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Ocean County Regional SWAT

Police & Fire
Trio Including Ex-Track Star Charged In Toms River Drive-By Shooting Involving Kids: Prosecutor Trio Including Ex-Track Star Charged In Toms River Drive-By Shooting Involving Kids: Prosecutor
Trio Including Ex-Track Star Charged In Toms River Drive-By Shooting Involving Kids: Prosecutor Three men are facing attempted murder charges after authorities say they opened fire on a Toms River home with an adult and two children inside. Lyjhahn Cromartie, 19, of Lakehurst, and Shazir Vallade, 20, of Lakewood, were arrested on Feb. 28, 2025, after investigators identified them as suspects in the Jan. 13, shooting, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced. The arrests follow the earlier capture of Javir Askew-Mayweather, 21, a former track star in Manchester, who was taken into custody in Atlantic City and later released under New Jersey Bail Reform policies, …

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
SWAT Raid Turns Up Heroin, Meth, Ammo; 4 Arrested In Ocean County: Prosecutor SWAT Raid Turns Up Heroin, Meth, Ammo; 4 Arrested In Ocean County: Prosecutor
SWAT Raid Turns Up Heroin, Meth, Ammo; 4 Arrested In Ocean County: Prosecutor The raid of an Ocean County home turned up heroin, methamphetamine and ammunition, leading to the arrest of four people, authorities said. This investigation identified a residence in Berkeley Township as being utilized by Anthony Isola, 49, of Bayville, to store and sell drugs, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. Based upon reliable information received, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force and Berkeley Township Police Department initiated surveillance on the subject residence in Bayville on Tuesday, Oct. 24. That's when…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Jackson Man Sentenced For Fleeing Police, Ramming Patrol Car Jackson Man Sentenced For Fleeing Police, Ramming Patrol Car
Jackson Man Sentenced For Fleeing Police, Ramming Patrol Car A 21-year-old man from Jackson has been sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison for fleeing police and later ramming a patrol car, authorities said. Kevin Valverde-Cruz was sentenced on Friday, Sept. 8, as a result of his previously entered guilty plea to aggravated assault and eluding, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. On Oct. 18, 2022, detectives from the Lakewood Township Police Department observed a white Jeep Grand Cherokee traveling at a high rate of speed, and attempted a motor vehicle stop, Billhimer said. Valverde-Cruz failed to s…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Jersey Shore Man Nearly Struck Detectives With Jeep: Prosecutor Jersey Shore Man Nearly Struck Detectives With Jeep: Prosecutor
Jersey Shore Man Nearly Struck Detectives With Jeep: Prosecutor A Jersey Shore man who tried to strike detectives with his Jeep has admitted to aggravated assault and eluding, authorities said. Kevin Valverde-Cruz, 21, of Jackson, pleaded guilty to the charges on Wednesday, July 12, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. On Oct. 18, 2022, detectives from the Lakewood Township Police Department observed a white Jeep Grand Cherokee traveling at a high rate of speed, and attempted a motor vehicle stop, Billhimer said. The operator of the vehicle failed to stop and the pursuit was ultimately terminated on the Garden …

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
SWAT Raid Finds Cocaine At NJ Man's Towing Business; Buddy Had Heroin: Prosecutor SWAT Raid Finds Cocaine At NJ Man's Towing Business; Buddy Had Heroin: Prosecutor
SWAT Raid Finds Cocaine At NJ Man's Towing Business; Buddy Had Heroin: Prosecutor A SWAT team's raid of a New Jersey tow truck business found its owner had been using his shop to sell cocaine, and his buddy was found with nearly 100 wax folds of heroin/fentanyl, authorities said. Leroy Hairston had been using his Toms River business “Leroy’s Tow Service" and his Manchester Township home to store and distribute cocaine, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. Toms River Township Police Department Emergency Services Unit executed a court-authorized search warrant on the business in Toms River. As a result, Detectives seized approximately 1…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Ocean County Man Charged With Peddling Cocaine, Marijuana: Prosecutor Ocean County Man Charged With Peddling Cocaine, Marijuana: Prosecutor
Ocean County Man Charged With Peddling Cocaine, Marijuana: Prosecutor A 29-year-old Ocean County man was charged with drug-dealing, authorities said. The arrest was the result of a joint investigation into cocaine dealing, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. The multi-agency investigation identified a residence in Manchester Township as being utilized by Ricardo Cruickshank, of Manchester Township, to store and distribute cocaine, Billhimer said. Detectives initiated surveillance on the subject residence in Manchester.  On March 30, detectives allegedly observed Cruickshank exit the residence and walk towards a&nbs…

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by Jon Craig
News
Suspect Backed Jeep Into Detective's Vehicle, Fled Police On Jersey Shore: Prosecutor Suspect Backed Jeep Into Detective's Vehicle, Fled Police On Jersey Shore: Prosecutor
Suspect Backed Jeep Into Detective's Vehicle, Fled Police On Jersey Shore: Prosecutor A 20-year-old man from Jackson was arrested after fleeing from police and backing his Jeep into a detective's vehicle, authorities said. Kevin Valverde-Cruz was charged with three counts of aggravated assault and eluding police, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. On Oct. 18, 2022, detectives from the Lakewood Township Police Department observed a white Jeep Grand Cherokee traveling at a high rate of speed. The operator of the vehicle failed to stop and the police pursuit was ultimately terminated on the Garden State Parkway due to public safety co…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
CT Man Indicted For Shooting At Police Officer, Fleeing Ocean County Stop After Kidnapping GF CT Man Indicted For Shooting At Police Officer, Fleeing Ocean County Stop After Kidnapping GF
CT Man Indicted For Shooting At Police Officer, Fleeing Ocean County Stop After Kidnapping GF A Connecticut man who authorities said fired at a police officer following a Jersey Shore traffic stop was indicted on attempted murder, kidnapping and other charges, authorities said. Miguel Angel-Villegas, 29, of New Haven had threatened to kill his then-girlfriend if she didn't drive him from Connecticut to New Jersey, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.  After making the woman give the Tuckerton police officer a bogus name during the traffic stop last Nov. 21, Angel-Villegas forced her at gunpoint to speed away, Billhimer said. She hit the gas and the vehicle struck…

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by Jon Craig