Category: Columbus

Burlington, Columbus, North Hanover July 18, 2021

National Weather Service Confirms EF-1 Tornado In Burlington County Last Night

July 18, 2021

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, NJ (BURLINGTON)–The National Weather Service Mount Holly, NJ has release a preliminary damage survey from last night’s EF-1 Tornado that damaged trees and power lines in Northern Burlington County. The tornado started south of Columbus around 10:25 p.m. and proceeded towards Jacobstown, NJ and ending at 10:36 p.m. The path was 800 yards wide and almost 8 miles long.

Good afternoon. We have determined that an EF-1 tornado touched down last evening in northwestern Burlington County, NJ with the line of severe thunderstorms that moved through the area. For more info: https://t.co/guYxwfTHI6 🌪️#NJwx pic.twitter.com/ZubArkIc9h
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) July 18, 2021

See full National Weather Service report below:

...NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 07/17/2021 TORNADO EVENT...
THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED AND MOVED ACROSS THE REGION STARTING 
EARLY SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND CONTINUING INTO LATE SATURDAY NIGHT. 
LATE SATURDAY EVENING, A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED IN FAR 
SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND FAR NORTHERN DELMARVA. A SURGING 
SEGMENT OF THIS LINE PROGRESSED THROUGH BURLINGTON COUNTY NJ, 
PRODUCING A TORNADO IN THE NORTHWESTERN PORTION OF THE COUNTY.

.SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP NJ TORNADO...

RATING:                 EF-1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    80-90 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/:  7.9 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/:   800 YARDS
FATALITIES:             0
INJURIES:               0

START DATE:             JULY 17, 2021
START TIME:             10:25 PM EDT
START LOCATION:         1.5 MILES SOUTH OF COLUMBUS, NJ
START LAT/LON:          40.051/-74.722

END DATE:               JULY 17, 2021
END TIME:               10:36 PM EDT
END LOCATION:           JACOBSTOWN, NJ
END LAT/LON:            40.079/-74.580

A NARROW, DISCONTINUOUS, PATH OF TREE DAMAGE BEGAN JUST EAST OF 
THE ROUTE 206 AND COLUMBUS-JOBSTOWN ROAD INTERSECTION. THIS IS 1 
MILE NORTHEAST OF THE BURLINGTON COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS. SIGNIFICANT 
TREE DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED IN A NEIGHBORHOOD NORTH OF COLUMBUS-
JOBSTOWN ROAD. FROM THERE, SEVERAL LARGE LIMBS WERE SNAPPED OFF ON
ISLAND ROAD. ONE TREE WAS UPROOTED AND ONE WAS SNAPPED ON 
JULIUSTOWN-GEORGETOWN ROAD. AN ADDITIONAL TREE WAS SNAPPED ON NJ 
ROUTE 68. NUMEROUS LARGE LIMBS WERE BLOWN ON POWERLINES ON MONMOUTH
ROAD NEAR TILGHMANS CORNER. SCATTERED TREE DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED IN
JACOBSTOWN IN NORTH HANOVER TOWNSHIP. THE TORNADO DISSIPATED 
BEFORE THE OCEAN COUNTY LINE.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE THANKS BURLINGTON COUNTY EMERGENCY 
MANAGEMENT, THE MEDIA, OUR SKYWARN SPOTTERS, AND THE PUBLIC FOR 
THEIR ASSISTANCE IN IDENTIFYING AREAS OF DAMAGE.

EF SCALE: THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE CLASSIFIES TORNADOES INTO THE
FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:

EF0...WEAK......65 TO 85 MPH
EF1...WEAK......86 TO 110 MPH
EF2...STRONG....111 TO 135 MPH
EF3...STRONG....136 TO 165 MPH
EF4...VIOLENT...166 TO 200 MPH
EF5...VIOLENT...>200 MPH

Burlington, Columbus, Mercer County, Trenton June 28, 2021

BURLINGTON COUNTY MAN SENTENCED TO 28 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR INTERFERING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS DURING CIVIL DISORDER

June 28, 2021

TRENTON (MERCER)– A Burlington County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 28 months in prison for attempting to interfere with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder when he attempted to set fire to a police vehicle during a civil disorder in the City of Trenton, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.

Killian F. Melecio, 20, of Columbus, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti to an information charging him with one count of attempting to obstruct, impede, or interfere with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder affecting commerce.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On May 31, 2020, large-scale protests were held throughout the United States, including in Trenton, in response to the death of George Floyd. Although the May 31st protest in Trenton was peaceful earlier in the day, violence erupted later. A group of individuals proceeded down East State Street in downtown Trenton and began to smash store fronts, loot stores, and attack multiple marked Trenton Police Department vehicles parked on the 100 Block of East State Street.

A City of Trenton street camera and other video footage taken by an individual present on the street captured Kadeem Dockery light an explosive device and throw it through the open front driver’s side window of a Trenton Police Department vehicle. Dockery then removed his shirt and handed it to Melecio, who then attempted to stuff the shirt in the gas tank of the police vehicle and ignite it. Melecio was then assisted by Justin Spry in attempting to set fire to the police vehicle. Law enforcement officers on scene arrested Spry, but Melecio and Dockery fled. Law enforcement later identified Melecio and Dockery through analysis of street camera and other video footage. They were arrested on Aug. 5, 2020.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Martinotti sentenced Melecio to three years of supervised release. Spry and Dockery have previously pleaded guilty. Spry is scheduled to sentenced on Aug. 3, 2021, and Docker is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 21, 2021.

Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the FBI and task force officers of the Joint Terrorism Task Force in Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr., with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. She also thanked officers of the Trenton Police Department, under the direction of Acting Police Director James Slack; troopers of the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; and officers of the New Jersey Department of Corrections, under the direction of Commissioner Marcus O. Hicks, for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander E. Ramey and Michelle S. Gasparian of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.

The charges and allegations remaining against Kadeem Dockery and Justin Spry are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Burlington, Columbus, Mercer County, Trenton, Uncategorized January 26, 2021January 26, 2021

Burlington County man admits interfering with law enforcement officers during civil disorder

January 26, 2021

Published by: Tyler Eckel

TRENTON (MERCER): A Burlington County, New Jersey, man today admitted attempting to interfere with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder when he attempted to set fire to a police vehicle during a riot in the City of Trenton, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.

Killian F. Melecio, 20, of Columbus, New Jersey, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti to an information charging him with one count of attempting to obstruct, impede, or interfere with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder affecting commerce.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On May 31, 2020, large-scale protests were held throughout the United States, including in Trenton, in response to the death of George Floyd. Although the May 31st protest in Trenton was peaceful earlier in the day, violence erupted later. A group of individuals proceeded down East State Street in downtown Trenton and began to riot, smashing store fronts, looting stores, and attacking multiple marked Trenton Police Department vehicles parked on the 100 Block of East State Street.

The charge of attempting to interfere with law enforcement officers during a civil order carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. Scheduling is scheduled for May 26, 2021.

Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the FBI and task force officers of the Joint Terrorism Task Force in Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr., with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. She also thanked officers of the Trenton Police Department, under the direction of Police Director Sheilah Coley; troopers of the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; and officers of the New Jersey Department of Corrections, under the direction of Commissioner Marcus O. Hicks, for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander E. Ramey and Michelle S. Gasparian of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.

The charges and allegations remaining against Kadeem Dockery and Justin Spry are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

See MidJersey.News’ previous news story here: Trenton burns as rioters torch cars, loot stores, and clash with police after “peaceful protest” goes violent at dusk.

See MidJersey.News’ previous breaking news story here: BREAKING: Chaos in the City; peaceful “Black Lives Matter” protest turns violent at dark.

Burlington, Columbus, Mercer County, Trenton August 6, 2020

Burlington County Man And Trenton Man Arrested By FBI For Attempting To Set Fire To Police Car Following Protests May 31

Killian F. Melecio, 20, of Columbus, New Jersey, and Kadeem A. Dockery, 29, of Trenton, were arrested Aug. 5, 2020, by special agents of the FBI

See previous MidJersey.News coverage here:

May 31, 2020 –Trenton Burns As Rioters Torch Cars, Loot Stores And Clash With Police After “Peaceful Protest” Goes Violent At Dusk

June 2, 2020 BREAKING: Middlesex County Man Arrested For Attempting To Set Fire To Trenton Police Car After Demonstration

June 17, 2020 — Trenton Man Charged With Attempting To Ignite A Mark Police Vehicle During Trenton Protests

August 6, 2020

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Two New Jersey men have been charged with attempting to set fire to a marked police vehicle following the May 2020 protests in Trenton, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.

Killian F. Melecio, 20, of Columbus, New Jersey, and Kadeem A. Dockery, 29, of Trenton, were arrested Aug. 5, 2020, by special agents of the FBI and charged by complaint with one count of attempting to damage or destroy by fire a vehicle owned or possessed by an institution receiving federal financial assistance, and one count of attempting to damage or destroy by fire a vehicle used in and affecting interstate commerce. Melecio and Dockery appeared by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni. Dockery was released; Melecio was detained pending a bail hearing.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On May 31, 2020, large-scale protests were held throughout the United States, including in Trenton, in response to the death of George Floyd, who died on May 25, 2020, while in the custody of the Minneapolis Police Department. Although the protest in Trenton was peaceful earlier in the day, violence erupted later. A group of individuals proceeded down East State Street and began to smash store fronts, loot stores, and attack multiple marked Trenton Police Department vehicles.

A street camera and other video footage taken by an individual present recorded Dockery light an explosive device and throw it through the open front driver’s side window of a Trenton Police Department vehicle. Dockery then removed his shirt and handed it to Melecio, who attempted to stuff the shirt in the gas tank of the police vehicle and ignite it. Melecio was assisted by Justin D. Spry, who was charged in a criminal complaint on June 2, 2020, for his role in the riot. Law enforcement officers on scene observed Spry as he attempted to ignite the vehicle. Melecio fled, and Spry attempted to flee, but was arrested. During the course of Spry’s arrest, Dockery lit another explosive device and threw it over the Trenton Police vehicle at the arresting officers, where it exploded at their feet. Law enforcement identified Melecio and Dockery through their distinctive tattoos seen on the video footage.

Both counts carry a statutory mandatory minimum term of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI and task force officers of the Joint Terrorism Task Force in Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Joe Denahan, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked officers of the Trenton Police Department, under the direction of Police Director Sheilah Coley; troopers of the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; and officers of the New Jersey Department of Corrections, under the direction of Commissioner Marcus O. Hicks, for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander E. Ramey and Michelle S. Gasparian of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.

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

20-241

Defense counsel:

Melecio: Mark G. Davis Esq., Hamilton, New Jersey
Dockery: Lawrence Welle Esq., Red Bank, New Jersey