'Little Boy With Green Tractor': Beachwood Landscaper Brian Santos Dies, 20
If grass needed to be cut in Beachwood, Brandon Santos was there to do it — happily.
He was just 12 years old when he began pushing his lawnmower around town, later upgrading to a bicycle with an attached trailer and then finally, a mower, according to his obituary on the Mastapeter Memorial Home website.
Brandon became known around town as "the little boy with the green tractor," ultimately starting his own law mowing business, BS Landscaping.
But Brandon died on Sunday, June 8, at just 20 years old.
When he wasn't cutting grass, Santos enjoyed riding dirt bikes, working on cars, jet ski…
NJ Wildfire Explodes To 12,500 Acres: Latest From Forest Fire Service
An otherwise idyllic spring day along the New Jersey coast was darkened by thick plumes of smoke as a massive wildfire scorched through 12,500 acres — threatening homes, destroying property, and leaving thousands without power Wednesday, April 23.
🚨 A massive wildfire, dubbed the Jones Road Wildfire, is tearing through 1,200 acres in Barnegat Township’s Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area, Ocean County, NJ, as of April 22, 2025, with 0% containment. Mandatory evacuations are underway for Wells Mills Road from Bryant… pic.twitter.com/61nPv8YRcH — Laszlo Varga (@LaszloRealtor) April 2…
Ghost Guns, Meth, Firearm Seized From Pair In Ocean County Raid: AG
Two Ocean County residents are facing charges following a raid on Wednesday, Feb. 19 that turned up numerous ghost guns and methamphetamine, authorities said.
Law enforcement conducted search warrants at multiple locations and recovered and seized, guns, including guns with no serial number- "ghost guns," extended magazines, and a quantity of methamphetamine, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.
The defendants, George Garulle, 56, of Beachwood, and Dana Restaino, 39, of Whiting, conspired to sell a defaced firearm with no serial number, Platkin said.
They were charge…
Beachwood Code Enforcement Officer Admits To Using Job For Own Benefit, Prosecutors Say
A 58-year-old former code enforcement officer for the Borough of Beachwood admitted on Tuesday, Feb. 18 to using his job to line his own pockets, authorities said.
Michael Ruvo, a Toms River resident, pleaded guilty to theft by deception and tampering with public records and is expected to be sentenced to 364 days in jail, Prosecutor Bradley Billhmer said.
In June 2022, Ruvo, while working for Beachwood, issued a code enforcement violation to a property owner on Tiller Avenue, Billhimer said. The property owner contacted Ruvo advising she had received an estimate to bring the property up to…
MDMA, Cocaine, Guns, Ammo, Shrooms, Weed: Ocean County Drug Dealers Busted, Prosecutors Say
Three Ocean County men were arrested and charge this week following a three-month investigation into the distribution of illegal narcotics in Ocean County, authorities said.
Investigators began surveilling the home of Elijah Metellus, a 20-year-old Beachwood resident, because it was being used to store and distribute cocaine, ecstasy/MDMA, psilocybin, and marijuana, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.
On Tuesday, Feb. 4, detectives observed Dominic McGriff, a 43-year-old Beachwood resident, enter the residence, Billhimer said. McGriff then went to an apartment complex in To…
Seaside Heights Voters Reject Merger With Toms River School District: Unofficial Results
Seaside Heights voters rejected a plan to merge the island borough's school district with the Toms River Regional School District.
According to unofficial results, 232 voters in Seaside Heights voted "no" on the merger, while 167 voters said "yes" in the referendum on Tuesday, Apr. 16. The plan would have eventually closed the Seaside district's only school Hugh J. Boyd, Jr. Elementary School.
Mainland voters overwhelmingly approved the merger plan, which would have gone into effect in the 2024-25 school year. In Beachwood, Pine Beach, South Toms River, and Toms River, 7,186 voters sai…
Teacher Hit With New Charges In Case Involving Jersey Shore Student, Nude Photos: Prosecutor
A middle school teacher and high school advisor has been hit with new charges in a case involving a student and nude photos, authorities said.
Andrew Fantasia, 27, of Beachwood, originally was charged on Wednesday, Oct. 25 with aggravated criminal sexual contact, child endangerment and official misconduct, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Jackson Township Police Chief Matthew Kunz.
On Wednesday, Nov. 1, Fantasia was additionally charged with possession of child pornography and an additional count of child endangerment, Billhimer said.
A full forensic analy…
Jersey Shore Man Sent Texts With Racial Slurs, Threats: Prosecutor
A 44-year-old man from Ocean County is accused of texting another man with racial slurs and threats, authorities said.
Walter Maxim, of Beachwood, was charged with three counts of bias intimidation, terroristic threats, stalking, and harassment, according to Ocean County First Assistant Prosecutor Michael T. Nolan.
On Monday, Oct. 23, an individual appeared at Beachwood Police Department Headquarters to report that he and members of his family had been the victims of bias-related threats and communications.
The victim stated that his son attends school outside the state of New J…
Jersey Shore Man Charged In Fatal 86 MPH DWI Crash: Prosecutor
A 41-year-old man from the Jersey Shore has been charged with vehicular manslaughter in connection with a fatal high-speed crash in May, authorities said.
John Zinkoski, 41, of Beachwood, surrendered himself to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, Aug. 22, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
The charges are in connection with the alcohol-related crash that occurred in Plumsted Township which resulted in the death of Judi Smith, 59, of Browns Mills, the prosecutor said.
On May 12 at approximately 5:50 p.m., Plumsted Township police re…
Motorcyclist, 26-Year-Old Dad, Killed In Jersey Shore Crash
A 26-year-old motorcyclist and father of a 9-month-old girl was killed in a collision on the Jersey Shore last week, authorities said.
The driver of an SUV was ticketed for careless driving and making an improper turn, Berkeley Township police said.
The motorcyclist, identified as Daniel Wisnewski of Beachwood, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said on Friday, Sept. 9.
On Tuesday, Aug. 30 at 5:11 p.m, Berkeley police responded to 804 Pinewald-Keswick Road for a report of a motor vehicle crash with a motorcyclist down into the woods.
Officers bega…
