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Police & Fire
Cocaine Dealer Sentenced After Using Asbury Park Business To Sell: Prosecutors Cocaine Dealer Sentenced After Using Asbury Park Business To Sell: Prosecutors
Cocaine Dealer Sentenced After Using Asbury Park Business To Sell: Prosecutors An Ocean County man will spend more than a decade in prison after admitting to using an Asbury Park store and a Brick Township home to sell cocaine, authorities said. Henry Burns, 56, of Brick Township, was sentenced on Friday, Mar. 8 to 15 years in state prison, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced in a news release. Burns pleaded guilty on Monday, Jan. 22 to possession of cocaine in an amount greater than five ounces with intent to distribute and being a certain person not to possess a weapon. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), along with narcotics offic…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Fentanyl, Heroin, Ecstasy Seized In South Jersey Drug Bust, Four Arrested Fentanyl, Heroin, Ecstasy Seized In South Jersey Drug Bust, Four Arrested
Fentanyl, Heroin, Ecstasy Seized In South Jersey Drug Bust, Four Arrested Four people were accused of selling several drugs throughout Ocean County, including heroin and fentanyl, authorities said. The people arrested were 33-year-old Orthis Allen of Bayville, 33-year-old Ashley Banks of Brick, and two 23-year-olds from Toms River, Lauren Torres and Anthony Martinez. Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced the four arrests in a news release on Tuesday, Mar. 5. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents helped Ocean County investigators and local police in a two-month-long investigation into illegal drugs sold throughout Ocean County. The investi…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Three Arrested For Robbing Boy In South Jersey: Police Three Arrested For Robbing Boy In South Jersey: Police
Three Arrested For Robbing Boy In South Jersey: Police A man and two boys were accused of robbing another boy late at night, authorities said. Little Egg Harbor police said officers responded to the robbery report at around 10:26 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24. It happened near the 7-Eleven on Radio Road. When police arrived, they found out that 21-year-old Christian Heri of Brick Township and two boys stole several items from the victim. The suspects left the scene in a black minivan. Tuckerton police eventually stopped the minivan. The three suspects were arrested and officers found a 9mm handgun inside the vehicle. Heri was charged wi…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Suspected Toms River Hookah Lounge Killer Will Stay In Jail For Trial: Prosecutors Suspected Toms River Hookah Lounge Killer Will Stay In Jail For Trial: Prosecutors
Suspected Toms River Hookah Lounge Killer Will Stay In Jail For Trial: Prosecutors The man accused of murder in a triple shooting at a Toms River hookah lounge will have to stay in jail through his trial. A judge ordered on Thursday, Feb. 22 that Eric Manzanares, 24, of Asbury Park, will remain detained in the Ocean County Jail pending his trial, county prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced. He was charged with murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon. Manzanares has been held in the county jail since Wednesday, Jan. 24, when he was extradited to New Jersey from Virginia. H…

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by Chris Spiker
Obituaries
Freehold Dad, L.E.A.D. Marketing Exec David Kirby Dies, 48 Freehold Dad, L.E.A.D. Marketing Exec David Kirby Dies, 48
Dave Kirby Obituary Shock and sadness spread following the death of Freehold resident David J. Kirby on Thursday, Feb. 15. He was 48 years old. David, affectionately known as Dave, was born in Brick Township and died at CentraState Medical Center, according to his obituary. Dave most recently served as the vice president of marketing and advertising for Law Enforcement Against Drugs (LEAD), and worked in radio for many years, his obituary says. His LinkedIn profile shows he held marketing positions at several different radio and media agencies. Dave's death is particularly tragic for his colleague's…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
South Jersey Coffee Shop Bringing Cali-Inspired Drinks To Second Location South Jersey Coffee Shop Bringing Cali-Inspired Drinks To Second Location
South Jersey Coffee Shop Bringing Cali-Inspired Drinks To Second Location A New Jersey coffee shop serving up cups of California-style caffeine is about to open up its second location. California Cold Co. is holding its grand opening for its shop in Brick Township on Saturday, Feb. 17. The store will be on 990 Cedarbridge Avenue, inside the Town Hall Shoppes plaza. Fans said they're excited to see California Cold Co. expanding to a second location. "Looks beautiful!" one person wrote on Facebook. "I am excited to have your delicious coffee in Brick!" "Congratulations!" another person commented. "So excited for you all! Brick is so lucky to have you!" We’re…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Mangia! Popular Italian Market Livoti's Opening New Location On Jersey Shore Mangia! Popular Italian Market Livoti's Opening New Location On Jersey Shore
Mangia! Popular Italian Market Livoti's Opening New Location On Jersey Shore An Italian grocery store known for gourmet meats and other delicacies is opening its first location in Ocean County. Livoti's Old World Market said it will open its newest store in Brick Township on Thursday, Mar. 7. The store will be located in the Laurel Square shopping plaza on Route 88. This will be the fifth market for Livoti's, which started in 2010 with its first store in Aberdeen. The other three markets are in Monmouth County in Freehold, Marlboro, and Middletown. Fans of Livoti's said they were thrilled when then opening date for the Brick store was announced. "I can't wait…

