LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–Around 9:00 p.m. an alert was sent out on the Mercer County Crime Alert System reporting that Lawrence Police were looking for an armed robbery suspect fleeing from the Quaker Bridge Mall. The suspect vehicle was reported as a black Mercedes Benz sport utility with a broken out back window with black garbage bags taped over the broken window. It was unclear exactly what store was robbed or what was taken. Lawrence Township Police cars were seen in front of the 2nd floor entrance to Macy’s. This is a developing story. Once more information becomes available the story will be updated.
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Five New Jersey Lottery tickets matched four of the five white balls and the Power Ball drawn for the Saturday, July 15, drawing winning the $50,000 second-tier prize. One of those tickets was purchased with the Power Play option, multiplying the prize to $100,000.
Those tickets were sold at the following locations:
Passaic County ($100,000): Jackpocket, 355 Warwick Turnpike, Hewitt;
Mercer County ($50,000): Shoprite #566 of Hamilton Sq., 1235 Route 33, Hamilton Square;
Middlesex County ($50,000): Krauszers, 525 Avenel St., Avenel;
Ocean County ($50,000): Wine Center of Manchester, 1023 Route 70 West, Manchester.
The winning numbers for the Saturday, July 15,drawing were: 02, 09, 43, 55, and 57. The Red Power Ball number was 18. The Power Play was 2X. 142,618 New Jersey players took home an estimated $709,269 in prizes ranging from $4 to $200.
The Powerball jackpot rolls to $900,000,000 for the next drawing to be held Monday, July 17, at 10:59 pm.
CRANBURY, NJ (MIDDLESEX)–Around 9:08 p.m. NJ State Police, multiple fire departments and EMS were dispatched to the NJ Turnpike north bound outer roadway near mile post 69.5 for a motor vehicle crash with two vehicles on their roofs and one on fire. There was no reported entrapment. According to radio reports there were seven BLS type injuries, it was unclear how many were transported to a local hospital for treatment. The New Jersey Turnpike was backed up north bound for approximately 2 miles north of Exit 8 until the accident was cleared.
Crash with Injuries on New Jersey Turnpike Outer Roadway northbound North of Interchange 8 – NJ 33 (Cranbury Twp) 1 Right lane of 3 lanes blocked https://t.co/SKSdyezh49
— 511NJ TPK (@511njtpk) August 6, 2024
Crash with Injuries on New Jersey Turnpike Outer Roadway northbound North of Interchange 8 – NJ 33 (Cranbury Twp) 1 Left lane of 3 lanes blocked https://t.co/3r9BiKlVfL
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on August 2, 2024, Christopher Gregor, 32, of Monroe Township, was sentenced to twenty years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) by the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, P.J.Cr.P. in connection with the death of his six-year-old son, identified as C.M., on or about April 2, 2021. This sentence will be subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act, meaning that Gregor will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentence before he may be considered for parole eligibility.
Gregor was found guilty of Aggravated Manslaughter on May 31, 2024, following a nearly six-week jury trial before Judge Ryan. The jury also found Gregor guilty of Endangering the Welfare of a Child in connection with events that occurred on March 20, 2021, in Barnegat Township. Judge Ryan sentenced Gregor to five years NJSP, as to the Endangering the Welfare of a Child charge. The sentences are to run consecutively.
On April 2, 2021, Officers from the Stafford Township Police Department responded to Southern Ocean Medical Center in reference to the death of a six-year-old male, identified as C.M. On April 3, 2021, a post-mortem examination was performed by the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office, and it was determined that C.M. sustained injuries due to blunt force trauma. In the course of investigating the child’s death, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Squad, and Barnegat Township Police Department, discovered evidence that revealed that Gregor had committed acts of abuse against the child in Barnegat Township on March 20, 2021. Accordingly, Gregor was charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child on July 7, 2021. Though initially lodged in the Ocean County Jail, Gregor was subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
On March 3, 2022, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office received a report from the State’s expert witness that indicated that C.M. died as a result of blunt force impact to the chest and abdomen, and determined the manner of the child’s death to be homicide. An extensive investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Barnegat Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, revealed that C.M. was in the custody of Gregor at the time he sustained his life-ending injuries, and that Gregor was the individual responsible for the child’s death.
On March 9, 2022, Gregor was taken into custody by Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Sea Bright Police Department, and Barnegat Township Police Department. Gregor has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since the date of his apprehension.
