Day: October 22, 2021

East Windsor, East Windsor, Mercer County

East Windsor Police Blotter Through October 20, 2021

October 22, 2021

EAST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–The East Windsor Township Police Department initiated the following police reports through Wednesday, October 20, 2021.

1. DUI

Location: Dorchester Drive Time/Date: 8:43 PM, 10/14/2021

The officer conducted a motor vehicle stop after observing the vehicle with an obstructed view. The driver exhibited signs of impairment and was placed under arrest after failing field sobriety tests. The driver was later released pending court action.

Defendant:             Mario Jimenez, East Windsor, NJ 35 Years of Age

Charges:                DUI

Reckless Driving Careless Driving Obstructed View

Failure to Dim High Beams

Consumption of Alcohol in a Motor Vehicle Open Container of Alcohol in a Motor Vehicle

Arresting Officer: Patrol Officer Thomas Nicola

2. DUI

Location: Route 571/Route 130 Time/Date: 4:00 PM, 10/15/2021

The officer conducted a motor vehicle stop after discovering that the driver’s license was suspended. The driver exhibited signs of impairment and was placed under arrest after failing field sobriety tests. The driver was later released pending court action.

Defendant:

Charges:

Paul Rutzler,

East Windsor, NJ 52 Years of Age

DUI

Reckless Driving Careless Driving

Driving While Suspended Unlicensed Driver Uninsured Motor Vehicle

Arresting Officer: Patrol Officer Nicholas Hoffman

3. DUI

Location: Dutch Neck Road/Oak Creek Road Time/Date: 2:15 PM, 10/17/2021

The officer conducted a motor vehicle stop after observing the vehicle failing to maintain its lane of travel. The driver exhibited signs of impairment and was placed under arrest after failing field sobriety tests. The driver was later released pending court action.

Defendant:             Juan Ordonez-Toledo,

East Windsor, NJ 38 Years of Age

Charges:                DUI

Reckless Driving Careless Driving

Failure to Maintain Lane Arresting Officer: Patrol Officer Michael Pidhorecki

4. Eluding

Location: Route 130/Route 571 Time/Date: 4:55 PM, 10/17/2021

The officer attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop after observing the vehicle fail to observe a traffic signal.   The vehicle failed to stop and eluded the officer in a reckless manner by committing multiple infractions in the immediate vicinity of several pedestrians. The East Brunswick Police later located the driver at a residence in their jurisdiction and placed him under arrest. The individual was detained in the Mercer County Jail pending court action.

Defendant:             Amir Cureton,

East Brunswick, NJ 33 Years of Age

Charges:                 Eluding Obstructing Justice Reckless Driving Careless Driving

Driving While Suspended Unlicensed Driver

Failure to Stop for Emergency Vehicle Disregard Traffic Control Device X2 Circumventing a Traffic Signal Obstructing Traffic

Failure to Maintain Lane Arresting Officer: Patrol Officer Nicholas Hoffmann

5. Assault on Law Enforcement Officer Location: Probasco Road

Time/Date: 6:30 PM, 10/18/2021

The officer responded to the area of Kipling Lane for a report of individuals possibly arguing. The officer located one of the involved individuals walking on Wyckoff Mills Road. The officer discovered that the individual had an active warrant and attempted to place the individual under arrest. The individual physically resisted and spit on the officer. The individual was eventually arrested and later released pending court action.

Defendant:            Sukhjit Singh, East Windsor, NJ 25 Years of Age

Charges:                Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer

Resisting Arrest

Arresting Officer: Patrol Officer Evan McNamara

6. Theft

Location: Walmart (839 Route 130 North) Time/Date: 10:30 PM, 10/18/2021

The officer responded to Walmart for a reported shoplifting. The individual left prior to police arrival, but a Hightstown police officer stopped the suspect vehicle nearby. Investigation revealed that the individual left the store without paying for $598.28 worth of merchandise. The individual was placed under arrest and later released pending court action.

Defendant:                  Staisha Signal, Hamilton,  NJ 24 Years of Age

Charges:                Shoplifting

Arresting Officer: Patrol Officer Joseph Amejka

All accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a Court of law.

