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Trenton, NJ

'Unconstitutional:' Feds Slam Trenton Police For Excessive Force, Illegal Stops 'Unconstitutional:' Feds Slam Trenton Police For Excessive Force, Illegal Stops
'Unconstitutional:' Feds Slam Trenton Police For Excessive Force, Illegal Stops Federal investigators have accused the Trenton Police Department (TPD) of widespread civil rights violations, including excessive force and illegal arrests, calling the department’s practices “unconstitutional” in a damning report released Thursday, Nov. 21. The Department of Justice (DOJ) found that TPD officers routinely stopped and searched individuals without reasonable suspicion, made arrests without probable cause, and escalated encounters with excessive force.  These practices, compounded by poor training, inadequate oversight, and a lack of accountability, have eroded community…
NC Woman Killed By Northeast Corridor Train In Central Jersey, Amtrak Says NC Woman Killed By Northeast Corridor Train In Central Jersey, Amtrak Says
NC Woman Killed By Northeast Corridor Train In Central Jersey, Amtrak Says Authorities have identified the North Carolina woman who was killed by a train in South Brunswick on Veterans Day, officials said. Emily Price of Durham, NC, was named as the victim of the crash, an Amtrak spokesperson said on Monday, Nov. 18. The 43-year-old was struck between Jersey Avenue and Princeton Junction at around 9:35 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 11. None of the 110 customers and crew members on the train were injured. They were transferred to a following train. The Northeast Corridor train had left New York Penn Station at 8:37 p.m. It was due to arrive in Trenton at 10:…
Northeast Corridor Train Kills Woman In Central Jersey, NJ Transit Says Northeast Corridor Train Kills Woman In Central Jersey, NJ Transit Says
Northeast Corridor Train Kills Woman In Central Jersey, NJ Transit Says A woman died when she was hit by a train in South Brunswick on Veterans Day, officials said. The woman was struck between Jersey Avenue and Princeton Junction at around 9:35 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 11, a New Jersey Transit spokesperson said. Her identity wasn't released as of Tuesday, Nov. 12. None of the 110 customers and crew members on the train were injured. They were transferred to a following train. The Northeast Corridor train had left New York Penn Station at 8:37 p.m. It was due to arrive in Trenton at 10:07 p.m. Amtrak and NJ Transit police were investigating the crash.
Mysterious Loud Boom Rocks Central Jersey: Did You Feel It? Mysterious Loud Boom Rocks Central Jersey: Did You Feel It?
Mysterious Loud Boom Rocks Central Jersey: Did You Feel It? Multiple Central Jersey residents were baffled by a loud boom that shook their houses on  Wednesday, Oct. 30. Ring app users reported hearing and feeling the massive explosion around noon. One person speculated some commotion at Naval Weapons Station Earle, in Colts Neck, and another said this is not the first time that the boom has occurred.  "This has been going on for a few months and nobody knows what it is," they wrote, noting it's "very strange" and seems to be getting "more widespread and louder." The boom was reported from West Long Branch to Trenton. One resident i…
Million-Dollar Winner: Scratch-Off Sold At Trenton Wawa Wins Big Prize Million-Dollar Winner: Scratch-Off Sold At Trenton Wawa Wins Big Prize
Million-Dollar Winner: Scratch-Off Sold At Trenton Wawa Wins Big Prize A scratch-off lottery ticket worth $1 million was purchased at a convenience store in Mercer County, officials said. The $1,000,000 Platinum Payout scratch-off was sold at the Wawa on Flock Road in Trenton, the New Jersey Lottery said in a news release on Monday, Oct. 28. Each ticket costs $20 and the $1 million prize is the game's largest. The winner was bought at the gas station near the intersection with Quakerbridge Road on Thursday, Oct. 24. The $1,000,000 Platinum Payout game started on Saturday, Feb. 3. Out of 7,254,760 printed tickets, one $4 million prize remains. …
