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Police & Fire
Fire Nearly Destroys Central Jersey Family's Home: 'The Loss Is So Great' Fire Nearly Destroys Central Jersey Family's Home: 'The Loss Is So Great'
Fire Nearly Destroys Central Jersey Family's Home: 'The Loss Is So Great' A Monmouth County family's home was nearly destroyed by a fire, according to a fundraising campaign. A GoFundMe page said the house in the Paddock Club in Marlboro caught fire on Thursday, Apr. 25. No one was reported injured but the Ditillo family's home and possessions "were almost completely destroyed." The GoFundMe had raised more than $55,000 from at least 714 donations as of Monday, Apr. 29. "The Ditillo family are known for their kindness and community spirit," wrote Alex Worth, a neighbor who created the GoFundMe. "They have always been the first to offer help to others in need. No…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Former Code Enforcement Officer Who Stole $75K From Jersey Shore City Indicted: Prosecutors Former Code Enforcement Officer Who Stole $75K From Jersey Shore City Indicted: Prosecutors
Former Code Enforcement Officer Who Stole $75K From Jersey Shore City Indicted: Prosecutors A former code enforcement officer in Ventnor City was accused of stealing more than $75,000 in payments for city permits, authorities said. Michelle Calderon, 37, of Egg Harbor Township, was indicted on six counts on Thursday, Apr. 11, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office announced in a news release on Monday, Apr. 29. She was charged on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. Investigators said Calderon kept cash that taxpayers and businesses gave to Ventnor City for permits. She was accused of pocketing more than $75,000 and altering the balance sheets to cover up the stolen m…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Ex-Con Formerly Of Paterson Convicted Of Selling Fentanyl To Federal Operative At Jersey Shore Ex-Con Formerly Of Paterson Convicted Of Selling Fentanyl To Federal Operative At Jersey Shore
Ex-Paterson Resident Convicted Of Jersey Shore Fentanyl Sale 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: An ex-con from out of state is facing a significantly long federal prison sentence after being convicted of selling fentanyl to a government cooperator at the Jersey Shore. Jurors in U.S. District Court in Trenton found former Paterson resident Djavon Holland, 37, guilty of possession with the intent to sell the deadly drug, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said. As an ex-con with multiple convictions on his record, Holland, currently of Virginia, could be sentenced to more than a decade in federal prison. Holland served a majority of an eight-year state prison sentence after he was …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Fatal Stabbing Reported In Central Jersey: Prosecutor Fatal Stabbing Reported In Central Jersey: Prosecutor
Fatal Stabbing Reported In Central Jersey: Prosecutor There was a fatal stabbing Sunday night, April 28 in Perth Amboy, authorities said. The stabbing occurred near Smith and Maple streets, the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office confirmed. UPDATE: Police ID Man, 32, Stabbed Dead In Perth Amboy An office spokeswoman said Monday, April 29 that a press statement was being prepared and was waiting on notification of next of kin. Perth Amboy local scoop posted video on Facebook of the crime scene. 

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Forked River Man Convicted Of Strangling Wife, Dumping Body On Side Of Road: Prosecutors Forked River Man Convicted Of Strangling Wife, Dumping Body On Side Of Road: Prosecutors
Forked River Man Convicted Of Strangling Wife, Dumping Body On Side Of Road: Prosecutors A Forked River man was convicted of strangling his wife to death and leaving her body on the side of a Monmouth County road, authorities said. A jury found 53-year-old Jeremy Cruz guilty of first-degree murder. Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago announced the conviction in a news release on Friday, Apr. 26. A driver saw 51-year-old Dawn Cruz with severe injuries on Colonial Avenue near the intersection with Asbury Avenue in Ocean Township just after 1 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. Ocean Township police found her and she was pronounced dead at the scen…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Atlantic City Teen Sentenced For Having Unlabeled Gun: Prosecutors Atlantic City Teen Sentenced For Having Unlabeled Gun: Prosecutors
Atlantic City Teen Sentenced For Having Unlabeled Gun: Prosecutors An Atlantic City teen will spend time in state prison after police found him with an unlabeled gun, authorities said. Angelo Williams, 19, was sentenced on Thursday, Apr. 25 to three years in state prison, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office announced in a news release. He pleaded guilty to second-degree possession of a handgun without a permit on Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024. Atlantic City police responded to a report of a man with a gun in his waistband on North Arkansas Avenue on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. Officers found Williams, whose description matched the one given to police. As po…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Bathroom Ceiling Fan Blamed For House Fire In Manchester Township Gated Community: Police Bathroom Ceiling Fan Blamed For House Fire In Manchester Township Gated Community: Police
Bathroom Ceiling Fan Blamed For House Fire In Manchester Township Gated Community: Police Firefighters quickly put out flames at a home in a gated community in Manchester Township, authorities said. Volunteer firefighters from Manchester, Ridgeway, and Whiting responded to the fire on Edinburgh Lane in the Leisure Village West community at around 3:35 p.m. on Saturday, Apr. 27, Manchester police said in a news release. When firefighters arrived, they learned the fire was caused by a bathroom ceiling fan. The homeowners were not in the house during the fire and only a cleaning crew was there.  No injuries were reported and the residents weren't displaced. The Oce…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Fire Destroys Cuzzin's Pizza, Jay's Food Mart In Brick Fire Destroys Cuzzin's Pizza, Jay's Food Mart In Brick
Brick Township Cuzzin's Pizza Fire Two Ocean County businesses are recovering after a major fire on Saturday, April 27. Photos show flames shooting from the roof of Jays Food Mart and Cuzzin's Pizzeria in the strip mall on Herbertsville Road. Firefighters say the blaze broke out around 5 p.m. Firefighters are operating at a 3rd alarm structure fire at Cuzzins Pizza on Herbertsville Rd. In Brick. Numerous... Posted by Jersey Coast Emergency News on Saturday, April 27, 2024

