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Wayne, NJ

Wayne Home Health Aide Assaulted Elderly Patient Then Lied About It: Cops Wayne Home Health Aide Assaulted Elderly Patient Then Lied About It: Cops
Wayne Home Health Aide Assaulted Elderly Patient Then Lied About It: Cops A home health aide is accused of shoving an elderly woman in her Wayne home, causing her to hit her head, then lying about the cause of the injury to police, authorities said. Officers responded to a residence around 8:03 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21, after receiving a report of an assault, Detective Capt. Dan Daly said. Two adult sisters told officers their mother’s aide, identified as Helen Pitman, 64, of Mount Vernon, NY, had called to report that their mother had fallen, Daly said. The sisters said they checked a home security camera and saw Pitman “shoved their mother backwards forcefully whi…
Paterson Teen Abena Owusu Dies After Cancer Battle Paterson Teen Abena Owusu Dies After Cancer Battle
Paterson Teen Abena Owusu Dies After Cancer Battle Abena Owusu, 18, of Paterson, on Wednesday, Sept. 10, after a cancer battle, according to those who knew her and her obituary on the Festa Memorial Funeral Home. Born in Livingston, Abena grew up in East Orange and Paterson. She graduated from Passaic County Technical Institute in Wayne, where she was a member of the National Honor Society, the Christian Health Association, and the Health Occupation Student Association. She also belonged to Calvary International Church in Wayne, her obituary says. In June, at Abena's graduation ceremony, Mayor Andre Sayegh honored her resilience after she w…
Wayne Police Officer Fired For Cocaine Test Can’t Get Job Back, Judge Rules Wayne Police Officer Fired For Cocaine Test Can’t Get Job Back, Judge Rules
Wayne Police Officer Fired For Cocaine Test Can’t Get Job Back, Judge Rules A Wayne police officer who was fired after testing positive for cocaine will not be getting his job back after a judge dismissed his complaint last month, court filings show. Officer Eric Lougheed, who was apparently hired in June 2024, filed suit in February 2025 after his termination, arguing the township imposed discipline “without just cause” following a January drug test that came back positive.  He asked the court to overturn the township’s decision, reinstate him with back pay, restore his seniority, and cover attorney’s fees. According to a Jan. 30, 2025 letter from Wayne Busi…
NC Man In Stolen Car Packed With Jewelry, Credit Card Busted By Wayne Cops: PD NC Man In Stolen Car Packed With Jewelry, Credit Card Busted By Wayne Cops: PD
NC Man In Stolen Car Packed With Jewelry, Credit Card Busted By Wayne Cops: PD A North Carolina man was arrested after police said they found him in a stolen car filled with jewelry and a credit card outside a closed Wayne store. On Tuesday, Sept. 9, at approximately 1:12 a.m., Officer Nicole Mott was on patrol when she saw a Genesis G70 parked at the PC Richards store that “was not there when the store was open earlier in the night,” Detective Capt. Dan Daly said. Mott entered the lot to investigate, and the automatic license plate reader in her police vehicle showed the car was stolen out of Virginia Beach, VA, Daly said. Wayne Police Headquarters confirmed the vehi…
Wayne Police Lieutenant Shot Sword-Wielding Man, Grand Jury Says It Was Justified (VIDEO) Wayne Police Lieutenant Shot Sword-Wielding Man, Grand Jury Says It Was Justified (VIDEO)
Wayne Police Lieutenant Shot Sword-Wielding Man, Grand Jury Says It Was Justified (Video) A Wayne police lieutenant was legally justified when he shot a man armed with two swords earlier this year, a Passaic County grand jury found. Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said the investigation stemmed from a Feb. 14 incident involving Lt. Doug Itjen. That day, Wayne police first responded to a single-car crash involving Connor Darpino, Valdes said. Police said Darpino became argumentative and combative with an officer, was arrested, charged, and released from headquarters. Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said the investigation stemmed from a Feb. 14 incide…
