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Ghost Guns, Meth, Firearm Seized From Pair In Ocean County Raid: AG
Two Ocean County residents are facing charges following a raid on Wednesday, Feb. 19 that turned up numerous ghost guns and methamphetamine, authorities said.
Law enforcement conducted search warrants at multiple locations and recovered and seized, guns, including guns with no serial number- "ghost guns," extended magazines, and a quantity of methamphetamine, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.
The defendants, George Garulle, 56, of Beachwood, and Dana Restaino, 39, of Whiting, conspired to sell a defaced firearm with no serial number, Platkin said.
They were charge…
Jersey Shore Code Enforcement Officer Admits To Using Job For Own Benefit, Prosecutors Say
A 58-year-old former code enforcement officer for the Borough of Beachwood admitted on Tuesday, Feb. 18 to using his job to line his own pockets, authorities said.
Michael Ruvo, a Toms River resident, pleaded guilty to theft by deception and tampering with public records and is expected to be sentenced to 364 days in jail, Prosecutor Bradley Billhmer said.
In June 2022, Ruvo, while working for Beachwood, issued a code enforcement violation to a property owner on Tiller Avenue, Billhimer said. The property owner contacted Ruvo advising she had received an estimate to bring the property up to…
MDMA, Cocaine, Guns, Ammo, Shrooms, Weed: Ocean County Drug Dealers Busted, Prosecutors Say
Three Ocean County men were arrested and charge this week following a three-month investigation into the distribution of illegal narcotics in Ocean County, authorities said.
Investigators began surveilling the home of Elijah Metellus, a 20-year-old Beachwood resident, because it was being used to store and distribute cocaine, ecstasy/MDMA, psilocybin, and marijuana, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.
On Tuesday, Feb. 4, detectives observed Dominic McGriff, a 43-year-old Beachwood resident, enter the residence, Billhimer said. McGriff then went to an apartment complex in To…
Seaside Heights Voters Reject Merger With Toms River School District: Unofficial Results
Seaside Heights voters rejected a plan to merge the island borough's school district with the Toms River Regional School District.
According to unofficial results, 232 voters in Seaside Heights voted "no" on the merger, while 167 voters said "yes" in the referendum on Tuesday, Apr. 16. The plan would have eventually closed the Seaside district's only school Hugh J. Boyd, Jr. Elementary School.
Mainland voters overwhelmingly approved the merger plan, which would have gone into effect in the 2024-25 school year. In Beachwood, Pine Beach, South Toms River, and Toms River, 7,186 voters sai…
Teacher Hit With New Charges In Case Involving Jersey Shore Student, Nude Photos: Prosecutor
A middle school teacher and high school advisor has been hit with new charges in a case involving a student and nude photos, authorities said.
Andrew Fantasia, 27, of Beachwood, originally was charged on Wednesday, Oct. 25 with aggravated criminal sexual contact, child endangerment and official misconduct, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Jackson Township Police Chief Matthew Kunz.
On Wednesday, Nov. 1, Fantasia was additionally charged with possession of child pornography and an additional count of child endangerment, Billhimer said.
A full forensic analy…
Jersey Shore Man Sent Texts With Racial Slurs, Threats: Prosecutor
A 44-year-old man from Ocean County is accused of texting another man with racial slurs and threats, authorities said.
Walter Maxim, of Beachwood, was charged with three counts of bias intimidation, terroristic threats, stalking, and harassment, according to Ocean County First Assistant Prosecutor Michael T. Nolan.
On Monday, Oct. 23, an individual appeared at Beachwood Police Department Headquarters to report that he and members of his family had been the victims of bias-related threats and communications.
The victim stated that his son attends school outside the state of New J…
Jersey Shore Man Charged In Fatal 86 MPH DWI Crash: Prosecutor
A 41-year-old man from the Jersey Shore has been charged with vehicular manslaughter in connection with a fatal high-speed crash in May, authorities said.
John Zinkoski, 41, of Beachwood, surrendered himself to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, Aug. 22, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
The charges are in connection with the alcohol-related crash that occurred in Plumsted Township which resulted in the death of Judi Smith, 59, of Browns Mills, the prosecutor said.
On May 12 at approximately 5:50 p.m., Plumsted Township police re…
Motorcyclist, 26-Year-Old Dad, Killed In Jersey Shore Crash
A 26-year-old motorcyclist and father of a 9-month-old girl was killed in a collision on the Jersey Shore last week, authorities said.
The driver of an SUV was ticketed for careless driving and making an improper turn, Berkeley Township police said.
The motorcyclist, identified as Daniel Wisnewski of Beachwood, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said on Friday, Sept. 9.
On Tuesday, Aug. 30 at 5:11 p.m, Berkeley police responded to 804 Pinewald-Keswick Road for a report of a motor vehicle crash with a motorcyclist down into the woods.
Officers bega…
Jersey Shore Man Admits Robbing Wawa, Shoprite, 7-Eleven, Other Stores: Prosecutor
A Jersey Shore man has pleaded guilty to robbing several stores and burglarizing a home, authorities said.
Thomas Jann, 34, of Beachwood, pled guilty to six counts of robbery and one count of burglary, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
The string of alleged crimes occurred between July 27, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2020, in Toms River, Berkeley Township and Beachwood, the prosecutor said.
The State will seek a term of 16 years in New Jersey State Prison when Jann is sentenced on Jan. 14, 2022.
A joint investigation between the Toms River, Berke…
Prosecutor: Jersey Shore Man Sentenced To State Prison For Fatal Shooting Of Beachwood Man, 27
A 32-year-old Ocean County man has been sentenced to state prison for fatally shooting another man in South Toms River, authorities said Monday.
Marcus Samuels, of South Toms River, previously pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in connection with the fatal shooting of Willie Love, 27, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said in a release.
Samuels was behind the wheel of a 2004 Dodge Nitro when he pulled up to a vehicle driven by Love, of Beachwood, and fatally shot him near the Community Medical Center on June 8, 2015, Billhimer said.
Love was later pronounced dead at Commu…
Jersey Shore Man Pleads Guilty In Fatal 2015 Shooting Death, Witness Tampering, Prosecutor Says
A 32-year-old man from South Toms River has admitted fatally shooting another Ocean County man six years ago, authorities said.
Marcus Samuels, 32, pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter and witness tampering, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.
Samuels also admitted to an unrelated charge of aggravated assault, authorities said.
Samuels' pleas came Friday in connection with the May 2015 shooting death of Willie Love, 27, of Beachwood, in Seaside Heights, the prosecutor said.
Love died of a gunshot wound to the chest at Community Medical Center in Toms River,…
