January 17, 2021
JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ (OCEAN)–A motorcycle lost control on the entrance ramp to I-195 east bound at Exit 21 around 12:15 pm. NJ State Police and Jackson First Aid responded to the scene. There was no word on the condition of the motorcycle driver. No other information is available.
September 5, 2023
HOLMDEL TOWNSHIP, NJ (MONMOUTH)–The Holmdel Township Police Department reported that on September 3, 2023 around 5:30 p.m., police dispatchers received a call from loss prevention employees at Best Buy, 2130 State Hwy 35. Loss prevention employees reported that several individuals known to them as shoplifters from other Best Buy’s were around the store. Ptl. Sasso and Ptl. DePinho arrived on scene and located two subjects walking away from the store with employees following. The subjects were identified as Clifton Owens (age 43) and Jerome Christie (age 33), both of Trenton NJ.
Owens was arrested after he was found to be a wanted fugitive from Pennsylvania due to a forgery charge. He was lodged in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution pending an extradition hearing.
Jerome Christie was arrested for an outstanding warrant issued by the Delran Municipal Court. He was processed and released as per the court.
QSAC Report Gives High Marks in Five Key Performance Categories
June 13, 2023
ROBBINSVILLE, NJ (MERCER) – The Robbinsville Public Schools received some welcomed news this morning – a notice from the state Department of Education that essentially gives the school district an “A” grade.
The findings – following mandatory financial audits and a comprehensive review by the state –show the Robbinsville Public Schools are “high performing,” financially strong, and operating at peak performance, as per the Quality Single Accountability Continuum (QSAC).
“I am thrilled to share that Robbinsville Public Schools is designated as a `high-performing’ school district, and we have received passing scores in all five areas,” said Schools Superintendent Brian J. Betze.
In order for a school district to pass a section, it must meet the 80% threshold in all five areas of analysis. The Robbinsville schools exceeded this threshold in all five categories, with two of them being perfect.
However, with a score of 85% in “Instruction and Program, the Robbinsville schools need to improve test scores in both math and English Language Arts (ELA), the findings noted.
“The state’s findings support the revisions we are making to the schedules at the middle and elementary schools, as well as updating our ELA program for grades K-8 and the math curriculum for grades K-8,” the superintendent said.
State education officials conduct the QSAC assessment every three years for all New Jersey school districts. The state reviews 55 curriculum documents and 189 indicators.
“The state wants to ensure full compliance within all of our operations,” Betze explained. “The state examines finances, operations, governance, procedures, curriculum, instruction and facilities. It is a very deep dive, to the point in which state inspectors ensure fire extinguishers are up to code. They even check to see if closet doors close properly and flush all the toilets.”
The Robbinsville Public Schools made significant progress in the past three years and now meets the criteria for being considered a “high-performing” district, as shown in the chart below.
| 2020 | 2023 | |
| Instruction and Program | 90% | 85% |
| Fiscal Management | 94% | 100% |
| Governance | 75% | 100% |
| Operations | 100% | 95% |
| Personnel | 95% | 97% |
“I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to my administrative team for going above and beyond the QSAC standards,” Betze said. “Additionally, I would like to express my gratitude to our diligent staff members, whose commitment to our students is reflected in Robbinsville’s new designation as high-performing. It is through the collective efforts of everyone involved that we have achieved outstanding accomplishments.”
The state also looks at long-term planning as part of a comprehensive assessment. The school district, under Betze’s direction, is completing a strategic planning process that began in the winter, comprising more than 110 community volunteers.
The group met monthly to set a long-term direction for improving student achievement. Community recommendations are incorporated in a draft Robbinsville Public Schools 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, which the school board is expected to adopt this month.
July 6, 2023
NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ (MIDDLESEX)–Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone announced today that a man charged with Aggravated Manslaughter, Vehicular Homicide, and Assault by Auto has been sentenced to 6 years in prison.