“Christopher Gregor will spend the rest of his days here on earth knowing that he caused the death of his son Corey. While nothing can bring this precious child back to his family, I hope that today’s sentence brings some sense of closure for those who knew and loved Corey. At long last, justice for Corey has been accomplished,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.
Prosecutor Billhimer applauds the outstanding efforts of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Christine Lento and Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Jamie Schron, who ably and skillfully tried the case on behalf of the State. The Prosecutor likewise extends his gratitude to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Economic Crimes Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Victim Witness Advocacy Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Barnegat Township Police Department, Stafford Township Police Department, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Englishtown Police Department, Manalapan Township Police Department, Monroe Township Police Department, Sea Bright Police Department, New Jersey State Police, and Alcoa (Tennessee) Police Department, for their collective and cooperative assistance in connection with this investigation, leading to Gregor’s apprehension, guilty verdicts, and now his state prison sentence.
Christopher Gregor, 32, of Monroe Township, was sentenced to twenty years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) by the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, P.J.Cr.P. in connection with the death of his six-year-old son, identified as C.M., on or about April 2, 2021. This sentence will be subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act, meaning that Gregor will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentence before he may be considered for parole eligibility.
WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–According to a New Jersey Transit spokesperson, at approximately 9:26 a.m. Northeast Corridor train 3825, which departed Penn Station New York at 8:12 a.m. and was scheduled to arrive in Trenton at 9:48 a.m., struck a pedestrian just west of Princeton Junction Station. The pedestrian was also struck in the same location by an Amtrak train. The individual sustained fatal injuries. There were no injuries to the 180 customers and crew members on board train 3825. Northeast Corridor train service was suspended in both directions between Princeton Junction and Trenton but has resumed. Local law enforcement is leading the investigation.
Northeast Corridor Line rail service is subject to up to 30-minute delays in both directions due to an earlier pedestrian fatality near Princeton Junction.
— Northeast Corridor (@NJTRANSIT_NEC) August 13, 2024
Northeast Corridor Line rail service has resumed in both directions between Trenton and New Brunswick and is subject to up to 60-minute delays due to an earlier pedestrian fatality near Princeton Junction.
— Northeast Corridor (@NJTRANSIT_NEC) August 13, 2024
Northeast Corridor Line rail service is suspended in both directions between Princeton Junction and Trenton due to a pedestrian fatality near Princeton Junction.
— Northeast Corridor (@NJTRANSIT_NEC) August 13, 2024
NEC train #3825, the 9:48 AM arrival into Trenton, is currently delayed due to a pedestrian strike near Princeton Junction. An update will follow.
— Northeast Corridor (@NJTRANSIT_NEC) August 13, 2024
File photo from a train incident in West Windsor by Brian McCarthy.
WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–West Windsor Police Department reported that on Monday, August 19, 2024 at 4:28 p,m., the 9-1-1 Communications Center received a call from a father of a resident that smoke and flames were emanating from the garage area of his son’s neighbor’s home in the Charter Club Development. West Windsor Police Officers, as well as Fire and Emergency Services units were detailed to the scene. The fire was extinguished in approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
Fire Departments, EMS and other services that responded to the scene were: West Windsor Emergency Services, West Windsor Volunteer Fire Company Station #43, Princeton Junction Volunteer Fire Company Station #44, Plainsboro Fire Company #49, Princeton EMS & Rescue #168, Princeton Fire Company Station #60, East Windsor Fire Company #42, Hamilton Fire Department, Lawrence Fire Rescue #22, Cranbury Fire Department, Hightstown Engine Company #1, Robbinsville Fire Department Station #40, Hamilton EMS and Hightstown EMS. West Windsor Construction Office.
West Windsor Police, Sgt. W. Jones, Det. D. Fiore, & Det. P. Buchanan had arrived on scene to continue the joint investigation with the West Windsor Fire Investigator Captain J. Bain. Preliminary fiindings were that the fire started in the driveway area where there were mulitple rolls of carpet that were located in close proximity to the garage of the residence. The fire is not considered suspicious at this time, and the source is pending further investigation.
The residence sustained significant damage to the garage area of the home. No injuries were reported at the scene.
