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Police & Fire
Authorities: Armored Truck Guard Shoots Would-Be Robber From Plainfield, 33, At Wayne Bank Authorities: Armored Truck Guard Shoots Would-Be Robber From Plainfield, 33, At Wayne Bank
Authorities: Armored Truck Guard Shoots Would-Be Robber From Plainfield, 33, At Wayne Bank An armored truck guard shot a would-be robber in the stomach outside a Wayne bank around noon Wednesday, authorities confirmed. The suspect approached one of the armed guards as he was leaving the Bank of America in Plaza Square (commonly known as the ShopRite shopping center) on Hamburg Turnpike and "tried to steal the cash bags he was carrying," Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Wayne Police Chief Jack McNiff said in a joint release. "A struggle ensued, during which the guard fired one round striking the suspect," the release said. A second guard "remained in the truck whil…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Obituaries
Both 'Families' Mourn Death Of Prominent Wayne Physician Who Touched Lives Across North Jersey Both 'Families' Mourn Death Of Prominent Wayne Physician Who Touched Lives Across North Jersey
Both 'Families' Mourn Death Of Prominent Wayne Physician Who Touched Lives Across North Jersey Both his personal and professional families are mourning the death of well-known and respected physician David Vincent Rasa of Wayne, a founding partner of High Mountain Health Medical Group. Rasa, who gave much of his life to helping others, passed away at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood last Thursday surrounded by his wife, Diane, son Michael and daughter Nicole, as well as close relatives and personal friends. He was 68. Well known beyond the township of Wayne, where he’d lived, the Paterson native served his community. “He was a great doctor and most caring human being my family and I…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Pedestrian, 60, Struck, Killed Near 'Spaghetti Bowl' In Wayne Pedestrian, 60, Struck, Killed Near 'Spaghetti Bowl' In Wayne
Pedestrian, 60, Struck, Killed Near 'Spaghetti Bowl' In Wayne A pedestrian was struck and killed Wednesday night near the Wayne “spaghetti bowl,” authorities confirmed. John Baranski, 60, of Endicott, NY was struck by a 1998 Honda Passport in front of the Ramada Inn on eastbound Route 46 -- near the interchange with Routes 80 and 23 -- shortly before 10 p.m., they said. He died a little over a half-hour later, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Wayne Police Chief Jack McNiff said in a joint release Thursday. They didn't say what he was doing in the roadway. The 66-year-old driver from Clifton remained at the scene, Valdes and McNiff sai…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Intruder Who Entered Wayne Hills High School Was Former Student, Police Say Intruder Who Entered Wayne Hills High School Was Former Student, Police Say
Intruder Who Entered Wayne Hills High School Was Former Student, Police Say UPDATE: "The Wayne Police Department, with assistance from the public and media, have located and identified the individual who entered Wayne Hills High School at dismissal today," police Detective Capt. Dan Daly said shortly before 11 p.m Friday. "The individual was determined to be a former student of the school. This event is still under investigation, but it does not appear at this time that there was any threat posed to the school community. Thank you." ****** Authorities turned to the public for help identifying an intruder who entered Wayne Hills High School at dismissal. The …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Wayne School Board VP, Husband Charged With Mail-Order THC Possession Wayne School Board VP, Husband Charged With Mail-Order THC Possession
Wayne School Board VP, Husband Charged With Mail-Order THC Possession Wayne Board of Education Vice President Stacey Scher and her husband were arrested after she ordered THC products and he picked them up, authorities said Friday night. Federal investigators told Wayne police that the drug was being shipped from Canada to a location in town, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and township Police Chief Jack McNiff said. Marc Scher, 46, was arrested when he tried to collect the package, Valdes and McNiff said.  Police then arrested Stacey Scher, 45, who they said bought the illegal drug and had it shipped, they said. Both were charged with drug…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Authorities: Pedestrian Struck, Killed By FedEx Truck On Route 23 In Wayne Still Not ID'd Authorities: Pedestrian Struck, Killed By FedEx Truck On Route 23 In Wayne Still Not ID'd
Authorities: Pedestrian Struck, Killed By FedEx Truck On Route 23 In Wayne Still Not ID'd More than a day after a man was struck and killed by a FedEx truck on Route 23 in Wayne, authorities hadn't yet been able to identify him. The victim was pronounced dead at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center shortly before 10:30 a.m. Thursday, a little over a half-hour after he was struck on the highway's northbound side near Black Oak Ridge Road, authorities said Friday. The body was later taken to the state Regional Medical Examiner's Office in Newark for an autopsy -- and, hopefully, positive identification, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Wayne Police Chief Jack McNiff…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Motorcyclist, 52, Killed Hitting Deer On Route 80 Motorcyclist, 52, Killed Hitting Deer On Route 80
