$1.4M Paid To Suspended NJ Officers Awaiting Trial For No-Show Extra Duty Jobs: Report $1.4M Paid To Suspended NJ Officers Awaiting Trial For No-Show Extra Duty Jobs: Report
$1.4M Paid To Suspended NJ Officers Awaiting Trial For No-Show Extra Duty Jobs: Report Four suspended police officers from Edison were paid $1.4 million during the two years they awaited trial for billing the town for no-show "extra duty" assignments, NJ Advance Media reports. The officers have been on paid suspension ever since, but were put on unpaid leave earlier this month when new indictments were announced against Sgt. Ioannis (John) Mpletsakis, 43, of Edison Township, Patrolman James Panagoulakos, 36, of Jackson Township, Patrolman Gregory Makras, 38, of Cranford and Sgt. Brian Rossmeyer, 45, of Bridgewater, according to the outlet and Middlesex County Pr…
Hunterdon County Native, Beloved New Dad Jack Duffy Jr. Dies Suddenly At 35 Hunterdon County Native, Beloved New Dad Jack Duffy Jr. Dies Suddenly At 35
Hunterdon County Native, Beloved New Dad Jack Duffy Jr. Dies Suddenly At 35 Hunterdon County native and beloved new father John Thomas “Jack” Duffy, Jr. died unexpectedly on Friday, Sept. 30 at the age of 35. Born in Denver, Colorado, Jack grew up in Whitehouse Station and currently lived in Hampton, his obituary says. Jack was a member of the Hunterdon Central Regional High School Class of 2005 and Temple University 2012. He spent over a decade building a career in the insurance industry and worked as a senior underwriter, according to his memorial. Jack was described as having “the biggest heart” and was enthusiastic about anything and everything that he did. H…
4 NJ Police Officers Indicted For Bilking Town For No-Show 'Extra Duty' Assignments: Prosecutor 4 NJ Police Officers Indicted For Bilking Town For No-Show 'Extra Duty' Assignments: Prosecutor
4 NJ Police Officers Indicted For Bilking Town For No-Show 'Extra Duty' Assignments: Prosecutor Four suspended police officers from Central Jersey bilked their town for no-show "extra duty" assignments, authorities said. The Edison Police officers were charged with racketeering, bribery, theft, money laundering and witness tampering, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Chief Thomas Bryan of the Edison Police Department said on Friday, Oct. 14. They did not say how much taxpayer money was stolen by the former officers. Sergeant Ioannis (John) Mpletsakis, 43, of Edison Township, Patrolman James Panagoulakos, 36, of Jackson Township, Patrolman Gregory&nbs…
Houlihan's Closes Two North Jersey Locations Houlihan's Closes Two North Jersey Locations
Houlihan's Closes Two North Jersey Locations Two Houlihan's locations in North Jersey have closed, NJ Advance Media reports. The Bridgewater and Parsippany restaurants apparently closed on Sept. 28, the outlet said. The stores were located on 1288 Route 22 E. and 1735 Route 46. The restaurant chain did not say why the locations shuttered. Employees will be relocated to other locations, officials said.  Click here for more from NJ Advance Media.
18 Nabbed In Massive Hunterdon County Meth, Heroin, Cocaine, Suboxone Bust: Prosecutor 18 Nabbed In Massive Hunterdon County Meth, Heroin, Cocaine, Suboxone Bust: Prosecutor
18 Nabbed In Massive Hunterdon County Meth, Heroin, Cocaine, Suboxone Bust: Prosecutor Eighteen people were arrested and charged as part of a several-month investigation into the distribution of meth, heroin, cocaine, and suboxone in Hunterdon County, authorities announced on Monday, Sept. 19. The investigation was launched by the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office with assistance from the Clinton Township Police Department Investigative Division after numerous complaints were received regarding narcotic activity along Route 22 in Clinton Township, Prosecutor Renée Robeson said. The following suspects were arrested and charged as part of the investigation, Robeson said: L…
Overturned Trailer Shuts Route 22 Overturned Trailer Shuts Route 22
Overturned Trailer Shuts Route 22 An overturned tractor trailer shut Route 22 in Somerset County during rush hour Monday, Sept. 19. The incident happened in the westbound lanes at Chimney Rock Road in Bridgewater, the NJDOT reports. All lanes were closed as of 9:20 a.m.
