October 26, 2024

ROBBINSVILLE, NJ (MERCER)–Robbinsville Township Mayor and Director of Public Safety Dave Fried announced yesterday, that Lieutenant William Swanhart has been named the next Robbinsville Township Police Department, Chief of Police, effective January 1, 2025.

Swanhart, 43, will take the reins from outgoing Chief Michael K. Polaski, who announced his retirement effective December 31 after 25 years of exemplary public service, in August.

“Lt. Swanhart’s experience, training and steady hand certainly rose to the top during this process,” Fried said. “We are extremely fortunate to have such a deep and talented pool of qualified candidates, and I would have been proud to have any one of them as my chief. Mike will be greatly missed. He was the right man, at the right time, and at the end of the day I feel the exact same way about Lt. Swanhart.”

Swanhart joined the department in December of 2006. Prior to his appointment with the RTPD he worked for New Jersey Transit Police. Swanhart served as a patrolman until being assigned to the Criminal Investigations Unit in October of 2012. In July of 2013, Swanhart was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, where he was assigned supervision of the Criminal Investigation’s Unit. Swanhart reached the rank of Lieutenant in July of 2016.

Since 2022, Swanhart has served as Administrative Lieutenant with duties that include oversight of the department’s Internal Affairs function, Public Information Officer, Field Training Officer Program, Traffic Unit, and School Resource Officers. During his career, Swanhart has been a Drug Recognition Expert, Evidence Custodian, Internal Affairs Officer, Department Training Coordinator, member of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Task Force, and worked with various federal, county, and local law enforcement partners.

“I’m very humbled by the opportunity to lead this great agency,” Swanhart said. “The groundwork was set for me by Chief (Marty) Masseroni, Chief (Chris) Nitti and Chief Polaski and I am excited to keep us moving forward. When you start at the academy as a recruit this is the pinnacle. Just incredibly proud to serve not only this agency, but the citizens of Robbinsville and I am looking forward to building a great relationship with them.”

Among his achievements, Lt. Swanhart garnered the State of New Jersey Highway Traffic Safety Top Gun DWI Enforcement award. In 2014 and 2015, he received training from the United States Secret Service in Hoover, Alabama in the area of computer forensics. After completing the FBI-LEEDA Law Enforcement Development Course in 2017, Lt. Swanhart graduated from the FBI National Academy in 2023, Session 285.

“I would like to congratulate Lt. Swanhart and his family of this achievement,” Chief Polaski said. “Lt. Swanhart has been an integral part of this agency for 18 years and possesses the knowledge and skill set to face the challenges that may lay ahead. The department is in good hands, and this will be a very smooth transition.”

Lieutenant William Swanhart has been named the next Robbinsville Township Police Department, Chief of Police, effective January 1, 2025.

February 29, 2024

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–The Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Trenton Police Department are investigating a Wednesday evening homicide in Trenton, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri reported.

Shortly before 8:00 p.m. on February 28, 2024, Trenton police responded to a report of a shooting in progress at 428 Ardmore Avenue. Upon arrival, officers located an unresponsive male victim on the porch suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at that location a short time later. The victim has been identified as Shawn Moore, 45, of Trenton.

No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Tim Bruey of the Mercer County Homicide Task Force at (609) 433-6540. Information can also be emailed to [email protected]

Names of the 2024 Trenton Homicide Victims

1. 01/13/2024 Eduardo Lopez-Cruz, 38, of Trenton, Shooting
2. 02/28/2024 Shawn Moore, 45, Trenton, Shooting
3. 03/19/2024 Donnell Jenkins age 52, Stabbing
4. 04/04/2024 Jose Alfredo Azcona Garcia, 46, of Trenton, Shooting
5. 05/01/2024 Jerome Francis, 43, of Hamilton
6. 05/01/2024 Chevaughn Fagan, 28, of Trenton
7. 05/19/2024 Stephon Fisher, 18, of Trenton, Shooting

February 19, 2024

NEWARK, NJ — According to a Port Authority Spokesperson, at approximately 12:00 p.m. on Monday, February 19, 2024, Newark Airport Police received a report of a threat made towards Air Canada flight 8657. The plane landed at EWR Terminal-A without incident, and all passengers have deplaned safely with no reported injuries. At 2:52 p.m. The Port Authority Police Department and its canine unit fully cleared the aircraft and normal operations have resumed. The incident is under investigation.

July 15, 2024

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–According to radio reports, shots rang out around 1:45 a.m. on July 2, 2024 in the area of 240 Euclid Avenue. Trenton Police, and EMS responded to the scene. EMS reported they found a victim that was shot in the face and immediately transported the victim to the Trauma Center at Captial Health Regional Medical Center. Not many details about the incident are available.