$4M Richer: South Jersey Scratch-Off Wins Enormous Prize $4M Richer: South Jersey Scratch-Off Wins Enormous Prize
$4M Richer: South Jersey Scratch-Off Wins Enormous Prize A scratch-off lottery ticket worth $4 million was purchased at a convenience store in Salem County, officials said. The 200X Cash Blitz scratch-off was sold at the Sunoco Food Mart on Chestnut Street in Elmer, the New Jersey Lottery said in a news release on Monday, Oct. 28.  Each ticket costs $30 and the $4 million prize is the game's largest. The winner was bought at the gas station near Elmer Lake on Saturday, Oct. 26.  The 200X Cash Blitz game started on Saturday, Aug. 3. Out of 8,897,860 printed tickets, two $4 million prizes are remaining. A $1 million …
Train Operator Dead, 23 Passengers Hurt In NJ Transit Crash With Tree Train Operator Dead, 23 Passengers Hurt In NJ Transit Crash With Tree
Train Operator Dead, 23 Passengers Hurt In NJ Transit Crash With Tree A train operator was killed and multiple others hurt after a tree fell on an NJ Transit train Monday morning, Oct. 14 in Burlington County. The incident happened around 6 a.m. on the River LINE train, which had been heading north from Trenton when it struck a tree south of the Roebling Station in Mansfield Township, an NJ Transit spokesperson said. Twenty-three of the 42 customers on board suffered minor injuries and five suffered moderate injuries, all non-life-threatening. The remaining 19 passengers were accommodated by a bus 6abc says the tree appears to have fallen on the train. …
Police Seeking Two Men After Vehicle, Gun Stolen In Wildwood Police Seeking Two Men After Vehicle, Gun Stolen In Wildwood
Police Seeking Two Men After Vehicle, Gun Stolen In Wildwood Police were looking for whoever stole a vehicle and a gun in Wildwood, authorities said. The Wildwood Police Department released pictures of two men wanted in the case in a Facebook post on Tuesday, Aug. 27. The thefts reportedly happened on Saturday, Aug. 24 but police didn't reveal where the thefts occurred. Both men were wearing sunglasses on the boardwalk and flip-flops in the pictures. One man with shorter dark brown hair was wearing a black short-sleeved button-down shirt. The other man was wearing a royal blue basketball jersey with "New York" on the front and the number 76 on …
Former Trenton Teacher, Basketball Coach Sexually Assaulted Student Over Five Years: Prosecutor Former Trenton Teacher, Basketball Coach Sexually Assaulted Student Over Five Years: Prosecutor
Former Trenton Teacher, Basketball Coach Sexually Assaulted Student Over Five Years: Prosecutor A former Trenton elementary school teacher and middle school coach was accused of sexually assaulting a student for about five years, authorities said. Darrell Moody, 51, of Plainfield, was arrested on Monday, Aug. 12, Acting Mercer County Prosecutor Theresa Hilton said in a news release. He was a teacher at Parker Elementary School and a basketball coach at Joyce Kilmer Middle School. Investigators said the victim reported the sexual assault claims to Trenton police in May. Moody met the victim while he was teaching fifth grade at Parker. The victim claims Moody sexually as…
Pedestrian Hit By Two Trains, Killed In Central Jersey: NJ Transit Pedestrian Hit By Two Trains, Killed In Central Jersey: NJ Transit
Pedestrian Hit By Two Trains, Killed In Central Jersey: NJ Transit A pedestrian was struck by two trains and killed in West Windsor Township, officials said. The person was hit by a Northeast Corridor train for the New Jersey Transit just west of Princeton Junction Station at around 9:26 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 13, an NJ Transit spokesperson said. Train No. 3825 had left New York Penn Station at 8:12 a.m. and was scheduled to arrive in Trenton at 9:48 a.m. The pedestrian was also struck by an Amtrak train at the same location. None of the 180 passengers or crew members on the NJ Transit train were injured. Northeast C…
Bystanders Stop Sex Offender From Raping Teen Girl In Trenton Neighborhood, Police Say Bystanders Stop Sex Offender From Raping Teen Girl In Trenton Neighborhood, Police Say
