GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ – The Gloucester Township Police Department announced their participation in the national “Click it or Ticket” campaign, aimed at enforcing seat belt usage. The campaign begins on May 20 and will continue until June 2. This enforcement effort will include high visibility seat belt checkpoints and saturation patrols, specifically targeting areas in town with a high incidence of crashes involving unrestrained occupants.
In addition to road enforcement, Gloucester Township Police Officers from the Traffic Safety Unit will be engaging with high school seniors. They will deliver presentations focused on the risks of driving without a seat belt and the dangers of impaired driving, coinciding with the prom season. This initiative is part of a broader national effort to highlight the life-saving benefits of wearing seat belts.
- North Bergen police arrest man in alleged teen kidnapping
NORTH BERGEN, NJ — A 35-year-old North Bergen man has been arrested in connection with the alleged kidnapping of a 17-year-old girl on Wednesday. According to North Bergen Police Chief Robert J. Farley, Jr., the incident occurred around 3:15 p.m. near 79th Street and Bergenline Avenue.
The suspect, identified as Roberto Canavalan, faces charges of kidnapping and endangering the welfare of a child. Authorities reported that Canavalan was detained at the scene and subsequently taken to the Hudson County Correctional Facility to await his court appearance.
Witnesses informed police they saw Canavalan running toward the victim, grabbing her, and dragging her several feet away from Bergenline Avenue in an apparent abduction attempt. The victim struggled for approximately two minutes before bystanders assisted her.
Three nurses from a nearby doctor’s office and a male passerby heard the girl’s cries for help. Working together, they intervened, successfully freeing her from Canavalan’s grasp.
“Responding officers located a female victim, a 17-year-old North Bergen resident, along with several witnesses,” stated the police report.
- Police dog sniffs out drugs, leading to arrests
WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ – A traffic stop conducted on Tuesday at Highway 34 near the Garden State Parkway led to a drug bust with the assistance of K9 Axle, a 6-year-old German Shepherd trained in narcotics detection. The alert from K9 Axle directed the officers to uncover methamphetamine and fentanyl inside the vehicle.
The suspects, Edward Flowers, 47, and Johannes Fort, 36, both from New York, were arrested. They are charged with distribution and possession of methamphetamine, possession of fentanyl, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Following the arrest, both individuals were taken to Monmouth County Jail and are awaiting a future court appearance. Their charges emphasize the consequences of drug distribution and possession as enforced by New Jersey law.
Wall Township Police Chief Sean O’Halloran commended the officers involved, stating, “I want to commend our dedicated officers and K9 unit for their outstanding work in this drug arrest.” He also acknowledged the crucial role of K9 Axel in the operation.
- Toms River cop went on rampage inside ex-boyfriend’s home as new details emerge in court
TOMS RIVER, NJ — A 32-year-old police officer in Ocean County has been arrested and ordered held in jail after she allegedly smashed her way into her ex-boyfriend’s home, assaulted him and a woman inside, and threatened to burn down the residence, authorities confirmed Tuesday.
Rebecca Sayegh, a nine-year veteran of the Toms River Police Department, faces a string of serious charges including first-degree home invasion burglary, terroristic threats, resisting arrest, two counts of assault, and two counts of criminal mischief. According to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, the incident occurred on April 25, 2025, at approximately 11:20 p.m. in Berkeley Township, about 65 miles south of Newark.
Responding officers with the Berkeley Township Police Department arrived at the Evernhan Avenue home following a 911 call reporting a domestic disturbance. There, they found Sayegh off duty and at the scene, having allegedly shattered the front glass door to enter the residence. Prosecutors say she physically attacked two individuals inside — later identified as her ex-boyfriend and a woman who was with him at the time.
Key Points
- Officer Rebecca Sayegh allegedly broke into her ex-boyfriend’s home and assaulted two people.
- The victims say Sayegh punched them and caused extensive damage to property inside and outside the house.
- Sayegh allegedly threatened to burn the house down and resisted arrest by responding officers.
In addition to the physical assaults, authorities say Sayegh smashed multiple items inside the home and damaged the hood of a vehicle belonging to one of the victims that was parked in the driveway. As police attempted to arrest her, Sayegh allegedly resisted efforts to take her into custody peacefully. She was initially charged by summons but later recharged by warrant on April 28 due to the “serious nature” of the incident.
