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Friday, jan 10
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Wayne, NJ
Police & Fire
Wayne SWAT Standoff: Semi-Conscious Suspect Found After Hours-Long Barricade, Police Say
Details have been released in a SWAT standoff that had Wayne residents barred from entering their apartments for hours on Thursday, Jan. 2. Trouble on Lancaster Court in the Wayne Village apartments began around 1:40 p.m. when a woman called police saying that she was not home, but a man later identified as Hisham N. Obaid, 38, broke in and sent her photos saying he was inside, Wayne Police Capt. Daniel Daly said. Police found Obaid's car parked outside and observed him through a window. While the apartment doors were locked, officers contacted the man by phone and set up a perimeter. …
Police & Fire
SWAT Standoff Shakes Wayne Neighborhood, Barricade Ends After Nearly Five Hours
A SWAT standoff unfolded in a Wayne neighborhood on Thursday, Jan. 2, gripping residents of the Wayne Village apartments as authorities surrounded one particular unit. UPDATE: Semi-Conscious Suspect Found After Hours-Long Barricade, Police Say The situation began around 1 p.m. on Lancaster Court, according to residents, some of whom were unable to access their units during the standoff. Photos from the scene show heavily armed SWAT team members standing outside a unit, shields raised and long guns drawn, as they worked to resolve the incident. The barricade ended peacefully at approximate…
Business
Immigrant Couple Turns Struggles To Success: Celebrating 30 Years Of Jyoti In Wayne
Thirty years ago, Asha and Satish Guglani took a leap of faith on Route 46. They had little money, a dream, and a register sitting on a table because there wasn’t enough to buy a counter. Today, Jyoti, their Indian restaurant, stands as a cherished cornerstone of Wayne—a testament to decades of hard work, family dedication, and loyal customers. Jyoti, named after the Guglanis’ eldest daughter and symbolizing a “spiritual light,” opened its doors on Dec. 24, 1994. Asha was nervous but determined when Satish suggested opening a second restaurant just for her to run. Satish had already found s…
Police & Fire
Explosive Blaze At Preakness Hills Country Club Contained
A fiery inferno lit up the night sky over Preakness Hills Country Club on Monday, Dec. 29, as a maintenance building went up in flames, prompting a massive emergency response to prevent a potentially catastrophic disaster. Wayne Fire companies 3, 4, and 5 rushed to the scene on Ratzer Road just after 9:20 p.m. What they found was every firefighter’s worst-case scenario: a building fully engulfed in flames, dangerously close to both a fuel storage tank and a container of hazardous chemicals. “The first fire chief on the scene quickly realized the risks,” said Fire Commissioner Frank Velardi.…
Police & Fire
21-Year-Old Man Missing After Leaving Essex County Hospital: Sheriff's Office
A 21-year-old man remains missing after he left Essex County Hospital Center in Cedar Grove on Tuesday, Dec. 17, authorities said. Timothy Robinson left the facility on Grove Avenue toward a nearby neighborhood, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office said. Robinson is 5"8" and weighs 130 to 150 lbs., authorities said. He was last seen wearing all-black sweatpants, sweatshirt, and Crocs, with possibly a blue/gray coat, authorities said. Robinson is developmentally delayed and is not classified as a danger to himself or others, authorities said. Due to Robinson’s condition, he is not …
Police & Fire
Breaking
: Wayne School Bus Crashes Into Building After Hitting 2 Cars, Police Say
A Wayne Board of Education school bus crashed into a building after striking two vehicles at a busy intersection Thursday morning, Dec. 20, authorities said. ALSO SEE: Students, School Bus Driver Hospitalized In Crash With Tractor-Trailer On Route 17 In Paramus The crash occurred at approximately 7:28 a.m. as the bus was traveling north on Black Oak Ridge Road near the intersection with Pompton Plains Crossroad, according to Detective Captain Dan Daly of the Wayne Police Department. After hitting two vehicles stopped in the left turn lane, the bus continued into the intersection, veer…
