BERKELEY TOWNSHIP, NJ (OCEAN)–Yesterday, troopers working a detail with the New Jersey State Police Marine Services Bureau Point Pleasant Station assisted two kayakers who were stranded in the Sedge Islands and unable to return to Island Beach State Park.
At approximately 10:10 p.m., Detective Sergeant Kenneth Lutz and Sergeant Christopher Carney were dispatched to the report of two kayakers who got lost attempting to return to Island Beach State Park. While fishing in the Barnaget Bay, the kayakers were unable to navigate back to the docks after it suddenly got dark during a storm that came through the area.
When troopers arrived in the area, they worked with dispatchers to quickly locate the kayakers on one of the islands. Due to the shallow waters, the troopers were unable to make it to the shoreline of island. However, they illuminated a path for the kayakers who were able to paddle a short distance out to the troopers’ vessel.
The troopers helped the kayakers, Ken Staunton and his son, Christopher, onto their vessel and transported them back to Island Beach State Park.
Great job by DSG Lutz and Sgt. Carney for their quick intervention.
The male driver was identified as Nicholas Ryland, age 28 of Kuzyk Road, Cream Ridge, NJ. He was charged with eluding, receiving stolen property, speeding, reckless driving, improper passing and driving with a suspended driver’s license. Mr. Ryland is entered as a New Jersey wanted person at this time and anyone with information of his whereabouts is asked to contact the Jackson Police Department at 732-928-1111 or through the department’s Stop It app.
August 24, 2020
JACKSON, NJ (OCEAN)–The Jackson Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance to locate a wanted person who was involved in a recent vehicle pursuit in a reported stolen vehicle.
On Friday August 21, 2020 at approximately 5:53 pm, Police Officer Jeff Henba was on patrol on Bowman Road when he observed a 2020 Jeep traveling at 75 miles per hour in the posted 50 mile per hour speed zone. Officer Henba was able to observe the driver of the vehicle as it passed him and turned around to conduct a motor vehicle stop.
After activating the patrol vehicle’s emergency lights, the driver of the Jeep refused to yield and continued driving on Bowman Road and turning right on Toms River Road to head north. A pursuit was initiated as the vehicle continued north on Toms River Road, reaching speeds of 95-100 miles per hour as it was driven recklessly and began passing other vehicles improperly. At this time, the officer’s supervisor terminated the pursuit.
Approximately 5 minutes after the pursuit was terminated, the agency received a call from a resident of the Woodmere Apartments located on West County Line Road reporting that the Jeep had been stolen. As the investigation progressed, officers discovered that a male subject had been stopped in the past while driving a vehicle registered to the caller reporting the Jeep stolen. When Officer Henba was able to observe the male’s photo, he positively identified him as the driver of the Jeep who had fled on him.
Officers then met with Plumsted officers and went to the last known address of the male who was identified as the driver of the Jeep as another officer met with the caller in Jackson who was reporting the vehicle stolen. Family members of the suspect advised that they did not know where the male suspect was as officers were able to locate the Jeep parked on the street a few houses down from the suspect’s residence. Plumsted Police utilized their K-9 officer and the dog tracked from the parked Jeep directly to the suspect’s front door. A search was then conducted to attempt to locate the suspect but he was not at the location. Before clearing from the location, the vehicle was impounded.
Officer Henba then continued the investigation and contacted the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office to get the following charges approved which were prepared on a warrant: eluding (2nd degree) and receiving stolen property (3rd degree).
The male driver was identified as Nicholas Ryland, age 28 of Kuzyk Road, Cream Ridge, NJ. He was charged with eluding, receiving stolen property, speeding, reckless driving, improper passing and driving with a suspended driver’s license.
Mr. Ryland is entered as a New Jersey wanted person at this time and anyone with information of his whereabouts is asked to contact the Jackson Police Department at 732-928-1111 or through the department’s Stop It app.