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Machete-Wielding Man Chases Another Driver Through Toms River, Crashes In Brick Township: Cops Machete-Wielding Man Chases Another Driver Through Toms River, Crashes In Brick Township: Cops
Machete-Wielding Man Chases Another Driver Through Toms River, Crashes In Brick Township: Cops A 29-year-old Beachwood man has been arrested in a Toms River road rage incident, police announced. The victim was stopped at a red light on Water Street around 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 24 when a man later identified as Austin Martinez pulled up in a Blue Jeep Liberty, and tapped on the window with a machete, police said. The victim tried to flee from Martinez, but he followed the victim to the Ocean County Mall, chasing them through the parking lot, Toms River police said. The victim called 911 and drove to the Toms River Police Department. The Jeep Liberty continued north on Ho…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Felon Admits To Selling Heroin, Fentanyl, Meth In South Jersey: Prosecutors Felon Admits To Selling Heroin, Fentanyl, Meth In South Jersey: Prosecutors
Felon Admits To Selling Heroin, Fentanyl, Meth In South Jersey: Prosecutors A convicted felon admitted to selling heroin mixed with fentanyl and methamphetamine throughout Atlantic County, authorities said. Matthew Lynch, 33, of Galloway Township, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Apr. 23 to second-degree possession with the intent to distribute heroin/fentanyl. The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office announced the guilty plea in a news release on Friday, Apr. 26. State police and the county prosecutor's office investigated Lynch for dealing drugs. Officers executed two search warrants on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. Police arrested Lynch and found him with digital scale…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
'Large-Scale' PA Burglary Ring Targeted Home In NJ: Prosecutors 'Large-Scale' PA Burglary Ring Targeted Home In NJ: Prosecutors
'Large-Scale' PA Burglary Ring Targeted Home In NJ: Prosecutors Half a dozen people are charged in connection with a "large-scale" home burglary scheme, according to the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office.  At a press conference on Friday, April 26, prosecutors and law enforcement said an organized ring of thieves stole more than $160,000 in goods from homes in Lehigh, Berks and Northampton counties.  They also targeted at least one home in Warren Township, New Jersey, authorities said.  Beginning in 2019, a team of state and local police agencies began investigating burglaries and attempted burglaries in Allentown, Bethl…

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by Mac Bullock
Police & Fire
Man Intentionally Set Fires At Central Jersey Property Since December: Police Man Intentionally Set Fires At Central Jersey Property Since December: Police
Man Intentionally Set Fires At Central Jersey Property Since December: Police A Monmouth County man was accused of intentionally setting fires on the same property over the past five months, authorities said. Albert Caporaso, 49, of Hazlet, was arrested on early in the morning on Friday, Apr. 26, the Hazlet Township Police Department said in a Facebook post. He was facing charges for several arsons since Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. A Hazlet officer was watching the South Laurel Avenue home at around 11:56 p.m. on Thursday, Apr. 25, when a man matching the suspect's description from previous arsons walked onto the property. The man, later identified as Caporaso, entered a…

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by Chris Spiker