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Police & Fire
Five From NJ Admit Pocketing $1.3M In Aircraft Equipment Scam Five From NJ Admit Pocketing $1.3M In Aircraft Equipment Scam
Five From NJ Admit Pocketing $1.3M In Aircraft Equipment Scam A crew of con artists from New Jersey admitted swindling more than $1.3 million from hundreds of businesses nationwide and abroad that thought they were buying specialized aviation equipment. The head of the operation, Antonio P. Signo, 36, of Somerset – aka "Tony Demetro" – had been the first to take a deal from prosecutors rather than face the potential consequences of a trial. The onetime fugitive pleaded guilty last August -- with no public notice from authorities – to a single count of theft by deception, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin revealed on Thursday, May 25. The…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
ATTEMPTED MURDER: NJ Man Shot Car Twice In Road Rage Incident Near 287 Ramp, Prosecutor Says ATTEMPTED MURDER: NJ Man Shot Car Twice In Road Rage Incident Near 287 Ramp, Prosecutor Says
Attempted Murder: NJ Man Shot Car Twice In Road Rage Incident Near 287 Ramp, Prosecutor Says A Somerset County driver has been charged with attempted murder after becoming “irate” and firing two rounds at another vehicle during a road rage incident earlier this month, authorities announced. Gerald S. Chapman, 39, of Ulysses Road in Somerset, was charged with first-degree attempted murder and second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said Tuesday, May 23. Investigators say Chapman “became irate” during a road rage incident on Easton Avenue near the 287 ramp in Franklin Township around 4:50 p.m. on Friday, May 5. …

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
MURDER: Arrest Made In Death Of Norelis Mendoza MURDER: Arrest Made In Death Of Norelis Mendoza
Murder: Arrest Made In Death Of Norelis Mendoza An arrest has been made in the death of 32-year-old New Jersey mom Norelis Mendoza, authorities said. Gregory Mallard, 35, of Jersey City, was arrested on Friday, May 19, according to Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez, who disclosed few other details other than his charges. She did note, though, that the killing was an act of domestic violence. Mallard was slapped with charges of first degree murder and multiple charges of improperly disposing of human remains, among other charges, Suarez said. Mallard is currently in custody in Somerset County, Suarez said.  Mendoza, who ha…

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
Somerset County Man Tried To Meet Up With 14-Year-Old Girl For Sex: Prosecutor Somerset County Man Tried To Meet Up With 14-Year-Old Girl For Sex: Prosecutor
Somerset County Man Tried To Meet Up With 14-Year-Old Girl For Sex: Prosecutor A Somerset County man was charged for sending an obscene photo to a 14-year-old girl and trying to make plans to meet up with her for sex, authorities announced on Tuesday, May 16. Javier O. Moreno, 22, of Bell Street in South Bound Brook, was charged with second-degree luring and knowingly distributing obscene material to a minor on Tuesday, May 9, Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said. Investigators responding to Maple Avenue Park were told that Moreno had sent the victim the obscene photo on Wednesday, April 26, McDonald said. A follow-up investigation and interview with the …

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
Dog Dies In ‘Stubborn’ Somerset County Fire As Nearby Homes Evacuated: Police Dog Dies In ‘Stubborn’ Somerset County Fire As Nearby Homes Evacuated: Police
Dog Dies In ‘Stubborn’ Somerset County Fire As Nearby Homes Evacuated: Police A Somerset County house fire crews say was “stubborn” to extinguish claimed the life of a trapped dog and cleared neighboring homes during the evening on Monday, May 15. The blaze broke out in the garage at 667 Hillsborough Road in Hillsborough Township before spreading to the home around 8:15 p.m., according to a release from local police. Arriving crews were met with heavy, dark smoke billowing from both the garage and the home, prompting a first-alarm response from several surrounding agencies. The home and several neighboring residences were evacuated as the blaze was extinguished in …

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
Taxi Driver Shot Dead In Somerset County: Prosecutor Taxi Driver Shot Dead In Somerset County: Prosecutor
Taxi Driver Shot Dead In Somerset County: Prosecutor A 57-year-old taxi driver was shot dead in Somerset County late on Thursday, May 11, authorities announced. Officers responding to the shooting report near Rose Street and Sydney Place in Franklin Township found Kofi Addo, of North Brunswick, with a gunshot wound behind the wheel of a taxi crashed into a parked vehicle just after 9:55 p.m., Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said in a release. Addo was rushed to a local trauma center and pronounced dead a short time after. According to investigators, Addo had just picked up a fare near Rose Street when he was confronted and shot b…

