June 11, 2024 – MidJersey.News – reviewthickandthin.com

June 11, 2024

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on June 10, 2024, Anthony Collins, 41, of Seaside Heights, pled guilty to Manslaughter before the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, P.J.Cr.P., in connection with the death of Robert May, 70, of Seaside Heights, on October 1, 2023, in the Borough of Seaside Heights. At the time of his sentencing on August 9, 2024, the State will be seeking a term of three years New Jersey State Prison, subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act.

On September 18, 2023, at approximately 4:00 p.m., Officers from the Seaside Heights Police Department responded to the area of Central Avenue and Sumner Avenue for a report of a fall victim. Responding Officers found a male victim – later identified as Robert May – laying on the ground next to his bicycle. Mr. May was observed to be bleeding from a laceration to his head. Mr. May was initially treated at the scene and refused further medical assistance; he thereafter left the area and returned to his residence. A subsequent investigation by the Seaside Heights Police Department revealed that Mr. May was assaulted by another individual, which caused him to fall off his bicycle and strike his head on the pavement.

On September 18, 2023, at approximately 5:00 p.m., the Seaside Heights Police Department received information that Mr. May had been acting erratically subsequent to his fall, resulting in him being transported by the Tri-Boro First Aid Squad from his home to Community Medical Center in Toms River. Mr. May’s condition continued to deteriorate, and he was subsequently transferred to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. On October 1, 2023, Mr. May succumbed to his injuries. A post-mortem examination conducted on that date by the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of Mr. May’s death to be blunt force injury resulting from the assault which occurred in Seaside Heights on September 18, 2023, and the manner of his death to be homicide.

A continuing investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit and Seaside Heights Police Department determined that Collins was, in fact, the individual who assaulted Mr. May on September 18^th, ultimately resulting in his death.

On October 4, 2023, a warrant was issued for Collins’ arrest, and his name was entered in the National Crime Information Center database. On October 15, 2023, Collins surrendered himself at Seaside Heights Police Department Headquarters. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he has been lodged since that date.

“Certain proof problems in this case resulted in the State entering into a plea agreement with a recommended sentence that is below the normal sentencing range for manslaughter. The victim’s family recognizes and understands those issues, and is in support of this resolution. I commend them for their compassionate and forgiving nature,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.

Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Assistant Prosecutor Julie Peterson, and commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Seaside Heights Police Department Detective Bureau, Seaside Heights Police Department, Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office, and United States Marshals Service, for their collaborative assistance in connection with this investigation, leading to Collins’ arrest, guilty plea, and soon his state prison sentence.

Photo by EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA on Pexels.com

June 11, 2024

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–Police say that on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at approximately 6:00 a.m., Lawrence Township Police Detectives executed a search warrant at a residence along the first block of Woodmont Drive, Lawrenceville, NJ. The search warrant execution was the result of a two-week long narcotics investigation conducted by the Lawrence Township Police Department.

As a result of the search warrant execution, Ahsan Shaikh (25-year-old male, Lawrenceville Resident) was arrested and charged with the following,

Manufacture Defacement of Weapons (2^nd Degree) 2-Counts
Manufacture Firearm with 3D Printer (2^nd Degree)
Manufacture of Covert or Undetectable Firearm (2^nd Degree)
Certain Persons Not to Possess Weapons (4^th Degree)
Weapons; Controlled Dangerous Substance (2^nd Degree)
Possession Prohibited Weapons & Devices, Large Capacity Magazines (4^th Degree) 2-Counts
Criminal Mischief (4^th Degree)
Operating a Controlled Dangerous Substance Production (1^st Degree)
Manufacture / Distribute Controlled Dangerous Substance, Marijuana (2^nd Degree)
Manufacture / Distribute Controlled Dangerous Substance, LSD (1^st Degree)
Manufacture / Distribute Controlled Dangerous Substance, Mushrooms (3^rd Degree)
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Disorderly Persons Offense)

Ahsan Shaikh was transported to the Mercer County Correctional Center awaiting a Detention Hearing.

