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Police & Fire
'Cowboy Hero' Dies After Lightning Strike While Warning Kids On NJ Beach About Storm: Reports 'Cowboy Hero' Dies After Lightning Strike While Warning Kids On NJ Beach About Storm: Reports
'Cowboy Hero' Dies After Lightning Strike While Warning Kids On NJ Beach About Storm: Reports A Toms River man died after a reported lightning strike on an Ocean County beach, authorities said. Patrick Dispoto, 59, was found unconscious on the beach near J Street at around 7:38 p.m. on Sunday, June 23, a Seaside Park Police Department spokesperson told Daily Voice. He was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police said Dispoto had no visible signs of injuries. There were also no witnesses so investigators haven't confirmed if his death was caused by lightning or "another medical issue." Dispoto's girlfriend Ruth said he tried to warn a group of children on the b…

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by Chris Spiker
News
$40K Mega Millions Winner Purchased At South Jersey Convenience Store $40K Mega Millions Winner Purchased At South Jersey Convenience Store
$40K Mega Millions Winner Purchased At South Jersey Convenience Store An Ocean County convenience store sold a Mega Millions ticket worth $40,000, officials said. The ticket was purchased at Lucky 2 Convenience Store on Route 70 in Lakewood, the New Jersey Lottery said in a news release. The winner matched four numbers and the Mega Ball in the drawing on Friday, June 21. The winning numbers were 3, 18, 27, 40, and 44. The Mega Ball was 19 and the Megaplier was four. No one matched all six numbers in the estimated $80 million jackpot. One lottery player in Texas matched five numbers to win $1 million. The next Mega Millions drawing is on Tuesday, J…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Dive Teams Pull Victim From NJ Pond In 2nd Possible Drowning In 12 Hours Dive Teams Pull Victim From NJ Pond In 2nd Possible Drowning In 12 Hours
Dive Teams Pull Victim From NJ Pond In 2nd Possible Drowning In 12 Hours Less than 12 hours after responding to a drowning a Crystal Lake, dive teams and emergency responders from across Ocean County were called to a similar incident. This time, in one of the ponds off of Whitesbog Road in Manchester Township, responders said. According to the Whiting Fire Department, dive teams responded to the scene just after 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 22, on reports of a victim submerged in one of the ponds. The victim was subsequently found by members of the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company and transferred to RWJBarnabas Health paramedics, the fire department said. The victi…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Arsonist Admits To Antisemitic Rampage In South Jersey Neighborhood, Prosecutors Say Arsonist Admits To Antisemitic Rampage In South Jersey Neighborhood, Prosecutors Say
Ron Carr Pleads Guity In Manchester Antisemitic Crime Spree A Manchester Township man admitted to an antisemitic crime spree, including arson and spray painting Nazi symbols on homes, authorities said. Ron Carr, 35, pleaded guilty on Thursday, June 20 to arson, bias intimidation, and two counts of criminal mischief. Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced the plea deal in a news release on Friday, June 21. Manchester police responded to vandalism reports at homes in Pine Lake Park at around 11:45 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Officers found 14 homes vandalized with spray paint, including some defaced with Nazi symbols. About …

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
South Jersey Teacher Who Molested Student, Had Victim's Nude Pics Indicted: Prosecutors South Jersey Teacher Who Molested Student, Had Victim's Nude Pics Indicted: Prosecutors
South Jersey Teacher Who Molested Student, Had Victim's Nude Pics Indicted: Prosecutors A Jackson Township teacher was indicted after being accused of molesting a student and having nude pictures of the victim, authorities said. A grand jury indicted 27-year-old Andrew Fantasia of Beachwood on Thursday, June 20, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. He was charged with possession of child pornography, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, two counts of criminal sexual contact, and official misconduct. Investigators said Fantasia had "inappropriate sexual contact" with a student while on Jackson Memorial High School property bet…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Robber Pleads Guilty In Incident That Left Victim With 4 Gunshot Wounds In Ocean County Robber Pleads Guilty In Incident That Left Victim With 4 Gunshot Wounds In Ocean County
Robber Pleads Guilty In Incident That Left Victim With 4 Gunshot Wounds In Ocean County A 33-year-old man pleaded guilty to robbery after he and another man shot the victim four times upon denying them even more money in Ocean County last fall, authorities announced. The victim stopped by a home on East Hudson Drive in Little Egg Harbor to visit Marc Manfredonia, of Little Egg Harbor, and Christopher Miller, 36, of Paterson, around 4:30 a.m. on Sept. 9, 2023, when Manfredonia and Miller forced the man out of the home and demanded money from him, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. Miller pulled out a handgun and told the victim that he would shoot him if he did …

