UPDATE: November 4, 2020: HTPD reports that the person was checked out and had only minor injuries.
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–Around 6:24 pm the Hamilton Township Police, Hamilton Township Fire Department, RWJ EMS and Capital Paramedics were dispatched to a accident with reported entrapment. Multiple 9-1-1 calls reported the accident in the 1400 Block of Kuser Road near Perilli Drive.
One person was transported to the Trauma Center at Capital Health Regional Medical Center. Updated information from police state that the person after evaluation had minor injures.
The roadway was closed for the serious accident investigation and clean up. There was no further information available for the cause of the crash.
WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–On Saturday October 31, 2020 at 9 pm, West Windsor Police, Ptl. Buchanan was detailed to the Bahama Breeze parking lot at the Princeton Market Fair on a report of a Vehicle Burglary on Route 1. The victim had returned to his 2017 Toyota where he found the rear hatch was not fully closed, the interior lights were illuminated and items inside were thrown around. Ptl. Hoffman, who was assisting at the scene, was advised by Ptl. Buchanan there was a second Vehicle Burglary in the same parking lot. The 2nd Vehicle, a 2019, had been entered with the actor taking the victim’s personal items. Ptl. Collins also responded to the scene where a 3rd Vehicle was found to have been Burglarized.
At 10:05 pm, Ptl. Buchanan was detailed to a 4th Vehicle Burglary that occurred in the Buffalo Wild Wings Parking Lot. Ptl. Buchanan arrived and his attention was drawn to an individual slightly bent over at the driver’s door of a silver Ford while throwing objects onto the ground. Further investigation revealed that the actor had been connected to a total of (7) Vehicle Burglaries (from the Market Fair’s Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, & TGI Friday’s parking lots to the Buffalo Wild Wings parking lot). Proceeds from several of the Vehicles were found in the actor’s possession. In addition, a Vape Pen, which belonged to the actor was found inside of one of the Vehicle’s Burglarized.
The actor was taken into custody and processed at the WWPD Headquarters. The actor was issued the appropriate charges, Released ROR pending a future Mercer County Superior Court Date, and was entered into the C.A.R.E. (Community Addiction Recovery Efforts) Program under the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office. ****Mercer County’s “C.A.R.E. (Community Addiction Recovery Efforts)” program, which was launched by Robbinsville Police Department in 2016 and then expanded to all local police departments in the county; the C.A.R.E. model activates recovery coaches when police arrest an individual for a low-level crime and assists law enforcement in linking individuals to treatment and/or recovery services. As part of the Operation Helping Hand program, the “C.A.R.E. Task Force” was formed to centralize the coordination of the C.A.R.E. program under the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office and expand existing and diversionary efforts and partnerships, including non-arrest outreach to those identified as having addiction issues prior to any involvement with law enforcement. ****
FREEHOLD, NJ (MONMOUTH)–A Howell juvenile and an 18 year old from Asbury Park were charged in connection with a March 23, 2020 homicide at a Dewitt Avenue, Asbury Park residence, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni. The Howell juvenile is also facing an attempted murder charge stemming from an October 29, 2019 shooting at the same home.
Jamir Styles, 18, with a last known address of Asbury Park, and the 16-year-old Juvenile from Howell were charged on Thursday, October 29, 2020 with first degree murder, first degree conspiracy to commit murder, second degree unlawful possession of a handgun, and second degree possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose.
On March 23, 2020 at approximately 11:36 p.m., Asbury Park Police responded to a DeWitt Avenue residence after being notified about a male gunshot victim located inside the home. Asbury Park Police officers responded and located the 24 year old shooting victim, Christian Lahens, inside of his home. Lifesaving efforts were made by emergency medical personnel both in the home and en route to Jersey Shore University Medical Center. Despite these lifesaving efforts, however, Lahens was pronounced deceased at 12:16 a.m. on March 24, 2020.
The Asbury Park Police department and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office launched a joint investigation into the homicide. As a result of the months long investigation, police have determined that the juvenile and Jamir Styles were both armed with handguns when they approached the victim’s home. After alerting those inside the dwelling to their presence, they both fired several shots into the home. The victim was struck with gunfire and later died as a result. In addition to the charges against the 16 year old and Jamir Styles, law enforcement officers have additionally charged 19 year old Jayson Freeman, of Lakewood, with hindering the apprehension of another, a third degree crime, based upon his actions in aiding the two shooters.
