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Moments From Getting Away, Shoplifting Newark Couple Nabbed By Lyndhurst Officer Moments From Getting Away, Shoplifting Newark Couple Nabbed By Lyndhurst Officer
Moments From Getting Away, Shoplifting Newark Couple Nabbed By Lyndhurst Officer A shoplifting couple from Newark might've thought they’d made a clean break before a Lyndhurst police officer spotted their getaway car, authorities said. Police were called after an employee saw the couple flee the Home Goods store on New York Avenue with several large bags, Detective Lt. Vincent Auteri said. Officer Michael Clifford heard the alert and stopped an older model Lexus sedan moments later, Auteri said. Inside were several bags, the lieutenant said. Some were stuffed with clothing, most of which still had price tags and security devices on them, stolen from other area stores, …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
NJ Police Chief Raped Employee In Archives Room 10 Times, Lawsuit Says NJ Police Chief Raped Employee In Archives Room 10 Times, Lawsuit Says
NJ Police Chief Raped Employee In Archives Room 10 Times, Lawsuit Says A longtime police chief in a Somerset County town has been placed on administrative leave after an employee accused him in a lawsuit of repeatedly raping her in a room at the station and assaulting her in other ways over the course of 13 years. Manville Police Chief Thomas J. Herbst raped the woman 10 times in the archive room of the police station, in a hotel parking lot and at her home, the 32-page suit filed in Somerset County Superior Court says. Herbst, hired in 1991, was placed on temporary administrative leave, and the victim was placed on paid administrative leave, following th…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Black Teen In Cuffs, White Teen On Couch: Viral NJ Mall Fight Ends In Controversy (VIDEO) Black Teen In Cuffs, White Teen On Couch: Viral NJ Mall Fight Ends In Controversy (VIDEO)
Black Teen In Cuffs, White Teen On Couch: Viral NJ Mall Fight Ends In Controversy (Video) Authorities in Bridgewater are investigating a fight that apparently ended with a Black teen on the floor in handcuffs, and his white opponent watching comfortably from a nearby sofa. The black teen can be heard saying "You got to stop right now," as the two argue in front of a group of friends at the Bridgewater Commons. The white teen can be seen pointing his finger in the black teen's face. The black teen appears to swat the kid's hand out of his face, then the white teen pushes him.  The two begin to fist fight. Oh you're going to love this one. This was at Bridgewater Commons in B…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
NJ Martial Arts Instructor, Combat Vet Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Teen Students NJ Martial Arts Instructor, Combat Vet Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Teen Students
NJ Martial Arts Instructor, Combat Vet Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Teen Students A 44-year-old martial arts instructor was arrested for sexually assaulting two teen students, authorities in Somerset County said. Vincent Damiano carried out the assaults in Branchburg Township (Somerset County), Asbury (Warren County), and the Borough of Lebanon (Hunterdon County) from May 2019 to July 2019, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said. Damiano's website says he is a "multi-business entrepreneur, adventurer, speaker, coach, martial arts instructor, and combat veteran," who served 10 years in the military "and now serves his community by giving back through on…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
NJ Fencing Coach Accused Of Sexually Assaulting 2 Teens Dies In Jail: Report NJ Fencing Coach Accused Of Sexually Assaulting 2 Teens Dies In Jail: Report
NJ Fencing Coach Accused Of Sexually Assaulting 2 Teens Dies In Jail: Report A New Jersey fencing coach arrested last October for sexually assaulting two teens and lying under oath died in jail, NJ Advance Media reports citing his attorney. Stephen M. Kovacs, 49, was indicted this month on two counts each of sexual assault endangering the welfare of a child, and false swearing, the outlet says citing attorney Jim Wronko. Kovacs, of Watchung and formerly Clifton, apparently died over the weekend, Wronko said. The cause of death was not released.  The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office did not immediately return Daily Voice's request for comment placed Wed…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Officer-Involved Shooting Reported In Somerset County (DEVELOPING) Officer-Involved Shooting Reported In Somerset County (DEVELOPING)
Officer-Involved Shooting Reported In Somerset County (Developing) One person was shot in an exchange of gunfire with police Sunday evening in Somerset County, developing reports say. A medevac was initially called to the scene at Amwell Road & CPL Langon Way around 6:45 p.m., initial and unconfirmed reports say. The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office did not immediately return Daily Voice's request for comment.