Unmarked NJSP Truck Among Vehicles Hit By Driver Suffering Medical Episode On I-287 Unmarked NJSP Truck Among Vehicles Hit By Driver Suffering Medical Episode On I-287
Unmarked Njsp Truck Among Vehicles Hit By Driver Suffering Medical Episode On I-287 A driver suffering a medical episode struck an unmarked State Police pickup truck on Route 287 Wednesday, Sept. 14, authorities said. The NJSP employee in an unmarked Fort F-150 spotted a silver Hyundai driving erratically in the southbound left lane and shoulder just before 6 p.m. near milepost 14.2 in Bridgewater, New Jersey State Police Sgt. Lawrence Peele said. The Hyundai rear ended the Ford then continued southbound and struck multiple vehicles. The driver of the Hyundai was suffering from a medical episode at the time of the crash, and was transported to an area hospital for treatme…
Ithaca College Student From NJ, 20, Dies In Weekend Crash Ithaca College Student From NJ, 20, Dies In Weekend Crash
Ithaca College Student From NJ, 20, Dies In Weekend Crash A 20-year-old Ithaca College student from New Jersey died in a crash over the weekend, authorities said. Shea T. Colbert, of Bridgewater, was heading southeast on Coddington Road in Ithaca, when he veered off the road, striking multiple trees Saturday, Sept. 10, New York State Police said. He was found around 8 a.m. and pronounced dead at the scene. The B-R Baseball Program is incredibly saddened at the loss of former player Shea Colbert. We offer our deepest... Posted by Bridgewater-Raritan High School Baseball on Monday, September 12, 2022 Colbert was a sophomore in the School of Bus…
Random License Plate Check Nabs Fugitive With Cocaine, Heroin On Route 22: Authorities Random License Plate Check Nabs Fugitive With Cocaine, Heroin On Route 22: Authorities
Random License Plate Check Nabs Fugitive With Cocaine, Heroin On Route 22: Authorities A 48-year-old driver subject to a random license plate check by Branchburg police turned out to be wanted to failing to show up in court and had cocaine, heroin and Xanax on him and in his car, authorities said. A township officer patrolling Route 22 scanned John W. Hartrum's plates, which showed an active National Crime Information Center (NCIC) warrant around 11:50 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 15, Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said. The officer stopped 58-year-old Hartrum, of Bridgewater, for a traffic violation on Route 22 West approaching France Drive, where the officer …
Central Jersey Man Charged With Knifepoint Rape At State Park, Other Sex Attacks: Prosecutor Central Jersey Man Charged With Knifepoint Rape At State Park, Other Sex Attacks: Prosecutor
Central Jersey Man Charged With Knifepoint Rape At State Park, Other Sex Attacks: Prosecutor A 38-year-old man from Somerset County has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman at knifepoint in a state park and other alleged attacks. A Middlesex County attack occurred at the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park on the border of Plainsboro and South Brunswick Townships on September 28, 2021, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone, Chief Fred Tavener of the Plainsboro Police Department, and Chief Raymond Hayducka of the South Brunswick Police Department Rogelio Calyeca Postrero, of Raritan, was charged with the alleged rape, they said.…
Linden Nightclub Shooting Injures Three Victims Linden Nightclub Shooting Injures Three Victims
Linden Nightclub Shooting Injures Three Victims An argument that started inside of a Linden nightclub over the weekend ended in the shooting of three individuals, leaving two seriously injured, authorities said. A man involved went to his car during the argument at Menga Lounge on St. George's Avenue around 2:05 a.m. and returned with a gun, before firing several shots through the door into the vestibule on Saturday, Aug. 6, Linden police said. Three patrons were struck including a 24-year-old Bridgewater woman, a 23-year-old Irvington woman and a 28-year-old Elizabeth man, police said. The Bridgewater woman suffered non life-threatenin…
Somerset County Financial Officer Stole $75K+ From Nonprofit: Prosecutor Somerset County Financial Officer Stole $75K+ From Nonprofit: Prosecutor
Somerset County Financial Officer Stole $75K+ From Nonprofit: Prosecutor A 55-year-old woman from Somerset County stole more than $75,000 from a nonprofit organization she was the financial officer of over a two-year period, authorities said. Jolee Roberts, of Bridgewater, cashed numerous checks and used credit cards issued to the non-profit for unauthorized purchases totaling thousands of dollars, Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said. The discovery was made after Roberts had been fired from the organization, McDonald said. Roberts' LinkedIn profile says she was the financial officer for Middle Earth, whose mission is to "provide youth with…