Scooter Rider Killed In Jersey Shore Crash Involving Police Officer, State AG Says Scooter Rider Killed In Jersey Shore Crash Involving Police Officer, State AG Says
Scooter Rider Killed In Jersey Shore Crash Involving Police Officer, State AG Says A man riding a motorized scooter was killed in a multi-vehicle crash on Route 35 in Monmouth County that involved a local police officer, state authorities said. The crash occurred on the highway's southbound side near Sunset Avenue in Ocean Township shortly after 9 p.m. Monday, April 15, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said on Tuesday. The identity of the scooter rider, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was temporarily being withheld, as was the name of the on-duty Ocean Township officer, Platkin said. Neither the officer nor anyone else involved in the crash was injured, …
Alarm Malfunction Triggers Lockdown, Massive Law Enforcement Response At Westwood HS Alarm Malfunction Triggers Lockdown, Massive Law Enforcement Response At Westwood HS
Alarm Malfunction Triggers Lockdown, Massive Law Enforcement Response At Westwood HS An alarm system malfunction forced the lockdown Tuesday of Westwood Regional High School and brought a legion of law enforcement and tactical officers to Washington Township. The entire building was searched following the 11:07 a.m. lockdown, Washington Township Police Chief John Calamari said. The search confirmed there wasn't a threat of any kind and the lockdown was stepped down to a shelter in place. The system malfunctioned a second time after being reset, the chief said. An early 12:50 p.m. dismissal allowed technicians to investigate the cause, Schools Supt. Jill Mortimer said…
Dumont Man Seized After SWAT Standoff Following Series Of Threatening Messages, Chief Says Dumont Man Seized After SWAT Standoff Following Series Of Threatening Messages, Chief Says
Dumont Man Seized After SWAT Standoff Following Series Of Threatening Messages, Chief Says A Dumont man was seized following a brief SWAT standoff after he threatened borough police, authorities said. Michael D. Tolan, 49, was upset by two motor vehicle summonses he received on Saturday, April 13, Dumont Police Chief Brian Joyce said. He then contacted Dumont Municipal Court and left nine voicemails “voicemails threatening to do harm to former and current members of the Dumont Police Department,” the chief said. A Bergen County Regional SWAT team and Cresskill police joined their Dumont colleagues at Tolan’s Magnolia Avenue home on Saturday. “After a brief standoff, Mr. Tolan …
NO CHOICE: Police Justified Shooting Knife-Wielding NJ Man, Grand Jury Finds NO CHOICE: Police Justified Shooting Knife-Wielding NJ Man, Grand Jury Finds
NO Choice: Police Justified Shooting Knife-Wielding NJ Man, Grand Jury Finds UPDATE: Police were justified in shooting a New Jersey man seen on bodycam video charging at an officer with a knife, a grand jury investigation required by state law found. Luke Mendez, 26, had his wrapped around the knife handle as he barreled down the steps of an Old Bridge home last April 24. Mendez was only two steps from the landing -- less than three feet from an Old Bridge officer -- when he left police no choice. Mendez was pronounced dead at a local hospital about 90 minutes later. Grand jurors reviewed various evidence but didn't really need any more than the bodycam video…
Ex-Con Charged With Pointing Illegal Gun During Dispute In Garfield Ex-Con Charged With Pointing Illegal Gun During Dispute In Garfield
Ex-Con Charged With Pointing Illegal Gun During Dispute In Garfield Garfield police investigating a report of a man pointing a gun at a victim during a dispute seized an ex-con from Paterson. Officers responding to a John Street residence found a defaced .22-caliber handgun and a magazine loaded with 10 rounds that belonged to Kelvin Merello, 37, Garfield Police Capt. Mario Pozo said. They arrested Merello and charged him with aggravated assault, making terroristic threats and multiple weapons counts -- including illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Merello -- whose online bio lists him as a personal trainer -- has remained in the Bergen Co…
Motorcyclist Killed In Crash With New Jersey State Police Car In South Jersey: AG Motorcyclist Killed In Crash With New Jersey State Police Car In South Jersey: AG
Motorcyclist Killed In Crash With New Jersey State Police Car In South Jersey: AG A motorcyclist was killed in a collision involving an on-duty New Jersey State Police trooper in South Jersey Tuesday, April 9, state officials said. An on-duty state trooper was conducting routine patrol duties on Route 70 in Southampton, when the vehicle "was involved in a collision" with a civilian motorcycle near Burrs Mill Road  New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said. The motorcyclist was taken to Virtua Mount Holly Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 12:45 p.m. The state trooper involved in the collision did not sufferer significant injuries,…