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by Valerie Musson
Schools
LAWSUIT: NJ School District Failed To Address Bullying Leading To Transgender Student’s Suicide LAWSUIT: NJ School District Failed To Address Bullying Leading To Transgender Student’s Suicide
Lawsuit: NJ School District Failed To Address Bullying Leading To Transgender Student’s Suicide The mother of a high school student in Somerset County has filed a lawsuit claiming that the district failed to take action against the bullying and harassment leading up to her transgender child’s death by suicide. Myles A. Fitzpatrick died by suicide on Monday, Nov. 7, 2022 at the age of 17, just months before he would’ve graduated from Manville High School. RELATED STORY: ‘He Knew Nothing But Love:’ Myles Fitzpatrick Of Somerset County Dies, 17 Fitzpatrick’s mother, Danielle Warshefski, has sued the Manville School District alleging that officials “failed to implement any preventative o…

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
Occupants Of Suspicious Vehicle May Have Recorded Students In Somerset County: Police Occupants Of Suspicious Vehicle May Have Recorded Students In Somerset County: Police
Occupants Of Suspicious Vehicle May Have Recorded Students In Somerset County: Police Recognize this car? Police are seeking clues after its occupants may have tried to record a pair of students in Somerset County. Two students say they may have been recorded by the occupants of the vehicle during what police are calling a “suspicious incident” near Roosevelt Street and Country Club Road in Bridgewater on Tuesday, May 9. The students were possibly recorded as the vehicle passed them by, police added. The Bridgewater Police Department is currently investigating a suspicious incident in the area of Roosevelt Street and... Posted by Bridgewater Police Department - NJ on T…

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
Somerset County Jewelry Store Robbed At Gunpoint In Broad Daylight: Prosecutor Somerset County Jewelry Store Robbed At Gunpoint In Broad Daylight: Prosecutor
Somerset County Jewelry Store Robbed At Gunpoint In Broad Daylight: Prosecutor Investigators are seeking clues on a gunpoint robbery that occurred at a Somerset County jewelry in broad daylight store earlier this week. The Franklin Township Police Department responded to the call at the unnamed store just after 11:55 p.m. on Monday, May 1, Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said in a Thursday release. A trio of men allegedly broke the glass front door while a fourth stayed outside in a getaway car. One of the men entered the store wielding a handgun at the workers as the other two men “proceeded to smash the glass display cases and steal an undisclosed amoun…

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by Valerie Musson
Lifestyle
‘Move Over Bruce And Bon Jovi:’ Somerville School Of Rockers Hope To Rep NJ In Multi-State Tour ‘Move Over Bruce And Bon Jovi:’ Somerville School Of Rockers Hope To Rep NJ In Multi-State Tour
‘Move Over Bruce And Bon Jovi:’ Somerville School Of Rockers Hope To Rep NJ In Multi-State Tour Eighteen rock n’ rollers from Somerset County are hoping to represent New Jersey in a multi-state tour this summer — and they’re asking for help from the community to make it happen. The School Of Rock House Band in Somerville has performed at several local venues throughout the state: Posted by Somerville School Of Rock on Monday, May 1, 2023 This is how we do it!!!!🤘🤘🤘#schoolofrock #midseasonshow #downtownsomervillenj #downtownsomerville #bridgewaternj #hillsboroughnj Posted by Somerville School Of Rock on Monday, March 27, 2023 Acquiring an impressive following, the group of youn…

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by Valerie Musson
Obituaries
Talented Somerset County Musician Emily Raber Dies At 23 Talented Somerset County Musician Emily Raber Dies At 23
Talented Somerset County Musician Emily Raber Dies At 23 Beloved Somerset County high school graduate and gifted musician Emily Jin Raber (Jin Silan) died Friday, April 28 at age 23. Born in Shantou, China, Emily was adopted when she was 18 months old, her obituary says. Emily attended Christ the King School and Hillsborough High School, where she was known for her athletic ability in track and skateboarding. She later went to Raritan Valley Community College and Rowan University before becoming self-employed as a caretaker for children. Emily had an incredible gift for music and played the piano, flute, and guitar. She also demon…

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
Trans Pedo Who Made Sadistic Sex Videos Of Daughter, 7, Moved To Infamous NJ Women's Prison Trans Pedo Who Made Sadistic Sex Videos Of Daughter, 7, Moved To Infamous NJ Women's Prison
Trans Pedo Who Made Sadistic Sex Videos Of Daughter, 7, Moved To Infamous NJ Women's Prison A transgender pedophile who produced sadistic sex abuse videos of her 7-year-old daughter has been housed since last summer in New Jersey's notorious women's prison along with her lover, state records confirm. Marina Volz, 34, originally was processed as a man and sent to serve a 25-year sentence at South Woods State Prison in Bridgeton. But a check of state records -- prompted by recent published reports -- found Volz listed at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility along with Ashley Romero, a 30-year-old transgender inmate herself who was convicted of participating in the abuse. New Jerse…

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by Jerry DeMarco