Friday, May 17, 2013
Residents from Brick, Toms River, Belmar among those arrested
A two month-long investigation by a number of local law enforcement agencies resulted in the arrests of 10 people, plus the seizure of cars, cash and about 140 pounds of marijuana, authorities said. The culmination of "Operation Weed Whacker," which began in April and came to a close Tuesday, was announced Wednesday by Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato. During that time authorities executed search warrants in towns in Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex counties, he said in a statement. "I have directed my Special Operations Group to slam shut the door to Ocean County on drug traffickers," Coronato said. "This will be accomplished by building strong law enforcement partnerships to protect Ocean County residents from the crime and …
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Anthony Verdicchio's body was discovered Monday night. He was last seen alive on Sunday.
Authorities are investigating the murder of a 76-year-old man who was found dead at his home on Pine Acres Estates just off Route 37 West Monday, Ocean County Prosecutor Spokesman Al Della Fave said Tuesday afternoon, May 14. Anthony Verdicchio was discovered at 5:19 p.m. Monday night. He was last seen at church on Sunday, Della Fave said. A group that Verdicchio met with every day for coffee first noticed he was missing when he didn't show up on Monday. An acquaintance from the group went discovered him on the floor and not responding when he went to check up on him. The unidentified acquaintance found Verdicchio on his floor not responding, and immediately contacted police, Della Fave said. Verdicchio was pronounced dead at 6:37 p.m. …
Monday, May 13, 2013
Parents concerned that they weren't immediately notified after alleged incidents in January
Toms River school officials did not immediately notify parents about the alleged unauthorized entry of a man identifying himself as a police officer and subsequent sexual contact on a teacher at the request of law enforcement authorities, Superintendent of Schools Frank Roselli said in a letter addressed to parents. Bruce A. Figular, 50, allegedly entered Intermediate East during a regular school day through an open door, claiming he was a police officer, on or about Jan. 13, and proceeded to the classroom where the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said he committed a sex crime on a teacher. "At the time of the incident, law enforcement officials directed the district to not make public comments about the incident, particularly because …
Monday, May 6, 2013
Berkeley resident Jason B. Walsh, a tier-three sex offender, indicted today
An Ocean County Grand Jury has indicted a Berkeley Township man listed as a sex offender for trying to join a band parent board position at Toms River High School East, OceanCounty Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato said. Jason B. Walsh, 41, was indicted following an investigation by the Prosecutor's Office, the Toms River Police Department and the New Jersey Department of Parole, Coronato said. Walsh, a tier-three sex offender, "knowingly participated in and attempted to secure a band parent board position in the high school's Marching Band "pit crew," between Oct. 13 2012 and Nov. 23, 2012, said Coronato. That violates the New Jersey Sex Offender statutes, he said. "After being notified of the violation by school officials and parents, the …
Friday, May 3, 2013
In September 2009, a Lakewood man opened fire at multiple police officers
A Lakewood man was sentenced to 45 years in prison after the 2009 shooting of multiple police officers. Judge Francis R. Hodgson, Jr. sentenced Jaime Gonzalez, 43, of Lakewood to 45 years, with no chance of parole until 29.5 years of his sentence is served, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato said. “Today’s sentencing rids society of a truly callous individual,” Coronato said. The Lakewood Police Department Entry Team executed a court-authorized no-knock search warrant of Gonzalez’s home on Mackenzie Court just after 2 a.m. Sept. 24, 2009, the Prosecutor’s Office said. The search warrant was obtained because Gonzalez was being investigated involving his sale of illegal controlled dangerous substances. Upon hearing the police …
Bruce A. Figular, 50, entered a Toms River school unlawfully in January, authorities said
A Toms River man impersonated a police officer to enter a township school where he committed aggravated sexual contact on a teacher, an indictment charges. Bruce A. Figular, 50, allegedly unlawfully entered a Toms River school during a regular school day through an open door, claiming he was a police officer, on or about Jan. 13, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. "He was challenged by a school employee and presented himself as an active duty New Jersey State Trooper," Della Fave said in a statement. "Once inside one of the classroom areas, he committed an act of aggravated sexual contact upon one of the teachers." Children were present in the building at the time of the incident, but not in the classroom where the alleged…
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Shooting occurred at 11 a.m. on Belmont Drive, Ocean County Prosecutor's Office spokesman says
Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office are looking for a black male who shot another man in the leg as he was walking down Belmont Drive in South Toms River Friday morning, said spokesman Al Della Fave. "The victim saw him," Della Fave said. "They were familiar with each other. He tried to run. Witnesses said four or five shots were fired. Only the one shot hit him." The one shot went through the victim's leg. He was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River, Della Fave said. The 911 call came in at 11:06 a.m. The subject is described as roughly five feet, five inches tall. He was wearing a tan shirt and jeans, Della Fave said. "The victim is not cooperating at this time," he said. Anyone with any information about the…
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Motor vehicle stop in Seaside Park leads to drug-related charges for Ibnballha Pitman, 34, of Newark
A Newark man was arrested and charged after police seized 1,000 bags of heroin in an investigation into drug activity in the Ocean County area, according to a news release from the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. Ibnballha Pitman, 34, of Newark was arrested on April 15 after a cooperative investigation into his alleged drug distribution activities. Detectives conducted a motor vehicle stop on April 15 in which Pitman was the occupant of a 2001 White Honda Accord. The stop took place in the area of O Street and Central Avenue in Seaside Park. The officers obtained and executed a search warrant for the car, ultimately seizing approximately 1,000 bags of heroin with the approximate street value of $5,000, the news release said. Pitman was …
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Brandon Holt, 6, died Tuesday from an injury sustained during an accidental shooting
The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office has taken over investigative duties in the accidental shooting death of a 6-year-old Toms River boy by his 4-year-old neighbor. The case has been transferred out of county to avoid any potential conflicts among law enforcement who may have ties to the case, according to Al Della Fave, spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. Haleigh Walz, a spokeswoman for the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, confirmed the case was transferred to Atlantic County Tuesday evening. Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor James P. McClain released the following statement just before 10 a.m. "Yesterday evening, my office was advised by the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice that we will supersede the Ocean …
Monday, April 8, 2013
Residents from Toms River, Brick, Manchester, Lakewood and other New Jersey towns are among those charged
A Toms River woman working as a police dispatcher in Lavallette was among the many arrested and charged in connection with a multi-jurisdictional drug investigation, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato announced Monday. Residents from Toms River, Brick, Manchester, Lakewood and other New Jersey towns are among those charged. The investigation is continuing and additional arrests are expected, Coronato said. Known as "Operation Road Runner," the investigation began in August of last year and ended on Friday, April 5, as police executed search warrants in Ocean, Mercer, Essex and Monmouth counties, leading authorities to charge 25 individuals with various drug, weapons and money laundering offenses, the prosecutor said. Kathy Anne …
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10:43 am on Sunday, May 19, 2013
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