The March 23, 2020 incident was the second time in five months that the victim’s DeWitt Avenue family residence had been struck with gunfire. On October 29, 2019, at approximately 9:17 p.m., Asbury Park Police responded to the home after receiving a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, police determined that the residence had been struck with gunfire while several residents were inside. This incident was also jointly investigated by the Asbury Park Police and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
While investigating the March homicide at the DeWitt Avenue residence, police were able to determine that two juveniles, a 16-year-old, and a 14-year-old, were present outside this same home on October 29, 2019 armed with a handgun. During the October incident, while outside the residence, one of the juveniles produced a handgun and fired shots inside. Unlike the March 2020 incident, however, no one was injured at that time. The 16 year old juvenile charged with the March 2020 murder was one of the two juveniles involved in the October 29, 2019 incident.The two juveniles have been charged on juvenile complaints with first degree attempted murder, first degree conspiracy to commit murder and the second degree crimes of unlawful possession of a handgun and possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose as a result of the October 29, 2019 incident.
Styles, a G-Shine Blood, was part of the criminal enterprise identified in Operation Golden State. The investigation revealed that Styles was involved in the distribution of CDS and well as the possession and use of illegal firearms. More specifically, the investigation revealed that Styles and the juvenile carried out the murder of Lahens as part of the ongoing effort to target rivals of the criminal enterprise.
As part of Styles’ arrest in Operation Golden State, he was also charged with first degree racketeering conspiracy, multiple weapons charges including second degree conspiracy to commit unlawful possession of a weapon, second degree unlawful possession of a weapon, and third degree conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance.
If convicted of murder, Styles faces 30 years in a New Jersey state prison without parole subject to the provisions of the “No Early Release Act” (NERA) requiring him to serve 85 percent of any sentence imposed beyond 30 years before becoming eligible for release on parole. He would also be under parole supervision for five years following his release from state prison.
If convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, Styles faces 30 years in a New Jersey state prison without parole subject to the provisions of the “No Early Release Act” (NERA) requiring him to serve 85 percent of any sentence imposed beyond 30 years before becoming eligible for release on parole. He would also be under parole supervision for five years following his release from state prison.
If convicted of the second degree weapons offenses, Styles faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in a New Jersey state prison on each count, subject to the provisions of the Graves Act which carries a mandatory period of parole ineligibility of one half of the custodial sentence imposed, or 42 months, whichever is greater.
Jayson Freeman faces up to five years in New Jersey State Prison if convicted of third degree hindering the apprehension of another.
The juvenile faces a term of up to 10 years in Family Court if convicted of the March 23, 2020 Murder; however, the State has the ability to seek his waiver to the Superior Court, Law Division, where he would be subject to the same penalties as an adult upon conviction.
Both juveniles have been lodged in the Middlesex County Youth Detention Center, awaiting an appearance in Family Court. Styles was apprehended in DeKalb County, Georgia by the U.S. Marshals Service. Freeman was arrested on an outstanding warrant by the Wall Township Police.
Police are encouraging anyone with information about these incidents to contact Detective Terrence McGhee of the Asbury Park Police Department at (732) 774-1300 or Detective Stephen Cavendish of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at (800) 533-7443.
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 U.S. Constitution and State law.
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–On November 1, 2020 at approximately 10:50 PM, Officers from the Hamilton Police Anti-Crime Unit observed a red pickup truck pull into the parking lot near ACE Hardware on the 300 block of Route 33 and park next to a white box truck. Officers observed two males exit the pickup truck and one of the males crawl under the white box truck with a tool. The male then came from underneath the truck carrying the tool and another piece of metal. Both males entered the pickup truck and attempted to leave the area when they were stopped by the Officers. Officers located a catalytic converter that was sawed off the white box truck in their possession. The males were identified as John Doyle, 56, of Hamilton and John Serpico, 44, of Trenton.
Both Doyle and Serpico were charged with Theft, Criminal Mischief, and Possession of Burglar’s Tools.
Anyone with any information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Joseph Ialacci of the Hamilton Police Division’s Criminal Investigations Section at 609-689-5822 or the Hamilton Police Crime Tip Hotline at 609-581-4008.
Despite having been charged, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Both Doyle and Serpico were charged with Theft, Criminal Mischief, and Possession of Burglar’s Tools.
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