TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Sometime around 9:00 a.m. this morning Sunday February 12, 2023, Trenton Police, Trenton EMS, Captial Health Paramedics, and Trenton Fire Department responded to West Hanover Street near the intersection of Passaic Street for a reported person shot in the head and lying in the middle of the roadway. Trenton Police secured the scene for the investigation while Paramedics pronounced the victim deceased.
The Mercer County Homicide Task Force was on scene investigating.
This is a breaking news report and when official information becomes available the story will be updated.
See link below for updated information:
Police Director Steve Wilson meeting with officers at the scene.
LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–Police say that on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at approximately 3:25p.m., the Lawrence Township Police Department received a 9-1-1 call reporting a house fire along the 2300 block of Princeton Pike (Lawrenceville, NJ 08648). Officers responded to find visible fire coming from rear of the home.
The resident and his two dogs were able to exit the home. The dogs were not injured, however the resident sustained moderate burns to the face and arms. The resident was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Members of the Lawrence Township Fire Department were assisted by area fire departments from Hamilton Township and Ewing Township.
The fire was placed under control at 4:17p.m. by Lawrence Township Fire Chief Jack Oakley. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Lawrence Township Police Department, Lawrence Township Fire Marshal’s Office and Mercer County Prosecutors Office.
A portion of Princeton Pike was closed to traffic as a result of fire department operations.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Lawrence Township Police Detective James Steimle at 609-896-1111 / [email protected].
WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–The Robbinsville-Allentown High School Ravens Cooperative Ice Hockey Team fell to Ocean Township High School with a final score of 1-0 in Round two of the State Playoffs. Shots on goal Robbinsville 48, Ocean Township 26.
Photo Gallery:
February 20, 2024
WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–The Robbinsville-Allentown High School Ravens Cooperative Ice Hockey Team won their game against North Hunterdon High School Lions with a final score of 6-0 in the first round of the NJSIAA State Tournament tonight at Mercer County Park. The Ravens will advance to Round 2 on Friday against Ocean to be held at Mercer County Park at 3:30 p.m.
The Raven’s Zach Duggan scored his 100th career point in tonight’s game.
Photo Gallery:
February 16, 2024
WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–The Robbinsville-Allentown High School Cooperative Hockey team won the Mercer County Hockey tournament at the Mercer County Skating Center tonight. The final score was Robbinsville-Allentown 3 Notre Dame High School 1. This is Robbinsville-Allentown’s first Mercer County Tournament title.
Photo Gallery:
Photos by: Dennis Symons, MidJersey.news
February 15, 2023
WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–Last night, February 14, 2023, the Robbinsville-Allentown Ravens put on quite the show when they played none other than… the Robbinsville-Allentown Ravens! At an intra-squad game to remember, the Cancer Crushers took on the Red Blood Cells in the fight against sarcoma in honor of Nathan Ugi, a 12-year old 7th grader from Stonebridge Middle School in Allentown.
Nate was on-hand to drop the ceremonial puck under an honor guard of sticks and was presented a magic jersey signed by all the players and coaches. “We know that sometimes going through health issues can be a tough go, so we want you to know when things get a little bit tough and you feel a little down, you put on this magic jersey and it makes things a little bit better for you”, Coach Dan Bergan shared.
Team Nate bracelets and keychains were sold at the event and over $1,200 has been raised to offset Nate’s medical expenses and “more has been coming in all day. The love our community and hockey family has shared for Nate is so spectacular”, Amy Weltner shared.
After a grueling hour-long scrimmage, with a few antics thrown in for good measure and some light-hearted laughs – the Cancer Crushers took the game in an 11-7 win over the Red Blood Cells.
As the night wrapped up with a fist bump line with Nate as the players carrying yellow taped sticks with helmet stickers that proclaimed, “We Skate for Nate” exited the ice, Nate’s smile was ear-to-ear and that was the best part of it all. Bergan expressed that “Nate inspired us all to remember what is most important in life. The good in the world lies quiet at times but know that it is there and will rise to the occasion. This is such an occasion.”