Bystanders Stop Sex Offender From Raping Teen Girl In Trenton Neighborhood, Police Say A sex offender was accused of trying to rape a teen girl in a Trenton neighborhood one day after he was released from prison, authorities said. Malik Bright, 24, of Trenton, was arrested on Wednesday, Aug. 7, the Trenton Police Department said in a news release. Officers responded to the report of an attempted sexual assault near the corner of Louise Lane and Marion Street in the city's Stuyvesant/Prospect neighborhood at around 9:37 a.m. Investigators said Bright followed the 17-year-old girl from a bus stop for several blocks. She knew Bright was following her and she tried…
Person Struck By Train In New Brunswick: NJ Transit Person Struck By Train In New Brunswick: NJ Transit
Person Struck By Train In New Brunswick: NJ Transit A person struck by a train briefly delayed NJ Transit service Friday, Aug. 9, officials said. The male was struck by Northeast Corridor train 3875, which left New York Penn Station at 6:47 p.m. around 8:30 p.m. just west of Jersey Ave Station in New Brunswick, NJ Transit officials said. The victim was transported to the hospital with a foot injury. There were no injuries reported to the approximately 300 customers and the crew on board.  The customers were transferred to a rescue train to continue their travel. New Jersey Transit Police are on scene and leading the inve…
Camden Man Dies Of Injuries From Trenton Shooting: Prosecutor Camden Man Dies Of Injuries From Trenton Shooting: Prosecutor
Camden Man Dies Of Injuries From Trenton Shooting: Prosecutor A 23-year-old man from Camden died a day after being wounded in a July 2 shooting in Trenton, authorities said on Monday, July 15. Capriest Ruiz was shot early that morning on Euclid Avenue, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office The murder remains under investigation. No arrests had been made. Anyone with information about the fatal shooting is urged to call the prosecutor’s Mercer County Homicide Task Force at 609-989-6406.
Father Shot Dead Trying To Save Children During 'Horrific' Trenton Carjacking, Mayor Says Father Shot Dead Trying To Save Children During 'Horrific' Trenton Carjacking, Mayor Says
Father Shot Dead Trying To Save Children During 'Horrific' Trenton Carjacking, Mayor Says A father was shot dead while trying to save his two children from a carjacking on Friday night, July 12 in Trenton, the mayor confirmed. "A young father lost his life in a senseless act of violence, leaving his two minor children witnesses to this horrific event,'' Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora said in a press statement. At about 10:20 p.m., police responded to an overturned vehicle near Garfield and Farragut avenues, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri said. There was a white Durango with one male victim inside and two children, he said. The victim, identified as Johny Emmanuel Cruz…
Navy Vet From Trenton, Briana Navarreto, Dies Suddenly In Florida, 27 Navy Vet From Trenton, Briana Navarreto, Dies Suddenly In Florida, 27
Navy Vet From Trenton, Briana Navarreto, Dies Suddenly In Florida, 27 A highly decorated Navy veteran from New Jersey will be buried with military honors after her sudden death in Florida, according to an obituary published by Brenna Funeral Home.  A lifelong Trenton resident most recently of Tampa, FL, Briana Lee "Beezy" Navarreto died on Saturday, July 6, her obituary said. She was 27 years old. A GoFundMe campaign has been started to bring her body, dog and vehicle back from Florida and cover funeral expenses. Victoria Berrios of Trenton is organizing the fundraiser. "We also need to make arrangements for packing up the home she owned and bringi…
DWI Driver Strikes Trenton Pedestrian, Rams 3 Cars Before Flipping: Police DWI Driver Strikes Trenton Pedestrian, Rams 3 Cars Before Flipping: Police
