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Pair Captured On Attempted Murder Charges Weeks After Somerset County Shooting Pair Captured On Attempted Murder Charges Weeks After Somerset County Shooting
Pair Captured On Attempted Murder Charges Weeks After Somerset County Shooting Two men have been arrested in connection with a Somerset County shooting last month, authorities announced Monday. Somerville police responded to Third and Center streets on reports of shots fired around 2:45 a.m. May 23, where they found bullet holes in an occupied home, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said. Ronnie Lyles, 51, of Phillipsburg, and Miguel A. Hernandez, 37, of Somerville, were identified as the two suspects involved in the shooting, Robertson said alongside Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor and Somervil…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
PA Trio Charged With Attempted Murder In Shooting Of NJ Motorcyclist On I-287 PA Trio Charged With Attempted Murder In Shooting Of NJ Motorcyclist On I-287
PA Trio Charged With Attempted Murder In Shooting Of NJ Motorcyclist On I-287 Three Pennsylvania men were charged in a drive-by shooting on Interstate 287 in New Jersey that injured a motorcyclist over the weekend, authorities said. Matthew Plaza, 32, of Allentown; Luis Velez, 37, of Bethlehem; and Raymond Bethancourt, 35, of Shillington have been arrested on various weapons charges while Plaza is also facing a charge of attempted murder, New Jersey State Police said. Troopers from the Somerville Station responded to Chimney Rock Road in Bridgewater, where the motorcyclist had called 911 saying another driver brandished a gun and shot him on the highway around 6:40 p…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Pair Charged With Murder In Fatal Stabbing Of Somerset County Man, 23, Prosecutor Says Pair Charged With Murder In Fatal Stabbing Of Somerset County Man, 23, Prosecutor Says
Pair Charged With Murder In Fatal Stabbing Of Somerset County Man, 23, Prosecutor Says Two suspects are facing murder charges in connection to the fatal stabbing of a 23-year-old Somerset County man earlier this week, authorities said. Nasir J. Williams aka “Duck”, 20, and Ishadir S. Hunter aka “Ice”, 22, both of Somerset, were taken into custody Wednesday and charged with first-degree murder, first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree armed robbery and third-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, Robertson said. Hunter was also charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief. Jamari R. Stephenson, of Somerset, was found unresponsive by officers inside a house on H…

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
NJ Driving School Instructor Charged With Sexually Assaulting Students NJ Driving School Instructor Charged With Sexually Assaulting Students
NJ Driving School Instructor Charged With Sexually Assaulting Students A 59-year-old Somerset County ex-driving school instructor was arrested for sexually assaulting two driving students during sessions, authorities said. Steven Collucci, who previously worked for Dill's Driving School, is accused of sexually assaulting two 16-year-old alleged victims, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said. The first alleged victim reported being touched in a sexual manner by Collucci, of Somerville, while driving in the Bridgewater and Hillsborough area in June 2017, Robertson said. Then, in January 2021, a second individual reported being touched s…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
NJ Martial Arts Studio Owner Placed Hidden Camera In Bathroom, Prosecutor Says NJ Martial Arts Studio Owner Placed Hidden Camera In Bathroom, Prosecutor Says
NJ Martial Arts Studio Owner Placed Hidden Camera In Bathroom, Prosecutor Says The 31-year-old owner of a martial arts studio was arrested on accusations he placed a camera inside of a bathroom and filmed members of the public and students who used it, authorities said Wednesday. Leonardo Sanchez of Somerville -- who owns Impact Martial Arts in Warren -- was arrested March 19 and charged with third-degree Invasion of privacy, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said. Police were called to the Mountain Boulevard studio around 11:30 p.m., when an employee found a hidden camera inside of the business, along with videos of individuals using the bathroom, Rober…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Assault Rifle, High Capacity Magazine Seized From PA, DE Men In NJ Road Rage Incident Assault Rifle, High Capacity Magazine Seized From PA, DE Men In NJ Road Rage Incident
Assault Rifle, High Capacity Magazine Seized From PA, DE Men In NJ Road Rage Incident Police found a 30-round high capacity magazine in the car carrying men from Pennsylvania and Delaware, who were accused of flashing an assault rifle at another driver in New Jersey over the weekend, authorities said. Branchburg police stopped vehicle carrying the three men on Route 202 near Milltown Road around 4 p.m., after someone called police reporting that a man brandished a weapon while heading northbound in Readington, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said. Robert Figueroa, 19 of Whitehall, Pennsylvania; Axel Rafael Colon Merly, 18 of Allentown, Pennsylvania; and …

