Politics
Right-Wing Podcaster Dan Bongino Named FBI Deputy Director
Popular right-wing podcaster - and staunch Trump supporter - Dan Bongino has been named as the FBI deputy director in a surprise move. The former Secret Service agent who went on to become an instructor in Maryland, earned a master's degree from Queens College and an MBA at Penn State University. He will serve under recently appointed FBI Director Kash Patel, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the agency's dozens of field offices. "Great news for Law Enforcement and American Justice! Dan Bongino, a man of incredible love and passion for our Country, has just been named the next DEPUTY…
Police & Fire
Officer Stabbed, Suspect Arrested In Camden County: Police
A Camden County police officer is in critical condition after he was stabbed by a 38-year-old Sicklerville man on Sunday, Feb. 23, authorities said. The officer, was stabbed while conducting a business check in the area of Broadway and Chestnut Street in Camden, the Camden County Prosecutor's Office said. He was transported to a nearby hospital and is currently in critical, but stable condition, authorities said. Richard Dennis was apprehended soon after in the area of South 7th Street and Kaighn Avenue, authorities said. He was charged with attempted murder, aggravated …
Police & Fire
Slain Virginia Beach Officer Is NJ Native: Remembering Christopher Reese
One of two Virginia Beach officers killed during a routine traffic stop on Friday, Feb. 21, has been identified as a South Jersey native. Officer Christopher Reese, 30, and Officer Cameron Girvin, 25, were riding double-assigned to a midnight shift traffic car when they attempted to stop a Hyundai with an expired plate at 11:27 p.m., Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate said at a news conference Saturday. The driver, later identified as John McCoy III — whom Neudigate vowed to only name once — refused to yield, leading officers to a dead-end street, where the vehicle finally came…
News
Customers Overwhelm Route 46 Bird Store Owner With Love After Crossbow Attack
Katarina wasn’t sure what to expect when she unlocked the doors of Birds By Joe 2 on Roue 46 Saddle Brook on Friday, Feb. 21—the first time she’d officially reopened since being shot with a crossbow inside her own store. What she walked into was overwhelming. Customers streamed in, arms full of flowers, gifts, and bags of soft food she could eat. They hugged her, squeezed her hands, and told her they had been worried about her. Some just stood there, fighting back tears, grateful she was still here. Stephanie Sclafani arrived carrying two milkshakes and a bag of mashed potatoes from…
Police & Fire
Thief Who Led High-Speed NJ Turnpike Pursuit In Stolen Audi Arrested: Cops
A 29-year-old Newark man was arrested on Thursday, Feb. 19, months after he was able to flee Secaucus police during a pursuit. On Wednesday, June 5 at 1:02 a.m., a Secaucus resident reported their 2022 Audi Q3 was in the process of being stolen from the driveway, Secaucus police said. Officers followed the stolen vehicle into a dead end, police said. Rakim Thompson purposely rammed several of the police vehicles, one of which was occupied, to escape and evade capture, officers said. Thompson then fled in the stolen Audi where he was pursued by officers onto the New Jersey Tu…
Police & Fire
Man Trying To Keep Warm Charged With Arson In Massive NJ Storage Facility Blaze: Cops
An 84-year-old man who authorities say was trying to keep warm has been charged with arson after starting a massive fire at a storage facility in Cape May County on the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 19, authorities said. Salvatore Gellura was working in his storage unit at Burleigh Storage in Middle Township and lit cardboard in a metal container to keep warm sometime around 8:49 a.m., Middle Township police said. The fire spread beyond the container and Gellura was unable to control it, police said. One firefighter was transported to a nearby hospital for smoke inhalation, police sa…
Police & Fire
Another Man Accused Of Exposing Himself To Young Girls In Ocean County: Prosecutor
The day after authorities announced the arrest of an 18-year-old ski-masked man masturbating in front of young females, officials in the same county announced a similar arrest. Michael Marto, 28, of Tuckerton, exposed his penis to a 10-year-old girl, propositioned two 15-year-old girls, and made sexual comments toward a 17-year-old girl — all in Lakewood, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. Marto's arrest comes one day after that of Massinissa Ladj, who wore a ski mask as he drove around and masturbated in front of females as young as 12 years old in Lakewood, polic…
Police & Fire
Cops Intercept 'FBI Agent' En Route To Collect $40K In New Jersey, Authorities Say
A 28-year old Cherry Hill resident was arrested and charged on Thursday, Feb. 13 with trying to scam a person in Evesham out of $40,000 by posing as an FBI agent, authorities said. Officers began investigating after a person told law enforcement they received a phone call from an individual claiming to be a member of the F.B.I, Evesham police said. Brij Shukla informed the person that they owed the government $40,000 and instructed them to withdraw the money, stating that a "courier" would visit their residence to retrieve the cash, police said. Detectives began investigating the crime…
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