SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ (MIDDLESEX)–Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Chief James Parker of the South Plainfield Police Department announced today that a New York man has been charged for his involvement in a grandparent scam.
On January 27, 2021, Albert Peralta-Munoz, 22, of the Bronx was arrested and charged via a complaint-summons with second-degree Use of a Juvenile to Commit a Crime, third-degree Theft by Deception, and third-degree Conspiracy.
Peralta-Munoz was charged along with a juvenile following an investigation by the South Plainfield Police that determined, at approximately 11:30 A.M., a borough resident received a phone call from an individual who demanded $6,500.00 for release of the resident’s grandchild from jail. Peralta-Munoz and the juvenile were later arrested as they attempted to collect the money from the victim.
The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Garret Cassio at (908) 226-7662 / gcassio@sppolice.com or Detective Peter Hlavka (908) 226-7661 / phlavka@sppolice.com.
As is the case with all criminal defendants, the charges against Peralta-Munoz and the juvenile are merely accusations and they are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
TOMS RIVER, NJ (OCEAN)–On January 28th, 2021 at approximately 11:30 PM, multiple Toms River Police, Fire and EMS units responded to Loxley Drive for a reported structure fire. Upon arrival, officers observed a two story, single family home actively on fire. Due to strong winds in the area responding officers evacuated surrounding residences.
Neighbors believed the homeowner was still in the residence at the time of police arrival. Officer Rebecca Sayegh forced entry through the front door and located the homeowner in the foyer who was unable to open the door and exit due to the heavy smoke. Officer Sayegh confirmed that there were no other occupants inside the residence and escorted the homeowner, and her pets, across the street to the neighbors’ residence where she was evaluated by Toms River EMS.
Multiple Fire Departments responded and assisted in extinguishing the fire. Toms River Fire Companies 1 and 2, East Dover Fire Department, Silverton Fire Department, Pleasant Plains Fire Company, and Island Heights Fire Department, as well as, Brick Twp Fire and EMS Mass Care Response Team. Toms River Police Detectives Roger Hull and Travis Seaman were on scene along with Toms River Fire Inspectors Matthew Janora and Dana Mitchell.
Due to freezing temperatures, Toms River Department of Public Works responded to the area to sand and salt the roadways to prevent hazardous road conditions.
One firefighter was transported to Community Medical Center for treatment of a minor injury. The cause of the fire is under investigation by Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention and is believed to be accidental.
The Attorney General’s Office today released video footage which captured events surrounding a single-vehicle accident in which Keron Roundtree, 23, of Trenton, N.J., was injured when he sped away from Bordentown Township Police Officer Keith Alexander after an attempted traffic stop on Oct. 27, 2020. Mr. Roundtree succumbed to those injuries on November 17, 2020, at which time the investigation transferred from the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office to the Attorney General’s Office, pursuant to P.L. 2019, c.1.
Video recordings from the officer’s body-worn camera and vehicular mobile video recorder are being released pursuant to policies established by the Attorney General’s Office in 2019 that are designed to promote the fair, impartial and transparent investigation of fatal police encounters. Prior to today’s release, investigators met with Mr. Roundtree’s relatives to review the video recordings with them.
On the night of Oct. 27, Officer Alexander was on patrol on Route 206 Southbound in a marked police vehicle when he saw a Nissan Maxima traveling southbound in the left lane brake abruptly. The car, which was driven by Mr. Roundtree, resumed traveling southbound. Officer Alexander then followed Mr. Roundtree and observed him commit several motor vehicle infractions.
At approximately 8:51 p.m., about two minutes after he began following Mr. Roundtree’s car, Officer Alexander activated his overhead lights and siren to make a motor vehicle stop. At that point, Mr. Roundtree’s car sped off, traveling at speeds that reached in excess of 110 mph. Approximately one minute later, and without coming into contact with another car, Mr. Roundtree’s car crashed into a wooded area on the right side of Rt. 206. His car traveled into and out of the woods, coming to rest on the right shoulder of Route 206 Southbound.
Officer Alexander exited his vehicle and located Mr. Roundtree’s car. The car, which was heavily damaged, contained two occupants: Mr. Roundtree and an adult male passenger. Two bystanders assisted Officer Alexander in removing and rendering aid to both. Once ambulances arrived, the occupants of the Nissan Maxima were transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, N.J. Mr. Roundtree remained in the hospital until his death on Nov. 17, 2020. The passenger was admitted for treatment and later released.
The video recordings from Officer Alexander’s body-worn camera and the mobile video recorder in his police vehicle are posted online: Click here for recordings.
The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time.
This investigation is being conducted pursuant to a state law enacted in January 2019 (P.L. 2019, c.1), which requires that the Attorney General’s Office conduct all investigations of a person’s death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or while the decedent is in custody. Separately, the Independent Prosecutor Directive, which was issued by Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal in December 2019, outlines a 10-step process for conducting these investigations. The Directive establishes clear procedures governing such investigations to ensure that they are conducted in a full, impartial and transparent manner. Under both state law and the Directive, when the entire investigation is complete, the case will be presented to a grand jury, typically consisting of 16 to 23 citizens, to make the ultimate decision regarding whether criminal charges will be filed. At present due to the COVID-19 pandemic, regular grand juries are not sitting and hearing cases.
TRENTON (MERCER)– Trenton Cats Rescue was made aware of a hoarding situation where the owner of the residence passed away, leaving approximately 50 cats. After the passing, the resident’s caretaker was still feeding the cats and letting them in and out of the house.
After being notified of the situation, Trenton Cats Rescue (TCR) immediately readied their volunteers to rescue the cats from the residence.
On January 20, volunteers of TCR responded to the residence in the City of Trenton, where they began to set up traps. Within the first few days, TCR was able to trap 45 cats. Traps have been placed at the location to catch the remainder.
All cats rescued needed medical care, including spaying/neutering, vaccines, deworming, and flea/mite treatments. The cats are now spending the next few weeks in volunteer foster homes to allow them to gain weight, recover from various wounds, get dental surgeries, additional antiparasitic treatments, and overall become more healthy.
All of the adoptable cats from this incident should be available through Trenton Cats Rescue, EASEL, and All God’s Creatures sometime in mid to late February.
TCR would like to thank all of the volunteers and those who have donated through their website and their Facebook page for their care and consideration of the cats.
Trenton Cats Rescue is an all volunteer, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to helping community, sheltered and family cats in Trenton, New Jersey. Trenton Cats Rescue does not have a building, receives no state or government funding and relies on donations and volunteers. To volunteer or DONATE go to www.Trentoncats.org.
TOMS RIVER, NJ (OCEAN)–Just after 11:30 pm last night a fire broke out in the 600 Block of Loxley Drive. The first arriving officer reported a well involved 2nd floor and fire though the roof. Additional fire apparatus was called to the scene. Ariel master streams were set up to combat the heavy fire conditions. A rehab unit from Brick Police Department was requested due to the cold temperatures. There were radio reports of one firefighter transported for a foot injury. No further information was available about the fire.
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