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Police & Fire
Driver Was DWI In Central Jersey Crash That Killed Passenger: Prosecutor Driver Was DWI In Central Jersey Crash That Killed Passenger: Prosecutor
Driver Was DWI In Central Jersey Crash That Killed Passenger: Prosecutor A 22-year-old man from Central Jersey has been charged with vehicular homicide in an alcohol-related crash that allegedly killed a passenger in his pickup truck, authorities said. A GoFundMe page has been created to help pay for the funeral expenses of the 22-year-old passenger who died as a result of the crash. More than $16,750 had been raised as of Tuesday morning.  The fatal crash occurred about 4:35 a.m. on Sept. 19 near Major Road in South Brunswick A joint investigation found  that Antonio Ferlita, 22, of Marlboro was driving a 2002 Ford F-350 on Major Road when …

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Dog Attack Sends 2 To Hospital In South Brunswick Dog Attack Sends 2 To Hospital In South Brunswick
Dog Attack Sends 2 To Hospital In South Brunswick Two people were hospitalized after being attacked by a family dog in South Brunswick on Tuesday, police said. A man in his 50s and woman in her 60s were bitten by the family dog, a pitbull, at a house on the 100 block of New Road, local police said. The victims were taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, authorities said. Their conditions were not known as of Wednesday morning. Responders included local police, EMS and animal control officers.

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by Cecilia Levine
News
NJ Releases Hate Crime Totals By Town, Race, More: Guess Which County Had The Most NJ Releases Hate Crime Totals By Town, Race, More: Guess Which County Had The Most
NJ Releases Hate Crime Totals By Town, Race, More: Guess Which County Had The Most Nearly 40% of all hate crimes reported in New Jersey last year were against Blacks, more than the combined total against whites, Jews, Latinos and Muslims, according to State Police crime figures released Tuesday. The town with the most reported bias incidents in 2020 was Lakewood, the figures show. More than half of all reported bias incidents in New Jersey last year involved straight harassment, as opposed to vandalism and other related crimes. More than 13% occurred at schools, parks or playgrounds. The county with the most, overall, was Monmouth. The preliminary data released Tuesday…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Lawnmower Fire Ravages Central Jersey Home Lawnmower Fire Ravages Central Jersey Home
Lawnmower Fire Ravages Central Jersey Home A Central Jersey home was damaged in a fire that started from lawn mower being stored on the side of the house, then spread to a nearby propane grill on Friday afternoon, officials said. A pair of South Brunswick police officers who spotted smoke coming from a home on Richford Road around 2 p.m. notified dispatch and evacuated the home, along with two others. All three South Brunswick fire companies responded to the home, where heavy smoke on one side of the house had spread along the wall, into the attic and roof, police said. which had been evacuated, and had heavy smoke on one side and …

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
NJ Man Admits Stealing 300 iPhones From Federal Evidence Storage NJ Man Admits Stealing 300 iPhones From Federal Evidence Storage
NJ Man Admits Stealing 300 iPhones From Federal Evidence Storage A Somerset County man admitted Monday that he stole 300 iPhones seized by federal immigration authorities by stuffing them in his pants, boots and jacket over the course of a month or so. Joel Cruz, 27, of Franklin Park, was working for a government subcontractor hired to manage property seized by Customs and Border Protection agents that was being stored in a warehouse in the Dayton section of South Brunswick. CBP agents had sent 628 phones bound for Dubai to the warehouse after seizing them at Boston Logan International Airport, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said. Cruz “scanned the locat…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
'EMACIATED': Couple Charged After Remains Of Stolen Puppies Found On Monmouth County Campsite 'EMACIATED': Couple Charged After Remains Of Stolen Puppies Found On Monmouth County Campsite
'Emaciated': Couple Charged After Remains Of Stolen Puppies Found On Monmouth County Campsite A couple has been charged with the deaths of four puppies, burying two of them and throwing the others in a fire pit while they were camping in Howell, authorities said. Daniel McDonald, 25, and Tricia Jaccoma, 24 -- who according to Facebook are engaged -- were staying at a Somerset County farm where the animals were being raised around May 12, Monmouth County prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said. Shortly after, the puppies went missing -- just three weeks old, Gramiccioni said. Two of the puppies' bodies were found in a fire pit on the property where Jaccoma and McDonald were …

