Secret Accomplice Laborer Played Along In Gunman's Sick Bergen County Scheme: Prosecutor Secret Accomplice Laborer Played Along In Gunman's Sick Bergen County Scheme: Prosecutor
Secret Accomplice Laborer Played Along In Gunman's Sick Bergen County Scheme: Prosecutor A Virginia gunman and his secret accomplice, a laborer hired to help the true victim move, have both been indicted in an armed robbery last March in a Bergen County storage unit, authorities said. Eduardo L. Villegas Valera, 30, of Elmhurst, NY had been hired to help someone move items in Englewood Cliffs on Monday, March 11, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Once at the commercial property on Sylvan Avenue, Villegas Valera alerted Gliderman Cienfuego Castro, 37, confirming the existence of the true victim's watch, the prosecutor said. Just before 4 p.m., Cienfuego Castro, o…
Hackensack Man Convicted After Four Armed Robberies In One Night: Hudson County Prosecutor Hackensack Man Convicted After Four Armed Robberies In One Night: Hudson County Prosecutor
Hackensack Man Convicted After Four Armed Robberies In One Night: Hudson County Prosecutor A 37-year-old Hackensack man was convicted on Tuesday, Oct. 29 for his role in a string of armed robberies in Hudson County over the course of one night in April 2022, authorities said. The conviction stem from four armed robberies that were reported between the late night hours of Friday, April 29, 2022 and the early morning hours of Saturday, April 30, 2022. In each incident, Joel Krecz brandished a handgun and money was demanded from the clerk working at a business, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said. A joint investigation by numerous police departments identified …
Intoxicated Newark Driver Who Nearly Caused Crash Found With Cocaine, Police Say Intoxicated Newark Driver Who Nearly Caused Crash Found With Cocaine, Police Say
Intoxicated Newark Driver Who Nearly Caused Crash Found With Cocaine, Police Say A 40-year-old Newark man was arrested and charged with driving under the influence and possessing cocaine in Lyndhurst on Sunday, Oct. 27, authorities said. At 12:08 a.m., officers were on patrol in the area of Ridge Road and Kingsland Avenue when they observed a silver Mazda CX5 delaying traffic which nearly caused a crash, Lyndhurst police said. Upon making contact with the driver, officers detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the driver’s, later identified as Sergio Torres, breath, police said.  Torres performed a series of field sobriety tests and was arre…
NJ Man Convicted Of Beating Mom To Death, Prosecutor Says NJ Man Convicted Of Beating Mom To Death, Prosecutor Says
NJ Man Convicted Of Beating Mom To Death, Prosecutor Says A 38-year-old Maplewood resident was convicted on Monday, Oct. 21 of murder charges in his mother's death, which he then framed as a suicide, authorities said. Benjamin Avrut was found guilty of first-degree murder after beating his 70-year-old-mothe Gwen to death, Prosecutor Theodore Stephens said. The jury had rejected Avrut's insanity defense. On Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, Avrut entered his sleeping mother's apartment at The Top, a luxury condominium in Maplewood, Stephens said. When she awoke, Avrut beat her to death with his fists, Stephens said.  Avrut,  who had a hist…
Person Sustains Life-Threatening Injuries In West Orange Crash: Authorities Person Sustains Life-Threatening Injuries In West Orange Crash: Authorities
Person Sustains Life-Threatening Injuries In West Orange Crash: Authorities A person was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after a two-car crash in West Orange on the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 29, authorities said. First responders arrived at Pleasant Valley Way and Belle Terre Road at 11:59 p.m. and saw multiple injuries at the scene, Joe Fagan, the public information officer for the city of West Orange said. One person sustained serious bodily/life threatening injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital and two individuals were transported to another hospital, Fagan said.  An investigation is ongoing, Fagan said.
