Charges Dropped Against NJ Mayor, But Congresswoman Now Faces Federal Assault Case Charges Dropped Against NJ Mayor, But Congresswoman Now Faces Federal Assault Case
Charges Dropped Against NJ Mayor, But Congresswoman Now Faces Federal Assault Case The U.S. Attorney for New Jersey has dropped the trespassing charge against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, but is now pursuing federal assault charges against U.S. Congresswoman LaMonica McIver, officials announced Monday, May 19. In a statement, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said her office agreed to dismiss Mayor Baraka’s misdemeanor charge of trespass “for the sake of moving forward.” “The citizens of New Jersey deserve unified leadership so we can get to work to keep our state safe,” Habba said. “The dismissal against the mayor is not the end of this matter.” Habba confirmed her office is n…
Taxi Driver Attacks Passenger: Suspect Was High, Had Suspended License In HV, DA Says Taxi Driver Attacks Passenger: Suspect Was High, Had Suspended License In HV, DA Says
Taxi Driver Attacks Passenger: Suspect Was High, Had Suspended License In HV, DA Says Prosecutors have released more details regarding a Rockland County taxi driver's kidnapping of a passenger who he allegedly attacked with a screwdriver during a harrowing late-night ride earlier this month.  Kevin Mazariego-Figueroa, 22, of Hillcrest, was indicted on a slew of felony charges stemming from the Monday, May 5 attack, including second-degree kidnapping and first-degree assault, the Rockland County District Attorney's Office announced on Monday, May 19.  According to prosecutors, Mazariego-Figueroa had picked up the victim, a 40-year-old woman, in his taxicab near…
DoorDash Driver Shooting: HV Highway Super Gets Attempted Murder Charge (UPDATE) DoorDash Driver Shooting: HV Highway Super Gets Attempted Murder Charge (UPDATE)
DoorDash Driver Shooting: HV Highway Super Gets Attempted Murder Charge (Update) A grand jury has indicted an Orange County town's Highway Superintendent, John J. Reilly III, on 13 felony counts, including attempted murder, stemming from the Friday, May 2 shooting of a DoorDash driver outside his home, prosecutors announced.   Reilly, 48, is now facing a slew of serious charges, including two counts of first-degree assault, attempted second-degree murder, and multiple weapons charges, the Orange County District Attorney's Office announced on Monday, May 19.  The indictment was handed up in Orange County Court on Monday. A date for Reilly’s arraignment is …
‘Should I Smoke Em?’ Maryland Man’s Viral Gun Threat To Cop Blows Up In His Face ‘Should I Smoke Em?’ Maryland Man’s Viral Gun Threat To Cop Blows Up In His Face
‘Should I Smoke Em?’ Maryland Man’s Viral Gun Threat To Cop Blows Up In His Face A Montgomery County man who pointed a loaded gun at a police officer while recording himself on Instagram—captioning the video “Should I smoke em”—has learned his punishment, prosecutors announced. William Alvarenga, 21, of Gaithersburg, will serve five years in prison as part of a 33-year sentence, with all but five years suspended.  He will also be placed on five years of supervised probation when he gets out, according to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office on Friday, May 16. It all started on Nov. 4, 2024, when detectives were tipped off about a disturbing video circul…
NJ Man Who Stabbed Salman Rushdie On NY Stage Sentenced To Decades In Prison NJ Man Who Stabbed Salman Rushdie On NY Stage Sentenced To Decades In Prison
NJ Man Who Stabbed Salman Rushdie On NY Stage Sentenced To Decades In Prison A New Jersey man who nearly killed world-renowned author Salman Rushdie in a knife attack on a New York stage has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. Hadi Matar, 27, of Fairview, NJ, was sentenced Friday, May 16, in Chautauqua County Court after a jury found him guilty in February of attempted murder and assault. The charges stem from a brutal ambush on Aug. 12, 2022, when Matar stormed the stage at the Chautauqua Institution, stabbing Rushdie more than a dozen times in front of a stunned audience. The attack left the 77-year-old Booker Prize-winning author blind in one eye and with seve…
DoorDash Driver Shooting: Town Board Asks Highway Super To Step Down In Hudson Valley (UPDATE) DoorDash Driver Shooting: Town Board Asks Highway Super To Step Down In Hudson Valley (UPDATE)
DoorDash Driver Shooting: Town Board Asks Highway Super To Step Down In Hudson Valley (Update) Nearly two weeks after a DoorDash driver was allegedly shot by a New York town's highway superintendent, town officials are publicly responding to increasing calls for his removal and addressing the limits of their authority to act.  John J. Reilly III, 48, who serves as Highway Superintendent for the Hudson Valley town of Chester in Orange County, was arrested on Saturday, May 3, after allegedly shooting a lost DoorDash driver who had pulled into his driveway asking for directions on Valerie Drive the night before. Police say Reilly told the driver to leave, and as the driver atte…
