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Mercer County Man Nabbed In Somerset Drug Deal Turned Gunpoint Robbery, Authorities Say Mercer County Man Nabbed In Somerset Drug Deal Turned Gunpoint Robbery, Authorities Say
Mercer County Man Nabbed In Somerset Drug Deal Turned Gunpoint Robbery, Authorities Say An 18-year-old Mercer County man has been arrested in a Somerset County drug deal-turned robbery that occurred last January, authorities announced Monday. George C. Battle IV and another man had made arrangement with the victim over a social media application to conduct a drug deal near Lancaster Court in Montgomery Township on Jan. 17 around 6:30 p.m.,  Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said. A man got into the passenger's seat of his car and pointed a black gun at him while another man got into the back of the car and demanded his wallet, cell phone, car keys and hat, R…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
NJ Driving School Instructor Charged With Sexually Assaulting Students NJ Driving School Instructor Charged With Sexually Assaulting Students
NJ Driving School Instructor Charged With Sexually Assaulting Students A 59-year-old Somerset County ex-driving school instructor was arrested for sexually assaulting two driving students during sessions, authorities said. Steven Collucci, who previously worked for Dill's Driving School, is accused of sexually assaulting two 16-year-old alleged victims, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said. The first alleged victim reported being touched in a sexual manner by Collucci, of Somerville, while driving in the Bridgewater and Hillsborough area in June 2017, Robertson said. Then, in January 2021, a second individual reported being touched s…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Somerset County Man, 36, Convicted In Deadly Fire That Killed Cats After Argument With Ex-GF Somerset County Man, 36, Convicted In Deadly Fire That Killed Cats After Argument With Ex-GF
Somerset County Man, 36, Convicted In Deadly Fire That Killed Cats After Argument With Ex-GF A 36-year-old Somerset County man was convicted of aggravated arson and related charges after intentionally lighting a house with nine people on fire and causing the death of two cats. Patrick M. Hammond, of Somerville Borough, was convicted of the following charges after an April 21 non-jury bench trial, Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said in a joint release with other county officials: Second-degree aggravated arson Third-degree endangering another person (nine counts) Third-degree endangering the welfare of a child (four counts) Third-degree animal cruelty (two counts) Disorderly perso…

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by Valerie Musson
News
Prosecutor: Bedminster Man, 62, Busted For Uploading Child Porn Prosecutor: Bedminster Man, 62, Busted For Uploading Child Porn
Prosecutor: Bedminster Man, 62, Busted For Uploading Child Porn A 62-year-old Somerset County man was arrested on child porn charges, authorities said Monday. The notified the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office of an apparent upload of images of child pornography,  William H. Maass, Jr., of Bedminster, was charged with third-degree possession of child pornography and third-degree possession of child erotica, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said. Acting on a tip from the  National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), Robertson's office launched an investigation targeting Maass, Robertson said along…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
BUSTED: 'Operation Price Is Right' Nabs 11 In Central Jersey Drug Ring BUSTED: 'Operation Price Is Right' Nabs 11 In Central Jersey Drug Ring
Busted: 'Operation Price Is Right' Nabs 11 In Central Jersey Drug Ring Eleven people have been arrested in Central Jersey in connection with a large-scale drug distribution ring, authorities said.  Most of the alleged cocaine and heroin deals occurred in Union and Middlesex counties, according to  Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone. The sting was called "Operation Price Is Right." More than 20 warranted searches resulted in the recovery of over two kilograms of suspected cocaine, over one kilogram of suspected heroin, approximately 149 grams of fentanyl, 70 grams of Oxycodone, one loaded Smith and Wesson revolver and over $120,000 in su…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Prosecutor: NJ Man With 200 Heroin Folds Found Riding In Car With New Year's Shooting Fugitive Prosecutor: NJ Man With 200 Heroin Folds Found Riding In Car With New Year's Shooting Fugitive
Prosecutor: NJ Man With 200 Heroin Folds Found Riding In Car With New Year's Shooting Fugitive Police tracking down a man wanted in a drug investigation found him with 200 folds of heroin and other drugs while riding in a vehicle also occupied by a fugitive wanted in a New Year's shooting, authorities in Somerset County said. Armando Ortiz Jr., 23, of Bound Brook, was the target of a heroin-distribution investigation when authorities saw him arriving at an undisclosed area in a vehicle occupied by two other individuals on Feb. 25 around 7:45 p.m., Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said.  As authorities approached Oritz for questioning, he tossed a 200 wax fold…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Prosecutor: NJ Driver Charged With Attempted Murder For Hitting Men With Dodge Durango Prosecutor: NJ Driver Charged With Attempted Murder For Hitting Men With Dodge Durango