The Mercer County Prosecutors Office has identified the victim as Capriest Ruiz, 23, of Camden, NJ. He was pronounced on July 3, 2024.

As of July 15, 2024 there have been 14 homicide victims listed in the City of Trenton in 2024.

Names of the 2024 Trenton Homicide Victims

1. 01/13/2024 Eduardo Lopez-Cruz, 38, of Trenton, Shooting
2. 01/16/2024 Stefon Locke, 33, Shooting on 1/16 died 2/8/2024
3. 02/28/2024 Shawn Moore, 45, Trenton, Shooting
4. 03/19/2024 Donnell Jenkins age 52, Stabbing
5. 04/04/2024 Jose Alfredo Azcona Garcia, 46, of Trenton, Shooting
6. 05/01/2024 Jerome Francis, 43, of Hamilton
7. 05/01/2024 Chevaughn Fagan, 28, of Trenton
8. 05/19/2024 Stephon Fisher, 18, of Trenton, Shooting
9. 05/26/2024 Dwayne Penix, 20, of Trenton, Shooting
10. 06/11/2024 Johnathan Applegate
11. 06/23/2024 Samier Vincent, 30, of Trenton, Shooting, died 6/27/2024
12. 07/04/2024 Amir Williams, 32, of Trenton, Shooting
13. 07/02/2024 Capriest Ruiz, 23, of Camden, Shooting, died on 7/3/2024
14. 07/12/2024 Johny Emmanuel Cruz-Rodrigez, Shooting

June 13, 2024

ROBBINSVILLE, NJ (MERCER) – Asrith Katragadda, a senior at Robbinsville High School with an interest in math and computer science, has been named a National Merit Scholar.

Katragadda will use his $2,500 scholarship to help pursue studies at the University of Texas at Austin as he pursues a career in software engineering. He is eager to take the next step in his academic pursuits.

“Robbinsville High School has excellent teachers who made learning these fundamentals really fun, which helped a lot,” he said. “The most satisfying part is knowing that my hard work paid off and this will give me confidence in my academic abilities ahead of college.”

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) recently announced more than 2,900 winners of National Merit Scholarships financed by U.S. colleges and universities.  An additional group of scholars will be announced in July, bringing the total number of college-sponsored Merit Scholarship recipients in the 2024 competition to more than 3,600.

“I would like to thank my mother for always pushing me with my education and giving me the mindset to strive for excellence,” Katragadda said. “That mindset is what made me a competitive and academic driven person.”

When he is not studying computer science, Katragadda enjoys playing volleyball and basketball and watching cricket. 

Asrith Katragadda, a senior at Robbinsville High School with an interest in math and computer science, has been named a National Merit Scholar.

November 2, 2023

PLUMSTED TOWNSHIP, NJ (OCEAN)–Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on November 1, 2023, at approximately 10:00 a.m., a mobile home fire was reported on Lakewood Road in Plumsted Township.  Upon arrival, emergency service personnel observed heavy smoke emanating from the mobile home, with a male victim outside the residence and another victim still trapped inside.  The male victim, later identified as the homeowner, Paul Hakos, 79, was transported to CentraState Medical Center in Freehold for treatment of his injuries.  He is listed in stable condition.  Firefighters located the body of a female victim, later identified as Catherine Hakos, 63, in the back bedroom of the residence.  Ms. Hakos was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

A thorough and extensive investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office-Arson Squad, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, Plumsted Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Plumsted Township Fire Marshal’s Office, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, has revealed that the fire originated underneath the structure, and that a failure of energized electrical equipment could not be eliminated as the cause.  The cause of the fire has been ruled accidental.

Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office-Arson Squad, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, Plumsted Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Plumsted Township Fire Marshal’s Office, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their combined and cooperative assistance in connection with this investigation.

January 12, 2024

Update from the Trenton Police Department:

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Trenton Police Department, Detective Lieutenant Brian Jones told MidJersey.news that at 7:54 p.m. Trenton Police received a call for a juvenile shot on the 100 Block of Frazier Street. Officers arrived on scene and located two victims, and eleven-year-old male and a sixteen-year-old female, who were sitting in the backseat on their mother’s vehicle. The vehicle was occupied by the victim’s mother, grandmother, and two other siblings. The two juvenile victims were transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center by Trenton Emergency Medical Services. Both victims were struck one time in their lower leg. Their injuries are non-life threatening. Preliminary investigation revealed that after the juveniles got into the backseat of their vehicle, a dark colored van or sport utility vehicle pulled alongside the victim’s vehicle and fired at the victim’s vehicle before fleeing on Frazier Street towards Prospect Street. The Mercer County Shooting Response Team is investigating this incident. 

Original MidJersey.news story below:

TRENTON (Mercer) – Two children were reportedly shot this evening (Friday, Jan. 12, 2024), just a little over two hours after two other people were wounded by gunfire in the city.