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Prosecutor: NJ Driver Charged With Attempted Murder For Hitting Men With Dodge Durango Prosecutor: NJ Driver Charged With Attempted Murder For Hitting Men With Dodge Durango
Prosecutor: NJ Driver Charged With Attempted Murder For Hitting Men With Dodge Durango A Somerset County man was charged with attempted murder after intentionally hitting two men with his car after patronizing the same local bar in 2019, authorities said. Surveillance tapes captured a 2020 Dodge Durango registered to William D. Hoke Jr., 47, driving up and down East Main Street in Bound Brook before entering Lot 3 around 1:40 a.m. on Dec. 20, 2019, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said. Once inside the lot, he hit a 31-year-old Bloomfield man and 36-year-old Bound Brook with his car, propelling them more than ten feet into a parked car, Robertson said…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
NJ Man Who Thought He Was Meeting Child, 14, For Sex Busted By Undercover Agent NJ Man Who Thought He Was Meeting Child, 14, For Sex Busted By Undercover Agent
NJ Man Who Thought He Was Meeting Child, 14, For Sex Busted By Undercover Agent A 48-year-old Hudson County man who thought he was arranging sex with a 14-year-old child had actually been chatting with an undercover for months, and was taken into custody last week, authorities said. Dave J. Adamovic, of North Bergen, began chatting on various online platforms with the undercover detective -- whom he believed was a 14-year-old -- in October 2020, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said Thursday. Adamovic’s chats became sexual in nature and, throughout the course of the investigation, made arrangements to meet the undercover detective with the intention…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
NJ Dad Charged With Attempted Murder Of 2-Year-Old Daughter At Motel NJ Dad Charged With Attempted Murder Of 2-Year-Old Daughter At Motel
NJ Dad Charged With Attempted Murder Of 2-Year-Old Daughter At Motel A New Jersey dad has been charged with first degree attempted murder after surveillance tapes caught him putting his 2-year-old daughter in a plastic bag and carrying her through a New Jersey motel, authorities said. North Plainfield police responded to a Route 22 motel on reports of a baby inside of a bag around 12:40 p.m. on Jan. 23, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said. There, they found a man later identified as Lamar S. Waller -- the girl's dad -- holding his child, Robertson said alongside Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives John W.…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Prosecutor: Second Victim Alleges Sexual Assault During Appointment With Somerset County Doctor Prosecutor: Second Victim Alleges Sexual Assault During Appointment With Somerset County Doctor
Prosecutor: Second Victim Alleges Sexual Assault During Appointment With Somerset County Doctor A Somerset County doctor who was arrested on accusations that he sexually assaulted a patient during an appointment is facing additional charges after a second victim came forward, authorities said. Chike J. Aguh, 64, was accused of assaulting a woman during her appointment at his practice in Franklin Township on Tuesday, Jan. 12, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said in a joint release with other top officials. A second victim came forward Jan. 15 stating that Aguh, of Belle Mead, sexually assaulted her during a 2019 appointment at the same practice, Robertson said. The all…

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
TRAGEDY AVOIDED: PA Man Who Stole Dog From NJ Home Drops Handgun After Pursuit TRAGEDY AVOIDED: PA Man Who Stole Dog From NJ Home Drops Handgun After Pursuit
Tragedy Avoided: PA Man Who Stole Dog From NJ Home Drops Handgun After Pursuit A tragedy was avoided when a Pennsylvania man who led police on a wild chase after stealing a dog from a New Jersey home got out of his car holding a gun -- which he dropped at officers' orders, authorities said. Nico Rogers, 31, of, Irwin, PA, was being held in the Somerset County jail on charges of eluding, unlawful possession of a weapon and burglary, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said. Hillsborough police got a 9-1-1 call reporting a suspicious car trespassing near Wertsville Road around 11:20 a.m., Robertson said alongside Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
FBI Helps Nab Pair In Deadly New Jersey Barbershop Shooting FBI Helps Nab Pair In Deadly New Jersey Barbershop Shooting
FBI Helps Nab Pair In Deadly New Jersey Barbershop Shooting Two 30-year-old men including one from Georgia were arrested with help from the FBI in a barbershop shooting that left a 34-year-old Somerset County man dead, authorities said Thursday. Todd C. Smith, of Edison, and Tayyab A. Ware, of Augusta, GA, were each charged with first-degree murder, robbery and weapon possession following the Nov. 2 killing of 34-year-old Denny Sanchez, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said in a joint release. Franklin Township police officers responded to multiple 9-1-1 calls around 8:40 p.m. for reports of a shooting at a Hamilton Street barber…

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by Cecilia Levine