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Police & Fire
'BOUND & RESTRAINED': NJ Mom Accused Of Killing 2 Kids Found Dead In Car 'BOUND & RESTRAINED': NJ Mom Accused Of Killing 2 Kids Found Dead In Car
'Bound & Restrained': NJ Mom Accused Of Killing 2 Kids Found Dead In Car A 36-year-old New Jersey mom was charged with two counts of first-degree murder after her two young children were found "bound and restrained" -- and dead -- in the back seat of her car, authorities said. A 911 call was received around 7:40 a.m. Tuesday, reporting a disabled vehicle on Mountain View Road in Hillsborough, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office. Responding officers found the driver, Yuhwei Chou, of Skillman, and two children -- one in a booster seat and the other in a baby seat -- bound and restrained in the car's back seats, authorities said. Investigators det…

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by Nicole Acosta
Police & Fire
Man Who Gave Bogus Papers In Car Trade Nabbed After NJ Police Pursuit, Authorities Say Man Who Gave Bogus Papers In Car Trade Nabbed After NJ Police Pursuit, Authorities Say
Man Who Gave Bogus Papers In Car Trade Nabbed After NJ Police Pursuit, Authorities Say A Bayonne man who provided bogus papers in a car trade was apprehended after a police pursuit, authorities said. Raymond Piel Jr., 23, was charged with eluding and theft by deception, according to Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson and Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor. On Sept. 14, a Branchburg police officer attempted to stop Piel, who was speeding northbound on Lamington Avenue in a gray Nissan Altima, authorities said. Piel reportedly ignored commands to stop and continued driving away, sparking a chase. However, the officer…

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by Nicole Acosta
Police & Fire
NJ Fencing Coach, Columbia U Champ Who Sexually Assaulted 2 Teens Lied Under Oath: Prosecutor NJ Fencing Coach, Columbia U Champ Who Sexually Assaulted 2 Teens Lied Under Oath: Prosecutor
NJ Fencing Coach, Columbia U Champ Who Sexually Assaulted 2 Teens Lied Under Oath: Prosecutor A New Jersey fencing coach was arrested for sexually assaulting two teenagers then gave false statement in his detention hearing, authorities said. A 16-year-old girl reported being sexually assaulting by Stephen Kovacs, 49, of Watchung, in Bridgewater in August and September 2021, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said.  Then, a 19-year-old woman said she was also sexually assault by Kovacs -- formerly of Clifton -- when she was 18, Robertson said. The victim earlier this month disclosed incidents of sexual assault that occurred in Bridgewater from January 2020 to …

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Somerset County Man Tried Selling Child Porn On Social Media, Prosecutor Says Somerset County Man Tried Selling Child Porn On Social Media, Prosecutor Says
Somerset County Man Tried Selling Child Porn On Social Media, Prosecutor Says A Somerset County man was arrested for child porn possession and trying to sell the images over social media, authorities said Thursday. Agents with the US Department of Homeland Security and other local officials raided Siddh B. Shah's Winding Way home in Hillsborough on Sept. 30, seizing computers and other electronic devices, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, said. An investigation found Shah had uploaded more than 200 images depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child, Robertson said. The investigation also found that Shah was selling the child p…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
NJ Coach Knew About Colleague's Relationship With Teen But Did Nothing To Stop It: Prosecutor NJ Coach Knew About Colleague's Relationship With Teen But Did Nothing To Stop It: Prosecutor
NJ Coach Knew About Colleague's Relationship With Teen But Did Nothing To Stop It: Prosecutor A New Jersey teacher and athletic coach was arrested for sexually assaulting a teen student, and another school employee was charged with knowing about it -- but not doing anything to stop it, authorities said. Matthew J. Rennie, 30, of Ringoes, became the center of an investigation when the 17-year-old female reported the alleged abuse to Franklin Township police, the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office announced. The incidents occurred between July and September 2021 in Montgomery and East Amwell (Hunterdon County), Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said. The investiga…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Somerset County Authorities Seek Woman Wanted On Multiple Charges Somerset County Authorities Seek Woman Wanted On Multiple Charges
Somerset County Authorities Seek Woman Wanted On Multiple Charges Authorities in Somerset County are seeking the public's help locating a woman they say is wanted on multiple charges. An arrest warrant for Tameeka R. Smith, of Carteret, was issued on Thursday for charges of hindering apprehension, obstruction, and eluding, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office. She is described as 5'8" and approximately 155 pounds with brown eyes and black hair. Anyone with information pertaining to the whereabouts of this individual should contact the Somerset County Communications Center at (908) 526-2500 and ask for the Somerset County Pr…