Tommy Manzo Admits Stalking 'RHONJ' Star Ex-Wife Dina, Husband David Cantin In Home Invasion Tommy Manzo Admits Stalking 'RHONJ' Star Ex-Wife Dina, Husband David Cantin In Home Invasion
Tommy Manzo Admits Stalking 'Rhonj' Star Ex-Wife Dina, Husband David Cantin In Home Invasion Thomas "Tommy" Manzo, the ex-husband of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Dina Cantin, admitted to stalking her and her then-fiancé now-husband David Cantin in a 2017 home invasion, authorities said. Thomas "Tommy" Manzo, 59, pleaded guilty to two counts of fourth-degree stalking, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said in a news release on Wednesday, Oct. 30.  The Franklin Lakes man entered the guilty plea on Wednesday, Oct. 23 — about a week after he was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for enlisting a mobster to assault David Cantin in 2015, as re…
One Hospitalized, 13 Displaced After Multi-Alarm Fire In Newark: FD One Hospitalized, 13 Displaced After Multi-Alarm Fire In Newark: FD
One Hospitalized, 13 Displaced After Multi-Alarm Fire In Newark: FD One firefighter was injured and 13 people were displaced after a two-alarm fire in Newark on the morning of Tuesday, Oct. 29, authorities said. At 9:24 a.m., firefighters responded to 356 . 6th Street, a three-story residential building and immediately called a second alarm, requesting additional units to help control the blaze,  Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé said. One firefighter suffered a laceration to his left foot and was been transported to University Hospital for treatment, Fragé said. A second firefighter was treated at the scene by EMS for heat exhaustion and …
Bayonne Bar Fight Leaves Man With Brain Hemorrhage, Jersey City Man Arrested: Police Bayonne Bar Fight Leaves Man With Brain Hemorrhage, Jersey City Man Arrested: Police
Bayonne Bar Fight Leaves Man With Brain Hemorrhage, Jersey City Man Arrested: Police A 30-year-old Jersey City man was arrested and charged on Monday, Oct. 28, after an assault outside a bar left another man with a hemorrhage in Bayonne, authorities said. Erick Vargas was involved in a verbal/shoving altercation inside of Thai O'Brien's bar that continued after the bar closed, Bayonne police said. Vargas struck the victim with his right hand, causing the victim to fall and hit his head on the ground, police said.  The victim suffered a ganglia hemorrhage on the left side of his brain, police said. This was not Vargas' first bar fight. On St. Patrick's Day 2023 at Eddy…
Post-Drug Deal Arrest Nets Cocaine From North Bergen Man Wanted On 8 Warrants In Guttenberg: PD Post-Drug Deal Arrest Nets Cocaine From North Bergen Man Wanted On 8 Warrants In Guttenberg: PD
Post-Drug Deal Arrest Nets Cocaine From North Bergen Man Wanted On 8 Warrants In Guttenberg: PD A 42-year-old North Bergen man was arrested and charged with possessing cocaine on Tuesday, Oct. 29, in Guttenberg, authorities said. Officers conducted a traffic stop after observing the vehicle's driver, later identified as Olinsser Vera, engage in what appeared to be drug transaction, Guttenberg police said. Officers believed the driver was engaged in criminal activity and requested the Bayonne Police Department's K9 unit, police said. The narcotics K9 conducted a free air sniff of the vehicle, during which the K-9 indicated to the presence of narcotics within the vehicle, police sa…
Two NJ Senior COs Charged With Sexually Assaulting Female Teen Inmate, AG Says Two NJ Senior COs Charged With Sexually Assaulting Female Teen Inmate, AG Says
Two NJ Senior COs Charged With Sexually Assaulting Female Teen Inmate, AG Says Two New Jersey corrections officers were accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a teen at a juvenile detention center, authorities said. Senior corrections officers William Young, 35, of Marlton, and Gary Nieves, 53, of Burlington City, were arrested and charged, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said at a news conference on Tuesday, Oct. 29.  The officers were accused of assaulting the 18-year-old while assigned to the Juvenile Female Secure Care and Intake Facility in Bordentown. "I stand before you as the chief law enforcement of the state and the head of the Depar…
Teenager On Scooter Critical After Jersey City Crash: Authorities Teenager On Scooter Critical After Jersey City Crash: Authorities
Teenager On Scooter Critical After Jersey City Crash: Authorities A 17-year-old is in critical condition after he struck a vehicle while riding a scooter on the afternoon of Sunday, Oct. 27 in Jersey City, authorities said. The crash occurred at Route 440 and Danforth Avenue, near the intersection, Kimberly Wallace-Scalfione, a spokeswoman for the mayor's office said.  The teenager was transported to a local hospital with apparent life-threatening injuries to his head, Wallace-Scalfione said. He was last stated to be in critical condition, Wallace-Scalfioe said.  The investigation is ongoing, Wallace-Scalfioe said.
Parking Violation Leads To Man's Arrest For Firearm Violation: Guttenberg PD Parking Violation Leads To Man's Arrest For Firearm Violation: Guttenberg PD
Parking Violation Leads To Man's Arrest For Firearm Violation: Guttenberg PD A 27-year-old West New York man was arrested after police found a gun in his car while serving a parking violation in Guttenberg on Sunday, Oct. 27, authorities said. At 12:41 a.m., police were addressing a parking complaint at 69th Street and John F. Kennedy Blvd East, Guttenberg police said. While investigating, officers observed a rifle in plain view inside of the parked vehicle, police said.  During the on-scene investigation, police uncovered that the vehicle owner, Lazaro Urguiaga did not possess a New Jersey Firearms Identification Card, at which point he  wa…