Prosecutor: NJ Driver Charged With Attempted Murder For Hitting Men With Dodge Durango A Somerset County man was charged with attempted murder after intentionally hitting two men with his car after patronizing the same local bar in 2019, authorities said. Surveillance tapes captured a 2020 Dodge Durango registered to William D. Hoke Jr., 47, driving up and down East Main Street in Bound Brook before entering Lot 3 around 1:40 a.m. on Dec. 20, 2019, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said. Once inside the lot, he hit a 31-year-old Bloomfield man and 36-year-old Bound Brook with his car, propelling them more than ten feet into a parked car, Robertson said…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Prosecutor: California Man Arrested After Trip To New Jersey For Sex With Girl, 14 Prosecutor: California Man Arrested After Trip To New Jersey For Sex With Girl, 14
Prosecutor: California Man Arrested After Trip To New Jersey For Sex With Girl, 14 A 22-year-old California man was arrested after he took a trip to New Jersey where he twice had sex with a 14-year-old girl he had been talking to online, authorities said. Justin R. Ganutan, of Stockton, CA, was having an online relationship with the girl when he traveled from the West Coast to Somerset County, to meet the girl, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said Monday. The victim, a Somerset County resident, told detectives she had sexual intercourse with Ganutan twice in Franklin Township during a trip he took last December specifically to meet her, Robertson said…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
NJ Man Who Thought He Was Meeting Child, 14, For Sex Busted By Undercover Agent NJ Man Who Thought He Was Meeting Child, 14, For Sex Busted By Undercover Agent
NJ Man Who Thought He Was Meeting Child, 14, For Sex Busted By Undercover Agent A 48-year-old Hudson County man who thought he was arranging sex with a 14-year-old child had actually been chatting with an undercover for months, and was taken into custody last week, authorities said. Dave J. Adamovic, of North Bergen, began chatting on various online platforms with the undercover detective -- whom he believed was a 14-year-old -- in October 2020, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said Thursday. Adamovic’s chats became sexual in nature and, throughout the course of the investigation, made arrangements to meet the undercover detective with the intention…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
NJ Mom Called 9-1-1 For Her Own Wrist Injury After Killing 4-Year-Old Son, Prosecutor Says NJ Mom Called 9-1-1 For Her Own Wrist Injury After Killing 4-Year-Old Son, Prosecutor Says
NJ Mom Called 9-1-1 For Her Own Wrist Injury After Killing 4-Year-Old Son, Prosecutor Says A New Jersey mom who called 9-1-1 for a minor wrist injury overnight was charged with murder after officers found her 4-year-old son -- who later died -- with cuts on his body in a bedroom, authorities said. Elina Gutti, 38, of South Bound Brook (Somerset County) called 9-1-1 on Feb. 6 saying she had unexplained injuries on her left wrist around 2:30 a.m., Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said. Her injuries required minor medical treatment, but on further assessment, officers found a 4-year-old boy with serious cuts in a first floor bedroom of the home, Robertson said al…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
NJ Dad Charged With Attempted Murder Of 2-Year-Old Daughter At Motel NJ Dad Charged With Attempted Murder Of 2-Year-Old Daughter At Motel
NJ Dad Charged With Attempted Murder Of 2-Year-Old Daughter At Motel A New Jersey dad has been charged with first degree attempted murder after surveillance tapes caught him putting his 2-year-old daughter in a plastic bag and carrying her through a New Jersey motel, authorities said. North Plainfield police responded to a Route 22 motel on reports of a baby inside of a bag around 12:40 p.m. on Jan. 23, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said. There, they found a man later identified as Lamar S. Waller -- the girl's dad -- holding his child, Robertson said alongside Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives John W.…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Prosecutor: Second Victim Alleges Sexual Assault During Appointment With Somerset County Doctor Prosecutor: Second Victim Alleges Sexual Assault During Appointment With Somerset County Doctor
Prosecutor: Second Victim Alleges Sexual Assault During Appointment With Somerset County Doctor A Somerset County doctor who was arrested on accusations that he sexually assaulted a patient during an appointment is facing additional charges after a second victim came forward, authorities said. Chike J. Aguh, 64, was accused of assaulting a woman during her appointment at his practice in Franklin Township on Tuesday, Jan. 12, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said in a joint release with other top officials. A second victim came forward Jan. 15 stating that Aguh, of Belle Mead, sexually assaulted her during a 2019 appointment at the same practice, Robertson said. The all…

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by Valerie Musson