DWI Driver Strikes Trenton Pedestrian, Rams 3 Cars Before Flipping: Police A suspected drunken driver plowed through three cars and struck a pedestrian in Trenton, authorities said. The chain reaction collision occurred at about 2:20 a.m. Tuesday, July 9 at 1120 S. Broad St., Trenton police said. Diogenes Martinez Ramirez, 46, of Trenton, was later charged with driving while intoxicated, assault by auto, reckless driving and other moving violations, police said. As Trenton Police Officer Michael Cruse and Officer Maria Herrera-Corcuera approached Liberty Street on South Broad Street they observed a 2020 Toyota Rav4 recklessly heading into their lane from the onco…
Transportation Worker Dies Days After Quadruple Trenton Shooting: Campaign, Prosecutor Transportation Worker Dies Days After Quadruple Trenton Shooting: Campaign, Prosecutor
Transportation Worker Dies Days After Quadruple Trenton Shooting: Campaign, Prosecutor One of four victims of a quadruple shooting in Trenton died days later, officials announced. Samier Vincent, 30, of Trenton, died on Thursday, June 27 — four days after an early morning shooting in Trenton, according to the Mercer County Prosecuror's Office. A story on the shooting by Peterson's Breaking News of Trenton can be found by clicking here.  The 1:33 a.m. shooting near Walnut Avenue and Monmouth Street left four people injured, two of them in critical condition, according to a story by Peterson's Breaking News of Trenton.  No arrests had been made in the shooting. The …
NJ Restaurant Owner Preyed On Job Applicant, Sexually Assaulted Others, Authorities Say NJ Restaurant Owner Preyed On Job Applicant, Sexually Assaulted Others, Authorities Say
NJ Restaurant Owner Preyed On Job Applicant, Sexually Assaulted Others, Authorities Say The owner of three restaurants in Trenton has been arrested for multiple sexual assaults including a job applicant, authorities said. Gerald Araya, 44, of Ewing, was arrested in Trenton on Wednesday, June 19, according to Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri, Lawrence Township Police Chief Christopher Longo and Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson.  He is charged with five counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, one count of first-degree sexual assault, two counts of second-degree sexual assault, one count of first-degree kidnapping, two counts o…
Jon Stewart Plays Drums In Band's Surprise Performance At Asbury Park Music Festival Jon Stewart Plays Drums In Band's Surprise Performance At Asbury Park Music Festival
Jon Stewart Plays Drums In Band's Surprise Performance At Asbury Park Music Festival Comedian Jon Stewart is finding time to rock out on the Jersey Shore after returning to host 'The Daily Show' on Mondays in 2024. Stewart played the drums for the band Church and State at Asbury Park Brewery on Saturday, June 15. The appearance was during the Asbury Underground arts and music crawl that was part of the statewide North to Shore Festival.  The comedian who owns a Colts Neck animal sanctuary said the band made its "premiere performance" at the Cookman Avenue brewpub. "We have never played in public," Stewart said at the beginning of the band's set. "I certainly have nev…
Killer Who Aimed To 'Flood Streets' Of Trenton With Heroin Gets 17-Year Minimum In Fed Pen Killer Who Aimed To 'Flood Streets' Of Trenton With Heroin Gets 17-Year Minimum In Fed Pen
Killer Who Aimed To 'Flood Streets' Of Trenton With Heroin Gets 17-Year Minimum In Fed Pen 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: Jerome “Righteous" Roberts will have to see his 70th birthday before he can taste freedom again. A convicted killer who aimed to "flood the streets" of Trenton with a "motherlode" of heroin, Roberts, 53, was sentenced this week to what will be a minimum of 17 years in federal prison for his role in a drug ring that once dominated the capital city. Federal jurors had convicted Roberts, of Delran, of drug conspiracy following a three-week trial in Trenton in October 2021. U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner, in turn, sentenced the Bloods gang leader to a 245-month prison sentence t…
Beaked Whale Found Dead On Jersey Shore Beach, Second Discovered In 2024 Beaked Whale Found Dead On Jersey Shore Beach, Second Discovered In 2024