Obituaries
Prominent Wayne Jazz Musician Danny Bacher Dies At 48
Danny Bacher, a renowned jazz musician and Cliffside Park resident, died at the age of 48, the Jazz Loft in Stony Brook announced. The cause was a heart attack, the Jazz Loft said. A native of Wayne, Bacher was a singer, saxophonist, dancer and composer, who was also an author- having recently published a book about his collection of Laurel and Hardy merchandise, the Jazz Loft said. A graduate of Wayne Hills High School, Bacher attended New Jersey City University, according to his Facebook. At the time of his death, he was working on a project about Harry Nilsson, the Jazz Loft said. “I w…
Police & Fire
Wayne Teacher's Aide Taped Boy To Desk For 50 Minutes In Pompton Lakes: Cops
A teacher and a teacher's aide are facing charges in Passaic County for taping a child to a desk for nearly one hour, authorities said. Todd Lewis, 57, of Wayne, a teacher's aide placed masking tape around the back of the 9-year-old boy's neck and secured it to the desk, where the child remained for approximately 40 to 50 minutes, while Sallyann Scala, 67, of Pompton Lakes, continued teaching at Lenox Elementary School on Oct. 31, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said. Scala reportedly failed to intervene, according to the child’s statement. On Dec. 11, 2024, based…
Police & Fire
Breaking
: Baby Found Dead In Wayne, Prosecutor Says
A 7-month-old baby was found dead in Wayne on Wednesday, Dec. 4, authorities said. Wayne police officers were called to Route 23 and Ratzer Road around 1:40 p.m. on reports of a deceased infant, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Wayne Police Deputy Chief Joseph Rooney said. Upon arrival, the police located a possible crime scene and a 7- 7-month-old infant, who was subsequently pronounced dead. It was not immediately clear where exactly the harrowing discovery was made. The investigation remains active and ongoing. More information will be released once it becomes avail…
Police & Fire
Dad's Route 80 Death In Wayne Spreads Shock, Sadness
Shock and sadness spread following the sudden death of a 41-year-old dad on Route 80 this week. Troopers responded to the crash in the westbound lanes of the highway in Wayne at approximately 10:51 a.m., New Jersey State Police Sgt. Charles Marchan said. A Ford Econoline van, driven by Namon Melvin, 41, of Orange, had rear-ended a Honda passenger car near milepost 53.7, Marchan said. The van then veered off the road, went down an embankment, and struck a tree. Melvin died in the crash while the driver of the Honda was not reported injured, Marchan said. Melvin's death left loved ones in s…
Police & Fire
15-Hour SWAT Standoff Ends In Arrest Of Suicidal Wayne Man, His Father
A 15-hour standoff in Wayne ended peacefully early Thursday morning, Nov. 21 after police negotiated the surrender of a 27-year-old man who had armed himself with a knife and barricaded himself in his family’s home. Officers responded to a home Preakness Avenue home just before 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, on reports that 27-year-old Thomas M. Pfefferkorn, was expressing suicidal thoughts, Wayne Police Chief Joseph Rooney said. Upon arrival, officers encountered the man’s father, Thomas P. Pfefferkorn, standing outside the home. The younger Pfefferkorn retreated into the home, reap…
News
NJ Ranks Among Top States For Hospital Safety In Fall 2024, Leapfrog Report Finds
New Jersey hospitals are among the safest in the nation, according to the fall 2024 Hospital Safety Grade report from The Leapfrog Group. The Garden State ranks in the top 10 states for the highest percentage of "A" hospitals, joining states like Utah, Virginia, and Connecticut. The grades, which are updated twice a year, assess nearly 3,000 hospitals across the country on their effectiveness at preventing medical errors, accidents, and infections. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses up to 30 performance measures to assign grades ranging from "A" to "F," offering patients and fami…
Schools
Wayne Schools Dominate On List Of Top Public Elementary Schools In Passaic County
