Thursday, May 23, 2013
Checkpoints set up throughout Ocean County all weekend
Drivers getting stopped at DWI checkpoints this weekend will also be checked for being under the influence of drugs, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's office. With the start of the busy summer travel season looming, Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato today announced the continuation of the annual countywide DWI checkpoint program. The program, which supplements local DWI enforcement, consists of staging numerous checkpoints throughout the county. "Most significant for the program this year, is the addition of two drug recognition experts at each checkpoint to detect those under the influence of narcotics," says a prepared statement from the prosecutor's office. Coronato, quoted in the statement, reminds drivers that "an extra measure…
Friday, May 17, 2013
Residents from Brick, Toms River, Belmar among those arrested
A two month-long investigation by a number of local law enforcement agencies resulted in the arrests of 10 people, plus the seizure of cars, cash and about 140 pounds of marijuana, authorities said. The culmination of "Operation Weed Whacker," which began in April and came to a close Tuesday, was announced Wednesday by Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato. During that time authorities executed search warrants in towns in Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex counties, he said in a statement. "I have directed my Special Operations Group to slam shut the door to Ocean County on drug traffickers," Coronato said. "This will be accomplished by building strong law enforcement partnerships to protect Ocean County residents from the crime and …
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Anthony Verdicchio's body was discovered Monday night. He was last seen alive on Sunday.
Authorities are investigating the murder of a 76-year-old man who was found dead at his home on Pine Acres Estates just off Route 37 West Monday, Ocean County Prosecutor Spokesman Al Della Fave said Tuesday afternoon, May 14. Anthony Verdicchio was discovered at 5:19 p.m. Monday night. He was last seen at church on Sunday, Della Fave said. A group that Verdicchio met with every day for coffee first noticed he was missing when he didn't show up on Monday. An acquaintance from the group went discovered him on the floor and not responding when he went to check up on him. The unidentified acquaintance found Verdicchio on his floor not responding, and immediately contacted police, Della Fave said. Verdicchio was pronounced dead at 6:37 p.m. …
Friday, May 3, 2013
In September 2009, a Lakewood man opened fire at multiple police officers
A Lakewood man was sentenced to 45 years in prison after the 2009 shooting of multiple police officers. Judge Francis R. Hodgson, Jr. sentenced Jaime Gonzalez, 43, of Lakewood to 45 years, with no chance of parole until 29.5 years of his sentence is served, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato said. “Today’s sentencing rids society of a truly callous individual,” Coronato said. The Lakewood Police Department Entry Team executed a court-authorized no-knock search warrant of Gonzalez’s home on Mackenzie Court just after 2 a.m. Sept. 24, 2009, the Prosecutor’s Office said. The search warrant was obtained because Gonzalez was being investigated involving his sale of illegal controlled dangerous substances. Upon hearing the police …
Bruce A. Figular, 50, entered a Toms River school unlawfully in January, authorities said
A Toms River man impersonated a police officer to enter a township school where he committed aggravated sexual contact on a teacher, an indictment charges. Bruce A. Figular, 50, allegedly unlawfully entered a Toms River school during a regular school day through an open door, claiming he was a police officer, on or about Jan. 13, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. "He was challenged by a school employee and presented himself as an active duty New Jersey State Trooper," Della Fave said in a statement. "Once inside one of the classroom areas, he committed an act of aggravated sexual contact upon one of the teachers." Children were present in the building at the time of the incident, but not in the classroom where the alleged…
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Motor vehicle stop in Seaside Park leads to drug-related charges for Ibnballha Pitman, 34, of Newark
A Newark man was arrested and charged after police seized 1,000 bags of heroin in an investigation into drug activity in the Ocean County area, according to a news release from the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. Ibnballha Pitman, 34, of Newark was arrested on April 15 after a cooperative investigation into his alleged drug distribution activities. Detectives conducted a motor vehicle stop on April 15 in which Pitman was the occupant of a 2001 White Honda Accord. The stop took place in the area of O Street and Central Avenue in Seaside Park. The officers obtained and executed a search warrant for the car, ultimately seizing approximately 1,000 bags of heroin with the approximate street value of $5,000, the news release said. Pitman was …
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Brandon Holt, 6, died Tuesday from an injury sustained during an accidental shooting
The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office has taken over investigative duties in the accidental shooting death of a 6-year-old Toms River boy by his 4-year-old neighbor. The case has been transferred out of county to avoid any potential conflicts among law enforcement who may have ties to the case, according to Al Della Fave, spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. Haleigh Walz, a spokeswoman for the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, confirmed the case was transferred to Atlantic County Tuesday evening. Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor James P. McClain released the following statement just before 10 a.m. "Yesterday evening, my office was advised by the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice that we will supersede the Ocean …
Monday, April 8, 2013
Residents from Toms River, Brick, Manchester, Lakewood and other New Jersey towns are among those charged
A Toms River woman working as a police dispatcher in Lavallette was among the many arrested and charged in connection with a multi-jurisdictional drug investigation, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato announced Monday. Residents from Toms River, Brick, Manchester, Lakewood and other New Jersey towns are among those charged. The investigation is continuing and additional arrests are expected, Coronato said. Known as "Operation Road Runner," the investigation began in August of last year and ended on Friday, April 5, as police executed search warrants in Ocean, Mercer, Essex and Monmouth counties, leading authorities to charge 25 individuals with various drug, weapons and money laundering offenses, the prosecutor said. Kathy Anne …
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Marlene Lynch Ford 'has set an example,' freeholder board member says
Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford is down to her last few days in her office in Toms River, and they've been spent showing incoming prosecutor Joseph Coronato the ropes. Both Ford and Coronato received high praise from the county's freeholder board at its meeting Wednesday. "I'm conflicted here, because I'm going to really miss you as a prosecutor, working with you and seeing what you've done," said Freeholder James Lacey, to Ford. "But I'm glad you found a home back on the bench." Ford, a Democrat, has been nominated as a Superior Court judge by Republican Gov. Chris Christie. She previously served a stint as a Superior Court judge before being named prosecutor. "Years ago … I admired you from afar, your legislative work," said …
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Manahawkin, Toms River residents nabbed in marijuana and hashish bust
Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford has announced the culmination of an investigation into drug activity in the Southern Ocean County area. "On Dec. 21, 2012, detectives from the Prosecutor’s Special Operations Group, along with detectives from the Stafford Township Police Narcotics Unit and the Barnegat Township Police Narcotics Unit, conducted an investigation into the distribution of marijuana and hashish in the southern Ocean County area," said Ford. The investigation resulted in the arrest of two Ocean County residents and the seizure of marijuana, hashish and cash. While conducting the investigation, detectives from the Prosecutor’s Special Operations Group, along with members of the Stafford Township Police Narcotics Unit and…
nan
10:03 am on Thursday, May 23, 2013
Did not have time to read through all the comments. The point I want to make is that every report of a gun involved in any way should alway include whether the gun was legally registered or not. When it is not known at time of reporting state so and follow up as soon as you get the info. more ›