Beaked Whale Found Dead On Jersey Shore Beach, Second Discovered In 2024 A rare type of whale was found dead on a beach in Monmouth County, marine biologists said. A beaked whale on the beach near St. Clair Avenue in Spring Lake was reported to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center at around 6 a.m. on Thursday, June 13, the group said in a Facebook post. A volunteer responded to document the 13-foot-2 whale, which was "in moderately decomposed condition." A Spring Lake public works crew transported the whale to the department's yard to be examined by MMSC staff. The carcass was then transported to the state's Animal Health Diagnostic Lab in Trenton for a …
Reign Of Terror: NJ Ex-Con Gets 16 Years For Series Of Armed Robberies, Carjackings Reign Of Terror: NJ Ex-Con Gets 16 Years For Series Of Armed Robberies, Carjackings
Reign Of Terror: NJ Ex-Con Gets 16 Years For Series Of Armed Robberies, Carjackings 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A 25-year-old ex-con from Trenton who’s already served 2½ years in state prison is headed to federal prison for 16 more for a string of gunpoint carjackings and robberies. Joshua M. Perez was one of three armed robbers who commited a Oct. 10 carjacking, another on Dec. 5 and the robbery later than second night of a local gas station, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. Surveillance cameras captured video of Perez and two other robbers emerging from a sedan, pointing handguns at occupants of another vehicle, Sellinger said. They then fled with money and cellphones in the victims…
Chainsaw-Wielding Man Shot By Police In Keansburg Chainsaw-Wielding Man Shot By Police In Keansburg
Chainsaw-Wielding Man Shot By Police In Keansburg A man wielding a chainsaw was shot and critically wounded by police sent to his Keansburg home on a welfare check, authorities said. Borough officers who went to the Seabreeze Way home shortly after 1 p.m. on Memorial Day "encountered an adult male civilian who possessed numerous weapons and a running chainsaw," New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. "As the male approached officers with the running chainsaw, one officer deployed a [Taser] and another officer fired his service weapon, striking the individual," the attorney general said. on Friday, May 31. Unconfirmed reports wer…
Ex-NJ Boy Scouts Worker, 70, Admits Trafficking Child Porn, Recording Kids In Bathroom: Feds Ex-NJ Boy Scouts Worker, 70, Admits Trafficking Child Porn, Recording Kids In Bathroom: Feds
Ex-NJ Boy Scouts Worker, 70, Admits Trafficking Child Porn, Recording Kids In Bathroom: Feds 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A 70-year-old former New Jersey Boy Scout camp employee admitted secretly recording videos of children using bathrooms there, federal authorities said.  William Mickel was employed by the Boy Scouts of America in Morris County when he trafficked videos and still images of child sex abuse via email, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. Mickel had hundreds of files stored on electronic devices in his Lake Hopatcong home, some of which "depicted children who were surreptitiously recorded using bathrooms in the Boy Scout camps where Mickel worked," Sellinger said.…
Confessed NJ/Philly Sex Trafficker Who Beat, Threatened Victims Gets 10 Years, No Early Release Confessed NJ/Philly Sex Trafficker Who Beat, Threatened Victims Gets 10 Years, No Early Release
Confessed NJ/Philly Sex Trafficker Who Beat, Threatened Victims Gets 10 Years, No Early Release UPDATE: A confessed sex trafficker from Philadelphia was sentenced in federal court in New Jersey to 10 years in prison. Mallie M. Evans, 37, must spend at least 8½ years behind bars before he’ll be eligible for release because there’s no parole in the federal prison system. Evans “recruited and coerced multiple victims” as prostitutes, shuttling them between Philly and Central and South Jersey, U.S. Attorney For New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger said. “Evans used fraud, emotional manipulation, physical violence, and threats of death and bodily injury to coerce the victims into engaging in co…