NJ Insurance Broker Had Prepubescent Child Porn: Sheriff NJ Insurance Broker Had Prepubescent Child Porn: Sheriff
NJ Insurance Broker Had Prepubescent Child Porn: Sheriff A 37-year-old insurance broker from North Jersey has been charged following a months-long child pornography investigation, authorities said. The Passaic County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force began investigating Jonathan Quispe, of Wayne, on Jan. 24, after numerous media files depicting child sexual abuse material were shared through a mobile messaging app, Passaic County Sheriff Thomas Adamo said. The images and videos showed nude children between the ages of 2 and 12 engaged in sexual acts, Adamo said. Detectives used investigative tools to identify a Wayne res…
Claire's Closing Seven NJ Stores, 290+ Nationwide After Bankruptcy Filing: See Which Ones Claire's Closing Seven NJ Stores, 290+ Nationwide After Bankruptcy Filing: See Which Ones
Claire's Closing Seven NJ Stores, 290+ Nationwide After Bankruptcy Filing: See Which Ones Claire's has revealed nearly 300 of its stores that will be closing as the popular mall brand navigates bankruptcy. The well-known children's jewelry and ear-piercing retailer released a list of the 291 locations that are shuttering in a bankruptcy court filing on Monday, Aug. 25. That includes 71 Claire's and Icing stores across the Northeast. The closures add to the financial pressure facing the mall chain, which filed for bankruptcy earlier in August. Claire's is working to restructure nearly $500 million in debt by December 2026, Bloomberg reported. Columbia, Maryland-based Ames W…
Wayne Dad Stopped Daughter From Leaving With Man — So He Pulled Out Knife: Cops Say Wayne Dad Stopped Daughter From Leaving With Man — So He Pulled Out Knife: Cops Say
Wayne Dad Stopped Daughter From Leaving With Man — So He Pulled Out Knife: Cops Say A Wayne father’s decision to keep his daughter from leaving with a man ended with the man pulling a knife on him, authorities said. The confrontation happened around 7:34 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24, at a home on Riverside Drive, Wayne Police Detective Captain Dan Daly said. Officers were told a fight involving a knife had broken out, and that the suspect vehicle had fled toward Route 46 East, Daly said. Officer Spencer Schoonmaker positioned himself to intercept the fleeing car and stopped it as it entered Route 80 East, Daly said. The three occupants admitted to fleeing from Riverside Drive. In…
'I'll Shoot You:' 13-Year-Old Threatens Motel Guests In Wayne, Pair Arrested, Cops Say 'I'll Shoot You:' 13-Year-Old Threatens Motel Guests In Wayne, Pair Arrested, Cops Say
'I'll Shoot You:' 13-Year-Old Threatens Motel Guests In Wayne, Pair Arrested, Cops Say A 13-year-old boy from Paterson was arrested after allegedly threatening motel guests with a loaded handgun in Wayne, police said. The incident happened around 1:36 p.m. on Sunday, July 20 at the Quality Inn, Wayne Police Det. Capt. Dan Daly said in a release. Officers responded to a report of a male with a gun in a bag threatening others at the motel. The caller told police the suspect had been reaching into a fanny pack and saying, “I will shoot you,” Daly said. Police found a man and a woman in the parking lot matching the description, the captain said. They were detained while officers…
NJ Teen Accepted Into Harvard, Yale, Princeton Reveals Early Secrets To Success NJ Teen Accepted Into Harvard, Yale, Princeton Reveals Early Secrets To Success
NJ Teen Accepted Into Harvard, Yale, Princeton Reveals Early Secrets To Success A teenager from New Jersey is headed to Harvard this fall — and says the secret to his success had nothing to do with paid help or private tutors. Salman Chowdhury, of Paterson, was accepted into 10 of the top 25 universities in the U.S., including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, and the University of Pennsylvania. He was also offered a full merit-based scholarship to Washington University in St. Louis as a Langsdorf Scholar. Chowdhury, who recently graduated as valedictorian from the STEM Academy at Passaic County Technical-Vocational Schools (PCTI) in Wayne, chose Harvard. He wi…