Some of the area's best public elementary schools are right here in Passaic County, according to fresh rankings from Niche.com that highlight top-performing schools across the nation. While Niche ranks schools nationwide, Daily Voice is diving deeper into what makes the area a standout for quality education. Niche’s rankings draw on a comprehensive analysis of academic performance and student life, combining U.S. Department of Education data with test scores, college data, and ratings from millions of Niche users. The meticulous process identifies the schools that excel in academic ri…
Police & Fire
Teacher's Aide Slammed, Dragged Toddler At Wayne Montessori School: Prosecutor
A teacher’s aide at Apple Montessori School in Wayne has been charged with child abuse following an incident in which she allegedly assaulted a two-year-old in her care, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office announced. Meghan Hornidge, 19, of River Edge, was charged with fourth-degree abuse of a child and simple assault, stemming from an investigation conducted by the Special Victims Unit, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said. The investigation began on Aug. 13, 2024, when the Prosecutor’s Office received a report that Hornidge had reportedly slammed and dragged the …
Politics
Passaic County Flips To Red: Here's How Each Town Voted In The 2024 Election
Passaic County is seeing red for the first time since 1992. The reliably Democrat county voted for President-elect Donald Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris, 95,620 votes to 89,086 votes, 50% to 46.6%. It was the first time Passaic County had voted a Republican for president since 1992 and the first time a Republican got 50% of the vote since George H.W. Bush in 1988. In 2020, President Joe Biden defeated Trump, 129,097 votes to 92,009 votes, 57.55% to 41.02%. The shift in Passaic County was part of a shift toward Trump statewide. While Harris defeated Trump by 5 points in the G…
Police & Fire
Wanted Glen Rock Shoplifter Arrested For DUI With Weapon 2 Days Prior In Wayne (
Update
)
A 38-year-old man whose accomplice ran over a Glen Rock Bottle King employee after he ran out with $655 in stolen booze was arrested for a DUI two days earlier, records show. A warrant for third-degree shoplifting has been issued for the arrest of Kyle B. Steines, 38, formerly of Wayne and currently of Hawthorne, Glen Rock Police Chief Dean Ackermann said Wednesday, Nov. 6. Records show that Steines was charged with driving on a suspended/revoked license/registration, certain persons not to possess a weapon (folding knife) for being convicted of a crime, and was issued a DUI on Oct. 29…
Politics
These Passaic County Towns Voted For Trump In 2020 Election: See How Yours Voted
New Jersey put up record-breaking numbers over the weekend as early in-person voting came to a close. In 2020, Joe Biden won 129,097 of Passaic County's votes, while Donald Trump won 92,009. The towns that voted for Trump were Bloomingdale, North Haledon, Pompton Lakes, Wanaque, Wayne, and West Milford (see numbers below * denotes voted for Trump). Bloomingdale: 2,098 for Biden, 2,369 for Trump* Clifton: 23,931, 16,128 Haledon: 2,677, 1,107 Hawthorne: 5,812, 5,254 Little Falls: 3,379, 3,340 North Haledon: 2,087, 3,470* Passaic: 11,638, 6,834 Paterson: 38,453, 9,053 Pompton Lakes…
Police & Fire
Wayne Accomplice Hits Employee Tackling Shoplifter In Liquor Store Parking Lot With Her Car: PD
A 37-year-old Wayne woman was lodged in the Bergen County Jail after police say she purposely ran over a Bottle King Liquors employee tracking down a shoplifter on Halloween Night. The 31-year-old Maywood shoplifter ran into the Prospect Street store, grabbed $655 worth of liquor and then fled without paying just before 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, Glen Rock Police Chief Dean Ackermann said. The store employee ran out after the shoplifter into the parking lot, where he was struck by Jeanelle Mulligan, who had been waiting for the shoplifter in the parking lot in a 2006 Toyota, police s…
Police & Fire
Wayne Woman, 72, Made Bomb Threat That Locked Down Holy Name Medical Center: Prosecutor
