Teen On Ventilator, Families Rebuilding After Massive Townhome Fire In Toms River: Fundraisers Teen On Ventilator, Families Rebuilding After Massive Townhome Fire In Toms River: Fundraisers
Teen On Ventilator, Families Rebuilding After Massive Townhome Fire In Toms River: Fundraisers A teen was put on a ventilator after a fire ripped through a Toms River townhome complex, according to a fundraising campaign. A GoFundMe page said the 17-year-old boy named Matthew was in the intensive care unit at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick after inhaling "a significant amount of soot and smoke." Two of his family members and three firefighters were also injured in the massive fire at Mariners Cove on Monday, July 1. Matthew's GoFundMe page had raised more than $2,200 from at least 39 donations as of Tuesday, July 2. "Our family is absolutely crushed over th…
NJ State Trooper Tried To Pay Girl For Sex, Asked For Sexual Pictures: Prosecutors NJ State Trooper Tried To Pay Girl For Sex, Asked For Sexual Pictures: Prosecutors
NJ State Trooper Tried To Pay Girl For Sex, Asked For Sexual Pictures: Prosecutors A state trooper was accused of trying to pay for sex from someone he believed was a teen girl and asking for sexual pictures, authorities said. Shane Dempsey, 31, of Brick Township, was arrested in Ewing on Monday, July 1, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said in a news release. Investigators said Dempsey contacted an undercover detective on the social media app Whisper earlier in 2024.  Prosecutors said Dempsey asked for "sexually explicit images" from the detective, who he thought was a 14-year-old girl. He also said he would pay money for a sex act fro…
Jersey Shore Man Uploaded Child Pornography On Internet, Prosecutors Say Jersey Shore Man Uploaded Child Pornography On Internet, Prosecutors Say
Jersey Shore Man Uploaded Child Pornography On Internet, Prosecutors Say A Brick Township man was accused of uploading child pornography on the internet, authorities said.  Robert Lasher, 71, was charged with possession of child pornography, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced in a news release. He was arrested after police executed a search warrant on his home on Tuesday, July 2. The investigation started when the state police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) received a tip about someone uploading pictures of child porn online. Investigators traced an IP address associated with a Brick Township home and Lash…
Toms River Woman Who Robbed Woman With Knife, Had Cocaine, Sentenced, Prosecutors Say Toms River Woman Who Robbed Woman With Knife, Had Cocaine, Sentenced, Prosecutors Say
Toms River Woman Who Robbed Woman With Knife, Had Cocaine, Sentenced, Prosecutors Say A Toms River woman will spend several years in prison after admitting to robbing another woman with a knife, having cocaine, and spitting in the faces of officers, authorities said. Olivia Paige, 35, was sentenced on Friday, June 29 to seven years in prison, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced in a news release on Monday, July 1. She pleaded guilty on Monday, Apr. 22 to robbery, possession of cocaine, and aggravated assault. Brick Township police responded to a shoplifting report at a convenience store on Maple Avenue on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. Officers determine…
Lightning Strike Confirmed Cause Of Death For 59-Year-Old 'Cowboy Hero' On NJ Beach Lightning Strike Confirmed Cause Of Death For 59-Year-Old 'Cowboy Hero' On NJ Beach
Lightning Strike Confirmed Cause Of Death For 59-Year-Old 'Cowboy Hero' On NJ Beach A Toms River man died from a lightning strike on an Ocean County beach, authorities said. A Seaside Park Police Department spokesperson confirmed to Daily Voice that 59-year-old Patrick Dispoto's cause of death was accidental and caused by a lightning strike. He was found unconscious on the beach near J Street at around 7:38 p.m. on Sunday, June 23. Police said Dispoto had no visible signs of injuries. He was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Dispoto's girlfriend Ruth said he tried to warn a group of children on the beach about the thunderstorm aft…
