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Police & Fire
Amazon Van Caused Crash That Hospitalized Two People In South Jersey, Police Say Amazon Van Caused Crash That Hospitalized Two People In South Jersey, Police Say
Amazon Van Caused Crash That Hospitalized Two People In South Jersey, Police Say Two people were injured in a three-vehicle crash involving an Amazon delivery van in Ocean County, authorities said. Manchester Township police responded to the crash near the intersection of Route 70 and Beckerville Road at around 2:59 p.m. on Thursday, June 27, the department said in a news release. Officers found a silver 2011 Saab 93 Aero on fire with no one inside the car, which was facing west in the eastbound lane of Beckerville Road. A blue 2020 Ram ProMaster used as an Amazon van had front-end damage and faced north in the eastbound lane of Beckerville. A 2012 Chrysler also ha…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Spa Owner Arrested After Prostitution Suspected At Two Jersey Shore Massage Parlors Spa Owner Arrested After Prostitution Suspected At Two Jersey Shore Massage Parlors
Spa Owner Arrested After Prostitution Suspected At Two Jersey Shore Massage Parlors An Egg Harbor Township woman was accused of owning two spas in Ocean County that engaged in prostitution, authorities said. Kani Peng, 53, was charged with promoting prostitution, maintaining a nuisance, financial facilitation, and engaging in prostitution. Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer, along with the police chiefs in Barnegat and Stafford townships, announced her arrest in a joint news release on Thursday, June 27. The investigation focused on Rainbow Spa on North Main Street in Barnegat and Bay Spa on East Bay Avenue in Manahawkin between October 2023 and June.…

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by Chris Spiker
News
More Than 13,000 Without Power On Jersey Shore After Substation Failure More Than 13,000 Without Power On Jersey Shore After Substation Failure
More Than 13,000 Without Power On Jersey Shore After Substation Failure Thousands of residents in two Ocean County townships were without power after severe thunderstorms raced across the northeast and caused a substation to fail, officials said. According to the outage map for Jersey Central Power & Light, 13,688 customers had no electricity as of 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 27. More than 13,000 of those affected were living in Barnegat or Waretown. The JCP&L data said nearly 100 percent (8,606) of Barnegat's 8,620 customers and about 86 percent (4,607) of Ocean Township's 5,355 customers lost power. Most of the remaining outages were in Jackson Townsh…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
'A Fight We Cannot Win': Vet-Owned Jersey Shore Brewery Closing After Years Of Pints, Charity 'A Fight We Cannot Win': Vet-Owned Jersey Shore Brewery Closing After Years Of Pints, Charity
'A Fight We Cannot Win': Vet-Owned Jersey Shore Brewery Closing After Years Of Pints, Charity An Ocean County brewery run by an Army veteran will serve its final pint after nearly a decade in business. Backward Flag Brewing Company announced on social media that it will permanently close on Saturday, June 29. The Forked River brewery will host an event starting at noon for "one last party" and "one final toast." The brewery thanked its fans and supporters in its announcement. "We know how hard this news will hit some," Backward Flag posted. "We feel that sting too. We have fought to keep our doors open for a while now, but this is a fight we cannot win." Yes. It is true,…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
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…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Mom Stabs Baby, Toddler Dead In Lakewood: Prosecutor Mom Stabs Baby, Toddler Dead In Lakewood: Prosecutor
Mom Stabs Baby, Toddler Dead In Lakewood: Prosecutor A woman in Lakewood has been charged with two counts or murder and weapons offenses in the deaths of her two children, authorities announced. Naomi Elkins, 27, is believed to have stabbed a 1- and 3-year-old child, who were found in cardiac arrest by responders at a home on Shenandoah Drive around 4:50 p.m. Tuesday, June 25, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. Paramedics from Hatzolah Medical Services were performing lifesaving efforts when police arrived and the children were pronounced dead at the scene. Elkins was arrested at the scene and lodged in the county jail p…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
'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…

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by Chris Spiker
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
Arsonist Admits To Antisemitic Rampage In South Jersey Neighborhood, Prosecutors Say 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