Category: Piscataway

East Windsor, East Windsor, Hightstown, Hightstown, Hightstown-East Windsor, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Piscataway

Hightstown Man Charged With Attempted Murder, Sexual Assault, Kidnapping And Home Invasion In Piscataway

July 7, 2023

Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Captain Michelle Pilch, Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the Piscataway Police Department announced today that a Hightstown man has been charged in connection with a home invasion that occurred on Thursday afternoon, July 6, 2023.  

On Thursday, July 6, 2023, at 1:24 P.M., authorities responded to a residence in Piscataway after receiving a 911 call reporting an assault. Upon their arrival the Piscataway Police Department located the victim, an adult female, who had sustained injuries and was transported to the hospital for treatment.  

An initial investigation by the Piscataway Police Department revealed that the victim was sexually assaulted. Further investigation by Detective Sean Morelli of the Piscataway Police Department and Detective Daniela Castro of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Unit determined that Justin Surofsky, 26, of Hightstown was the assailant.  

On Thursday, July 6, 2023, Surofsky was arrested in East Windsor without incident and charged with two counts of first-degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, first- degree Criminal Attempt-Murder, second-degree Burglary, third-degree Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact, second-degree Kidnapping, third-degree Criminal Restraint, second-degree Aggravated Assault, and first-degree Robbery. Surofsky presently is lodged at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center pending the results of a pre- trial detention hearing in Superior Court.  

The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information or surveillance footage is asked to call Detective Morelli of the Piscataway Police Department at (732) 562-2355 or Detective Castro of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-3652.  

As is the case with all criminal defendants, the charges against Surofsky are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Justin Surofsky, 26, of Hightstown. On Thursday, July 6, 2023, Surofsky was arrested in East Windsor without incident and charged with two counts of first-degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, first- degree Criminal Attempt-Murder, second-degree Burglary, third-degree Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact, second-degree Kidnapping, third-degree Criminal Restraint, second-degree Aggravated Assault, and first-degree Robbery. Surofsky presently is lodged at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center pending the results of a pre- trial detention hearing in Superior Court.  

Middlesex County, Piscataway

Prosecutor: Rutgers Student Death Does Not Appear Suspicious

June 27, 2023

PISCATAWAY, NJ (MIDDLESEX)–Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Chief Kenneth Cop of the Rutgers Police Department announced today that they are investigating a body of a deceased male student that was found on the Rutgers University Campus in Piscataway.

There is no threat to the public and the death does not appear to be suspicious.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sergeant Calvert of the Rutgers Police Department at 732-932-7211 or Detective Michelle Coppola of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732 745-3477.

East Brunswick, East Windsor, Hightstown, Holmdel, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Middletown, Monmouth County, Piscataway, Sayreville, South Brunswick, Spotswood, Woodbridge

Former Middle School Teacher and Wrestling Coach Pled Guilty

April 27, 2023

Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Chief Daniel Plumacker of the Sayreville Police Department announced today that John Denuto, 46, of Spotswood pled guilty to Endangering the Welfare of a Child and other offenses on Friday, April 14, 2023.

Denuto, a former special education teacher at the Sayreville Middle School and former wrestling coach at numerous other schools and organizations who exploited his position as both a teacher and a wrestling coach to meet and abuse his victims was initially arrested on February 15, 2020. An investigation by the Sayreville Police Department and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office determined Denuto had criminal sexual contact with a juvenile and he possessed child sexual exploitive materials that he had created by filming and photographing the previous mentioned juvenile. Further investigation revealed Denuto was in possession of additional sexual exploitive material of unidentified individuals.

On April 22, 2021, Denuto was indicted on one count of first-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, one count of second-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, three counts of third-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, eight counts of third-degree Invasion of Privacy, six counts of third-degree Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact, six counts of fourth-degree Criminal Sexual Contact, two counts of third-degree Witness Tampering, and one count of third-degree Hindering His Own Apprehension.

On Friday April 14, 2023, Denuto pled before the Honorable Benjamin

S. Bucca, J.S.C., to one count of second-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, one count of third-degree Endangering and one count of fourth-degree Invasion of Privacy. He is subject to a sentence of seven years and will be on parole supervision for life and must register under Megan’s Law. Denuto is scheduled to be sentenced by the Honorable Benjamin S. Bucca, J.S.C., on September 8, 2023.

Below is a list of schools, organizations, and clubs that the investigation revealed Denuto to be associated with:

Rhino’s Wrestling Club – Morganville

CJA Wrestling Club – East Brunswick

Pennsville High School – Pennsville

Raritan High School – Hazlet Township

Saint John Vianney – Holmdel

Sayreville Middle School – Sayreville

Sayreville High School – Sayreville

Middletown North High School – Middletown Township

Monroe High School – Monroe

Peddie High School – Hightstown

South Brunswick High School – South Brunswick Saint Joseph High School – Montvale

Union County College – Cranford

Camden Catholic High School – Cherry Hill Johnson High School – Clark

St. Thomas Aquinas High School (formerly Bishop Ahr HS) – Edison

Woodbridge High School – Woodbridge

7th & 8th Woodbridge Recreation Program – Woodbridge

7th & 8th Grade Old Bridge Recreation Program – Old Bridge Piscataway High School – Piscataway

Spotswood High School – Spotswood

Freehold Boro High School – Freehold Borough

In a separate prosecution, Denuto was adjudicated delinquent on May 20, 2022, for crimes which, if committed by an adult, would constitute two counts of first-degree Aggravated Sexual Assault. Denuto was the subject of a dispositional hearing on October 21, 2022, which resulted in his commitment by the Honorable Deborah J. Venezia to the care and control of the Acting Director of the Juvenile Justice Commission for an aggregate term of four years.