3 Drownings, 1 Weekend: 44-Year-Old Dies In Wayne Pool Party Incident, Cops Say 3 Drownings, 1 Weekend: 44-Year-Old Dies In Wayne Pool Party Incident, Cops Say
3 Drownings, 1 Weekend: 44-Year-Old Dies In Wayne Pool Party Incident, Cops Say A third drowning that happened over the weekend in Passaic County has been reported. Wayne police say this incident involved a 44-year-old Queens, NY man, who had drowned in a backyard pool on Rutgers Court. Officers responded to a home on Rutgers Court around 10:36 p.m. Saturday, July 19, after a report of a car crashing into a swimming pool. When they arrived, they discovered it wasn’t a crash, but something far worse, according to Police Capt. Daniel Daly. A house guest had drowned in a backyard pool, Wayne police said in a statement. The victim, a 44-year-old man from Queens, NY, had …
Boy, 5, Dies After Being Found In Wayne Pool, Prosecutor Says Boy, 5, Dies After Being Found In Wayne Pool, Prosecutor Says
Boy, 5, Dies After Being Found In Wayne Pool, Prosecutor Says A 5-year-old boy died Friday night, July 18 after being found unresponsive in a swimming pool in Wayne, officials said. Officers responded to a home in the area of Armstrong Avenue and Maple Lane around 6:30 p.m., on a report of a possible drowning, Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said in a news release. According to witnesses at the scene, a 5-year-old boy had been located floating in a pool after he had left his residence unaccompanied by an adult at about 5:30 p.m., Valdes said. The child was taken to Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, where he was pronounced dead at 7:44 p.m. …
Child Star-Turned-Mogul: Wayne Native Louis Todaro Dies In West Hollywood, 44 Child Star-Turned-Mogul: Wayne Native Louis Todaro Dies In West Hollywood, 44
Child Star-Turned-Mogul: Wayne Native Louis Todaro Dies In West Hollywood, 44 Louis Todaro, a Wayne native remembered for his “unmatched enthusiasm for life” and high-powered career in entertainment and real estate, died Monday, July 14, in Los Angeles, according to his obituary on the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home website. He was 44 years old. Todaro began his career as a child actor, starring alongside Bill Cosby in NBC's "The Cosby Mysteries" and on the PBS hit "Ghostwriter," according to his LinkedIn profile and IMDB. His profile notes he traveled internationally during his teen years and became one of the top DJs in the New York City and New Jersey night…
NJ Supermarket Manager Found With Prepubescent Child Porn, Sheriff Says NJ Supermarket Manager Found With Prepubescent Child Porn, Sheriff Says
NJ Supermarket Manager Found With Prepubescent Child Porn, Sheriff Says A Passaic County man is facing child pornography charges after investigators say he uploaded disturbing images of young children to the internet, authorities said. Ronald P. Casale, 68, of Totowa, an assistant supermarket manager in Wayne, was found with photos that depicted nude children between the ages of 4 and 8 engaged in sexual behavior, according to Passaic County Sheriff Thomas Adamo. Investigators received information that a user had uploaded images of child sexual abuse material into an online image search engine to look for similar content, Adamo said. Detectives traced the…
Man Followed Teen With Dollar In His Mouth Then Pulled Knife At Wayne Outback Steakhouse: Cops Man Followed Teen With Dollar In His Mouth Then Pulled Knife At Wayne Outback Steakhouse: Cops
Man Followed Teen With Dollar In His Mouth Then Pulled Knife At Wayne Outback Steakhouse: Cops A Wayne man was arrested after he threatened to kill an Outback Steakhouse manager with a knife, moments after harassing a teenage worker inside the restaurant, local police said. Khalil W. Bakho, 60, was taken into custody Friday, June 27, around 8:35 p.m. in the parking lot of T-Bowl, Wayne Police said in a release issued Tuesday, July 1. According to police, the trouble began inside the Outback Steakhouse when Bakho allegedly followed a juvenile female employee around with “a dollar bill in his mouth.” Several workers intervened, and a manager escorted Bakho out. That’s when things esca…