Hamilton, Hamilton, Mercer County

Hamilton Township to Discuss Environmental Clean-Up of Former Nearpara Rubber Site at Public Meeting

October 22, 2021

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–Hamilton Township will host a public meeting to present and discuss proposed remediation and the future plans for redevelopment, of the former Nearpara Rubber Company site.

Nearpara Rubber Company opened in the late 1920s where they processed tires from across the region at the property, located at 1849 East State Street until they closed down in 1990. The site has been abandoned ever since and has faced public scrutiny over environmental health concerns including mosquito harborage areas and contaminants that have leached into the ground beneath the property.

The Hamilton Township Council has twice approved resolutions supporting a redevelopment study of the property funded by a grant awarded to the Township by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The Hazardous Discharge Remediation Fund provides grant monies to public entities to cover the full costs of investigation and a portion of the costs for the cleanup of contaminated sites identified as areas in need of redevelopment. Hamilton Township has been awarded over $250,000 to date through this grant.

“The NJDEP’s grant has allowed the Township to evaluate the environmental state of the property and provide an understanding of the scope of work needed to clean it up and turn it into something our residents can appreciate,” stated Mayor Jeff Martin. “Our goal is to redevelop the site within a three-year period after it has been fully remediated and is safe.”

The public meeting to discuss the remediation and redevelopment plans is being held at 6:00 PM on Monday, October 25 at the Hamilton Township Senior Center. For more information, please contact the Hamilton Township Division of Planning at (609) 890-3674 or visit www.HamiltonNJ.com/Planning

Mercer County, Robbinsville, Robbinsville

Mayor Dave Fried Announces Lieutenant Michael Polaski Promoted To Chief Of Robbinsville Police Department Effective January 1, 2022

October 22, 2021

ROBBINSVILLE, NJ (MERCER)–Robbinsville Township Mayor and Director of Public Safety Dave Fried announced today that Lieutenant Michael Polaski has been promoted to Chief of the Robbinsville Township Police Department effective January 1, 2022.

Polaski, in his 23rd year at the department, will work under outgoing Chief Chris Nitti until midnight on December 31, 2021. He will remain in his role as the Township’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Coordinator.

“Lieutenant Polaski has been an integral part of this organization for the past 23 years,” said Nitti, who announced his retirement September 13. “His skillset and experience make him the ideal selection. The department is in very good hands, and this will be a very seamless transition.”

Lt. Polaski, 46, grew up in Lacey Township, where he began his law enforcement career as a Special Officer in 1994. Hired as a Patrolman by then-Washington Township in March of 1999, Lt. Polaski was promoted to Patrol Sergeant in 2003, then Patrol Lieutenant in 2009. Lt. Polaski was named Administrative Lieutenant and OEM Coordinator in 2016. He resides in Point Pleasant with his wife of 18 years and two sons.

“I am humbled and honored by this opportunity,” Lt. Polaski said. “I appreciate Mayor Fried, Administrator (Joy) Tozzi and the rest of the selection panel for having the faith in me to lead this great department. Like every other man and woman on the force, I come to work every day to serve and protect the residents of Robbinsville, and I look forward to doing so in my new role as Chief. I also want to thank Chief Nitti for his leadership and for being such a great mentor to me. I wish him the best of luck in retirement. I want to extend my sincere appreciation to the men and woman of the RTPD for their support and dedication to protecting the residents and businesses of Robbinsville. I will be proud to serve as your chief.”

Since the retirement of Marty Masseroni in 2015, officers Nitti and Polaski bring a combined 58 years of law enforcement experience to the position of Chief.

“We’ve been extremely fortunate to have enjoyed such great leadership at the top of our police department,” Mayor Fried said. “We’re really proud of Mike. His work as OEM Coordinator during the pandemic has been exemplary, and the selection panel has every confidence he will maintain the legacy of great Chiefs at the RTPD.”