December 21, 2022
WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–Notre Dame Ice Hockey scored within the last 15 seconds of the 3rd period winning the game against Robbinsville-Allentown this afternoon at Mercer County Park Skating Center. The final score was Notre Dame 3 Robbinsville-Allentown 2. See below for today’s photo gallery:
Photo gallery:
February 25, 2022
WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–Marlboro-Holmdel won their game against Robbinsville-Allentown with a final score of 3-0 at the Mercer County Skating Center. Marlboro-Holmdel advances to the Quarterfinal Round in the NJSIAA State Ice Hockey Tournament Public C Division. Marlboro-Holmdel takes on Governor Livingston on Monday February 28, 2022.
February 11, 2022
WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–The Robbinsville – Allentown High School Cooperative Ice Hockey team shuts out Lawrence Township High School with a final score of 6-0 in the Mercer County Tournament.
The Robbinsville – Allentown will advance to the semifinal round to be held at 8:00 p.m. on February 16, 2022. The match up will be decided after Notre Dame and Hopewell play their quarterfinal game on Monday, February 14, 2022.
February 9, 2022
WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–The Robbinsville-Allentown High School Cooperative Ice Hockey Team defeated Notre Dame with a final score of 4-2 at the Mercer County Skating Center tonight. This win gives Robbinsville the #2 seed in the Mercer County Tournament.
Photo gallery:
Above photos by: Craig Weltner, Robbinsville-Allentown #27 – Allentown High School
January 26, 2022
WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–The Robbinsville-Allentown High School Cooperative Ice Hockey Team defeated Princeton 2-1 this afternoon at the Mercer County Skating Center. Princeton outshot Robbinsville with 53 to 22 shots on goal but, Robbinsville’s Daltan Tilghman (AHS) was able to put 2 in the back of the net. Robbinsville’s goalie Zander Wiley like a brick wall stopped 52 of 53 shots on goal. It was the first time Robbinsville has defeated Princeton since 2016.
Photos and story by: Craig Weltner, #27 (AHS)
January 21, 2022
WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–This afternoon at Mercer County Skating Center the Robbinsville-Allentown Coopertive Ice Hockey Team blanked Lawrence High School with a final score of 6-0. It was also Robbinsville Raven’s Senior Night
Photo gallery:
Above photos by: Craig Weltner, Robbinsville-Allentown Hockey #27 – Allentown High School
January 14, 2022
WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–The Robbinsville-Allentown High School Cooperative Hockey Team defeated Hamilton this evening with a final score of 5-2. Robbinsville’s Jack Morgan scored his first goal tonight.
Photo Gallery:
January 12, 2022
WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–Tonight at Mercer County Park Skating Center Robbinsville-Allentown Cooperative Ice Hockey defeated West Windsor-Plainsboro United with a final score of 6-1
Photo gallery:
January 5, 2022
WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–The Robbinsville Ravens-Allentown Red Birds cooperative Ice Hockey Team defeated Paul VI High School of Haddonfield with a final score of 4-3 at Mercer County Skating Center.
The Robbinsville Ravens Ice Hockey Team is a cooperative team between Robbinsville and Allentown High Schools.
Photo Gallery:
December 9, 2021
WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–Last night at Mercer County Park Skating Center Robbinsville Ice Hockey was down by 2 goals with nothing on the board after 2 periods against Hopewell Valley. In the 3rd period Robbinsville scored 3 goals and 1 ENG empty netter goal to bring the final score Hopewell 2, Robbinsville 4.
Hopewell Valley / Montgomery Ice Hockey vs. Robbinsville / Allentown Ice Hockey are cooperative teams with a combination of players from each school.
Note if any students want to try their hand at sports writing or photography to build their portfolios while attending high school or college use the contact form above and send in your information.
Exceptions: Collegiate level and professional teams.