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
PHOTOS: Charge Dropped For Asbury Park Journalist Arrested Reporting On Protest PHOTOS: Charge Dropped For Asbury Park Journalist Arrested Reporting On Protest
Photos: Charge Dropped For Asbury Park Journalist Arrested Reporting On Protest The charge against the Asbury Park Press reporter arrested during Monday's protest will be dropped, authorities said on Tuesday. Gustavo Martinez Contreras was arrested as police tried to clear people from the street in a protest of George Floyd's killing. “I know that officers face enormous challenges while maintaining order during a chaotic situation,” Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said on Twitter Tuesday.  “But I’ve discussed this matter with local authorities and they will be dismissing the charge today. We will also figure out why this happened and make sure it doesn’t happen…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Excuses For Violating Coronavirus Emergency Orders Push NJ Police Officers' Patience Excuses For Violating Coronavirus Emergency Orders Push NJ Police Officers' Patience
Excuses For Violating Coronavirus Emergency Orders Push NJ Police Officers' Patience Wild excuses have begun piling up from New Jerseyans accused of violating state coronavirus emergency orders, authorities say. A Passaic woman told police she drove to their headquarters before dawn Monday because her ex-boyfriend was tailing her, state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said. Police found the ex, identified as 21-year-old city resident Frianky Nunez, and wrote him a summons for traveling without a legitimate reason in violation of state coronavirus emergency orders. They weren’t done, though. They issued the same summons to the woman, Lucero Dalia, 21, and her passenger, …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
NJ Family Delivering Food Narrowly Escapes Car Fire NJ Family Delivering Food Narrowly Escapes Car Fire
NJ Family Delivering Food Narrowly Escapes Car Fire A family delivering food to relatives narrowly escaped a car fire Saturday night in South Brunswick, authorities said. The family pulled over on Ridge Road and got out after the car made a noise, police said in a tweet. Seconds later, the car burst into flames.  Monmouth Junction firefighters put out the fire.

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Authorities: Ex-Jerseyan Calls In Bogus Coronavirus Pizza 'Donations' For NJ Police, Hospitals Authorities: Ex-Jerseyan Calls In Bogus Coronavirus Pizza 'Donations' For NJ Police, Hospitals
Authorities: Ex-Jerseyan Calls In Bogus Coronavirus Pizza 'Donations' For NJ Police, Hospitals BEYOND BELIEF: A transplanted New Jerseyan has preyed on the goodwill of Garden State pizzerias and restaurants amid the coronavirus pandemic to phone in several thousands of dollars worth of bogus food orders that he claims are for hospitals and first responders, authorities said. Then he says he hates Italians and hopes they get the virus, they said. "We have had several residents send us food, which I appreciate tremendously, but this has gone to a new low,” South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka said. "It is incomprehensible." Sudeep Khetani, 34, formerly of South Brunswick, has…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
UPDATED: Coronavirus Concerns Cancel Classes Across NJ UPDATED: Coronavirus Concerns Cancel Classes Across NJ
Updated: Coronavirus Concerns Cancel Classes Across NJ Several schools and universities have cancelled classes in an effort to plan ahead and prevent the spread of coronavirus in New Jersey (scroll for complete list). As of Thursday, there were 29 presumed positive cases in New Jersey, including a 16- and- 17-year-old. UPDATE: All Bergen County schools will close indefinitely as of 3 p.m. Friday, Bergen County Jim Tedesco announced Thursday evening. Rutgers University recently announced classes would be held remotely after spring break. Students were strongly encouraged to remain off campus through April 3. Bergen Community College extended S…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
ROAD RAGE: Truck Driver Injured With Brick Thrown Through Window On NJ Turnpike ROAD RAGE: Truck Driver Injured With Brick Thrown Through Window On NJ Turnpike
Road Rage: Truck Driver Injured With Brick Thrown Through Window On NJ Turnpike A 44-year-old truck driver suffered a broken arm when a brick was thrown through his window during a road rage incident on the New Jersey Turnpike in South Brunswick, police said. The attack happened about 3 p.m. Friday on the exit 8A offramp, South Brunswick police said.  While both cars were stopped on Route 535, police say a man got out of his car and attempted to enter the truck. When the man found the truck door locked, he picked up a brick from the roadside and hurled it through the window, police said. After throwing the brick, police say the man got back into his dark-colored …

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by Jon Craig