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by Nicole Acosta
Police & Fire
NJ R&B Singer Jaheim Abused 15 Dogs Some In Water-Filled Crates, Emaciated, Prosecutor Says NJ R&B Singer Jaheim Abused 15 Dogs Some In Water-Filled Crates, Emaciated, Prosecutor Says
NJ R&B Singer Jaheim Abused 15 Dogs Some In Water-Filled Crates, Emaciated, Prosecutor Says New Jersey R&B singer Jaheim Hoagland has been arrested for abusing 15 dogs -- some severely emaciated and others found in crates filled with several inches of water, authorities said. Hillsborough police officers responded to a Chamberlain Drive home on reports of a puppy in distress around 9:15 a.m. Sept. 6, where they found six dogs in separate animal crates in the driveway of the home, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said. One of the dogs was initially unresponsive in a water filled crate and subsequently had to be euthanized, Robertson said alongside Somer…

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by Cecilia Levine
Weather
IDA: Death Toll Climbs To 23 In New Jersey IDA: Death Toll Climbs To 23 In New Jersey
IDA: Death Toll Climbs To 23 In New Jersey The death toll caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida that tore through New Jersey Wednesday had climbed to 23 as of Thursday afternoon, Gov. Phil Murphy said at a press conference. Most of these deaths were individuals who got stuck in vehicles due to flooding and were overtaken by water, he said from fire station in Hillsborough. The governor reminded residents New Jersey is still in the midst of Ida, and urged people not to travel. Those who died include: Four Elizabeth residents -- a couple ages 71 and 72, their 38-year-old son and a 33-year-old neighbor. Their bodies were found by…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
KNOW ANYTHING? $5K Reward Offered In North Plainfield Shooting Deaths Of Man, 31, Boy, 14 KNOW ANYTHING? $5K Reward Offered In North Plainfield Shooting Deaths Of Man, 31, Boy, 14
Know Anything? $5K Reward Offered In North Plainfield Shooting Deaths Of Man, 31, Boy, 14 The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information regarding a North Plainfield shooting that left two people dead and one man critically injured. Christian Orellana, 31, Steven Jimenez, 14, and a third man, 28, were outside on a first-floor patio at the Malcolm Gardens Apartment Complex on Little Place around 8 p.m. on Aug. 13 when the assailant(s) confronted the victims, according to Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor and North Plainf…

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by Nicole Acosta
Police & Fire
SWAT STANDOFF: Somerset County Gunman Complies After Firing Shots At Visitor SWAT STANDOFF: Somerset County Gunman Complies After Firing Shots At Visitor
SWAT Standoff: Somerset County Gunman Complies After Firing Shots At Visitor A 4-hour standoff ended Tuesday morning with a Somerset County homeowner in custody after he fired shots at a visitor, authorities said. The victim was visiting the apparent gunman at his Elm Drive home in Montgomery Township around 5:30 a.m. in an attempt to collect a debt from him, according to Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor, and Montgomery Township Captain/Director James Gill.  When the homeowner, who is known to the victim, answered the front door, he got out of the house and fired a single shot from a handgu…

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by Nicole Acosta
Police & Fire
Gunpoint Carjacking Under Investigation In Bound Brook Gunpoint Carjacking Under Investigation In Bound Brook
Gunpoint Carjacking Under Investigation In Bound Brook A gunpoint carjacking that occurred last week in Bound Brook is under investigation, authorities said. A resident briefly parked on the side of the road near Talmage Avenue and Fisher Avenue around 10 p.m. on Aug. 6 to help his passenger get out of his car, according to Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor and Borough of Bound Brook Chief of Police Vito Bet. When he returned to his gray 2011 Hyundai Sonata, he was approached by two unknown men who brandished a gun and a knife, and demanded to …

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by Nicole Acosta
Police & Fire
4-Year-Old Boy Drowns In Bridgewater's Sunset Lake 4-Year-Old Boy Drowns In Bridgewater's Sunset Lake
4-Year-Old Boy Drowns In Bridgewater's Sunset Lake A 4-year-old boy drowned in a Bridgewater lake on Friday. Bystanders were performing CPR when police arrived to Sunset Lake near North Shore Drive around 8:40 p.m., Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said. Officers took over CPR as the child was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died, authorities said. A GoFundMe page identified the boy as Kyle. The campaign was launched for his mom, Sheila Meyers. More than $20,300 had been raised as of Monday. "Our members took heroic action to try and save his life prior to the arrival of emergency services and the police, a…

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by Cecilia Levine