Man With Crack Pipe, Homemade Knife Degrades Cops Before Wayne Wawa Arrest, Police Say Man With Crack Pipe, Homemade Knife Degrades Cops Before Wayne Wawa Arrest, Police Say
Man With Crack Pipe, Homemade Knife Degrades Cops Before Wayne Wawa Arrest, Police Say A 56-year-old Andover man was arrested after police say he was caught with multiple weapons and suspected drugs during a late-night stop at Wawa in Wayne. The arrest happened on Sunday, June 22, around 11:45 p.m., when Wayne Police Officer Michael Sweeney spotted a 2007 Honda Pilot with a headlight out and a smashed windshield driving on Route 23 North, a release from Capt. Dan Daly says. The vehicle was stopped in the Wawa parking lot, where Officer Gerard Parent arrived to assist. While speaking with the driver, Sweeney noticed what he believed to be “a crack pipe with burn marks on it a…
NJ Serial Burglar Caught Fast Asleep On Abandoned Bus: Cops NJ Serial Burglar Caught Fast Asleep On Abandoned Bus: Cops
NJ Serial Burglar Caught Fast Asleep On Abandoned Bus: Cops A man wanted for smashing into several stores and stealing cash in Wayne was found sleeping in an abandoned bus in Hudson County, authorities said. Robert Gorrie, 61, had been on the run for weeks after investigators linked him to a string of burglaries earlier this year, Wayne police said in a June 4 press release. Police said the crimes happened over several months and involved a man breaking glass doors to get inside local businesses and take cash. Detectives identified Gorrie, who had a last known address in Wayne, and issued warrants for his arrest. Officers searched for him throughou…
This NJ County's Longest Walking, Biking Trail Just Opened — And It's Stunning This NJ County's Longest Walking, Biking Trail Just Opened — And It's Stunning
This NJ County's Longest Walking, Biking Trail Just Opened — And It's Stunning After three decades of planning, a long-awaited 5.1-mile bike and pedestrian path has officially opened in North Jersey. The Pompton Valley Rail Trail — built on the former New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway line — was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, May 29, behind the Pequannock First Aid Squad. “This new trail provides a safe and scenic way to walk or bike to the train station — cutting down on car traffic and helping everyone breathe a little easier,” said Morris County Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen. The trail runs from River Drive in Pequannock to M…
Elizabeth Student, 18, Stabs Younger Peer In Cafeteria Fight: Cops Elizabeth Student, 18, Stabs Younger Peer In Cafeteria Fight: Cops
Elizabeth Student, 18, Stabs Younger Peer In Cafeteria Fight: Cops A 14-year-old student was stabbed multiple times in the chest during a fight inside a Wayne school cafeteria on Monday, May 19, local police said. The incident occurred just after 12:30 p.m. at the Lakeview Learning Center on Van Duyne Avenue, Wayne Police Chief Joseph Rooney said. School staff reported that the victim was bleeding heavily from stab wounds to the chest and that the offender was in the lower level of the school,” the chief said in a statement. Officers arrived and immediately treated the victim, while others located and arrested the suspect. The knife believed to have been …
Bahama Breeze Suddenly Closes 15 Locations Including 4 In NJ Bahama Breeze Suddenly Closes 15 Locations Including 4 In NJ
Bahama Breeze Suddenly Closes 15 Locations Including 4 In NJ Bahama Breeze has suddenly shut down more than a third of its restaurants across the United States, with 15 locations quietly closed this week, according to multiple reports. The closures span 11 states, including Florida, New Jersey (Woodbridge, Toms River, Paramus, Wayne), New York (Lake Grove), Illinois, Massachusetts (Tyngsborough), Michigan, Nevada, and Tennessee, according to USA Today. In a statement to CNN, parent company Darden Restaurants said the closures were “the right decision because it will allow Bahama Breeze to focus on its highest performing restaurants and strengthen the…
