Day: September 16, 2022

Freehold, Monmouth County September 16, 2022

Freehold Township Police Lieutenant With 27-Years On The Job Admits To Illegal Database Access

September 16, 2022

FREEHOLD, NJ (MONMOUTH)–A 27-year veteran of the Freehold Township Police Department has admitted to illegally accessing information from a law-enforcement computer database for personal use, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced Friday.

Lt. John Todd, 58, pleaded guilty to a count of third-degree Computer Theft during a Friday morning hearing before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Jill Grace O’Malley.

An investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office’s Professional Responsibility and Bias Crime Unit revealed that on February 23, 2022, for personal reasons, Todd contacted a police radio dispatcher asking for personal information about an individual from the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS), a database that exists strictly for law-enforcement purposes. Todd then passed that information along to a third party, who was not a member of law enforcement.

Under the terms of Todd’s plea, he will permanently forfeit public employment in New Jersey, receive a term of probation, and pay nearly $1,000 in fines. Todd will also apply to enroll in New Jersey’s Pretrial Intervention Program (PTI), which provides first-time offenders with opportunities for alternatives to traditional prosecution. Had he proceeded to indictment and trial, Todd could have faced up to five years in prison and tens of thousands of dollars in fines.

The case was assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Melanie Falco, Director of the Office’s Professional Responsibility and Bias Crimes Unit.

“Regardless of rank, there is no place within law enforcement for conduct such as this,” Acting Prosecutor Linskey said. “The vast majority of officers countywide routinely serve the public with integrity and honor, risking their own lives on the job every single day. Actions such as those of Lt. Todd unfortunately make the work they do all the more challenging, particularly when it comes to gaining and maintaining the trust and respect of the citizens who depend on them.”

“The Freehold Township Police Department is committed to our residents and the integrity of all interactions between my officers and the public we serve. We fully support the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and their efforts adjudicating a difficult situation in which one of my officers violated the law,” Freehold Township Police Chief George K. Baumann added. “This breach of trust is an isolated incident, and does not define us or distract us from our primary goal of serving the residents and visitors of our community.”

Sentencing in the case has been scheduled for Friday, November 18.

Middlesex County, South Brunswick September 16, 2022

NY Man Charged In Armed South Brunswick Carjacking

September 16, 2022

A New York man was charged for an armed carjacking committed in South Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.

Jashawn Robinson, 21, of Queens, New York, is charged by complaint with one count of carjacking and one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. He will appear for his initial appearance at a later date.

According to the documents filed in this case:

On Aug. 29, 2021, at approximately 11:15 a.m., as two victims approached their vehicle parked in a motel parking lot to leave, Robinson ran up behind one of them, pointed a gun directly at her, and forcefully pulled her away from the vehicle. Robinson fired one round of ammunition from his gun into the air. Robinson then pointed his gun at the second victim, who had his hands in the air and was backing away from the vehicle. Robinson then entered the vehicle and drove away. The carjacking, including Robinson’s discharge of the firearm, was captured on video surveillance.

On Sept. 27, 2021, law enforcement officers located the carjacked vehicle parked on a residential street in Queens, New York, and established surveillance. The officers observed Robinson approach and enter that vehicle. As law enforcement officers converged and surrounded the vehicle, Robinson repeatedly tried to get away, including hitting parked cars and almost hitting law enforcement personnel. Robinson was removed from the vehicle and arrested.

The count of carjacking carries a maximum potential penalty of 15 years in prison. The count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence is punishable by a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, which must run consecutively to any term of imprisonment imposed on any other charge. Both charges each carry a potential fine of up to $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, Trenton Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews; and the South Brunswick Police Department, under the direction of Chief Raymond J. Hayducka, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the U.S. Marshals Service, the New York City Police Department, the Queens County District Attorney’s Office, and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office for their assistance with this case.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Agnew of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle S. Gasparian, Chief of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

22-341

Robinson.Complaint.pdf

Hamilton, Hamilton, Mercer County September 16, 2022

Police Seize $45K Methamphetamine And $1K Cash In Hamilton Township

September 16, 2022

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–A three-week investigation into narcotics distribution in the Trenton area has culminated with the seizure of $45,500 in methamphetamine, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri reported.

On Tuesday, September 13, 2022, members of the Mercer County Narcotics Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Hamilton and Trenton police departments executed a search warrant at a residence in the 100 block of McGowan Avenue in Hamilton. Resident Robert Margeson, 51, was detained outside in the front yard. A search of the residence revealed 455 grams of methamphetamine, several scales and $1,063 in cash.

Margeson was charged with a first-degree narcotics offense and the prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain him pending trial. Andrew Dellapenna, 42, and Anthony Egan, 41, both of Philadelphia, PA, were also present at the time of the search warrant execution and charged with third-degree narcotics offenses.

According to Prosecutor Onofri, the street value of the confiscated methamphetamine is approximately $45,000.

Despite having been charged, all persons are presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Lawrence, Mercer County September 16, 2022September 17, 2022

2-Alarm Fire Reported In Lawrence Township

The two-alarm fire in Lawrence Township is now reported under control, firefighters are still on scene investigating the fire.

September 16, 2022

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–Fire Departments were dispatched to well involved vacant homes in the 1100 Block of Route 206 (Lawrenceville Road) near Carter Road at 4:40 a.m. Upon arrival the buildings were approximately 600 feet off the roadway in the rear of the property and firefighters had to lay hose up a long driveway to the rear of the property. Additional fire departments were called to the scene and the fire went to two alarms before being brought under control. A water tanker shuttle was set up to bring water to the scene.

Fire crews are still on location at this hour for the investigation. Further details are expected be released later.

Street and satellite views from Google Maps appears that the buildings on that property have been abandoned for quite some time.

Photos by: NJ Public Safety News Alerts