Bloomfield Man Convicted Of Murdering Gas Station Attendant: Prosecutors Bloomfield Man Convicted Of Murdering Gas Station Attendant: Prosecutors
Bloomfield Man Convicted Of Murdering Gas Station Attendant: Prosecutors A 36-year-old Bloomfield man was convicted of murdering Jahque Benbow, a 23-year-old gas station attendant in May 2022, prosecutors announced. On Tuesday, Oct. 10, a jury found Lamar Sommers guilty of murder in the first degree, conspiracy to commit murder and two weapons charges, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II said. He faces a minimum of 30 years in prison when he is sentenced in December, Stephens said. Sommers, along with two other men, conspired to shoot Benbow at the Irvington gas station where he worked, Stephens said. Sommers waited in the car while the …
Reckless Manslaughter Among New Charges For Driver In Fatal Route 1&9 Wreck Reckless Manslaughter Among New Charges For Driver In Fatal Route 1&9 Wreck
Reckless Manslaughter Among New Charges For Driver In Fatal Route 1&9 Wreck Additional charges have been filed against a New Jersey driver involved in a fatal wreck, authorities said. Gabriel Melo, a 22-year-old Newark resident, was behind the wheel of a car when it crashed and killed 21-year-old Daniella Rosario, of Bloomfield, last month, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced on Thursday, Oct. 5. Melo was originally charged with death by auto, but is now facing charges of aggravated manslaughter, reckless manslaughter and assault by auto, the prosecutor announced. Melo was operating a 2018 Audi that collided with a tractor trailer on the Rou…
Gang Member Admits Planning Murder, Committing Gunpoint Robbery: NJ Feds Gang Member Admits Planning Murder, Committing Gunpoint Robbery: NJ Feds
Gang Member Admits Planning Murder, Committing Gunpoint Robbery: NJ Feds A member of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips gang admitted his role in planning a murder and robbing a victim at gunpoint, federal authorities said. Federal prosecutors used the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law to charge Tre Byrd, 22, and dozens of other reputed gang bangers rounded up by a collection of crime-fighting “supergroups.” Byrd, they said, belonged to the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips – a violent drug-selling gang -- for seven years. He was in on planning the rubout of a rival who was shot dead in March 2019 in Irvington, then more than a year later r…
Door-To-Door Contractors Bilk North Jersey Victim Out Of $125K: Police Door-To-Door Contractors Bilk North Jersey Victim Out Of $125K: Police
Door-To-Door Contractors Bilk North Jersey Victim Out Of $125K: Police A pair of door-to-door contractors were arrested after police say they scammed a North Jersey woman out of $125,000. The victim hired Patrick O'Doherty and Anthony Doherty to repair to sets of concrete steps for $3,800, paid in full in advance, on Aug. 20, Bloomfield police said. Once the demolition began on the steps, Doherty and O'Doherty would show up sporadically, usually in the late afternoon hours, to do more demolition work. The problem was, though, every time they came, they'd perform more demolition work and ask for more money — never repairing the actual steps, police said. The …
Driver Charged In Route 1&9 Crash That Killed Passenger: 'She Slayed Too Hard For This World' Driver Charged In Route 1&9 Crash That Killed Passenger: 'She Slayed Too Hard For This World'
Driver Charged In Route 1&9 Crash That Killed Passenger: 'She Slayed Too Hard For This World' A 22-year-old Newark man has been arrested in connection with a crash that killed a 21-year-old Bloomfield resident on Friday, Sept. 1, authorities said. Gabriel Melo was behind the wheel of the 2018 Audi that collided with the tractor trailer on the Routes 1 & 9 North ramp at Route 139 West, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said. Melo was arrested at the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office on Thursday, Sept. 7, Suarez said. Daniella RosarioGoFundMe Melo's passenger, Daniella Rosario, of Bloomfield, and formerly of Paramus and Haledon, ultimately died, while two other passengers…
Masseuse Offered Sex To Undercover Officer In Essex County: Police Masseuse Offered Sex To Undercover Officer In Essex County: Police
Masseuse Offered Sex To Undercover Officer In Essex County: Police A 41-year-old Queens, NY woman working as a masseuse in Essex County was arrested in an undercover prostitution sting, authorities said. Sujin Huh worked at Top Health Spa on Washington Street in Bloomfield, when she propositioned an undercover officer for sex on Thursday, Aug. 24, Bloomfield Police Chief George Ricci said. "This was brought to the department’s attention by a resident concerned with this quality of life issue," Ricci said.  Huh, who did not have a massage license, was arrested and charged with engaging in prostitution. She was issued a summons, released and …
Jackpot! Lotto Players Win Big Bucks In North Jersey Jackpot! Lotto Players Win Big Bucks In North Jersey
Jackpot! Lotto Players Win Big Bucks In North Jersey Three lotto players in North Jersey are about to receive a Power Ball payout. Three tickets sold in Essex County, Hudson County and Passaic County respectively matched four of the five white balls and the Power Ball drawn in the Wednesday, August 16 drawing, netting them $50,000. The tickets were sold at Krauser's Food Store in Bloomfield, Shoprite of Bayonne and Quick Stop in Clifton. The ticket sold at Krauser's was purchased with a Power Play option multiplying the prize to $100,000. The winning numbers were: 09, 11, 17, 19, and 55. The Red Power Ball number was 01.