Ridgefield Park Officer Finds Gun, Hollow-Nose Ammo, $24,500 After Stopping Out-Of-State Driver Ridgefield Park Officer Finds Gun, Hollow-Nose Ammo, $24,500 After Stopping Out-Of-State Driver
Ridgefield Park Officer Finds Gun, Hollow-Nose Ammo, $24,500 After Stopping Out-Of-State Driver A Ridgefield Park police officer turned up a handgun loaded with hollow-nose bullets, a small amount of crystal meth and $24,500 in suspicious cash during a traffic stop, authorities said. Officer Amanda Thomas stopped the Toyota Tundra for a number of violations at Main and Hobart streets shortly after 10 a.m. Monday, April 8, Police Chief Joseph Rella said. The driver, 40-year-old Mexican national Raul Villanueva Muratalla of Nashville, was taken into custody a short time later, he said. Muratalla was charged with unlawful weapons possession, possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpo…
Newark Teen, Grandmother Busted: Guns, Ammo Seized After Secaucus Car Burglary Arrest Newark Teen, Grandmother Busted: Guns, Ammo Seized After Secaucus Car Burglary Arrest
Newark Teen, Grandmother Busted: Guns, Ammo Seized After Secaucus Car Burglary Arrest Police who nabbed a Newark teen for a car burglary in Secaucus ended up seizing both him and his grandmother after finding three handguns and 400 rounds of ammunition at their home, authorities said. Secaucus police originally charged Malahki E. Issac, 18, with burglary and theft for the vehicle break-in and released him last month. A deeper dive by members of the department’s Anti-Crime Unit led them to even more serious offenses, Police Chief Dennis Miller said. After obtaining an arrest warrant, the detectives scoop up Isaac on Springfield Avenue in Newark on Thursday, April 4. Members…
Hunterdon County Police Dog Mourned Hunterdon County Police Dog Mourned
Hunterdon County Police Dog Mourned Agar, a police dog in Hunterdon County, has died, the Readington Township Police Department announced on Friday, April 5. Readington Township Police Department Agar, along with his handler Sgt. Chris Heycock, graduated from the Bergen County Sheriff's Office Canine Training Academy in 2017 with certifications in patrol and narcotics detention, police said. "Agar and Sgt Heycock stopped by our home not long ago to visit our toddlers and talk about how important police dogs are," said one mourner. "Agar was a sweet and gentle dog - and tough when he needed to be. We will miss him and be thi…
60 Protestors Arrested In Demo That Shut Down I-676 In Philadelphia: State Police 60 Protestors Arrested In Demo That Shut Down I-676 In Philadelphia: State Police
60 Protestors Arrested In Demo That Shut Down I-676 In Philadelphia: State Police More than 60 people have been arrested in connection with a protest that completely shutdown I-676 in Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon, March 30, authorities said. The protestors were from the Party for Socialism and Liberation, and ran onto the highway at Broad Street around 4 p.m., causing disruptions to traffic flow, Philadelphia police said at the time. On Sunday, March 31, Pennsylvania State Police released a list of towns and ages of those arrested, all who were charged with disorderly conduct. Thirty-nine of them were from Philadelphia with a others from Trappe, Downingtown, Lansd…
Former Newark Public Safety Director Accidentally Shot Himself — With Someone Else's Gun: PD Former Newark Public Safety Director Accidentally Shot Himself — With Someone Else's Gun: PD
Former Newark Public Safety Director Accidentally Shot Himself — With Someone Else's Gun: PD Anthony Ambrose, who has a lengthy career in law enforcement in Essex County, accidentally shot himself with another person's gun on Friday, March 22, police said. Responding to many unanswered questions about the shooting, Cedar Grove police issued a news release laying out what happened to Ambrose at 2 Village Park Road, where Ambrose keeps an office as a private investigator.  Ambrose previously served as chief of detectives for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office and public safety director for the City of Newark. After the discharge, Ambrose was taken to the hospital by another m…
Bomb Scare At Glen Rock Schools Traced To Franklin Lakes Boy, 13 Bomb Scare At Glen Rock Schools Traced To Franklin Lakes Boy, 13
Bomb Scare At Glen Rock Schools Traced To Franklin Lakes Boy, 13 A voicemail bomb threat left with the Glen Rock Board of Education was traced to a 13-year-old boy from Franklin Lakes, authorities said. The caller claimed there was a bomb in a school but didn’t say which one, Glen Rock Police Chief Dean Ackermann said. “The message, which appeared to be from a child, was more than 12 hours old when discovered, and staff had observed nothing suspicious at any of the borough’s schools,” the chief said. “At no time was there any evidence to support the idea that any school facility could have been compromised,” he added. Police Sgt. Greg Carter and Detec…