Taxi Driver Kidnaps Woman, Attacks Her With Screwdriver Before Crashing In Hudson Valley: Cops Taxi Driver Kidnaps Woman, Attacks Her With Screwdriver Before Crashing In Hudson Valley: Cops
Taxi Driver Kidnaps Woman, Attacks Her With Screwdriver Before Crashing In Hudson Valley: Cops A 22-year-old taxi driver is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly kidnapping a woman, attacking her with a screwdriver, and crashing a car during the struggle in Rockland County, police said.  The incident happened around 1:45 a.m. on Monday, May 5, when Spring Valley Police responded to a report of a vehicle that had crashed into a fence at a home on Ridge Avenue. Officers arrived and found a visibly injured and distressed woman at the scene, the department announced on Tuesday, May 13.  According to investigators, the woman had been picked up by a taxi near the Evergre…
Male Escort Gives Graphic Testimony On Day 1 Of Sean Combs' Trial In Manhattan Male Escort Gives Graphic Testimony On Day 1 Of Sean Combs' Trial In Manhattan
Male Escort Gives Graphic Testimony On Day 1 Of Sean Combs' Trial In Manhattan A male escort gave graphic testimony on the first day of Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial on charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution being held in Manhattan. Daniel Phillip, age 41, provided information on sexual encounters with Combs and his then-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura from around 2012 to 2014.  He said he was paid between $700 and $6,000 on several occasions to have sex with Ventura, while Combs watched and directed him.  One time, Ventura told him to urinate on him while Combs masturbated, according t…
Gunman Shot 27-Year-Old Multiple Times At Hudson Valley Home, Police Say Gunman Shot 27-Year-Old Multiple Times At Hudson Valley Home, Police Say
Gunman Shot 27-Year-Old Multiple Times At Hudson Valley Home, Police Say A gunman was apprehended shortly after opening fire at a Hudson Valley apartment complex, injuring a 27-year-old man, police said. Emergency crews in Ulster County were called to Kingston’s Charter Apartments on Sheehan Court for a shooting at around 5 a.m. Sunday, May 11. Arriving officers found a 27-year-old man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, Kingston Police said. He was taken to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla with what police described as non-life-threatening injuries. A short time later, detectives arrested a suspect, 28-year-old Anthony Harding, Jr., of Kingston. Ha…
Bottle Attack: Man Hospitalized, Suspect At Large In Hudson Valley Bottle Attack: Man Hospitalized, Suspect At Large In Hudson Valley
Bottle Attack: Man Hospitalized, Suspect At Large In Hudson Valley Police in Dutchess County are investigating an assault with a bottle that left a man hospitalized.  The incident happened around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, when officers learned of a possible stabbing near Main Street and North Hamilton Street in Poughkeepsie, the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department announced on Monday, May 12.  Responding officers found a 25-year-old man suffering from a cut to his ear. The victim was rushed to a local hospital for treatment. After investigating the scene, detectives determined the injury was caused not by a knife, but by the victim being…
'Dawson's Creek' Star Assaulted Ex With Cinderblock, Wooden Plank: REPORTS 'Dawson's Creek' Star Assaulted Ex With Cinderblock, Wooden Plank: REPORTS
'Dawson's Creek' Star Assaulted Ex With Cinderblock, Wooden Plank: Reports Michael Pitt, who starred on "Boardwalk Empire," "Dawson's Creek" and "Funny Games" has been charged with sexual abuse in New York City, according to numerous records. Pitt, a West Orange native, was arrested and arraigned at Kings Supreme Court in Brooklyn on Friday, May 2, charged with two counts of sexual abuse, assault injury with a blunt object and strangulation, Variety reported.  According to the New York Post, Pitt sexually assaulted an ex-girlfriend, striking her with a wooden plank. He later assaulted his ex-girlfriend with a cinderblock, the Post reported. The incidents occu…
Highway Superintendent Shot DoorDash Driver Asking For Directions: NYSP Highway Superintendent Shot DoorDash Driver Asking For Directions: NYSP
Highway Superintendent Shot DoorDash Driver Asking For Directions: Nysp A New York township's highway superintendent has been identified as the homeowner charged in the shooting of a lost DoorDash driver asking for directions over the weekend, officials confirmed. John J. Reilly III, 48, is facing charges of assault, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, and criminal possession of a firearm in the Friday, May 2 shooting around 9:50 p.m. on Valerie Drive in Chester, according to New York State Police and Town of Chester Supervisor Brandon Holdridge. "We are deeply troubled by what has been reported so far," Holdridge said. "We hope the …