‘American Dream Reduced To Ashes’: Support Surges For NJ Moms After Chinese Restaurant Fire ‘American Dream Reduced To Ashes’: Support Surges For NJ Moms After Chinese Restaurant Fire
‘American Dream Reduced To Ashes’: Support Surges For NJ Moms After Chinese Restaurant Fire More than $3,000 has been raised to help two families rebuild after a fire destroyed the Passaic County Chinese restaurant they spent more than a decade building from the ground up. Winnie and Shirley, who immigrated from Southern China, took over Golden Garden in 2013, according to a GoFundMe by Kathryn Spitz. With their husbands, they worked 10- to 12-hour days, seven days a week, building the restaurant into a beloved local favorite on Hamburg Turnpike. On April 17, their American Dream went up in flames. “In less than two hours, the livelihood of two young families… was reduced to ashe…
Wayne Mom Olivia Scavone Dies, 42 Wayne Mom Olivia Scavone Dies, 42
Wayne Mom Olivia Scavone Dies, 42 Wayne mother of two Olivia Scavone died on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. She was 42 years old. Born in Livingston and raised in Newark, Olivia earned a degree in business administration from Caldwell College and worked in Human Resources at Verizon for two decades, according to her obituary on the Nazare Memorial Home website. She settled in Wayne 15 years ago, upon marrying her husband, Michael, her obit says. Olivia enjoyed vacations to Long Beach Island, cooking, decorating, and tending to her garden, her obituary says. She was also known for creating holiday traditions and cheeri…
NJ Native Behind Netflix’s New Comedy With Tina Fey, Steve Carell NJ Native Behind Netflix’s New Comedy With Tina Fey, Steve Carell
NJ Native Behind Netflix’s New Comedy With Tina Fey, Steve Carell Tina Fey and Steve Carell are teaming up again — this time for a Netflix comedy series inspired by a 1981 classic. The pair star in "The Four Seasons," an eight-episode adaptation of the Alan Alda film by the same name, Netflix’s Tudum reports. The show follows couples navigating friendship and love across the calendar year. The series was created by Fey along with fellow 30 Rock writers Lang Fisher and Tracey Wigfield. Wigfield, who grew up in Wayne, NJ, has also worked on "Great News" and "The Mindy Project." View this post on Instagram A p…
DUI Driver Flees Scene Without Child Rescued By Concerned Citizens In NJ: Cops DUI Driver Flees Scene Without Child Rescued By Concerned Citizens In NJ: Cops
DUI Driver Flees Scene Without Child Rescued By Concerned Citizens In NJ: Cops A 39-year-old Passaic County man is facing a slew of charges after police say he crashed his car and then tried to flee the scene, leaving a child that had been in the vehicle behind with concerned citizens. The unsettling incident unfolded at approximately 2:50 p.m. Thursday, April 24, when Wayne police officers were called to Terhune Drive and Alder Avenue, Wayne Police Capt. Daniel Daly said.  There, officers learned that a vehicle operated by Seyon Rodriguez, of Pompton Lakes, had left the roadway and struck a mailbox, according to Daly. Witnesses told police that t…
Pair Wanted In Wayne Walgreens Shoplifting Spree: Cops Pair Wanted In Wayne Walgreens Shoplifting Spree: Cops
Pair Wanted In Wayne Walgreens Shoplifting Spree: Cops Police in Wayne are asking for the public’s help tracking down two people wanted for shoplifting at a local Walgreens, with a third woman still unidentified, authorities said. Tiffany Vasto, 34, of Lyndhurst, and John Howlett, 51, of Maplewood, have been charged in connection to a theft at the Walgreens on Valley Road that happened on March 9, according to Detective Capt. Dan Daly of the Wayne Police Department. The two are currently wanted and at large, police said. The department credited help from the public in identifying the suspects. “With assistance from the public, Wayne Police Det…
Woman, 36, ID'd As Victim Of NJ Transit Crash: Officials Woman, 36, ID'd As Victim Of NJ Transit Crash: Officials
