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Police & Fire
Grand Jury Declines To Indict Police Officers In Fatal Shooting In Woodbridge: AG Grand Jury Declines To Indict Police Officers In Fatal Shooting In Woodbridge: AG
Grand Jury Declines To Indict Police Officers In Fatal Shooting In Woodbridge: AG Cranford police officers who fatally shot a Perth Amboy man on the Garden State Parkway in December 2023 will not face charges, the state attorney general's office announced Friday, Oct. 25. On Thursday, Dec. 28, officers from the Cranford Police Department were pursuing a stolen vehicle when it crashed in the area of Exit 131 on the Parkway southbound, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.  After the crash, the driver of the vehicle, Kevin Harlfinger, exchanged gunfire with Cranford Police Officers Christopher Folinusz and Ryan McSharry, Platkin said. Harlfinger was pronounced d…

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
Gruesome Indictment Details Killing, Dismemberment Of NJ Victim Gruesome Indictment Details Killing, Dismemberment Of NJ Victim
Gruesome Indictment Details Killing, Dismemberment Of NJ Victim Four people from Ocean County were indicted for dismembering the body of a Toms River killed in his home, authorities said. A grand jury indicted 29-year-old Elizabeth Mascarelli of Seaside Heights on Thursday, Oct. 24 for murder, conspiracy to commit murder, hindering apprehension, desecration of human remains, and eight weapons charges, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. Danielle Bolstad, 42, of Barnegat; Jared Krysiak, 34, of Brick Township; and Jarred Palumbo, 36, of Manchester, were also indicted for hindering apprehension an…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Top NJSP Cop Investigated Over Antisemitic Remarks, AG Says Top NJSP Cop Investigated Over Antisemitic Remarks, AG Says
Top Njsp Cop Investigated Over Antisemitic Remarks, AG Says One of the New Jersey State Police Department's highest-ranking troopers is being investigated over remarks he allegedly made about the state's attorney general, the general himself confirmed. Matthew Platkin issued a brief statement about the investigation of Lt. Colonel Sean Kilcomons following a news report published by the New York Post, which alleges Kilcommons referred to Platkin as "that Jew." The Post claims the remark was made on "Bring Your Child to Work Day" on April 25, and that Kilcomons kept an NJSP helicopter in the air so that Platkin's son couldn't see inside of it. Th…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Old Bridge Teen Who Killed Wawa Employee With Truck During Dispute Sentenced, Prosecutors Say Old Bridge Teen Who Killed Wawa Employee With Truck During Dispute Sentenced, Prosecutors Say
Old Bridge Teen Who Killed Wawa Employee With Truck During Dispute Sentenced, Prosecutors Say An Old Bridge teen will spend up to a decade in prison for killing a gas station worker in a pickup, authorities said. Bryce Lomas from the township's Parlin section was sentenced on Thursday, Oct. 17 to 10 years in state prison, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said in a news release. The 18-year-old pleaded guilty to second-degree vehicular homicide and knowingly leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle crash resulting in death on Monday, Apr. 22. Old Bridge police responded to a hit-and-run crash report at the Wawa convenience store on Route 34 at around 7:41 a.m. …