Car Burglar Arrested After Foot Pursuit: Glen Ridge PD Car Burglar Arrested After Foot Pursuit: Glen Ridge PD
Car Burglar Arrested After Foot Pursuit: Glen Ridge PD A 20-year-old Bloomfield resident was arrested after Glen Ridge Police caught him breaking into vehicles on Wednesday, August 9, authorities said. At 2:25 a.m., a resident of Outlook Place called police after seeing Akeem Williams walking in their driveway before proceeding east toward Essex Avenue, police said. Police began searching for Williams before finding him inside a parked vehicle, officers said. Williams fled on foot toward Essex Avenue as two police officers gave chase, police said. Another officer was able to apprehend him on Bay Avenue and Broad Street, police said. Williams w…
Former Newark Cop Gets Five Years For Vehicular Homicide, Attempted Coverup Former Newark Cop Gets Five Years For Vehicular Homicide, Attempted Coverup
Former Newark Cop Gets Five Years For Vehicular Homicide, Attempted Coverup Louis Santiago, a 26-year-old Bloomfield resident and former Newark police officer, was sentenced to five years in prison for fatally striking a pedestrian while driving drunk and then driving home with the victim's body in his car, authorities said. Santiago had previously pled guilty to reckless vehicular homicide, desecrating human remains and driving under the influence in the death of Damian Dymka, a 29-year-old Garfield resident, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II said. On Nov. 1, 2021, at 3 a.m., Santiago, who was off duty and intoxicated, was traveling nort…
14-Year-Old Boy Rams Paramus Police Vehicle With SUV Stolen From Jersey Shore 14-Year-Old Boy Rams Paramus Police Vehicle With SUV Stolen From Jersey Shore
14-Year-Old Boy Rams Paramus Police Vehicle With SUV Stolen From Jersey Shore A 14-year-old boy rammed a Paramus police vehicle with an SUV stolen from the Jersey Shore before he and two companions were captured, authorities said. Paramus Police Chief Robert Guidetti said the 2020 BMW X7 was reported stolen during a burglary more than 50 miles away in the affluent Monmouth County town of Marlboro. Officer Nicholas Perna and the driver spotted one another at the same moment shortly before 11:30 p.m. Monday, July 24, the chief said. At that point, the Newark juvenile hit the gas and headed right for the officer’s cruiser, he said. Perna quickly turned his wheel – an…
Hearts Break For Nutley's Nicholas Messina, 53 Hearts Break For Nutley's Nicholas Messina, 53
Hearts Break For Nutley's Nicholas Messina, 53 Nicholas Thomas Messina III died suddenly on Saturday, July 15 at the age of 53, according to his obituary. Nicholas was a native of Bloomfield and lived in Nutley, his obituary reads. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth and his two-year-old son, Nicholas Thomas Messina IV.  Nicholas worked for Essex County’s job development unit in East Orange, "helping people find jobs and making a difference in the community," his obituary reads.  "Nicholas made friends wherever he went, all over the world. His gracious and giving nature touched so many lives and his light will shine for years to com…
3 Brick City Brims Get 100 Years Combined For Murdering Informant, Bystander, Rival Gangster 3 Brick City Brims Get 100 Years Combined For Murdering Informant, Bystander, Rival Gangster
3 Brick City Brims Get 100 Years Combined For Murdering Informant, Bystander, Rival Gangster A trio of ruthless Essex County gang members who admitted gunning down a government informant after killing an innocent bystander they mistook for the snitch were sentenced to nearly 100 years combined in federal prison. There’s no parole in the federal prison system, which means the East Orange trio will all have to serve out their plea-bargained sentences: Thomas Zimmerman, 28, was sentenced to 37 years; Tyquan Daniels, 27, got 35 years; Ali Hill, 30, was sentenced to 25 years. That means Daniels and Zimmerman will both be pushing 65 when either tastes freedom again. Hill would be approa…