This latest incidence of violence was reported about 7:55 p.m. in the 100 block of Frazier Street. City police, EMS personnel and firefighters responded and located two juveniles – one initially reported to be about 16, and the other said to be about 11 – suffering from what were described as gunshot wounds to their “lower extremities.”

Both pediatric victims were said to be “conscious and alert” and were quickly taken by ambulance to the trauma center at Capital Health Regional Medical Center.

Earlier this evening, around 5:45 p.m., two people were found shot in the area of the 900 block of Southard Street, which is about a mile away from Frazier Street. And last night (Thursday, Jan. 11) around 6:50 p.m. a person was found shot in the area of the 900 block of South Broad Street.

This is a breaking news report, based on emergency services radio transmissions. All three incidents are under investigation by law enforcement officials. Additional details will be posted as soon as they are released by authorities.

Two People Reported Shot In Trenton

Trenton Shooting Under Investigation

January 13, 2024-Updated

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Trenton Police Department, Detective Lieutenant Brian Jones told MidJersey.news that on Friday, January 12th, 2024 at approximately 5:29 p.m. patrol units responded to a call for service for a disorderly group of males possibly in possession of a handgun hanging out and gambling inside of the hallway of 802 Southard Street.

Upon arrival, officers encountered approximately eight (8) males in the hall way, they approached to further investigate and issue Violation of City ordinance summons for gambling. During the course of the investigation, a male identified as Nasir Reed, 24, of 157 Rossell Avenue Trenton NJ refused all lawful commands, fled from officer’s initiating a foot pursuit, and resisting arrest. During the course of the struggle Reed was in possession of a handgun that discharged causing a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his left upper thigh. Reed was rendered medical aid, released from the hospital, and charged with resisting arrest and weapons offenses. This is an on-going Mercer County Shooting Response Team investigation.

January 12, 2024

TRENTON (Mercer) – Trenton police, Trenton Emergency Medical Service personnel, Capital Health System paramedics and city firefighters from Engine 1 were dispatched about 5:45 p.m. to the 900 block of Southard Street, between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and New Willow Street, for a gunshot victim. 

January 12, 2024

MORRISVILLE, PA — The Pennsylvania State Police reports that yesterday morning, January 11, 2024, around 6:15 a.m. Troopers from Trevose Barracks responded to North Bound US 1 Toll Bridge Morrisville Boro, Bucks County, for a tractor-trailer striking a pedestrian. It was determined that the unidentified pedestrian was attempting to walk across the toll bridge in the center next to the concrete barriers on the north bound side. A tractor and flatbed trailer was traveling north bound in the left travel lane, struck the pedestrian causing her to strike the concrete barrier, and land in the left travel lane. The pedestrian was then struck by two different vehicles. The tractor-trailer stopped on the New Jersey side at the Route 29 exit. The two unidentified vehicles continued north bound and did not stop. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene.

Attempts to identify the pedestrian were unsuccessful. She is described as a black female approx. 30-40 years old, approximately 5’5″- 5’8″, brown eyes, black hair at the base with some light brown highlights, She was wearing a multi colored wool winter cap, a black hooded sweatshirt overtop a blue jacket with FDR Services Healthcare Laundry Specialist logo on the top right side, black legging pants, and black boots. She was also carrying a light brown colored small purse. The two operators that struck the pedestrian after the tractor-trailer maybe unaware of their involvement. The first vehicle was a white pickup truck and the second vehicle was a dark colored SUV. Anyone who witnessed this crash or can help identify the victim and the two vehicles that left the scene can call State Troopers at Trevose Barracks 215-942-3900.

June 7, 2024

FREEHOLD – A female driver was saved from overdosing by law enforcement and emergency services personnel during a DWI checkpoint last Friday night, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago and Allenhurst Police Chief and Monmouth County DWI Task Force Coordinator Michael Schneider jointly announced on Friday.

The adult driver pulled into the checkpoint on Friday night, May 31, in the Asbury Park Circle and was speaking with a Monmouth County Sheriff’s Officer when she suddenly became disoriented. Shortly thereafter, she became unconscious behind the wheel of her vehicle, which was still in gear. Additional officers came over to assist and were able to get the vehicle into park and pull the unconscious driver from inside the car.

Officers administered three separate Narcan deployments before the female eventually started to show signs of regaining consciousness. The driver was transported by the Wanamassa First Aid Squad to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where she was treated and released.

The checkpoint was shut down for approximately 30 minutes while officers dealt with the medical emergency.

“This weekend’s DWI check acted as a safety net for not only this driver, but other residents and motorists who may have been in the vicinity at the time of the medical emergency,” Prosecutor Santiago stated. “I shudder to think of what may have happened if this driver wasn’t stopped at this checkpoint and continued driving down the road when the emergency took place. I’d like to thank our officers and medical personnel, whose quick actions saved a life and prevented what could have been a much worse outcome for everyone involved.”