Photo by Sora Shimazaki on Pexels.com
Hamilton, Howell, Jackson, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, North Brunswick, Ocean County, Piscataway, Robbinsville, Robbinsville, Sayreville

BPU Sets March 16 Hearing in Optimum/ Altice Investigation

ROBBINSVILLE-HAMILTON TOWNSHIPS, NJ (MERCER)–In response to a wave of complaints regarding poor service and unfair consumer pricing by Optimum/Altice USA, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) has found sufficient cause to investigate Optimum/Altice USA and convene a public hearing on March 16, 2021.

The BPU said in a February 17 order it had:

“reviewed the various complaints, municipal government official resolutions and requests for Board investigation and intervention in this matter, and HEREBY FINDS that there is sufficient cause to convene a proceeding to afford the municipal officials and Altice customers the opportunity to voice their concerns about the services received from Altice; as well as afford the company the opportunity to respond to these concerns before determining what corrective action may be warranted and should be taken in this matter.”


The Board designated Commissioner Mary-Anna Holden as the Presiding Officer. Holden “is authorized to rule on all motions that arise during the proceedings and modify any schedules that may be set as necessary to secure a just and expeditious determination of the issues.”

The public hearing will be held virtually. Information concerning participation in the public hearing will be posted on the BPU website. Attorneys for the Townships of Robbinsville and Hamilton filed dual letters to Lawanda Gilbert, Director of the BPU Office of Cable Television and Telecommunications, requesting an investigation into the under performing utility in August, 2020.

In addition to Hamilton and Robbinsville, the order lists the boroughs of Dunellen and Sayreville, along with the Townships of Green Brook, Howell, Jackson, Montville, North Brunswick and Piscataway. The BPU received complaints and resolutions from at least 10 municipalities and several state legislators concerning various issues their residents and constituents cited alleging inadequacy and lack of service provided by Altice USA. In the complaints, the municipal and legislative officials cited: “Frequent and lengthy service disruptions (across all services), inconsistent connections and fluctuating Internet speeds, long telephone wait times, poor customer service, and an inability to get a satisfactory response to these issues from the company both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.”


READ THE ROBBINSVILLE & HAMILTON LETTERS TO BPU 

The letters detail just 11 examples from the hundreds of complaints received by the respective municipal offices at Robbinsville and Hamilton over the past several months citing poor customer service, unstable Internet connections, insufficient network capacity and allegations of price-gouging.

“It is the duty of Optimum (Altice USA) as a utility to furnish safe, adequate and proper service for its customers … and they have failed in that duty,” Robbinsville Township Mayor Dave Fried said last summer. “We should not have to continuously pressure this provider to do its job.”

Hamilton Township Mayor Jeff Martin also received a flood of complaints regarding Optimum/Altice USA (formerly Cablevision) and requested the BPU immediately commence an investigation into the services being provided to both Robbinsville and Hamilton pursuant to powers vested in the Board.


“Having reliable cable and internet service has never been more of a necessity than this year has proved it to be,” Martin said. “Both municipalities’ residents have experienced similar, unacceptable issues and a lack of timely remediation from Optimum. Mayor Fried and I will fight for our residents by partnering together on this issue and hope that by doing so it will provide for a stronger likelihood of these concerns being taken seriously by the State. “

Related MidJersey.news stories here:

Mayors Testify At NJ Senate Committee On Law And Public Safety About Utility Company Problems

Hamilton and Robbinsville Request BPU Investigation Into Optimum/Altice

Hamilton Township Mayor Jeff Martin and Robbinsville Township Mayor Dave Fried testify at October 19, 2020 Senate hearing in Trenton.

Click to access BPU-ORDER%20Altice%20Order%20of%20Investigation.pdf

bpu-order-altice-order-of-investigationDownload

Click to access ROBBINSVILLE-BPU-LETTER.pdf

Click to access HAMILTON-BPU-LETTER.pdf

Middlesex County, Piscataway

Piscataway Woman Dies In I-287 Crash Another With Serious Injuries

November 22, 2020

PISCATAWAY, NJ (MIDDLESEX)–NJ State Troopers responded to a motor vehicle crash at 12:17 a.m. on I-287 south MP 5.2, Piscataway Township, Middlesex County.

NJ State Police stated, based on a Preliminary investigation, a 2003 Honda Accord was being operated by Tamiyka N. Scott, 49 year old female from Piscataway, N.J. and occupied by passenger Sherine T. Rollins, 48 year old female from Staten Island, N.Y. was traveling on I-287 south in the area of MP 5.2. The Honda exited the right of the roadway struck multiple trees and overturned. As a result of the crash Scott was partially ejected and suffered fatal injuries and Rollins was ejected and suffered serious injuries.