November 30, 2020
TRENTON-ROBBINSVILLE, NJ (MERCER)–Governor Phil Murphy announced in the COVID-19 Press Confrence and via Facebook that youth and adult sports are being place on full pause from December 5th to January 2, 2021. See below as we wait for further direction and a release from the Governor’s Office with an Executive Order that should be available later today. Those items will be added to this story when available. Also the NJSIAA headquartered in Robbinsville has released a statement via social media.
Governor Phil Murphy: “All indoor youth and adult sports are being placed on a full pause – effective 6:00 AM on December 5th through January 2nd, 2021.We’re seeing outbreaks related to indoor sports, and this will help slow the spread. Only exceptions: collegiate-level and professional teams.”
WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–The Robbinsville-Allentown High School Ravens Cooperative Ice Hockey Team fell to Ocean Township High School with a final score of 1-0 in Round two of the State Playoffs. Shots on goal Robbinsville 48, Ocean Township 26.
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–Police say that on Monday, February 19, 2024 at approximately 5:58 a.m. Officers were dispatched to the area of Locust Avenue West on a report of a catalytic converter theft in progress. While speaking with the victim, Officers were advised there was another catalytic converter theft occurring in the 3400 block of South Broad Street. Arriving Officers observed a dark colored sedan exiting the parking lot of Barclay Apartments at a high rate of speed. The Officers attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop on the vehicle but the vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed away from the scene. The Officers terminated the pursuit and last saw the vehicle travelling on Lakeside Boulevard. Shortly after, Officers located a motor vehicle crash between two vehicles in the intersection of Hempstead Road and Arena Drive. One person was seen fleeing on foot from the crash towards Marcia Drive. A foot pursuit ensued and Officers located and arrested one suspect in the backyard of a residence on Shirley Avenue. He was identified as Joel Rodriguez, 31, of the Bronx, NY. Officers were notified by a resident on Marcia Drive that someone was in their backyard. Officers located another suspect behind a shed in the yard. He was identified as Rafael Medina, 31 of the Bronx, NY. Officers also located a third suspect inside the suspect vehicle. He was identified as Renee Gutierrez, 30, of Brooklyn, NY. Inside of the suspect vehicle Officers located approximately twenty catalytic converters and a floor jack. Rodriguez and Medina were transported to Capital Health at Fuld where they were treated for their injuries and released. The driver of the other vehicle was uninjured.
All three suspects were charged with two counts of Theft, two counts of Criminal Mischief, two counts of Possession of Burglars Tools and eighteen counts of Receiving Stolen Property.
Medina and Rodriguez were also charged with Obstructing the Administration of Law and Resisting Arrest. All three were transported and held at the Mercer County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing.
Anyone with any information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective James Rickey of the Hamilton Police Division Major Crimes Unit at (609) 689-5822 or the Hamilton Police Crime Tip Hotline at (609) 581-4008.
February 20, 2024
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri reported today that an investigation into online child exploitation has resulted in the arrest of two Trenton men and the seizure of cocaine, a 9mm handgun and $10,480 in cash.
In November 2023, detectives with the prosecutor’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an individual in Mercer County was uploading items that portrayed the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child. An investigation was initiated, and Marcus Roberts was identified as a subject.
On Friday, February 16, 2024, members of the Mercer County Tactical Response Team, with assistance from the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations Trenton, executed a search warrant at Roberts’ Trenton residence, where detectives seized multiple items of evidentiary value. Roberts, 32, was taken into custody without incident. He is charged with one count of third-degree possession of child sexual abuse material. The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain Roberts pending trial.
During the search warrant execution, detectives also located approximately 55 grams of cocaine, a loaded, 9mm semi-automatic handgun, a digital scale, and $10,480 in cash in a bedroom belonging to Jared Roberts, Marcus’ brother. Jared Roberts, 36, was also taken into custody and charged with drug and weapons offenses. The Prosecutor’s Office has also filed a motion to detain Jared Roberts pending trial.
Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. Third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
Prosecutor Onofri urged anyone with information about suspected improper contact by unknown persons communicating with children via the internet or possible exploitation or sexual abuse of children to please contact his Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit at (609) 989-6568 or the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force tip line at (888) 648-6007.
Despite having been charged, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Marcus Roberts
Jared Roberts
February 20, 2024
WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–The Robbinsville-Allentown High School Ravens Cooperative Ice Hockey Team won their game against North Hunterdon High School Lions with a final score of 6-0 in the first round of the NJSIAA State Tournament tonight at Mercer County Park. The Ravens will advance to Round 2 on Friday against Ocean to be held at Mercer County Park at 3:30 p.m.
The Raven’s Zach Duggan scored his 100th career point in tonight’s game.
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–A three-alarm fire on Oak Street early this morning (Friday, Feb. 23) gutted one row house, damaged another home and injured at least one firefighter. The blaze was reported just after 5:10 a.m. Heavy fire was showing from 63 Oak Street – located on one end of a row of six – and flames were starting to spread into the neighboring home at 65 Oak Street when firefighters arrived. Multiple hose lines were put in service. A second alarm was sounded after a firefighter was injured and then a third alarm was transmitted after an interior collapse occurred. The injured firefighter was transported to hospital by Trenton EMS personnel. The blaze was not officially declared under control until 7:30 a.m. The cause of the fire is under investigation by city, county and state investigators. In addition to all on-duty city firefighters, Signal 22, the volunteer fire and police canteen service, was also on scene.
Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw announced that a grand jury returned a 97-count indictment against a former Mount Laurel police officer who was charged in 2022 with hacking into the social media accounts of multiple women and distributing nude images they kept of themselves.
Ayron Taylor, 24, of Moorestown, was indicted on 54 counts of Elements of Computer Theft (Second and Third Degrees), 21 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, including Distribution of Child Pornography (Second and Third Degrees), 19 counts of Invasion of Privacy (Second and Third Degrees), two counts of Attempted Elements of Computer Theft (Second and Third Degrees) and one count of Official Misconduct (Second Degree).
The charges in the indictment, which was returned February 15, relate to illegal activity targeting approximately 20 separate victims, all female. Taylor is charged with accessing their social media accounts without permission, and in several instances, distributing their nude photos to people on their contact lists. The child pornography distribution charges were filed because some of the photos he accessed were taken before the victims became legal adults.
The official misconduct charge applies because some of Taylor’s actions occurred while he was on duty as a police officer. It is alleged that he used personally-owned electronic devices during that time, not anything that belonged to the police department.
An arraignment will be held March 11 in Superior Court in Mount Holly, and the case will then be scheduled for trial.
The investigation began in September 2022 after the initial victim contacted Evesham Township police to report that her Snapchat and Facebook accounts had been hacked by an unknown person who then sent nude photos she had taken of herself to her Snapchat contacts, messaged them to her Facebook friends, and posted them on her Facebook wall.
The investigation determined the commonality among all victims was that each one had a student email account through Rowan College at Burlington County. The investigation further determined that Taylor illegally accessed approximately 5,000 RCBC email accounts.
Taylor became a full-time officer in Mount Laurel after graduating from the police academy in October 2021. The department took immediate action to suspend him following the initial charges. Taylor resigned after measures were taken to terminate his employment.
RCBC officials have been cooperative with law enforcement throughout the investigation.
The investigation was conducted by the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit and the Evesham Township Police Department, with assistance from the Mount Laurel Police Department, Delran Police Department, the New Jersey State Police and the Riverside Police Department. The lead investigator was ETPD Detective Christopher DeFrancesco. Taylor is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Eife, supervisor of the BCPO Special Victims Unit.
An indictment is an accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.
Ayron Taylor, 24, of Moorestown, was indicted on 54 counts of Elements of Computer Theft (Second and Third Degrees), 21 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, including Distribution of Child Pornography (Second and Third Degrees), 19 counts of Invasion of Privacy (Second and Third Degrees), two counts of Attempted Elements of Computer Theft (Second and Third Degrees) and one count of Official Misconduct (Second Degree).
