October 14, 2021
ROBBINSVILLE, NJ (MERCER)–Robbinsville Township Mayor Dave Fried and Hightstown Borough Mayor Lawrence D. Quattrone are proud to announce a historic shared services agreement to construct a new police station and court on the site of the current Robbinsville Township Municipal Complex at 1117 Route 130.
The new facility will house both the Robbinsville and Hightstown Police Department headquarters and each town’s municipal court. The existing and outdated Robbinsville/Hightstown Municipal Court trailer will be permanently closed and removed from the site.
“Making sure our respective police departments and shared municipal court have the best facilities and every tool possible to perform their duties to the best of their abilities is of paramount importance to both Mayor Quattrone and all of us here in Robbinsville,” Robbinsville Mayor and Director of Public Safety Dave Fried said. “This is a historic agreement between two neighbors which have the utmost respect for each other and their constituents.”
The shared services agreement is for an initial term of 50 years, with a mutual option to extend the agreement for an additional 50 years. Each municipality will pay its share of the costs to construct the facility (approximately $9.8 million) based upon each municipality’s proportional use of the facility’s square footage. The municipalities will share utility costs in the same proportion as the construction costs.
The Robbinsville and Hightstown Police Departments will each occupy their own dedicated space within the new facility and remain separate and distinct departments. Additionally, the Hightstown Police Department will operate a sub-station located in the new municipal complex building at 230 Mercer Street in Hightstown and will continue to maintain the same 24/7 police coverage within the Borough of Hightstown that it currently provides.
“We have shared our court and jail cells with Robbinsville for several years, so expanding the partnership further by sharing a police station is a natural fit,” Hightstown Mayor Quattrone said. “Not only do our hardworking police benefit from the new state-of-the-art facilities, but our residents will continue to receive the same response and dedicated service from the officers they respect and love.”
The Robbinsville and Hightstown Municipal Courts will continue to operate in the new facility under its existing agreement to share facilities, employees, equipment and supplies. This new shared services agreement will not change each municipality’s status as separate and distinct municipal courts.
Ground-breaking for the new police and court facility is scheduled for 2022 and construction is expected to take approximately 12 months.
October 14, 2021
NEWARK, N.J. – A Suffolk County, New York, man was sentenced today to 33 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Keith Richter, a/k/a “Conan,” 62, of Bay Shore, New York, previously pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Judge McNulty imposed the sentence today by videoconference.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Richter is the national president of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club (the “Pagans”)—an outlaw motorcycle gang known by law enforcement to engage in illegal activity including narcotics trafficking, weapons trafficking, and violent crimes.
On or about February 20, 2021, the Pagans hosted a party in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. While Richter was traveling from the party to his home in Suffolk County, New York, law enforcement pulled the vehicle over in Mercer County, New Jersey. Law enforcement recovered a loaded Ruger P345 .45 caliber handgun from a front-seat compartment in the vehicle. As a result, law enforcement obtained a warrant for Richter’s arrest, which was executed on February 26, 2021.
Richter was previously convicted of felony offenses, including conspiracy to commit murder and aggravated assault in aid of racketeering, for which he served a 16-year term of imprisonment.
In addition to the prison term, Judge McNulty sentenced Richter to three years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews; special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson; the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Timothy D. Sini; the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of William A. Daniel; and the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to today’s sentence.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Frazer, R. Joseph Gribko, and Samantha C. Fasanello, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark.
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Defense counsel: James R. Froccaro Jr. Esq., Port Washington, New York
Photo by Sora Shimazaki on Pexels.com
October 14, 2021
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Around 3:00 p.m. Trenton Police responded to Euclid Avenue near Hampton Avenue for a reported person shot. Trenton EMS, Capital Health Paramedics and Trenton Fire Department responded to the scene.
Trenton police confirmed one person was shot and transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center and is in stable condition, no further information is available at this time.
Photos by: Brian McCarthy
October 14, 2021
ROBBINSVILLE, NJ (MERCER)–A grand opening was held this morning for New Jersey’s newest Wawa at 1220 Route 130. As part of the celebration NJ Native, Ari Shiner who is Wawa’s first ever supported employment associate was honored for being with the company for 40 years. Wawa has a longstanding partnership with Eden Autism Services and Ari Shiner led the way in opening the door for individuals with Autism to gain employment.
“At Wawa, our core purpose is to fulfil lives and that starts with providing a meaningful experience for our 37,000 associates across 940 stores,” said Chris Gheysens, President & CEO of, Wawa. “This new store opening also marks the 40th year of our supported employment program with Eden Autism Services, a very important and valued partner. Eden’s emplyment program for adults with autism (WERCS) started in 1981 when we hired Ari Shiner in our Princeton store. Today, we are thrilled to honor Ari on 40 years of service and all that he has provided to our company and to our customers though the years. Happy 40th Wawaversary Ari!”
Today, Wawa’s supported employment program includes over 750 associates across the company and partnerships with dozens of supported employment programs.
“Ari was truly a pioneer in the field of supported employment,” said Scott Kent, Area Manager for Central New Jersey Wawa stores. “When customers come in and see Ari in the store, they immediately smile and go over to say hello!”
The Wawa Foundation presented Eden Autism Services with a $100,000. grant to support their ongoing expansion of services to the autism community.
