Day: November 23, 2021

Freehold, Monmouth County

Nearly 600 Firearms Collected as Result of Twin Gun Buybacks

November 23, 2021

FREEHOLD, NJ (MONMOUTH)–A combined total of nearly 600 firearms have been collected for destruction as the result of a pair of gun buybacks hosted by the Prosecutor’s Office and partner agencies over the last month, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced Tuesday.

Monmouth County was one of nine counties statewide to host separate gun buybacks across the state on Saturday, October 23; as a result, a total of 360 firearms were collected at the Second Baptist Church of Asbury Park, including 159 handguns, 133 rifles and shotguns, and three assault weapons.

Prompted by the healthy demand, a second event was held this past Saturday at the Bethel AME Church in Freehold; as a result, a total of 234 more firearms, including 144 handguns, 67 rifles and shotguns, and two assault weapons were collected.

Between the two events, more than $66,000 was paid out to participating citizens turning in 594 unwanted weapons.

“It’s abundantly clear that these gun buyback events are both popular and effective, and we plan to continue hosting them in the years to come,” Acting Prosecutor Linskey said. “Every last firearm turned in is a firearm that will never be used to harm someone.”

Saturday’s event was co-sponsored by the Prosecutor’s Office, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, under the leadership of Sheriff Shaun Golden; the Freehold Borough Police Department, under the leadership of Chief Craig W. Dispenza; the Freehold Township Police Department, under the leadership of Chief George K. Baumann; and the Bethel AME Church, under the leadership of the Rev. Ronald L. Sparks.

The Asbury Park event was co-sponsored by MCPO, the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, the Monmouth County Police Chiefs Association, and the Asbury Park Police Department.

The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General coordinated the Oct. 23 gun buybacks, which made history – Acting Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck announced several days later that nearly 3,000 firearms were turned at sites across the state that day, making it the most successful single-day event of its kind in state history. Thousands more firearms were turned in during gun buybacks held across the state in previous years.

The gun buybacks in Asbury Park and Freehold marked Monmouth County’s first such events since 2017.

Hamilton, Hamilton, Mercer County

Trenton Man Arrested in Armed Home Invasion, Kidnapping, Robbery in Hamilton

November 23, 2021

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–On November 22, 2021, Hamilton Police Officers were detailed to a residence in the 300 block of Tindall Avenue on a home invasion/ robbery. Responding officers were advised by the elderly female victim, that she was awakened by a black male suspect that entered her residence with a handgun. The elderly victim explained that the suspect pushed in a first-floor window air conditioning unit to gain entry to her residence.  Once inside, he held her at gun point and took several items of value and left with her personal vehicle.

Hamilton Police Detective Frank Palmieri was assigned the case, and an alert was entered for the victims’ stolen motor vehicle.   

On the evening of November 22, 2021, the suspect, 19-year-old Trenton resident, Kahider Carmichael, was arrested by the New Jersey State Police Crime Suppression Central Unit, while driving the victims’ vehicle in Trenton. 

Kahider Carmichael was transported to Hamilton Police headquarters where he was charged with Robbery, Burglary and Kidnapping. 

Kahider Carmichael is currently being held at the Mercer County Correctional Facility awaiting arraignment.

Hamilton Police Detectives are asking the public if anyone has additional information concerning this incident, to contact Hamilton Police Detective Frank Palmieri of the Criminal Investigations Section at (609) 581-4041 or via email at fpalmieri@hamiltonpd.org or the Hamilton Police Crime Tip Hotline at (609) 581-4008.

Every defendant is presumed innocent until being found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Kahider Carmichael, 19, Trenton
Kahider Carmichael was transported to Hamilton Police headquarters where he was charged with Robbery, Burglary and Kidnapping. Kahider Carmichael is currently being held at the Mercer County Correctional Facility awaiting arraignment.

Hamilton, Hamilton, Mercer County

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton Commemorates 50 Years Serving the Community

November 23, 2021

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Hamilton, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, held a procession ceremony on Friday, November 19, 2021 to mark the hospital’s 50-year milestone of providing high quality healthcare to the Mercer County community.

In 1971, Trenton General Hospital moved to a 67-acre campus in Hamilton Township and was renamed Hamilton Hospital. A half-century later, the hospital, now Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, exemplifies the best in patient care, quality and safety. Today, the hospital is nationally recognized for its exceptional medical care, patient satisfaction, and continued commitment to promote, preserve, and restore the health of the community it serves. 

The procession ceremony recreated the first time the ambulances pulled into Hamilton Hospital five decades ago and will feature EMS a well as firetrucks, police vehicles, and ambulances who will drive through the hospital grounds, mirroring that historic day.

Following the procession, remarks were made by:

  • Mercer County Commissioner Nina D. Melker, Chairman of RWJUH Hamilton Foundation and Vice Chairman of the RWJUH Hamilton Board of Trustees
  • Richard Freeman, President and Chief Executive Officer, RWJUH Hamilton
  • Hamilton Township Mayor Jeffrey S. Martin