Day: July 11, 2023

Hamilton, Hamilton, Mercer County

Hamilton Authorizes Foreclosure of Properties -Looks to Preserve Nearly 50 Acres for Open Space

HAMILTON, NJ – Hamilton Township Mayor Jeff Martin continues to increase open space preservation through foreclosure on certain properties.    

The Hamilton Township Council recently authorized the Township to foreclose on six properties totaling almost 50 acres to be preserved for Open Space. The delinquent liens on these six properties totaled over $1 million owed to the Township.   

“Rather than continually trying to collect money owed to us, all but one for over a decade, the Township decided it was time just to take over these properties,” said Mayor Jeff Martin. “Most of these properties are adjacent to other Township preserved land and/or sit adjacent to streams which are extra important for flood mitigation.”   

The properties are: ·    

Block 1501, Lot 5 – Sweetbriar Avenue, 1 acre (Original lien dates back to 2001)·    

Block 1518, Lot 3 – Sloan Avenue, 15.1 acres (Original lien dates back to 2012)·    

Block 1629, Lot 39 – Hughes Drive, 5.5 acres (Original lien dates back to 1997)·    

Block 1656, Lot 67 – Nebraska Avenue, 9.9 acres (Original lien dates back to 2015)·    

Block 2712, Lot 47 – Doe Drive, 1.6 acres (Original lien dates back to 2000)·    

Block 2726, Lot 15 – Mill Road, 15.7 acres (Original lien dates back to 1989)  

Just this year, the Mayor and Council will have approved the acquisition of the above properties, 32.5 acres along Assunpink Creek, and are currently negotiating the purchase of roughly 16 acres on Kuser Road across from the Hamilton Recreation Office.   

“Preserving more open space in different neighborhoods throughout the Township is part of our continued goal of working with property owners to preserve green space rather than have it developed,” said Mayor Martin. 

Following the acquisition of this land, Hamilton Township will have nearly 6,000 acres of preserved land – an amount greater than the entire land acreage of the City of Trenton. For more information on Hamilton Township Open Space, visit www.HamiltonNJ.com/CED. 

Ocean County, Plumsted

Plumsted Township Woman Charged With Theft And Forgery

July 11, 2023

PLUMSTED TOWNSHIP, NJ (OCEAN)–Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Plumsted Township Police Chief Earl Meroney announced that on July 10, 2023, Karly Simon-Sapp, 49, of Plumsted Township, was charged with Theft and Forgery in connection with her former position as bookkeeper for the New Jersey Apartment Association.  

An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad and Plumsted Township Police Department revealed that between January 2016 and January 2022, Simon-Sapp – in her capacity as a bookkeeper for the New Jersey Apartment Association – forged the signatures of both the Association’s President and Vice-President on over 100 checks written out to either herself or to cash.  Simon-Sapp then deposited the forged checks, totaling more than $358,000, into her personal bank account and utilized the funds for her own personal benefit.  

On July 10, 2023, Simon-Sapp was taken into custody at her residence by Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad and Officers from the Plumsted Township Police Department.  She was processed and served with the charges via summons pending an upcoming first appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.  

Prosecutor Billhimer and Chief Meroney acknowledge the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad and Plumsted Township Police Department for their collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation.        

The charges referenced above are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. R.P.C. 3.6(b)(6)

Middletown, Monmouth County

Worker Killed In Middletown After Contact With Power Lines Then Falling 20-Feet

Middletown, NJ – On July 11, 2023, at approximately 12:29 p.m., Middletown Twp. Police responded to 1040 State Route 35 in Middletown for a report of a workplace accident.  Upon arrival, officers learned that Kevin McAdorey, 58, of Brick, had been using a motorized scissor lift while performing work at the site.  The lift was elevated and came into contact with powerlines.  McAdorey then fell to the ground from a distance of approximately 20 feet and was found to be in an unconscious condition.  The victim was treated by Middletown Twp. Emergency Medical Service and transported to Hackensack Meridian Health Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank.  McAdorey was later pronounced dead by hospital staff.  

This incident is under investigation by the Middletown Twp. Police as well as the Office of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) based in Avenel.

Lawrence, Mercer County

Burlington, NJ Man Charged With Attempted Murder In Lawrence Township

July 11, 2023

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–Petar Armbruster III (54-years-old, Last Known Address: 1st block of Jerrys Dr, Burlington, NJ) was arrested on July 11, 2023 and charged with Attempted Murder (1st degree), Aggravated Assault (2nd degree), Attempted Aggravated Assault (2nd degree), Leaving the Scene of Motor Vehicle Crash with serious injuries (3rd degree), Endangering Injured Victim (3rd degree) and Assault by Auto (4th degree).  

On July 8, 2023, at approximately 5:08 p.m., Lawrence Township Police officers responded to the parking lot of Halo Farm (970 Spruce St, Lawrenceville, NJ) for a report of a hit-and-run motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian struck by a vehicle.  

Officers located the victim in the parking lot of Halo Farm with multiple injuries. The victim was transported to Capital Health System – Regional Medical Center, by Lawrence Township EMS and remains in serious condition.  

Investigating officers determined that prior to the crash, Armbruster III and the victim had been engaged in a verbal dispute in the area of the 7-11 Store. Armbruster III followed the victim from the 7-11 Store to the Halo Farm / Trenton Farmers Market parking lot. Armbruster III sat in his car and waited for the victim and the victim’s girlfriend. As they entered the parking lot of Halo Farm, Armbruster III drove his vehicle at a high rate of speed striking the victim and nearly missing the victim’s girlfriend. Armbruster III fled the scene after striking the victim.  

Armbruster III was arrested by the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office on July 11, 2023, in the City of Trenton. He is being lodged at the Mercer County Correction Center awaiting a Detention Hearing. The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, and Trenton Police Department assisted with the investigation.   Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Lawrence Township Police Detective Paulina Way at 609-844-7133 / pway@lawrencetwp.com or Detective Sean Kerins at 609-844-7121 / skerins@lawrencetwp.com.

**All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law**