A 72-year-old woman has been charged with calling in a bomb threat to Holy Name Medical in August, authorities said. Adele Ulrich, of Wayne, called the hospital on Aug. 17 saying that several bombs were going to detonate in the hospital, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said following a months-long investigation. The hospital was placed on divert, and a shelter-in-place order was implemented, bringing police officers, firefighters, and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad to the scene. Ultimately, first responders determined that the call was a hoax, and no act…
Politics
Dems Overtake Republicans In Early Voting: Here's Where Polls Are Now Open In North Jersey
More than 38 million Americans had cast their votes in the 2024 elections as of Saturday morning, Oct. 26, the University of Florida Election Lab's early voter tracker shows. Polls have officially opened for early, in-person voting in New Jersey. How will you be voting? According to the UFL lab, 7.8M Democrats and 6.9M Republicans had already voted. Here's where you can show up and vote in each county in North Jersey come Saturday morning, Oct. 26. BERGEN Jack Alter Community Center, Fort Lee Garfield Nutrition Center & Senior Citizens Building, Garfield County Admin Build…
Police & Fire
Wanted Man With Meth Crossing Route 23 Found With Meth, Refuses Jail Again: Cops
A man who told Wayne police officers he didn't want to go back to jail will be doing just that. Officers Michael Mc Laughlin and Eric Cueva were patrolling near the Willowbrook Mall around 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 21, when they saw a man later identified as Michael J. Brown walk across all lanes of Route 23 near TGIFriday's, police said in a news release. The officers stopped Brown and informed him of the traffic violation. A check of his information found he had a warrant out for his arrest. And so, officers attempted to place Brown under arrest, at which point he said he would not go back to jai…
Police & Fire
Wayne Resident Wakes Up To Find Multiple Masked Burglars In His Bedroom: Police
A Wayne resident suffered a head injury chasing multiple masked suspects out of his home Wednesday morning, Oct. 23, police said. The homeowner said he awoke to the masked individuals in his bedroom around 5 a.m., after they'd removed the first-floor screen from a window and broke the lock that secured it, Police Chief Joseph Rooney said. The individuals then climbed into the home, and began looking for key fobs to vehicles in the driveway, the chief said. The homeowner confronted the suspects who fled the home, and the homeowner gave chase but fell and suffered an injury to his head …
Real Estate
7 Most Expensive Homes Sold In Passaic County In Last 30 Days
A $2.15 million home in Wayne was the most expensive home sold in the last 30 days in Passaic County. According to Redfin, prices in Passaic County were up 5.5% in September 2024 compared to September 2023, selling for a median price of $534,00. Homes in Passaic County sold after 29 days on average. In Bergen County, homes sold after about 70 days on the market last month, Redfin says. Here are seven of the most expensive homes sold in Passaic County in the last 30 days, according to Zillow and the NJMLS. 17 Urban Club Road, Wayne Google Maps 1. 58 Toms Lake Road, Wayne: Sold …
News
Boy Impaled By Stick In Wayne While Taking Shortcut Home From School, Police Say
An 11-year-old boy impaled by a stick in Wayne was rescued by his school's resource officer and firefighters using a stokes basket on Monday afternoon, Sept. 16, police said. The boy and other students from Anthony Wayne Middle School were taking a shortcut home through the woods, which required sliding down a steep hill, Wayne Police Capt. Daniel Daly said. While sliding down the hill, the boy was impaled through his thigh by a large stick, Daly said. A friend called 911 and another returned to the school seeking help, where he found the school resource officer, Detective John Barrows, and…
Police & Fire
Wayne Driver, 31, Fled To Turkey After Deadly Hit-Run Crash In Parents' SUV: Prosecutor