'Crazy Rescue Ladies' Plead Guilty After 170+ Pets Saved From Disgusting NJ Home: Prosecutors 'Crazy Rescue Ladies' Plead Guilty After 170+ Pets Saved From Disgusting NJ Home: Prosecutors
'Crazy Rescue Ladies' Plead Guilty After 170+ Pets Saved From Disgusting NJ Home: Prosecutors Two Brick Township women who called themselves the "Crazy Rescue Ladies" admitted to having more than 170 pets in deplorable conditions, authorities said. Michele Nycz, 60, pleaded guilty on Monday, June 24 to two counts of animal cruelty, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. Aimee Lonczak, 51, also pleaded guilty on the same day to two counts of animal cruelty, along with child neglect. Brick police responded to a complaint of a suspected puppy mill run at a home on Arrowhead Park Drive on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. Officers smelled a strong odor…
'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 beach …
Woman Clinging To Tree, Her Dog Rescued After Falling In Ocean County Woman Clinging To Tree, Her Dog Rescued After Falling In Ocean County
Woman Clinging To Tree, Her Dog Rescued After Falling In Ocean County Firefighters rescued a woman who was clinging to a tree after she and her dog fell in Brick Township, officials said. Herbertsville firefighters responded to the scene on Winding River Road at around 6:44 p.m. on Monday, June 17, the fire company said in a Facebook post.  Crews found the woman and her dog fell 10 to 15 feet down an embankment. The woman was hanging onto a tree to prevent falling any further. Firefighters used rope to pull the woman and her dog to safety. The fire company didn't say if either one suffered injuries. Brick Township police and paramedics also helped at t…
Paterson Trio Stole Purses In 'Distract And Grab' Scheme At NJ Stores: Police Paterson Trio Stole Purses In 'Distract And Grab' Scheme At NJ Stores: Police
Paterson Trio Stole Purses In 'Distract And Grab' Scheme At NJ Stores: Police Three people from Paterson were accused of distracting shoppers in Brick Township and stealing from them, authorities said. Brick Township police arrested 35-year-old Oswaldo Uribe-Acosta, 27-year-old Salvia Beraun-Villanueva, and 58-year-old Oscar Lopez-Salcedo on Tuesday, June 11, the department said in a news release. Police received several reports in May from victims whose wallets or purses were taken from shopping carts.  Investigators said Beraun-Villanueva would distract a shopper and Uribe-Acosta or Lopez-Salcedo would steal a wallet or purse. The susp…
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…
Family Affair: Father, Son Serve Together At This New Jersey Fire Department Family Affair: Father, Son Serve Together At This New Jersey Fire Department
Family Affair: Father, Son Serve Together At This New Jersey Fire Department Helping others runs in the Rice family’s blood.  Matthew Rice, 23, grew up surrounded by it.  His grandmother was an ICU nurse, his grandfather a police officer, and his dad, Dave, 47, is an EMT and firefighter. Matthew himself just graduated with his master’s degree in fire science: Explosion & investigation. One of the best ways for father and son, Dave and Matthew, to spend time together is volunteering with Toms River Fire Co. No. 2 in the Toms River Fire Department. “It can be a challenge at times volunteering together,” Dave laughed, “but it’s a lot of fun, a lot of ca…
Luxury Car Driver Hospitalized After Crashing Into Dump Truck In Central Jersey: Police Luxury Car Driver Hospitalized After Crashing Into Dump Truck In Central Jersey: Police
Luxury Car Driver Hospitalized After Crashing Into Dump Truck In Central Jersey: Police A driver from Ocean County was hospitalized after crashing a luxury car into a dump truck, authorities said. Howell Township police responded to the crash on Squankum Road on Wednesday, June 5, the department said in a news release. It happened near the intersection with Herbertsville Road at around 8:01 a.m. Investigators said a 58-year-old from Brick Township merged onto the northbound side of Squankum Road from Herbertsville Road. The Audi crossed the center line and crashed into a 2024 Kenworth dump truck "in an offset head-on manner." The Audi driver was injured an…