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Hit-Run Crash Leaves Pedestrian Critical, Ocean County Prosecutor Says Hit-Run Crash Leaves Pedestrian Critical, Ocean County Prosecutor Says
Hit-Run Crash Leaves Pedestrian Critical, Ocean County Prosecutor Says Authorities in Ocean County are investigating a hit-and-run crash that left a pedestrian seriously injured. The male victim was trying to cross Route 9 at First Street in a marked crosswalk around 12:30 a.m. Sunday, June 16 when he was struck by a white sedan heading north, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. The white sedan continued northbound on Route 9 and left the scene. As a result of the crash, the victim was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries, and was listed in critical condition as of press time. Anyone who has inf…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Toms River Man Shot Driver Outside Home Near Shopping Plaza: Prosecutors Toms River Man Shot Driver Outside Home Near Shopping Plaza: Prosecutors
Toms River Man Shot Driver Outside Home Near Shopping Plaza: Prosecutors A Toms River man was accused of shooting another man outside a home near a Lakewood shopping center, authorities said. A grand jury indicted 47-year-old Million Brown-Bey on Wednesday, June 12 for attempted murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, and being a certain person not to possess a firearm. Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced the indictment in a news release on Thursday, June 13. Lakewood police responded to a 911 call about gunshots near the West Gate Plaza on Sunday, Jan. 7. Shortly after the…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Man Admits To Stealing $100K+ As Treasurer Of Jersey Shore Fire Department: Prosecutors Man Admits To Stealing $100K+ As Treasurer Of Jersey Shore Fire Department: Prosecutors
Man Admits To Stealing $100K+ As Treasurer Of Jersey Shore Fire Department: Prosecutors A former official at an Ocean County volunteer fire department admitted to stealing more than $100,000, authorities said. Salvatore Umek, 46, of Point Pleasant Beach, pleaded guilty on Monday, June 10 to theft, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. He was the treasurer for Point Pleasant Beach Fire Company No. 2. Investigators said Umek stole about $100,000 from the fire company's bank account to pay off personal credit card debt between February 2019 and November 2021. He also put money directly into his personal bank account for his own bene…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Police Searching For Assault Suspect In South Jersey Police Searching For Assault Suspect In South Jersey
Police Searching For Assault Suspect In South Jersey Police in Ocean County were looking for a man wanted in an assault, authorities said. Manchester Township police released a composite sketch and description of the suspect in a Facebook post on Tuesday, June 11. The man was accused in an "isolated incident" in the Pine Lake Park section of the township on Friday, May 31. The suspect was described as about 5-foot-4, 145 pounds, and between 41 and 50 years old. "In the interest of thoroughness and accuracy, law enforcement officials conducted numerous investigative steps before releasing a composite sketch of the suspect," the poli…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Jersey Shore Man Who Robbed Pharmacy With Knife Sentenced: Prosecutors Jersey Shore Man Who Robbed Pharmacy With Knife Sentenced: Prosecutors
Jersey Shore Man Who Robbed Pharmacy With Knife Sentenced: Prosecutors An Ocean County man will spend more than a decade in prison after admitting to pulling a knife on a pharmacy employee in a robbery, authorities said. Christopher Hurley, 27, of Little Egg Harbor, was sentenced on Friday, June 7 to 12 years in state prison, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. He pleaded guilty to robbery on Monday, Mar. 18.  Berkeley Township police responded to an armed robbery report at the Rite Aid on Route 9 on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Officers said a man entered the pharmacy, pointed a knife at a cashier, and demanded mon…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
SUV Driver Wanted After Bicyclist Killed In South Jersey Hit-And-Run Crash: Prosecutors SUV Driver Wanted After Bicyclist Killed In South Jersey Hit-And-Run Crash: Prosecutors
SUV Driver Wanted After Bicyclist Killed In South Jersey Hit-And-Run Crash: Prosecutors A bicycle rider was killed in a suspected hit-and-run crash in Ocean County, authorities said. Jackson Township police responded to the crash on Farmingdale Road at around noon on Sunday, June 9, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. Investigators said a 2017 Audi A4 swerved left to avoid crashing head-on into a red SUV. The Audi struck a bicyclist in the left lane before hitting a tree on the side of the road. The bicyclist was pronounced dead at the scene and the Audi driver was brought to CentraState Medical Center in Freehold with minor injuries. The SU…

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by Chris Spiker