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by Chris Spiker
Weather
Here's Who Got The Most Snow In South Jersey From Winter Storm Here's Who Got The Most Snow In South Jersey From Winter Storm
Here's Who Got The Most Snow In South Jersey From Winter Storm Some parts of South Jersey received more than half a foot of snow during a pre-Valentine's Day winter storm. The National Weather Service said snow stopped falling in the region at around 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 13. While it wasn't as much as North Jersey, plenty of communities saw significant accumulation. The NWS published its final official snowfall reports for the storm: Atlantic County Atlantic City International Airport - trace Burlington County Delran - 2.1 inches Maple Shade - 1.9 inches Mount Holly - 1.4 inches Mount Laurel - 1.4 inches Medford - 1.0 inches Moorestown - 1.0 in…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Fentanyl, Opioids Stolen By Jersey Shore Healthcare Worker: Police Fentanyl, Opioids Stolen By Jersey Shore Healthcare Worker: Police
Fentanyl, Opioids Stolen By Jersey Shore Healthcare Worker: Police An Ocean County healthcare worker is accused of stealing fentanyl and another opioid from a medical facility, authorities said. Lauren Scholz, 37, of Brick Township, is facing several drug-related charges, Brick Township police announced on Monday, Jan. 29. She works at the Vascular Institute at Atlantic Medical Imaging on Jack Martin Boulevard. Police said they received an anonymous tip about a female healthcare worker stealing narcotics from the hospital on Thursday, Jan. 25. Officers went to the hospital to talk with management on Friday, Jan. 26. Investigators said 100 flip-top vials c…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Suspected Toms River Hookah Lounge Killer Extradited Months After Virginia Capture Suspected Toms River Hookah Lounge Killer Extradited Months After Virginia Capture
Suspected Toms River Hookah Lounge Killer Extradited Months After Virginia Capture Nearly nine months after his Virginia capture, a Monmouth County man will face charges in New Jersey, authorities announced. Asbury Park's Eric Manzanares, 24 — the accused gunman in a triple shooting that left one man dead and two others injured at a Toms River hookah lounge in 2022 — has been extradited from Prince William County, VA, to Ocean County, NJ, Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced on Thursday, Jan. 25.  Toms River police responded to a shooting at Top Tier Hookah Lounge on Hooper Avenue at around 1:20 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022. Officers found three victim…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
'Scary:' NJ Costco Shopper Shoots Themself Accidentally, Police Say 'Scary:' NJ Costco Shopper Shoots Themself Accidentally, Police Say
'Scary:' NJ Costco Shopper Shoots Themself Accidentally, Police Say Police are investigating after a shopper accidentally shot themselves inside an Ocean County wholesale store over the weekend, they said. Brick Township police officers responded to the Costco warehouse on Route 70 at around 1 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 21, local police said. The owner of the gun is expected to survive their injuries. One person who replied to the police department's Facebook post about the incident said they saw what happened. "I was right next to him when it happened," the commenter said. "It was terrible and scary. The bullet landed 5 feet from my daughter.  "If you're …

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Jersey Shore Fugitive Accused Of Choking Woman Unconscious Jersey Shore Fugitive Accused Of Choking Woman Unconscious
Jersey Shore Fugitive Accused Of Choking Woman Unconscious A Point Pleasant man is accused of nearly choking a woman to death and knocking her unconscious, authorities said. Juan Santiago-Rojas, 31, was charged with attempted murder on Monday, Jan. 22, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced on Tuesday, Jan. 23. Santiago-Rojas was wanted in an incident in Point Pleasant on Monday, Aug. 22, 2022. Point Pleasant police responded to a report of an unconscious female at a home on Butler Avenue. When officers arrived, they found the woman also had serious injuries to her head and neck. The woman was rushed to Hackensack Meridian O…

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by Chris Spiker