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
8-Year-Old Girl Dies In NJ House Fire, 9-Year-Old Critical 8-Year-Old Girl Dies In NJ House Fire, 9-Year-Old Critical
8-Year-Old Girl Dies In NJ House Fire, 9-Year-Old Critical An 8-year-old girl was killed in a house fire in Somerville on Dec. 10 and her 9-year-old sister in critical condition, according to officials. The fire ripped through a two-story home on Eastern Avenue just after 2 a.m. and Somerville firefighters rushed to save several residents but were unable to save the little girl, identified in a GoFundMe page as Cece, 8. Rebecca Nash and her daughters, Juliana and Cece.Rebecca Nash (Facebook photo) Anthony, 31, Rebecca, 41, and Juliana, 9, were able to escape, while Cece -- the youngest -- could not. She remained trapped on the second floor in …

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by Joe Gomez
News
Feds Charge Somerset County Data Analyst With Trafficking Child Porn Feds Charge Somerset County Data Analyst With Trafficking Child Porn
Feds Charge Somerset County Data Analyst With Trafficking Child Porn A data analyst from Somerset County was charged with trafficking child porn following an undercover investigation, federal authorities said. Marc-Evan Manasse, 27, Somerville “distributed material containing images and video files of child sexual abuse” on a file-sharing network, Acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Rachael A. Honig said. Detectives went undercover to access five video files and 11 images containing child sexual abuse from an IP address at Manasse’s home, Honig said. The files included “multiple visual depictions of pre-pubescent children being sexually abused by adults,” s…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Gunman Nabbed In I-287 Road Rage Incident, Police Pursuit: NJSP Gunman Nabbed In I-287 Road Rage Incident, Police Pursuit: NJSP
Gunman Nabbed In I-287 Road Rage Incident, Police Pursuit: Njsp A driver wielded a handgun during a road rage incident before initiating a police chase and intentionally crashing into a troop car on Route 287, state police said. Russell T. Brown, 62, exited the white Chrysler Town and Country he was driving and pointed a handgun at another driver on Route 287 southbound at milepost 35 in Morris Township just before 4:20 p.m. Friday, state police said. Troopers responding to the road rage report followed Brown, of Shallotte, NC, onto Route 78 eastbound, where they attempted to conduct a high-risk traffic stop near milepost 32.2 in Bridgewater Township. …

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
Autopsy Results Released For NJ Kids Killed By Mom: Prosecutor Autopsy Results Released For NJ Kids Killed By Mom: Prosecutor
Autopsy Results Released For NJ Kids Killed By Mom: Prosecutor The autopsy results for a pair of siblings apparently killed by their own mom were released by the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Friday. The cause of death for both Samantha Ross, 7, and Paul Ross, 11 months, was asphyxia by airway obstruction and the manner of death was homicide, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said. Yuhwei ChouSomerset County Prosecutor's Office The Skillman siblings were found bound and restrained in the back of their mom Yuhwei Chou's car early Tuesday morning, the prosecutor said. Chou was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. The …

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Babysitters Mourn Loss Of NJ Kids Found 'Bound & Restrained' In Mom's Car Babysitters Mourn Loss Of NJ Kids Found 'Bound & Restrained' In Mom's Car
Babysitters Mourn Loss Of NJ Kids Found 'Bound & Restrained' In Mom's Car Two children who died after a tow truck driver found them bound and restrained in the back of their mom's car are being remembered by their babysitters. Gabriella Armijos told Daily Voice that 11-month-old Paul and his 7-year-old sister Samantha lit up a room with their "bright smile and laughter. The children's mom, Yuhwei Chou, of Skillman, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. "Paul was like the perfect baby, he always had a smile on his face when he saw either my aunt or myself," she said. "He was such a lovable child.  "Samantha was always curious and lov…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
'BOUND & RESTRAINED': NJ Mom Accused Of Killing 2 Kids Found Dead In Car 'BOUND & RESTRAINED': NJ Mom Accused Of Killing 2 Kids Found Dead In Car
'Bound & Restrained': NJ Mom Accused Of Killing 2 Kids Found Dead In Car A 36-year-old New Jersey mom was charged with two counts of first-degree murder after her two young children were found "bound and restrained" -- and dead -- in the back seat of her car, authorities said. A 911 call was received around 7:40 a.m. Tuesday, reporting a disabled vehicle on Mountain View Road in Hillsborough, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office. Responding officers found the driver, Yuhwei Chou, of Skillman, and two children -- one in a booster seat and the other in a baby seat -- bound and restrained in the car's back seats, authorities said. Investigators det…

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by Nicole Acosta