18-Year-Old Driver Charged In Fatal Central Jersey Crash That Killed 'Cool Bus Driver' 18-Year-Old Driver Charged In Fatal Central Jersey Crash That Killed 'Cool Bus Driver'
18-Year-Old Driver Charged In Fatal Central Jersey Crash That Killed 'Cool Bus Driver' An 18-year-old driver from Central Jersey has been charged with hitting a beloved bus driver and custodian while he was working outside a school, authorities said. Shamantha Bolla of Monmouth Junction was charged with reckless death by auto on Thursday, July 7, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Chief Raymond Hayducka of the South Brunswick Police Department. Killed in the June 15 crash was Dean Battaglia, 53, a bus driver and custodian in the South Brunswick School District. His obituary called him the "cool bus driver."  A GoFundMe page was create…
Driver Charged In Fatal Central Jersey Crash, Victim ID'd Driver Charged In Fatal Central Jersey Crash, Victim ID'd
Driver Charged In Fatal Central Jersey Crash, Victim ID'd A 27-year-old man from Mercer County has been arrested in connection with a fatal crash in Central Jersey, authorities said. Egrevel Vasquez-Garcia of Hightstown was charged in the crash that occurred on Tuesday, June 28 on Route 130 in North Brunswick, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Chief Joseph Battaglia of the North Brunswick Police Department. An investigation by Detective Jason Vallese of the North Brunswick Police Department, Detective Jonathan Berman and Detective James Alleva of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office determined tha…
Stabbing Suspect Arrested In Central Jersey: Prosecutor Stabbing Suspect Arrested In Central Jersey: Prosecutor
Stabbing Suspect Arrested In Central Jersey: Prosecutor A 31-year-old man from New Brunswick has been charged in connection with the fatal stabbing of another man, authorities said. Osman Ruiz-Castro was arrested for killing Sanddi Cruz, 30, also of New Brunswick, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Director Anthony A. Caputo of the New Brunswick Police Department. On June 14, 2022, at approximately 11:30 p.m., authorities responded Seaman Street and Railroad Avenue following the report of a stabbing. Police found that Cruz had sustained multiple stab wounds to the chest. Cruz succumbed to his in…
Prostitutes, Liquor Violations Found At Central Jersey Club 35: Prosecutor Prostitutes, Liquor Violations Found At Central Jersey Club 35: Prosecutor
Prostitutes, Liquor Violations Found At Central Jersey Club 35: Prosecutor Five employees of a nightclub in Central Jersey have been arrested after prostitutes were found at the establishment, authorities said. Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Chief John Zebrowski of the Sayreville Police Department announced that a joint investigation with The Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control and the Office of Criminal Investigations of the New Jersey Treasury Department led to the arrests of the employees of Club XXXV in Sayreville. In May 2021, a search warrant was executed at Club XXXV and evidence of prostitution was uncovered, Ci…
Man, 31, Stabbed Dead In Central Jersey: Prosecutor Man, 31, Stabbed Dead In Central Jersey: Prosecutor
Man, 31, Stabbed Dead In Central Jersey: Prosecutor A 31-year-old man was stabbed to death in New Brunswick, authorities said. On Tuesday, June 14, at approximately 11:30 p.m., police responded to Seaman Street and Railroad Avenue following the report of a stabbing, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Director Anthony A. Caputo of the New Brunswick Police Department. Police found Sanddi Cruz, of New Brunswick, had sustained multiple stab wounds to the chest, they said. Cruz succumbed to his injuries and died at the scene. Anyone with information or surveillance footage of the area is as…
Central Jersey Mom, 19, Killed Baby Hours After Giving Birth: Prosecutor Central Jersey Mom, 19, Killed Baby Hours After Giving Birth: Prosecutor
Central Jersey Mom, 19, Killed Baby Hours After Giving Birth: Prosecutor A 19-year-old woman from Central Jersey has been accused of killing her newborn baby, authorities said. Jessica Farag gave birth to her daughter on Wednesday, June 8, just hours before police were called to her Jamesburg home for a welfare check, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said. Both the mom and the baby were taken to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital, where the infant was pronounced dead, Ciccone said alongside Jamesburg Police Chief James Craparotta. Farag was charged with one count of first-degree aggravated manslaughter, one count of second-degree desecr…