Motorcyclist, 52, Killed Hitting Deer On Route 80 A 52-year-old Pequannock man was killed when his motorcycle struck a deer on westbound Route 80 near the spaghetti bowl in Wayne. Joseph Yurga was taken to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson, where he succumbed to his injuries after his 1996 Harley Davidson crashed shortly before 9:30 p.m. Thursday near the Route 23 intersection, authorities said. No other vehicles were involved, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Wayne Police Chief James Clarke said in a joint release. A former Clifton resident, Yurga was a member of the American Legion Riders of Post 174 …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Wayne Officer Helps Boy Reel In Fish Wayne Officer Helps Boy Reel In Fish
Wayne Officer Helps Boy Reel In Fish The sun was setting over Wayne and Nathan Tedesco had yet to catch a fish. The 10-year-old from Little Falls watched last Saturday evening as his friends reeled them, waiting for a bite from a catfish on his line in the water. Wayne Police Officer Steve Martell spotted the group of boys near Hobson Avenue while patrolling the area and pulled over. "Everyone thinks when you’re fishing the cops are going to tell you go away," said Martell, who learned from his grandfather Nat Giancola at a lake in West Milford when he was young. "They're surprised when you're into what they're doing." The…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Wayne Driver, 82, Killed In Single-Car Crash Wayne Driver, 82, Killed In Single-Car Crash
Wayne Driver, 82, Killed In Single-Car Crash An 82-year-old Wayne driver was killed when she lost control of her car and it crashed Wednesday morning, authorities confirmed. Mei-Lien Young was alone when her 2009 Toyota Camry crashed in the area of Hamburg Turnpike and Valley Road shortly before 8:30 a.m., Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Wayne Police Chief James Clarke said in a joint announcement. She was taken to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead nearly seven hours later, they said. An investigation was continuing, said Valdes, who asked that anyone who witnessed the crash contact …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Wayne Bicyclist, 20, Struck, Hospitalized Wayne Bicyclist, 20, Struck, Hospitalized
Wayne Bicyclist, 20, Struck, Hospitalized A 20-year-old Wayne bicyclist was struck and injured by a sedan Friday afternoon, authorities said. The victim was taken to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center after being hit by a 2017 Toyota Corolla just before 12:30 p.m. at the intersection of Newark Pompton Turnpike and Packanack Lake Road, authorities said. He was reported in stable condition with injuries that weren't considered life-threatening. The 67-year-old Wareton driver remained at the scene, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Wayne Police Chief James Clarke said in a joint release. An investigation was co…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Clothing Store Fire That Cleared Wing Of Willowbrook Mall Apparently Electrical, Responders Say Clothing Store Fire That Cleared Wing Of Willowbrook Mall Apparently Electrical, Responders Say
Clothing Store Fire That Cleared Wing Of Willowbrook Mall Apparently Electrical, Responders Say Authorities were investigating a clothing store fire that cleared a wing of the Willowbrook Mall on Saturday -- although responders said it appeared to be electrical. No injuries were reported in the blaze, which broke out in a storage area just after 10:45 a.m. in the Hollister California store on the second floor, authorities said. “Significant smoke had spread to the nearby Bloomingdale’s store, and that wing of the mall was evacuated,” Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Wayne Police Chief James Clarke said in a joint release issued early Sunday afternoon. “An investig…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Drugged Driver, 29, Charged In Gas Station Crash That Killed Dad, Teenage Son, Attendant Drugged Driver, 29, Charged In Gas Station Crash That Killed Dad, Teenage Son, Attendant
Drugged Driver, 29, Charged In Gas Station Crash That Killed Dad, Teenage Son, Attendant UPDATE: Authorities late Tuesday identified the drugged driver in a morning crash that killed a father and son and a gas station attendant as a 29-year-old Sussex County resident. Jason Vanderee, of the Glenwood section of Vernon Township, was charged with three counts each of aggravated manslaughter and death by auto, among other offenses. A detention hearing was scheduled this Monday. SEE: https://dailyvoice.com/new-jersey/southpassaic/police-fire/hearing-set-for-driver-charged-in-gas-station-crash-that-killed-dad-teenage-son-attendant/748562/ Jon Warbeck, a former Carlstadt firefighte…

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by Jerry DeMarco