Sayegh was subsequently arrested at her own residence and transported to the Ocean County Jail. Prosecutors are now seeking to have her held without bond until the case is resolved.
According to New Jersey Advance Media, Sayegh’s ex-boyfriend was home with another woman at the time of the alleged break-in. Reports state Sayegh struck both victims and made verbal threats, including a statement that she intended to burn down the residence. These threats were allegedly made as she was being led away by police officers.
Court proceedings and defense response
Sayegh made her initial court appearance Tuesday before Brick Township Municipal Judge Joseph Grisanti. The judge informed her that the state is pursuing pretrial detention. A bond hearing is scheduled for Friday.
“Officer Sayegh understands the significance of the charges filed against her,” her criminal defense attorney, Terrance Turnbach, told the Asbury Park Press.
“She has been a member of the Toms River Police Department and proudly served her community for almost nine years. She is taking all of the appropriate steps to properly address the matter at hand and will remain cooperative throughout the pending legal proceedings.”
The Toms River Police Department has not yet commented on the case or Sayegh’s employment status. No serious injuries were reported from the incident, and authorities have not indicated whether additional charges are under consideration.
- Luzerne County man charged with sexual assault of a minor
HARRISBURG, Pa. — A Luzerne County man faces charges for allegedly sexually assaulting a child he communicated with through Facebook messages. Attorney General Dave Sunday announced the arrest and charges on Tuesday.
William James Christian Jr., a board member at the Lehigh & Keystone Valley Model Railroad Museum, was taken into custody on Tuesday. He is charged with multiple offenses, including unlawful contact with a minor, indecent assault, and disseminating explicit sexual material to a minor.
Bail for Christian, 30, from Dupont, was set at $125,000 during his arraignment on Tuesday. As a condition of his bail, he is prohibited from having internet access, unsupervised contact with minors, and involvement with the model railroad museum.
“This defendant used a common interest — enthusiasm for trains — to groom and prey on a young person,” Attorney General Sunday stated. “The defendant is charged with soliciting sexual messages from the victim, and assaulting them, over a period of many months.”
Investigators revealed that Christian exchanged messages with a 15-year-old over a year. The messages varied from discussions about model trains to sexual comments and imagery.
- Schumer pledges fight against U.S. citizenship requirement for elections
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday that the SAVE Act, a bill requiring proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections, will not advance in the Senate, declaring the legislation “dead on arrival” and comparing it to discriminatory Jim Crow-era laws.
“The SAVE Act is DOA,” Schumer said during a floor speech. “Let me be clear: I will not let the SAVE Act become law. Every Senate Democrat, every single one of us, is united against it. They need 60 votes.”
Key Points
- Chuck Schumer says the SAVE Act requiring proof of citizenship to vote is “dead on arrival.”
- The bill is opposed by every Senate Democrat and lacks the 60 votes needed to advance.
- Schumer likened the bill to Jim Crow-era voter suppression tactics.
The SAVE Act, introduced in the House by Republicans and supported by former President Donald Trump, would mandate documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register for federal elections. Proponents argue it is necessary to prevent noncitizen voting. Opponents say it would disenfranchise millions of legal voters, especially those without immediate access to documents.
Schumer accused Republicans of pushing what he called a “destructive, dangerous voter suppression bill,” and said the legislation undermines core democratic principles. “They want to not only restore Jim Crow in the South,” he said. “They want to have Jim Crow spread from one end of this country to the other. It will not happen.”
The bill passed the House Committee on House Administration earlier this month with Republican support, but faces a roadblock in the Senate, where 60 votes are required to overcome a filibuster. With Democrats holding a narrow majority and unanimous opposition, its prospects are effectively nullified.
Partisan clash over election security
Republicans say the SAVE Act is a necessary step to restore confidence in elections and ensure only citizens vote. Democrats counter that there is no substantial evidence of noncitizen voting in federal elections, and that the measure would impose unfair barriers, particularly for elderly, low-income, and minority voters.
Trump has called for national voting reforms including ID mandates and citizenship verification, positioning them as central issues in his 2024 campaign. The SAVE Act was part of that effort, but Schumer’s announcement Tuesday signals that federal legislation along those lines will not reach the president’s desk.