On June 28, 2022, at approximately 11:50 P.M., on Route 130 in North Brunswick Township a 2016 Toyota Highlander driven by Egrevel Vasquez-Garcia, 28, of Hightstown, struck a Jeep Patriot driven by Levelt Alexis, Jr. at a high rate of speed causing Mr. Alexis’ death. The Highlander then crossed into oncoming lanes of travel where it struck other vehicles. Investigation revealed that Vasquez-Garcia was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
On February 21, 2023, Vasquez-Garcia pled guilty to second-degree Vehicular Homicide and Driving While Intoxicated. Superior Court Judge Thomas
J. Buck, J.S.C., sentenced Vasquez-Garcia to 6 years in state prison pursuant to the No Early Release Act. Vasquez-Garcia must serve 85% of his sentence before being eligible for parole and his driver’s license will also be suspended for ten years upon his release from prison.
Photo by EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA on Pexels.com
September 7, 2023
BEACH HAVEN, NJ (OCEAN)–Gofundme has verified a fundraiser for a 21-year-old male that lost their life in Beach Haven in a drowning accident in Beach Haven, NJ on Labor Day Weekend. The family has identified the man as Edwin Antonio Made Sanchez, from the Dominican Republic. Emergency workers, lifeguards and the public reportedly formed a human chain to search for him. He was found and was pulled from the surf and rushed to a local hospital in an ambulance where he passed away.
A Gofundme “Help Fulfill a Young Dreamer’s Last Wish” was set up and raised $31,060.00 before being closed by the family. “The organizer has currently disabled new donations to this fundraiser.”
The family says, “We want to thank everyone who donated. We are filled with gratitude with all your kindness. We have closed the donations. Thank you so much.”
Dear friends and kind-hearted supporters,
We are reaching out to you today with heavy hearts and a profound sense of loss. Made’s beloved family member, Edwin Antonio Made Sanchez, who was just 21 years old, had dreams as big as the sky. Tragically, his life was cut short, leaving everyone shattered and grieving. Edwin had recently traveled from the Dominican Republic to work diligently, with a sole purpose in mind – to build a better future.
Edwin was an avid reader and a young man full of dreams. He aspired to achieve so much in life, from providing for his loved ones to creating opportunities for his family to join him in the USA. Despite his young age, he carried a remarkable sense of responsibility and determination.
It is our deepest desire to honor Edwin’s memory and grant him his final wish – to be laid to rest in his beloved homeland, the Dominican Republic. Your generous contributions will help cover the expenses required to transport him to the Dominican Republic, as well as assist with the funeral costs. All additional funds will be given to his mother and father.
Edwin wanted to build a house for his mother in DR. One of his dreams will hopefully come true even though our heart aches with pain and loss. May his soul shine bright in the sky and his presence bring joy to everyone who sees him up there smiling down on us.
Please help us bring him home to his mother and father. They are devastated that they can’t be here with their son. Their hearts have shattered and just want to hold their son in their arms, one last time.
Every dollar counts, and your support will not only provide comfort to his grieving family but also help fulfill the dreams Edwin held so dearly. Let’s come together as a community and make a difference during this difficult time.
Please donate and share this fundraiser with your friends and networks to help us reach our goal. Together, we can ensure that Edwin’s dreams live on in our hearts, and his journey home is filled with love and dignity.
Thank you for your compassion and generosity.
We originally added Jeimy Hirujo, fiancé of Edwin’s cousin, since he is able to send the funds directly to Edwin’s mother without a fee. Nevertheless, GoFundMe wants to verify information so we will change it to another beneficiary. We are in contact with GoFundMe to see if we can add an oversee bank account for Edwin’s brother, Esmerlyn Omar Made Sanchez, or his aunt here in the USA, Celide Made who Edwin was visiting.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Made Family
Good evening, if you are reading this, my name is Luke Ferreras. My cousin and I were swimming today in Beach Haven, NJ where unfortunately we were caught in a rip tide. I was able to get out safely but he was not able to. I simply ask for help raising awareness. God Bless!
Good morning all, we have created a gofundme page for the funeral and travel costs for him to be able to send his body to our family in the Dominican Republic where he was due to go back to in a few days. If you’d like to help or share. Thank you all.
