Franklin Township, NJ
Police & Fire
BUSTED: 31 Nabbed, 14 Pounds Of Coke, Firearms Seized In Massive Drug Distribution Scheme BUSTED: 31 Nabbed, 14 Pounds Of Coke, Firearms Seized In Massive Drug Distribution Scheme
Busted: 31 Nabbed, 14 Pounds Of Coke, Firearms Seized In Massive Drug Distribution Scheme Thirty-one people were arrested following a months-long New Jersey drug distribution scheme that netted 14.3 pounds of cocaine, two firearms and more than $193,000 in cash, authorities announced. An investigation into “Operation Triple Tragedy” involved law enforcement agencies from Somerset, Union, and Middlesex counties and the U.S. Postal Service. Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said the following arrests were made on June 4: Arrests made in “Operation Triple Tragedy”Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Joselin Castillo, aka “Tragedy," 30, Grandview Avenue Edison Po…

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by Cecilia Levine
Edison, NJ
Obituaries
NJ Man, 29, Studying To Become Priest Killed In NYC Hit-Run Crash NJ Man, 29, Studying To Become Priest Killed In NYC Hit-Run Crash
NJ Man, 29, Studying To Become Priest Killed In NYC Hit-Run Crash A 29-year-old man studying to become a priest was struck and killed in New York City by a drunken hit-and-run driver late Tuesday night, according to Catholic Church officials. Ngu Quoc Tran, who went by Peter, was walking on Manhattan’s East Side when he was struck by the driver, who was arrested after he car was involved in another collision, the Diocese of Metuchen said. Born and raised in the An Giang Province in the south of Vietnam, Tran moved to the U.S. in August 2017 and lived at the Saint John Vianney House of Discernment in Highland Park. Tran began pre-theology in Spring 2…

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by Cecilia Levine
Edison, NJ
Police & Fire
Stabbing Suspect Nabbed In Central Jersey Stabbing Suspect Nabbed In Central Jersey
Stabbing Suspect Nabbed In Central Jersey Authorities are investigating a stabbing in Middlesex County. A suspect was in custody, according to initial reports.  The assault took place about 8 p.m. on Tompkins Avenue in South Plainfield. The victim was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.  This is a developing news story. CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES

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by Jon Craig
Edison, NJ
Police & Fire
FBI: Middlesex Man Admits Trying To Torch Trenton Police Car Following Floyd Protest FBI: Middlesex Man Admits Trying To Torch Trenton Police Car Following Floyd Protest
FBI: Middlesex Man Admits Trying To Torch Trenton Police Car Following Floyd Protest UPDATE: A Middlesex County man admitted Tuesday that he stuffed a rag into the gas tank of a police cruiser and set it on fire during a riot in Trenton following what had been a peaceful protest last year over the death of George Floyd. Justin Spry, 22, of South Plainfield took a deal from the government rather than go to trial, becoming the second of three men involved in the incident to admit their roles. Spry originally tried claiming on Twitter that he was brutalized by police, but federal authorities produced surveillance video showing otherwise. “Law enforcement officers on scene ob…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Edison, NJ
Police & Fire
BUSTED: 'Operation Price Is Right' Nabs 11 In Central Jersey Drug Ring BUSTED: 'Operation Price Is Right' Nabs 11 In Central Jersey Drug Ring
Busted: 'Operation Price Is Right' Nabs 11 In Central Jersey Drug Ring Eleven people have been arrested in Central Jersey in connection with a large-scale drug distribution ring, authorities said.  Most of the alleged cocaine and heroin deals occurred in Union and Middlesex counties, according to  Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone. The sting was called "Operation Price Is Right." More than 20 warranted searches resulted in the recovery of over two kilograms of suspected cocaine, over one kilogram of suspected heroin, approximately 149 grams of fentanyl, 70 grams of Oxycodone, one loaded Smith and Wesson revolver and over $120,000 in su…

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by Jon Craig
Edison, NJ
Police & Fire
Bronx Man Arrested In Middlesex 'Grandparent Scam' Bronx Man Arrested In Middlesex 'Grandparent Scam'
Bronx Man Arrested In Middlesex 'Grandparent Scam' A New York City man and a juvenile have been arrested with attempting a "grandparent scam" to rob a Middlesex County resident, authorities said. Albert Peralta-Munoz, 22, of the Bronx was charged on a complaint-summons with second-degree use of a juvenile to commit a crime, third-degree theft by deception, and third-degree conspiracy, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and South Plainfield Police Chief James Parker. Peralta-Munoz was charged along with a juvenile after an investigation by the South Plainfield Police that determined, at about11:30 a.m. on…