(left) Lieutenant Michael Polaski receives recognition at the State of the Township event from (right) Mayor David Fried October 5, 2021
Freehold, Keansburg, Monmouth County

18-County Indictment Against Man Charged With Soliciting Illicit Photos And Videos Of Teenage Girl, Then Distributing To Family Members In Retaliation

October 22, 2021

FREEHOLD, NJ (MONMOUTH)–A Monmouth County Grand Jury has returned an 18-count indictment against a man charged with soliciting illicit photos and videos from a teenage girl, then distributing them to members of her family in retaliation for her threatening to break off contact with him, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced Friday.

David Lopez, 38, of Jersey City is charged with first-degree Manufacturing Child Sexual Abuse Materials, five counts of second-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child via Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Materials, three counts of third-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, single counts of third-degree Making Terroristic Threats, third-degree Criminal Coercion, and third-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child via Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials; and six counts of fourth-degree Cyber Harassment.

An investigation by the Keansburg Police Department that grew to also involve members of the Prosecutor’s Office revealed that Lopez had made contact with the victim via social media sometime prior to August 2020, and thereafter asked her to send him sexually explicit photos and videos.

After several such exchanges, the investigation revealed, the victim indicated that she preferred to cease communications with Lopez – who responded by sending some of the photos and videos to no fewer than half a dozen of her family members, including children as young as 11. In addition, Lopez allegedly threatened to harm the victim’s family, threatened to have other individuals harm them, threatened to burn down their house, and told her he could make her life “a living hell.”

Lopez was arrested at his home on August 25, 2020, after which he was released on home detention and ordered to have no contact with the victim and no Internet access while the criminal case against him remained pending.

Anyone with additional information about Lopez’s activities is being asked to contact Keansburg Police Department Detective Lt. Bryan King at 732-787-0600.

Convictions on first-degree criminal charges can result in terms of 10 to 20 years in state prison, while second-degree crimes can yield penalties of 5 to 10 years.

This case is being handled by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Lavender. Lopez is being represented by Joshua Hood, Esq., with an office in Freehold.  

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.  

  • David Lopez, 38, of Jersey City
David Lopez, 38, of Jersey City is charged with first-degree Manufacturing Child Sexual Abuse Materials, five counts of second-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child via Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Materials, three counts of third-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, single counts of third-degree Making Terroristic Threats, third-degree Criminal Coercion, and third-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child via Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials; and six counts of fourth-degree Cyber Harassment.

Hopewell, Mercer County

Mercer County Releases Proposed Final Master Plan For Moores Station Quarry In Hopewell Township

October 22, 2021

HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP – The Mercer County Park Commission has released its proposed final master plan for the redevelopment of Moores Station Quarry located in Hopewell Township, adjacent to Baldpate Mountain. The plan can be found on the Park Commission’s website here 

Research on options for repurposing this industrial quarry into a park was led by a team of consultants and Park Commission staff, and included outreach to a variety of potential user groups and stakeholders. A preliminary draft of the master plan was posted for public review on July 12, 2021, and feedback from the public in response to the draft plan was considered in the development of the final plan. The public comment period provided areas of improvement for the industrial quarry site, including topics in recreation, environmental restoration, education and accessibility. “Turning this unique site into public open space is a major undertaking, and the Park Commission has worked diligently to formulate a proposal that would serve as a long-term vision for park improvements,” said Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes. “I thank our community members for providing valuable input that has helped guide this process.”

The proposed master plan will be considered for adoption during the October Park Commission meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 27. The online public meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. A meeting notice and link to the webinar can be found here. 

“Over the past year, the redevelopment plan for this 166-acre site has reflected the Park Commission’s commitment to the public process,” said Park Commission Executive Director Aaron T. Watson. “Close to 150 responses to the draft plan were reviewed, and that feedback helped shape the final master plan. Public insight gave our team new opportunities to explore that we are excited to implement as we move forward.”

Quarrying operations by Trap Rock Industries will cease at the site in the spring of 2023, when a 25-year agreement with the quarry operator will expire. At that point, the Park Commission will take possession of the site and begin a multi-year process of transforming the open-pit quarry into a park.

The Park Commission has retained a multi-disciplinary team to help develop the master plan, led by Simone Collins Landscape Architecture of Norristown, Pa. The team includes landscape architects, geologists, engineers, ecologists, wildlife biologists, sustainability experts and real estate market analysts.