Day: November 2, 2021

Mercer County, Trenton

October Police Crackdown on Illegal Firearms Results in 44 Guns Seized In Trenton

TPD Took 271 Guns Off Trenton Streets in 2021

November 2, 2021

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Acting Police Director Steve E. Wilson today announced arrests and gun seizures involving 15 defendants since Oct. 15, 2021, bringing the total number of illegal guns recovered by law enforcement in Trenton for the month of October to 44, and the year-to-date total to 271.

  • Six of those guns were seized between Oct. 15 through Oct. 17. On Oct. 15, 2021, Jahkym Adams, 23, James Harris, 26, and a male 17-year-old juvenile, all of Trenton, were arrested in separate incidents, each found in possession of a loaded semi-automatic handgun. Also on that date, Irving O. Candelario, 28, of Trenton, was arrested during a joint TPD and N.J. State Police operation on Franklin Street and found in possession of two handguns and a 9mm assault-style weapon.
  • On Oct. 16, Mekhi S. Goss, 22, of Trenton, and Gabrielle Sangster, 23, of Atlantic City, were pulled over and arrested after officers found a 9mm semi-automatic handgun with a mounted laser concealed in a bookbag. On Oct. 17, 2021, Mejah T. Cox, 21, of Trenton, was arrested on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd with a semi-automatic handgun fitted with a red dot sight, mounted laser, and high-capacity magazine.
  • On Oct. 20, 2021, Joel N. Ramirez, 42, of Hamilton, who was wanted in connection to a Trenton carjacking, was arrested at his home with narcotics and a handgun in his possession.
  • On Oct. 21, 2021, Lamar Priester, 45, was arrested and charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, and unlawful possession of a weapon for his alleged connection to a Trenton shooting. Later that day, a male 17-year-old juvenile from Trenton was also arrested near Wood Street with a loaded handgun after fleeing police. 
  • The TPD seized another four guns over the weekend. Montgomery Gyampo, 32, of Trenton, was arrested on Oct. 30, 2021, with a handgun, high-capacity magazine and 31 rounds of ammunition. Also, Terence O Perry Jr., 32, of Trenton, and Anthony McKnight, 38, of Ewing – both with prior manslaughter convictions – were arrested together near Wood Street with a handgun and hollow-point rounds in their possession. Lastly, on Oct. 31, 2021, Aaron J. Verrett, 26, and Kashonn C. McGill, 19, both of Trenton, were arrested in separate incidents, each in possession of a handgun loaded with hollow-point ammunition.

“We’re on track for a record year of dangerous weapons seized by law enforcement,” said Director Wilson. “Given the violence we have seen over the last few years, every gun off our streets can make a difference, so we’re working around the clock with our law enforcement partners to identify and intercept armed dangerous individuals before they have a chance to fuel the senseless crime in our neighborhoods.”

These charges and allegations are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Mercer County, Robbinsville, Robbinsville

Dave Fried Re-elected Robbinsville Township Mayor

Mike Cipriano, Debbie Blakely and Mike Todd Secure Township Council Seats

November 2, 2021

ROBBINSVILLE, NJ (MERCER)–Running unopposed and with an impressive record of smart growth, tax stabilization, open space preservation, philanthropy and community service, Robbinsville Township Mayor Dave Fried was elected to another term Tuesday with a record-setting 3,007 votes.

“This is an amazing community and it is a privilege to continue serving as your Mayor,” Mr. Fried said. “Putting your name on a ballot is one of the most frightening things anyone can do. Without individuals willing to serve our governments would shut down. I am proud of the work we have done and excited about the work we will do over these next four years. I am forever grateful and appreciate the overwhelming support I have received, not just in this election but since my tenure began back in 2005. I want to thank my staff, which really is among the best in the business, and my family for all of their hard work, guidance, patience, love and support.”

Mayor Dave Fried Re-elected

The 2021 race was all about Township Council, where three of the four candidates on the ballot ultimately were elected to the governing body with terms beginning on January 1, 2022.

The following includes early voting and results from all nine districts. Mail-in ballots are not included.

Incumbent and sitting Council President Mike Cipriano cruised to victory with 2,222 votes. Ms. Blakely, who was named to fill Dan Schuberth’s seat in January, captured one of the two four-year seats with 2,231 votes. Mike Todd ran unopposed for the two-year unexpired term of former Councilman Schuberth and garnered 2,158 votes.

Kiran Agrahara, making his election debut, received just 1,070 votes.

Mike Todd, Debbie Blakely and Mike Cipriano, Secure Township Council Seats



In the Board of Education election, sitting president Vito Galluccio, Tanya Lehmann and Jai Gulati each were elected to three-year terms. Lauren Paluzzi secured Craig Heilman’s unexpired, one-year term.

In addition to preserving hundreds of new acres of open space since his last run for Mayor in 2017, Mr. Fried has delivered nine consecutive years of either flat or reduced municipal taxes and has raised over $350,000 for individuals and organizations in need since 2015.

“When I was first elected our plan was to tame a runaway tax burden that had been smothering our residents,” he said. “I am proud to say we’ve gone from having the highest and most unstable municipal tax rate in Mercer County, to the most stable.”

Mayor Fried and his team also distributed over 20,000 face coverings at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, has overseen a 24 percent increase in Robbinsville property values from 2017-2021, a net debt decrease of 21 percent over the past five years, and a recently signed shared services partnership with neighboring Hightstown Boro to build a new police station and municipal court. 

“People of all backgrounds want to move into our community,” the mayor said as part of his State of Robbinsville Township address October 5. “For almost every family, a home is one of the largest investments they will ever make, so we are proud to help protect that investment every day.” 

Mayor Fried was first selected to fill an unexpired term in 2000 under the prior Township Committee form of government. He became the first mayor directly elected by the voters and was sworn in on July 1, 2005. Mr. Fried was previously re-elected in 2009, 2013 and 2017.

Mr. Fried is the CEO of Robbinsville-based Payday Payroll, which provides integrated payroll, benefits administration and human resources management services to employers. He is married with two children.