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by Jon Craig
Garfield-Lodi, NJ
News
South Plainfield Man In Domestic Call Charged With Rape Of Underage Victim In Lodi 9 Years Ago South Plainfield Man In Domestic Call Charged With Rape Of Underage Victim In Lodi 9 Years Ago
South Plainfield Man In Domestic Call Charged With Rape Of Underage Victim In Lodi 9 Years Ago What began with a domestic dispute call in South Plainfield ended in charges against a 45-year-old engineer of sexually assaulting a pre-teen in Lodi nearly a decade ago, authorities said. Joseph Eustace Maina remained held Thursday in the Bergen County Jail pending a detention hearing this coming Monday in Hackensack, records show. South Plainfield police went to Maina’s Christopher Avenue home on Sunday in response to a report of a domestic dispute, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. They contacted Lodi police and members of Musella’s Special Victims Unit after “it was alleged t…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Middletown, NJ
Police & Fire
Jersey Shore Man Who Brought Explosives To Sea Bright Bar Spared Jail Time Jersey Shore Man Who Brought Explosives To Sea Bright Bar Spared Jail Time
Jersey Shore Man Who Brought Explosives To Sea Bright Bar Spared Jail Time A 56-year-old man who admitted leaving explosives at a Jersey Shore bar and causing the cancellation of a Labor Day parade in South Plainfield has been spared jail time, authorities said. Thomas G. Kaiser was sentenced to one year of probation on Tuesday, after pleading guilty on July 13 to two counts of possession of prohibited weapons and one count of tampering with physical evidence, according to Christopher Swendeman, a spokesman for the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. Kaiser was arrested on Labor Day weekend 2019 after bringing an explosive to Donovan’s Reef in Sea Bright and givi…

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by Jon Craig
Middletown, NJ
Business
Monmouth Accountant Arrested For Swindling $385K Monmouth Accountant Arrested For Swindling $385K
Monmouth Accountant Arrested For Swindling $385K A Middlesex County man with an Englishtown-based accounting firm has been arrested for stealing tax payments from a wholesale distributor, authorities said. William A. Berry of South Plainfield was charged with theft by failure to make required disposition, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni. The victims, former New Jersey residents, own a multi-million-dollar wholesale distribution company that specializes in holiday décor. The wholesaler is currently based in Charleston, South Carolina, Gramiccioni said.  Berry was arrested on Tuesday with…

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by Jon Craig
Edison, NJ
Business
Another Chick-Fil-A Lands In Central Jersey Another Chick-Fil-A Lands In Central Jersey
Another Chick-Fil-A Lands In Central Jersey A new popular Chick-fil-A eatery is opening in Old Bridge next month. The chain announced its newest fast-food joint will open on Sept. 10 at 770 Texas Road. Located near The Shoppes at Old Bridge off Route 9, the restaurant has posted job openings on its Facebook page. Chick-fil-A previously announced another new restaurant in Middlesex County which opens on Thursday in South Plainfield at 4801 Stelton Road as reported here. There are more than 40 Chick-fil-A eateries in the Garden State, according to the company website.  The chain also plans opening New Jersey restaurants in Edis…

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by Jon Craig
Edison, NJ
Business
Chick-Fil-A Opening Central Jersey Store With Drive-Thru This Week, 110 Workers Needed Chick-Fil-A Opening Central Jersey Store With Drive-Thru This Week, 110 Workers Needed
Chick-Fil-A Opening Central Jersey Store With Drive-Thru This Week, 110 Workers Needed Chick-fil-A has set an opening date for its new Central Jersey location and plans on hiring 110 team members. The South Plainfield restaurant, complete with a drive-thru, will open Thursday on Stelton Road. The restaurant will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday, for curbside pickup and drive-thru services only. The restaurant will be providing free Chick-fil-A meals for a year to 100 local heroes making an impact in the community.  The store is owned and operated by William Bridges. "When I was young, my grandmother started a nonprofit that served Thanksgivin…

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by Cecilia Levine
Edison, NJ
Police & Fire
UPDATE: Woman, 72, Dies In Edison House Fire UPDATE: Woman, 72, Dies In Edison House Fire
Update: Woman, 72, Dies In Edison House Fire UPDATED: An elderly woman died Monday after a fire at her home in Middlesex County, authorities said.  The fire was not suspicious in origin, Edison Police Lt. Robert Dudash said. The 72-year-old woman lived alone in the two-story house, Dudash said. Her name was not released pending notification of her family. The woman was found in an upstairs bedroom and pronounced dead at the scene, Dudash said.  The cause of the two-alarm fire remains under investigation, Dudash said. More than 20 firefighters responded to the two-story home after a passerby called to report seeing fla…

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by Jon Craig