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–Police say that on Monday, February 19, 2024 at approximately 5:58 a.m. Officers were dispatched to the area of Locust Avenue West on a report of a catalytic converter theft in progress. While speaking with the victim, Officers were advised there was another catalytic converter theft occurring in the 3400 block of South Broad Street. Arriving Officers observed a dark colored sedan exiting the parking lot of Barclay Apartments at a high rate of speed. The Officers attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop on the vehicle but the vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed away from the scene. The Officers terminated the pursuit and last saw the vehicle travelling on Lakeside Boulevard. Shortly after, Officers located a motor vehicle crash between two vehicles in the intersection of Hempstead Road and Arena Drive. One person was seen fleeing on foot from the crash towards Marcia Drive. A foot pursuit ensued and Officers located and arrested one suspect in the backyard of a residence on Shirley Avenue. He was identified as Joel Rodriguez, 31, of the Bronx, NY. Officers were notified by a resident on Marcia Drive that someone was in their backyard. Officers located another suspect behind a shed in the yard. He was identified as Rafael Medina, 31 of the Bronx, NY. Officers also located a third suspect inside the suspect vehicle. He was identified as Renee Gutierrez, 30, of Brooklyn, NY. Inside of the suspect vehicle Officers located approximately twenty catalytic converters and a floor jack. Rodriguez and Medina were transported to Capital Health at Fuld where they were treated for their injuries and released. The driver of the other vehicle was uninjured.
All three suspects were charged with two counts of Theft, two counts of Criminal Mischief, two counts of Possession of Burglars Tools and eighteen counts of Receiving Stolen Property.
Medina and Rodriguez were also charged with Obstructing the Administration of Law and Resisting Arrest. All three were transported and held at the Mercer County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing.
Anyone with any information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective James Rickey of the Hamilton Police Division Major Crimes Unit at (609) 689-5822 or the Hamilton Police Crime Tip Hotline at (609) 581-4008.
WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–The Robbinsville-Allentown High School Ravens Cooperative Ice Hockey Team won their game against North Hunterdon High School Lions with a final score of 6-0 in the first round of the NJSIAA State Tournament tonight at Mercer County Park. The Ravens will advance to Round two on Friday with a time to be determined.
The Raven’s Zach Duggan scored his 100th career point in tonight’s game.
FREEHOLD – A 19-year-old male has been criminally charged after robbing a Howell resident at gunpoint during a merchandise transaction¸ Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Thursday.
Giancarlo Nevarez, of the Clarksburg section of Millstone, has been charged with first-degree Armed Robbery, second-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose and second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon.
On Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at approximately 3:06 p.m., the Howell Township Police Department received a 9-1-1 call reporting a shot-fired incident in the area of the 4200 block of Route 9 southbound in Howell Township.
A subsequent investigation by members of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Bureau and the Howell Township Police Department revealed that a male victim reported that he had contacted Nevarez through a social media platform to sell him a couple of pairs of high-end sneakers. Upon their meeting, Nevarez was shown the sneakers and then he presented a firearm, fired one shot and left with the merchandise. No one was struck and there were no injuries as a result of the gunshot.
Prosecutor Santiago would like to remind the public that the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and other local agencies have set up safe exchange zones to protect the safety of our residents and minimize the risk of someone becoming a victim of robbery through in-person transactions.
Anyone with information about this matter is urged to contact Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Thomas Manzo at 800-533-7443 or Howell Police Department Detective Ryan Jackson at 732-938-4111.
The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Cummings of the Major Crimes Bureau. Nevarez’s representation is unknown at this time.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.
Above photos by: Craig Weltner, Robbinsville-Allentown #27 – Allentown High School
Above photos by: Craig Weltner, Robbinsville-Allentown Hockey #27 – Allentown High School 