Woman, 36, ID'd As Victim Of NJ Transit Crash: Officials Officials have identified the woman struck and killed by a train in Wayne earlier this month as a 36-year-old woman from Somerset County. Kristy Joy Adger, of Lyons (a section of Bernards Township) was struck by a Montclair-Boonton Line NJ Transit train in Wayne on Friday, April 11 just before 3 p.m., NJ Transit officials said. The crash happened just east of the Wayne Route 23 Transit Center, according to New Jersey Transit. Train #1001, which had departed Hoboken at 1:58 p.m. and was scheduled to arrive in Dover at 3:30 p.m., was involved in the fatal collision. There were no i…
Trespasser Fatally Struck By Train In Wayne: NJ Transit Trespasser Fatally Struck By Train In Wayne: NJ Transit
Trespasser Fatally Struck By Train In Wayne: NJ Transit A woman was fatally struck by a train in Wayne on Saturday, April 12, authorities said. At 2:57 p.m., a Montclair Boonton Line train, struck and fatally injured the woman, who was trespassing, east of the Wayne Route 23 Transit Center, NJ Transit said.  The train, which departed Hoboken at 1:58 p.m., was en route to Dover at 3:30 p.m., NJTransit said. There were no injuries to the 27 customers and crew on board, NJ Transit said.  Montclair-Boonton Line rail service was temporarily suspended in both directions between Montclair State University to Denville, NJ Transit said. New Je…
NJ High School Principal Dies: 'Heart Of Wayne Valley' NJ High School Principal Dies: 'Heart Of Wayne Valley'
NJ High School Principal Dies: 'Heart Of Wayne Valley' A New Jersey high school is mourning the loss of its principal, district officials announced Thursday, April 10. Wayne Valley High School Principal Ken Palczewski who died after more than 30 years in education and over a decade leading the school, Superintendent Dr. Mark Toback said. "Ken was more than just a principal — he was the heart of Wayne Valley," Toback said. "His care for every student, his dedication to his staff, and the sense of family and Valley Pride he brought to our school community made an indelible impact. He will be deeply missed, but his legacy will live on in ever…
'The Taphouse' In Wayne Closes Abruptly 'The Taphouse' In Wayne Closes Abruptly
'The Taphouse' In Wayne Closes Abruptly The Taphouse, a popular bar and grille in Wayne, closed suddenly after more than a decade in business. The restaurant's social media pages had been deactivated and a message on its website reads:  "Taphouse is Permanently Closed. We sincerely thank our patrons for your support over the years. It was a pleasure serving you with some of the best beer and food!" It wasn't immediately clear how long it's been closed for. The Taphouse opened on French Hill Road in 2011 offering lunch, dinner, catering, private events, and more.
NJ Trooper Arrested, Dog Found Shot Dead In Passaic County Condo: Cops NJ Trooper Arrested, Dog Found Shot Dead In Passaic County Condo: Cops
NJ Trooper Arrested, Dog Found Shot Dead In Passaic County Condo: Cops A New Jersey State Trooper is facing criminal charges after police say a dog was found shot dead inside a Wayne condo following reports of a disturbance. The Wayne Police Department was called around 12:55 a.m. on Thursday, March 27, after residents at a local condo complex reported hearing a commotion, possibly including a gunshot, Wayne Police Capt. Daniel Daly said. Several minutes later, officers leaving Wayne Police Headquarters found a man, later identified as Alexander Lark, acting erratically in the parking lot. Police said he was destroying a stop sign when officers tried to calm h…
New Bar Replacing Mother's Ale House In Wayne: Introducing Brokedown Palace New Bar Replacing Mother's Ale House In Wayne: Introducing Brokedown Palace
New Bar Replacing Mother's Ale House In Wayne: Introducing Brokedown Palace A shuttered Wayne sports bar is getting a second act — with some upgrades and a new name. Brokedown Palace is taking over the former Mother’s Ale House at 23 Mountainview Boulevard, which hit the market back in 2022. The new bar is being developed by 805 Hospitality, the group behind The Mason Jar in Mahwah and The Tavern at the Iron Horse in Westwood, according to Matt Valerio, the company's director of operations. Valerio said he used to be a regular at Mother’s and hopes to keep the vibe familiar — just better. Basement rendering of Brokedown Palace 805 Hospitality “We’re going t…