Man Wanted In Physical Attack Of Woman Walking In Middlesex County Man Wanted In Physical Attack Of Woman Walking In Middlesex County
Man Wanted In Physical Attack Of Woman Walking In Middlesex County Police are on the hunt for a man wanted on aggravated assault charges for physically attacking a woman walking in Middlesex County on Sunday, June 5, authorities said. An unidentified man approached the woman as she was walking along Raritan Avenue in Highland Park around 4 a.m., Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Park Police Chief Richard Abrams said. He was also in New Brunswick on the same evening, investigators said. The suspect is described as a Hispanic man between the ages of 20 and 21, standing 5'5" tall. He has a small build, short dark hair, and …
Central Jersey Man Found Guilty of Killing His Father, Another Man Then Setting Home On Fire Central Jersey Man Found Guilty of Killing His Father, Another Man Then Setting Home On Fire
Central Jersey Man Found Guilty of Killing His Father, Another Man Then Setting Home On Fire A Middlesex County man was found guilty of murdering his father and another man in 2019 before setting their home on fire, authorities said. Jaree Kitchen, 24, was convicted on June 1 of the murder of his father, Clifford Kitchen Jr., 53 and Gregory Fisher, 53, both from Jamesburg, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone. Kitchen, also from Jamesburg, was also found guilty of aggravated arson, possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, two counts of desecrating human remains and tampering with evidence, the prosecutor sa…
Central Jersey Boyfriend, 63, Arrested In Woman's Killing: Prosecutor Central Jersey Boyfriend, 63, Arrested In Woman's Killing: Prosecutor
Central Jersey Boyfriend, 63, Arrested In Woman's Killing: Prosecutor A 63-year-old man from Middlesex County has been arrested in connection with the death of his live-in girlfriend, authorities said. Michael Hodges, 63, of Sayreville has been charged with murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses, they said.  Barbara Andronico, 62, of Sayreville was found dead on Thursday, May 19, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Sayreville Police Chief John Zebrowski. On May 19, at 3:48 a.m., police responded to the Winding Wood Apartments following a 9-1-1 call reporting an unresponsive female. Police found Andro…
Man, 29, Arrested In Fatal Shooting Caught On Video In Central Jersey: Prosecutor Man, 29, Arrested In Fatal Shooting Caught On Video In Central Jersey: Prosecutor
Man, 29, Arrested In Fatal Shooting Caught On Video In Central Jersey: Prosecutor A 29-year-old man from Central Jersey has surrendered to police in the fatal daytime shooting of another man in his car last week.  Yhakeem Kornegay, 29, of Carteret turned himself in on Sunday, May 22, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Carteret Police Chief Dennis McFadden. Kornegay was charged with murder, attempted murder and weapons charges, they said. Malik Pandy, 27, of Carteret was killed in the shooting. It occurred at 1:09 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18 on Lincoln Avenue.  The shooting was captured by surveillance video.  …
US Marshals Nab Fugitive In Fatal Central Jersey Stabbing: Prosecutor US Marshals Nab Fugitive In Fatal Central Jersey Stabbing: Prosecutor
US Marshals Nab Fugitive In Fatal Central Jersey Stabbing: Prosecutor A 26-year-old fugitive in a fatal stabbing has been captured by US Marshals, authorities said. Barry Idesis, 47, of Perth Amboy was killed on Saturday, April 30, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Perth Amboy Police Chief Lawrence Cattano. Elbin Rodriguez of Perth Amboy was arrested in New York with the assistance of the New Jersey State Police Fugitive Unit and the US Marshals Service New Jersey/New York Regional Task Force, they said. Rodriguez was charged with first-degree murder, tampering with evidence and weapons offenses, they …
Central Jersey Man Convicted Of Attempted Murder: Prosecutor Central Jersey Man Convicted Of Attempted Murder: Prosecutor
Central Jersey Man Convicted Of Attempted Murder: Prosecutor A 20-year-old man from Central Jersey has been convicted of attempted murder, authorities said. Elijah Ford of Carteret was convicted on Thursday, April 28 after a five-day trial, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Carteret Police Chief Dennis McFadden. On Dec. 24, 2020, at approximately 9:30 p.m., Carteret police responded to the exterior of a residence at the Hermann Gardens public housing complex in Carteret for shots fired.  Police found a victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was taken to Robert Wood Johnson Univer…