Wawa’s Hoagies for Heroes hoagie-building competition was held between the Robbinsville Township Police Department and the Robbinsville Township Fire Department. $1,000 was presented to each departments charity of choice. The Robbinsville Township Police chose Robbinsville Township C.A.R.E and the Robbinsville Fire Department chose Robbinsville American Legion Post #530.
Robbinsville Wawa at 1220 Route 130 at the corner of Medowbrook Road and Route 130
October 14, 2021
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Just after 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, Trenton police received a Shot Spotter activation for multiple rounds at 900 Southard Street. Also, a Trenton Police Donnelly Homes post was parked stationary approximately 50 yards away from the shooting and heard gunshots. The officers immediately drove toward the shots and encountered the male victim who was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim, identified as 26 year-old Melvin Williams of Trenton, was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center and pronounced dead a short time later.
No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Detective Scott Peterson of the Mercer County Homicide Task Force at (609) 989-6406. Tips can also be emailed to [email protected].
This was the second shooting last night the other was at Lalor and Centre Street around 9:00 p.m. Trenton Police say that one individual was shot multiple times and is being treated at Capital Health Regional Medical Center and the investigation is ongoing.
Two Shootings Reported In Trenton
Scenes from the first shooting last night on Lalor at the intersection with Centre Street.
Names of 2021* homicide victims:
- 2/18/2021 Jabree Saunders, 26, from shooting on May 14, 2018
- 2/22/2021 Khalil Gibbs, 25, of West Windsor, shooting
- 2/25/2021 Lovelle Laramore, 60, of Trenton shooting
- 4/15/2021 Kaheem Carter, 22, of Trenton, shooting
- 4/20/2021 Shaquan McNeil, 25, of Trenton, shooting
- 4/24/2021 Cheryl Jones, 65, of Trenton, shooting
- 4/29/2021 Ramire Harvey, 25, of Trenton, shooting
- 5/15/2021 David Williams 36, of Trenton, shooting
- 5/29/2021 Edgar Geovani Sis-Luis, 34, of Trenton, aggravated manslaughter
- 7/05/2021 Dion Ellis, 16, Trenton, Shooting
- 7/14/2021 Pablo Herrera Chun, 53, Trenton, Shooting
- 7/19/2021 William Mitchell, 33, Trenton, Shooting
- 7/19/2021 Jermel Carter, 38, Trenton, Shooting
- 7/29/2021 Leonard Pettigrew, 58, Trenton, Shooting
- 7/30/2021 Shaquil Loftin, 23, Shooting, Trenton
- 8/01/2021 Daquan Basnight, 30, of Ewing, Shooting
- 8/13/2021 Javier Chaj-Ajtun, 33, of Trenton, Shooting
- 8/19/2021 Herberth Ramirez Pimentel, 37, of Trenton, Shooting
- 8/23/2021 Yanquai Edwards, 25, of Rancocas, NJ, Shooting
- 8/25/2021 Daron Cheston, 18, Trenton, Shooting
- 8/30/2021 Fred Davis, 43, Trenton, Shooting
- 9/06/2021 Shamiem Young, 26, Trenton, Shooting
- 9/17/2021 Jeff Charles, 37, Trenton, Shooting
- 9/25/2021 Shemiah Davis, 15, Trenton, Shooting
- 10/2/2021 Omar Burgess, 49, of Trenton, Shooting
- 10/3/2021 Elias Juarez Lopez, 31, of Princeton, Shooting
- 10/4/2021 Candice Ruff, 19, of Trenton, Shooting On September 25
- 10/7/2021 Douglas Munn, 50, of Trenton. Shooting
- 10/13/2021 Melvin Williams 26, of Trenton, Shooting
*Updated to reflect the person who died in 2021 from complications from a shooting on May 14, 2018 as per medical examiner report.
October 14, 2021
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–On October 13, 2021, at approximately 8:04 am, a 2014 Freightliner Box Truck, driven by Escarlin Dedios-Corporan, a 40yoa male from Trenton, was traveling southbound on Rt 130 near Rt 156 when it collided with a 2012 Chevy Impala that was traveling northbound on Rt 130 and making a left turn into the FedEx Business complex. The driver of the Impala, Davonica Chavies, 30yoa female from Trenton, had to be extricated from her vehicle by the Hamilton Fire Division. She and her 3-year-old male passenger suffered serious injuries and were transported to Capital Health Hospital at Fuld for treatment. The crash is being investigated by Officer P. Micharski of the Hamilton Police Traffic Unit
Any witnesses are asked to contact the Hamilton Police Traffic Unit at (609)581-4000.
Information may also be left anonymously on the Hamilton Police Crime Tip Hotline at 609-581-4008.
October 14, 2021
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Around 11:54 p.m. October 13, Trenton Fire Department Engine 3 on South Broad Street called in an alarm activation with haze in the area of South Broad and Dye Street. When Engine 3 arrived at 692 South Broad Street they reported a working fire in a large commercial building and requested an “all hands” firefighters pulled a handline to start working on the fire but were having trouble gaining access to the fire. Heavy fire spread thought the building and additional alarms were called. It was reported the roof and parts of the front of the building have collapsed. Firefighters were still on scene at the time of this report. Surrounding fire departments are either covering the city or at the scene of the fire. No further information is available in this preliminary breaking news report, check back later in the day once more details are released.
At 2:48 a.m. additional units and the Mercer County Fire Coordinators were called to assist the City of Trenton.
Firefighters still on scene this morning. Photos below by: Brian McCarthy