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Off-Duty Officer Catches Robber Who Stole $5K+ From Jersey Shore Bank, Prosecutors Say Off-Duty Officer Catches Robber Who Stole $5K+ From Jersey Shore Bank, Prosecutors Say
Off-Duty Officer Catches Robber Who Stole $5K+ From Jersey Shore Bank, Prosecutors Say A Wall Township man was accused of stealing more than $5,000 from a bank, authorities said. Jeffrey Kniffin, 50, was charged with first-degree armed robbery, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and fourth-degree possession of hollow-point bullets, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said in a news release on Thursday, Oct. 24. Wall police responded to a robbery report at the Bank of America on Route 35 at around 3:24 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23. Officers learned a man entered the bank, pulled out a gun, and stole "a large amount of cash" of more than $5,000.&nbs…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Jersey Shore Man Caught Sending, Receiving Child Porn: Prosecutors Jersey Shore Man Caught Sending, Receiving Child Porn: Prosecutors
Jersey Shore Man Caught Sending, Receiving Child Porn: Prosecutors A Brick Township man was accused of downloading and sharing child pornography, authorities said. Dennis Hubert, 42, was charged with possession of child pornography, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release on Thursday, Oct. 24. The investigation started when the state police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Investigators with the county prosecutor's office discovered an IP address associated with a Brick Township home was accessing child porn pictur…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Driver With Suspended License Killed Central Jersey Dad Riding Bike, Prosecutors Say Driver With Suspended License Killed Central Jersey Dad Riding Bike, Prosecutors Say
Driver With Suspended License Killed Central Jersey Dad Riding Bike, Prosecutors Say A Manalapan man was accused of driving with a suspended license during a crash that killed a bicyclist in Holmdel, authorities said. John Baradekji, 28, was charged with third-degree operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license while being involved in a fatal crash, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said in a news release on Thursday, Oct. 24.  Holmdel police responded to the crash near the intersection of Bethany Road and Galway Drive at around 7:34 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 12. Investigators said Baradekji was driving a 2008 Kia when he struck Timothy N…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Jersey Shore Officer Who Stalked Girl Inappropriately Messaged Second Teen, Prosecutors Say Jersey Shore Officer Who Stalked Girl Inappropriately Messaged Second Teen, Prosecutors Say
Jersey Shore Officer Who Stalked Girl Inappropriately Messaged Second Teen, Prosecutors Say A Manalapan police officer was indicted after he was accused of inappropriately contacting a second teen girl, authorities said. A grand jury indicted 47-year-old Kevin Ruditsky on 19 counts, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said in a news release on Thursday, Oct. 24. Ruditsky is suspended without pay from his job as a patrolman for the Manalapan Township Police Department. Ruditsky was facing charges related to accusations of stalking a then-16-year-old girl in 2023. The indictment revealed new allegations against him from a second girl — who was 17 at the time — when…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Throngs Of Unruly Teens Break Up NJ Haunted Hayride Event, Police Say Throngs Of Unruly Teens Break Up NJ Haunted Hayride Event, Police Say
Throngs Of Unruly Teens Break Up NJ Haunted Hayride Event, Police Say About 200 teens and young adults caused chaos at a PTA-sponsored hayride in Collingswood, authorities said. The large group was dropped off by several vehicles on the outskirts of Knight Park on Saturday, Oct. 19, the Collingswood Police Department said in a Facebook post. The teens and young adults started fighting each other, ran recklessly through the crowd, and cut in line for the Haunted Hayride. Officers at the event broke up the unruly teens and other Camden County police departments were called in to help. "To ensure the safety of those in attendance, the decision was mad…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Man Admits To NYC Man's Stabbing Death At Atlantic City Motel, Prosecutors Say Man Admits To NYC Man's Stabbing Death At Atlantic City Motel, Prosecutors Say
Man Admits To NYC Man's Stabbing Death At Atlantic City Motel, Prosecutors Say An Atlantic City man admitted to stabbing a New York City man to death at a motel, authorities said. Julio Vazquez-Dones, 38, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Oct. 23 to first-degree aggravated manslaughter, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release. He was facing charges in the killing of 31-year-old Jewel Lonon from the Rosedale neighborhood of Queens. Atlantic City police responded to a fight at the Red Carpet Inn at around 5 a.m. on Saturday, July 8, 2023. Officers found Lonon suffering from stab wounds and he died from his injuries. Officers detained several…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
NJ Under Mandatory Fire Restrictions, Drought Watch Amid High Risk For Wildfires: What To Know NJ Under Mandatory Fire Restrictions, Drought Watch Amid High Risk For Wildfires: What To Know
NJ Under Mandatory Fire Restrictions, Drought Watch Amid High Risk For Wildfires: What To Know New Jersey officials have implemented high-level fire restrictions due to extremely dry conditions, making forests extremely vulnerable to wildfires. The Stage 3 restrictions prohibit all fires unless they are contained in an elevated stove using only propane, natural gas or electricity, according to the Department of Environmental Protections, which mandated Stage 3 fire restrictions earlier this week. No wood or charcoal fires are allowed, and the use of kerosene or gas torches of any kind is prohibited during the Stage 3 restrictions. The fire ban is in place on all public lands and priv…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Missing Juvenile Located, Arrested For Stealing Vehicle: Berkeley Heights PD Missing Juvenile Located, Arrested For Stealing Vehicle: Berkeley Heights PD
Missing Juvenile Located, Arrested For Stealing Vehicle: Berkeley Heights PD A missing teenager was located and subsequently arrested for stealing a vehicle on Monday, Oct. 21, in Berkeley Heights, police said. Bernards Township police notified surrounding municipalities of a missing juvenile from a residential school within their township, Berkeley Heights police said. The juvenile was found at a family member's residence in Berkeley Heights hours later but fled prior to the arrival of the police, officers said. Officers then conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle reported stolen from Bernards Township earlier in the day, police said. The driver of the vehicle,…

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by Sam Barron