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–A fire Saturday afternoon (May 25, 2024) in the old, abandoned Mercer Medical Center complex in the 400 block of Bellevue Avenue is under investigation by authorities. The smoky blaze, reported about 3:40 p.m., was quickly brought under control by firefighters. Crews from Engines 1, 8, 9 and 10, Ladders 1 and 4 and Rescue 1 were on scene. Several fires – including one in January 2023 that was covered by MidJersey – have occurred in the old hospital since it was closed in late 2013.
Manchester Township NJ- A visit to a popular privately-owned 7000-acre tract of land in Manchester on Saturday morning ended tragically for a 33-year-old Howell Township man, Edwin Toro-Mejia, who unlawfully visited the Heritage Mineral property and attempted to swim in the lake with other individuals around 09:30 am. Toro-Mejia and a juvenile family member were attempting to cross Crystal Lake when Toro-Mejia appeared to suffer from a muscle cramp in his leg and went into distress approximately thirty yards from the shoreline. Family members went to the aid of Toro-Mejia who eventually submerged underwater and disappeared in the current.
The Manchester Township Police Department, with the assistance of the Manchester Township EMS, the Manchester, Ridgeway, Whiting, Lakehurst, Lacey, Toms River, and South Toms River Volunteer Fire Departments, the Lanoka Harbor and Ocean Beach Search and Rescue Squads, and the New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit responded to the scene were search and rescue operations were conducted for approximately an hour and a half before Toro-Mejia was located unresponsive. He was pulled from the water where he was pronounced deceased. The preliminary investigation indicates the drowning to be accidental.
Assisting with this investigation is the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Investigation Unit and the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office. Anyone who may have been at “Crystal Lake” and witnessed this incident is asked to contact Detective Richard Jupinka of the Manchester Township Police Department’s Investigations Bureau at 732-657-2009 ext. 4206.
The Manchester Township Police Department would like to remind the public that the Heritage Minerals or “ASARCO” site is private property. It is closed for recreational and/or other use and it is a criminal offense to enter or remain on the property. In the interest of public safety, the Manchester Township Police urges everyone to obey the “No Trespassing” signs posted at the site. Trespassers are subject to substantial fines and penalties up to and including incarceration for being on the property.
Photo: Whiting Fire Company Sta. 33, Facebook Page
Past stories related to this site:
Cliffside Park Man Drowned In “Crystal Lake” On ASARCO Site
Allentown, NJ. The Allentown Village Initiative (TAVI) is happy to welcome back the “ManalaPans,” an 18-piece steel pan drum ensemble, for a free concert on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 3 pm behind Allentown Methodist Church, 23 Church Street, Allentown, NJ. The concert is also the first ever “Brearley Birthday Bash” celebrating the 279th birthday of David Brearley, an Allentown resident and attorney who served as an advisor to George Washington in the Revolutionary War and later wrote part of the U.S. Constitution and served as New Jersey’s first chief justice. The ensemble will perform island favorites on the lawn behind the church – attendees are welcome to bring a picnic; TAVI will have hotdogs available and provide complimentary birthday cake. The concert’s rain date is Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 3 pm in the same location.
The ManalaPans, under the direction of David Geltch, showcase advanced high school music students from local school districts, including Upper Freehold Regional, on professional hand-hammered steel pan drums. TAVI is bringing the full ensemble to Allentown to celebrate the students’ accomplishments as part of its “Allentown Arts” program, made possible through the generosity of our community as well as a grant from Monmouth Arts, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners.
The Allentown Village Initiative (TAVI) is a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose focus is on local history education and historic preservation, natural resource protection, economic development, and the arts and culture. A quaint and quiet town of 1,800 residents set apart from the bustle of urban New Jersey, Allentown is conveniently located just minutes from Exit 7a on the New Jersey Turnpike, one hour south of New York City, and less than an hour north of Philadelphia. For more information about this and other events, visit www.allentownvinj.org
HAMILTON (Mercer) – A medical helicopter was called out Saturday evening (Feb. 3, 2024) after a man was badly burned in what was reported to be some kind of fire pit accident. Hamilton firefighters and EMS personnel were initially dispatched to an address on Lehigh Avenue about 8:25 p.m. for a reported house fire. They arrived to find there was no house fire but instead a man who had been badly burned from what was said to be a backyard fire pit. A medical helicopter landed at a field behind Nottingham High School and the patient was flown to the burn unit at Temple University Medical Center in Philadelphia. No other details are available at this time.
Photo by EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA on Pexels.com