— Luke B. Ferreras, MBA, Cousin to Edwin Antonio Made Sanchez
Breaking: Search For Missing 24-Year-Old Swimmer In Beach Haven
Good morning all, we have created a gofundme page for the funeral and travel costs for him to be able to send his body to our family in the Dominican Republic where he was due to go back to in a few days. If you’d like to help or share. Thank you all. https://t.co/RT8l4uqG3m
— Luke B. Ferreras, MBA (@LukeFerreras) September 4, 2023
Good evening, if you are reading this, my name is Luke Ferreras. My cousin and I were swimming today in Beach Haven, NJ where unfortunately we were caught in a rip tide. I was able to get out safely but he was not able to. I simply ask for help raising awareness. God Bless! pic.twitter.com/LsQzQBjMod
— Luke B. Ferreras, MBA (@LukeFerreras) September 4, 2023
BREAKING NEWS REPORT: From radio and on scene reporting. If official information becomes available the story will be updated and corrections made if needed.
October 19, 2020
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Around 11:05 pm shots rang out on Spring Street and a man was found shot in the middle of the 200 Block between Calhoun and White Streets. Trenton Police were on scene quickly and called for Trenton EMS to respond.
TEMS and Capital Health Paramedics arrived treated the patient and transported the person to the Trauma Center at Capital Health Regional Medical Center. A “trauma alert” was called due to the seriousness of the injures.
Trenton Police were on scene investigating. No further details were available at the time of this report. If further details become available the story will be updated and additions-corrections made.
There have been serval acts of senseless gun violence on Spring Street this year you can read about those below:
Additional MidJersey.News stories on Spring Street gun violence:
Yesterday’s Spring Street Shooting Victim Identified, 30th Murder Of Year
BREAKING: Fatal Shooting On Spring Street In Trenton
Fatal Shooting On Spring Street Last Night
Victim Identified In Last Nights Murder
Trenton Police investigate a shooting on Spring Street tonight.
February 26, 2021
By: Tyler Eckel
See MidJersey.News’ related breaking news story here: Hamilton Police investigating possible shooting
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP (MERCER)— On February 26, Hamilton Police were detailed to the unit block of Coral Drive on a robbery investigation that included a firearm being discharged.
Police received multiple 911 calls just after 4:00 pm stating a person on Coral Drive pulled out a gun and shot it. Responding officers were met by a male and female victim that reported they were approached by a black male suspect armed with a handgun, as they were exiting their vehicle. The male suspect demanded money and a backpack from the victims. During the course of the struggle, the gun was discharged, and the male suspect, along with a second suspect towards Alton Road.
Neither of the victims sustained gunshot injuries, however one of the victims was assaulted by the suspect.
The first suspect was described as a black male, 5’8” tall, wearing a black hoodie, gray face mask, and displayed a semi-automatic handgun.
The second suspect was described as a taller black male, wearing a tan or yellow hoodie, and a black face mask.
No arrests have been made.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Nicholas Schulte of Hamilton Police Division’s Criminal Investigations Section at (609)689-5825. Detective Schulte can also be contacted via email at [email protected]. The public can also contact the Hamilton Police Crime Tip Hotline at (609)581-4001.
Photos by Tyler Eckel
June 8, 2023
TRENTON, N.J. – A Mercer County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 130 months in prison for his role as the leader of a Trenton drug-trafficking organization responsible for the distribution of heroin in the Trenton area, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Robert M. Gbanapolor, 36, of Trenton, previously pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp to a superseding indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin; one count of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin; and one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute a detectable amount of heroin.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
From June 2018 through May 2019, Gbanapolor and others engaged in a heroin trafficking conspiracy in the areas of Stuyvesant, Hoffman, and Highland avenues in Trenton, as well as in the area of Barbary Road in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Gbanapolor obtained regular bulk supplies of heroin from Duane Paulino-Escalera, whom Gbanapolor referred to as “Papi.” Gbanapolor, in turn, distributed this heroin for profit to other members of the drug-trafficking organization, who distributed the heroin in and around Trenton. Paulino-Escalera pleaded guilty in January 2020 and was sentenced on May 7, 2021, to five years in prison.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Shipp sentenced Gbanapolor to four years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey Division, Camden Resident Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz; and task force officers of the Trenton Police Department, under the direction of Police Director Steve Wilson, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked detectives and officers of the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Christine A. Hoffman; detectives and officers of the Gloucester Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Harkins; members of the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; detectives and officers of the Bordentown Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Pesce; and special agents of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric A. Boden, Attorney in Charge of the Trenton Office, and Michelle Gasparian, Chief of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark.