– The media and the public are reminded that any persons arrested or charged with any offenses or crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
FREEHOLD, NJ (MONMOUTH)–A former Ocean Township Police officer was charged with Theft by Deception and two counts of Forgery on Thursday in connection with a forged document he submitted to secure a $425,000 loan to purchase a property on Borrie Avenue in Brielle in July 2019. He was also charged with additional counts of Theft and Forgery in connection with keeping a tenant’s $4,200 security deposit with respect to a different property he owned on Fisk Avenue in Brielle and attempting to justify retaining the security deposit using a forged document, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Cory R. Cole, 49, of Brielle, is charged with second degree Theft by Deception, third degree Theft by Failure to Make Required Disposition of Property Received, two counts of fourth degree Forgery, and two counts of fourth degree Uttering a Forged Document. Cole was previously charged by this office on Jan. 27, 2020 with third-degree Theft by Failure to Make Required Disposition of Property Received and two counts of fourth-degree Forgery in connection with retaining $4,200 security deposit of another tenant and forging a lease to the victim’s school district. If convicted Cole faces up to ten years in New Jersey State Prison on the second degree charge, up to five years in state prison on each third degree charge, and up to 18 months on each of the fourth degree offenses.
An investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office revealed that Cole, who buys, flips and rents real estate, forged a letter from his former matrimonial attorney in order to falsely establish a judgment she had against him for unpaid attorney’s fees had been satisfied, and Cole submitted this letter to enable his purchase of a property on Borrie Avenue in Brielle. Cole would have been unable to secure the $425,000 loan to purchase the property if the lender was aware the judgment against Cole was outstanding. Additional investigation revealed that in addition to the victim identified in January of this year, Cole retained the $4,200 security deposit from his tenants at a property on Fisk Avenue. He attempted to justify retaining the security deposit by claiming the tenants owed money in unpaid utility bills on the property and providing them with a forged bill from New Jersey Natural Gas which falsely indicated they had an outstanding balance.
Cole resigned from his employment with the Ocean Township Police Department earlier this year on the heels of the investigation after the initial set of criminal charges were filed.
“It doesn’t matter if you are a former, current or retired member of law enforcement, you will be held accountable for your actions. Your unlawful or improper actions will be discovered and prosecuted,” said Prosecutor Gramiccioni.
Anyone with information about Cole’s activities is urged to call Detective Sergeant Ryu Washburne at 1-800-533-7443.
The case is being prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Melanie Falco, Director of the Office’s Professional Responsibilities and Bias Crimes Unit.
Cole is represented by Steve Nelson, Esq., of Neptune City.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and State law.
ROBBINSVILLE, NJ (MERCER)–Robbinsville firefighters will receive a federal grant to purchase thermal imaging cameras that protect first responders and help them protect the public, said Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) today.
“This $22,805 grant will help pay for two thermal imaging camera that can provide life-saving information in a smoke and fire-filled environment,” Smith said. “The funding comes from the Operations and Safety grant program, which Congress created to help communities equip their firefighters and EMS.”
“Our firefighters rush into burning houses and buildings that other people are fleeing from,” stated Smith (NJ-04). “As they go into harm’s way, they need tools to protect their lives in dangerous, potentially deadly conditions. These cameras give firefighters the ability to operate under conditions of poor visibility, including searching for victims, pinpointing the location of the fire, and avoiding obstacles.”
Eighteen firefighters are employed by the municipality to serve the 20-square-mile township’s estimated 14,000-plus residents. The cameras will replace current older equipment that has become difficult to service.
The Operations and Safety Grant comes from the Department of Homeland Security’s FY 2020 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. The grant is administered by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.
The Robbinsville Township Fire Department, Mayor Fried, Chief Schaffener, and Robbinsville Township Administration released a statement thanking Congressman Smith for assistance and support during the application process.
“Without the direct support of our application and the overall program support of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program by Congressman Smith, our department would be faced with difficult realities regarding the safety of our firefighters and residents,” the statement read. “The benefits of this award for our department and local residents is immeasurable.”
Earlier this summer Robbinsville was awarded an AFG supplemental grant (AFG-S) to buy personnel protective equipment (PPE) to respond to the pandemic and support community resilience. That grant of $14,329 allowed the Robbinsville Township Fire Department to purchase 65 respirators and filters, 45 reusable coveralls and 75 reusable goggles, as well as disposable PPE, including 750 isolation gowns and 3,000 surgical masks.
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