“I think this incident shows just how important these checkpoints are,” Chief Schneider commented. “It’s extremely likely that pulling into this checkpoint saved this woman’s life. We have an extremely successful program in Monmouth County, and I think this puts an exclamation point on just how important these checkpoints are in keeping our roads safe.”

Summonses for the driver are pending an ongoing investigation.

The checkpoint contacted 686 vehicles that evening, with 9 summonses issued and 1 arrest.

January 5, 2024

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER) — Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) announced a state grand jury has voted to file criminal charges against a correctional police officer with the Mercer County Department of Corrections, after he allegedly accepted bribes for several years in exchange for providing inmates with illegal drugs, tobacco products, and other contraband.

Tyree L. Hobbs, 39, of Hamilton, New Jersey, was indicted last month on four criminal counts, including official misconduct charges, by New Jersey residents serving on the grand jury. The charges and allegations are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Hobbs was charged by complaint on June 14, 2023, following an investigation by OPIA that found the officer was periodically taking bribes from inmates between approximately November 2017 until July 2022, when he was suspended without pay.

“As alleged, the defendant put personal profit ahead of his duty to protect inmates, his fellow officers, and the public,” said Attorney General Platkin. “We will continue to hold accountable those who illegally violate the public’s trust.”

“The bribe payments the defendant was allegedly receiving have come with a high price, causing him to be suspended by his employer and now indicted by a grand jury,” said Thomas Eicher, Executive Director of OPIA. “Smuggling any contraband into a secure facility puts corrections officers and residents at risk and will not be tolerated.”

According to the complaint, the criminal conduct began roughly 10 months after Hobbs joined the Mercer County Department of Corrections in February 2017.

The investigation revealed Hobbs would periodically accept bribes for hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars to smuggle in packages for inmates containing a variety of contraband, typically illicit narcotics and tobacco, into the Mercer County Correction Center (MCCC) in Hopewell Township.

Evidence gathered during the investigation showed Hobbs functioned as a courier, receiving sealed packages outside the MCCC from inmate affiliates — packages he would then bring into the facility and hide in locations accessible to the inmates for whom the deliveries were intended.

During the course of the investigation, it was determined that Hobbs would receive anywhere from $300 to $2,500 in bribes for each such delivery, paid to him either in cash or via mobile money-transfer apps.

It is alleged that the defendant’s conduct violated state regulations as well as policies of the Mercer County DOC that prohibit the possession, sale, or use of contraband in the MCCC and that bar officers from establishing a personal relationship with an inmate, from trading and bartering with inmates, and from giving or receiving gifts from any inmate, or any inmate’s relative, friend, or representative.

Hobbs was indicted on the following charges:

• Official misconduct (2nd degree)

• Pattern of official misconduct (2nd degree)

• Bribery in official and political matters (2nd degree)

• Acceptance or receipt of an unlawful benefit by a public servant (2nd degree)

Second-degree charges each carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000.

The case is being prosecuted by OPIA Deputy Attorney General Brian Uzdavinis, under the supervision of Corruption Bureau Chief Peter Lee, OPIA Deputy Director Anthony Picione and OPIA Director Eicher.

Defense counsel

Stuart J. Alterman of Alterman & Associates, Marlton, New Jersey

August 28, 2023

BARNEGAT LIGHT, NJ (OCEAN)–Save LBI.org held an event last night called “Promises and Realities -Wind Turbine Projects Off LBI Shores” at the Bay Breeze Park Pavilion in Barnegat Light. Speakers at the event were: Kirk Larson Mayor of Barnegat Light, Craig Osten, SaveBLI, Jim Gutowski, A Fisherman’s Perspective, Chris Placitella, Attorney, Thomas Stavola, Attorney, Bob Stern, Ph.D., President Save Long Beach Island, Inc.

Save LBI is “a group of citizens working together to save Long Beach Island and the ocean from the destructive impact of the proposed wind project, and offer sensible renewable energy alternatives. We are a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization and do not endorse any candidates or politicians, but we do aggressively pursue programs, policies, and actions to protect the Island.“

Full video and information provided below:

Video: Save LBI in Barnegat Light 8/27/23

https://www.facebook.com/savelbi/videos/315413530956328/

The post above was created by Denise Barclay Boccia.Save LBI took the turbine photo from developer’s DEIS – added the Washington DC Monument, Barnegat Lighthouse, and a 6 ft man standing at the shoreline.357 Turbines Across Long Beach Island1,047 Total Height for each Turbine

**starting 8-12 miles offshore, will be the largest and most visible wind turbine project in the entire world!