The Lawrence Township Police Department was assisted by the Mercer County Narcotics Task Force and the Mercer County Tactical Response Team.

This investigation is continuing, anyone with additional information is asked to contact Detective Sean Kerins at 609-844-7121 or [email protected].

June 11, 2024

Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone announced today, that four arrests were made in “Operation Cruel Summer,” a multi-agency undercover operation targeting people who allegedly were using social media in an attempt to lure underage children for sexual activity.

Operation Cruel Summer was led by the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, with assistance from, the East Brunswick Police Department, Carteret Police Department, Highland Park Police Department, New Brunswick Police Department, Perth Amboy Police Department, Piscataway Police Department, Sayreville Police Department, South Brunswick Police Department, South River Police Department, the United States Secret Service, and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office. Four men were arrested without incident and charged over the course of five days, June 3, 2024, through June 6, 2024, and June 10, 2024.

The underage “children” that the perpetrators were speaking with were, in fact, undercover officers. The defendants were arrested when they arrived at a location in East Brunswick, where they expected to find the child. Instead, they were met with several law enforcement officers prepared to arrest them.

“This operation’s success is a beacon of hope for our community and a stark warning to those who attempt to victimize our most vulnerable population: we will relentlessly pursue justice.” – Chief Frank LoSacco

Mohamed Mohamed, 41, of Jersey City, was charged with one count of second- degree Luring.

Peter Wissemann, 27, of Colonia, was charged with one count of second-degree Luring and one count of third-degree Criminal Attempt – Endangering Sexual Conduct with a Child.

Malyar Baron, 32, of Jersey City, was charged with one count of second-degree Luring, one count of second-degree Criminal Attempt -Endangering, one count of third- degree Distributing Obscene Material to a Minor, and one count of third-degree Criminal Attempt – Endangering Sexual Conduct with a Child.

Edgar Rivera, 65, of Piscataway, was charged with one count of second-degree Luring and one count of third-degree Criminal Attempt – Endangering Sexual Conduct with a Child.

The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-3300.

Prosecutor Ciccone would like to commend the agencies involved in Operation Cruel Summer, thanks to their dedication to public safety and tenacious hard work, four alleged child predators have been arrested.

As is the case with all criminal defendants, the charges against Mohamed, Wissemann, Baron and Rivera are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

June 11, 2024–UPDATE

EAST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–East Windsor Police say that on Monday, June 10, 2024, at approximately 4:28 p.m., members of the East Windsor Township Police Department responded to a reported structure fire at building K of the American Way Condos on Avon Drive. The first responding police officers observed heavy smoke and flames coming from the second floor on the 1101ih end of the structure. Police evacuated all residents from the K building.

Fire personnel from several fire departments responded and began fire suppression. Eventually, the fire was extinguished by responding fire personnel. Each of the twenty-four condos within the K building sustained fire and/or water damage and the entire structure was deemed uninhabitable. No injuries to residents or fire personnel were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the East Windsor Township Police Department and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office. At this time, the fire is believed to be non-suspicious.

The Red Cross responded and is assisting with housing for the numerous displaced residents.

The Red Cross confirmed that 47 have been displaced from 24 families. The Red Cross is meeting with families today. East Windsor Township provided hotel rooms for some last night.

East Windsor Volunteer Fire Company 1 – Rescue 42

East Windsor Volunteer Fire Company 2 – Engine 46-1

Hightstown Fire Department – Ladder 41

Robbinsville Fire Department – Squad 40

West Windsor Fire Department – Engine 43 and 44

Cranbury Fire Department – TW48

Plainsboro Fire Department – Engine 49

Hamilton Fire Department -Truckl0-1, El0-4, BCl0-1, SS-18

Lawrence Fire Department – Rescue 202

Prospect Heights Fire Company (Ewing) – Engine 31

Monroe Fire Department – Ladder 23-8, R51

Millstone Fire Department – Squad 32180