23-170
Defense counsel: Mark W. Catanzaro Esq., Mt. Holly, New Jersey
Photo by Sora Shimazaki on Pexels.com
January 22, 2021
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ (MIDDLESEX)–Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced that a former meter reader for the New Brunswick Water Department has been sentenced to state prison for participating in a scheme with two other former water department employees to reduce the water and sewer bills of numerous customers in return for bribes.
Guillermo Quinones, 51, of Somerset, N.J., was sentenced yesterday, Jan. 21, to five years in state prison by Superior Court Judge Robert Kirsch in Union County. He pleaded guilty on Feb. 14, 2020 to official misconduct. Quinones forfeited his job with the water department and is permanently barred from public employment in New Jersey.
Two other former employees of the New Brunswick Water Department who participated in the scheme with Quinones previously pleaded guilty to official misconduct. Joseph DeBonis, 58, of Toms River, N.J., a former senior account clerk, and William Ortiz, 59, of North Brunswick, N.J., a former meter reader, were each sentenced to five years in prison by Judge Kirsch on Oct. 4, 2019.
Deputy Attorney General Samantha Keleher represented the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability at the sentencing hearing for Quinones. She prosecuted Quinones, DeBonis and Ortiz with former Deputy Attorney General Anthony Robinson, under the supervision of Corruption Bureau Chief Peter Lee and Counsel to the Director Anthony Picione. The defendants were charged in an investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA).
“The prison sentences we have secured in this case reflect our resolve to investigate and aggressively prosecute public employees who unlawfully use their positions for personal gain,” said Attorney General Grewal. “We now have secured five-year prison sentences for three water department employees who corruptly profited at the expense of the City of New Brunswick and its residents. These prosecutions should deter other government employees who might consider betraying the trust placed in them by the public.”
“One of our primary missions in OPIA is to ensure that government employees who break the law and corruptly exploit their public positions are held accountable,” said OPIA Director Thomas Eicher. “Quinones and the other two water department employees we sent to prison took bribes from dozens of customers in return for falsely and dramatically reducing water and sewer bills. Their criminal conduct cost the city hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
In addition to the three defendants employed by the water department, 11 residents were charged with allegedly paying cash to have their water and sewer bills reduced. One resident pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful benefit to a public servant for official behavior and was sentenced to probation. The other 10 were charged with theft by unlawful taking and admitted into the Pre-Trial Intervention program on the condition that they pay full restitution.
Quinones, Ortiz and DeBonis illegally reduced water and sewer bills for roughly 50 different properties over a period of several years in return for bribes totaling approximately $20,000. Quinones and Ortiz would solicit bribes from customers and then arrange for bill reductions through DeBonis, who had access as a senior account clerk to the city’s water and sewer database. After Quinones and Ortiz received bribes, they provided DeBonis with information about the customer’s properties, and DeBonis modified the customer’s water and sewer bills to dramatically reduce the charges. Fees were reduced at times by as much as 90 percent. DeBonis took a share of the bribe payments in return for falsifying the bills.
Attorney General Grewal created the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability in September 2018 to combat corruption and strengthen public confidence in government institutions. In December 2019, the Attorney General issued a directive codifying OPIA and making it a permanent part of the Attorney General’s Office. That directive established the OPIA Corruption Bureau as the lead office within the Department of Law & Public Safety for the investigation and prosecution of state criminal violations involving corruption and abuse of public trust.
OPIA has a toll-free Tipline 1-844-OPIA-TIPS for the public to report corruption. The AG’s Office has an Anti-Corruption Reward Program that offers a reward of up to $25,000 for tips leading to a conviction for a crime involving public corruption. Information is posted at: http://nj.gov/oag/corruption/reward.html.
Defense Attorney: David Oakley, Anderl & Oakley, PC, Princeton, N.J.
Photo by PS Photography on Pexels.comJanuary 1, 2021
UPPER FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, NJ (MONMOUTH)–At 10:49 am, the Hope Fire Company of Allentown was dispatched to I-195 east bound at mile maker 11.2 for a well involved car fire. Firefighters arrived quickly with two engines and extinguished the fire. No further information was available.