A 31-year-old Wayne man was identified as the driver who struck and killed a pedestrian in Parsippany before fleeing the scene and then trying to flee the country last month, authorities said. Davut Batca was behind the wheel of a Toyota RAV4 when he struck Jelson Cabrera, 35, of Trenton, on Route 46 West near Sandra Drive just before 10 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19, Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll said. Cabrera was taken to Morristown Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, authorities said. Meanwhile, Batca fled the scene and then left the United States for Turkey, the pros…
News
Greg Fales Of North Haledon Dies In Car Crash
Police have identified the 29-year-old driver killed in an early-morning crash Tuesday, Sept. 3. Gregory B. Fales, of North Haledon, was heading west on Parish Drive in a Subaru Impreza when he left the roadway, hit a split rail fence, and overturned into the adjacent Passaic County Golf Course property just before 7:30 a.m., Wayne Police Kt. Skylar Cauceglia said. Fales was found unresponsive and unconscious in the car before he was pronounced dead at the scene. The Wayne Memorial First Aid Squad, Wayne Township Fire Department, and St. Joseph’s Hospital Paramedics responded…
Police & Fire
Competing Theft Crews Call 911, Everyone Ends Up Arrested In Wayne: Police
Five would-be package thieves from separate crews were arrested in Wayne after plans to beat out their competition last week in Wayne went awry, authorities said. Police received a 9-1-1 call reporting a burglary in progress at a hoem on Ratzer Road around 3:50 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, Wayne Police Capt. Dan Daly said. The caller said that two men were in his garage and one was in his backyard. He then said that the men fled and were in a black sedan on Kievit Road. The caller also told police that the suspect vehicle was a Honda. While responding officers found two black sedans on Kiev…
Police & Fire
Shooting Reported At Lenape High School,
Pcti
Football Game
Details have been released in the shooting following a football game at the Passaic County Technical Institute (PCTI) Friday night, Aug. 30. A 16-year-old has been arrested in the shooting a 15-year-old and 16-year-old around 7:30 p.m. at PCTI school in Wayne, where the football team had faced Lenape High School, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Passaic County Acting Sheriff Gary F. Giardina said. Police found a 15-year-old juvenile and a 16-year-old juvenile suffering from non-fatal gunshot wounds. Both were taken to St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson.&n…
Police & Fire
18 Pounds Of Pot Seized From Consignment Shop Drug Ring Bloomingdale, Butler Trio: Police
Three people have been arrested after authorities uncovered a massive drug ring being run out of a North Jersey thrift store. Search warrants executed at businesses, storage units, and vehicles in Bloomingdale, Newton, and Wayne turned up 18 pounds of marijuana and 1.13 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, Bloomingdale police said. Jesse A Baron, 43, of Bloomingdale, and Ryan T Smith, 36, of Butler, and Daniel F. Valerio, 39, of Bloomingdale, were slapped with various drug possession and distribution charges for running the scheme out of Thrifty Hippie Consignments on Main Street in Bloomin…
News
Teen Killed In Boating Accident Was Rising Rutgers Freshman
More information has come to light about the 18-year-old Wayne resident killed in a boating accident over the weekend in Harvey Cedars. Zeina Mahafzah was days away from beginning her freshman year at Rutgers University, as classes start on Tuesday, Sept. 2. According to university spokeswoman Dory Devlin, Zeina was enrolled in the School of Arts and Sciences–Newark. "The Rutgers-Newark community is devastated by the news of Zeina’s passing, and we are sending our support to the Mahafzah family during this incredibly difficult time," Devlin said. In a post shared to Faceboo…
Police & Fire
Crash With Fuel Spill Shuts Route 80 In Wayne
A crash and fuel spill closed all lanes of Route 80 in Wayne on Monday afternoon, Aug. 19, according to the NJDOT site. As of 2:22 p.m., all westbound lanes west of Exit 53 were closed. Delays up to 15 minutes were being reported.
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