OCEAN GROVE, NJ—The NJ Sharing Network’s 5K Celebration of Life Walk and USATF Certified Race united thousands of participants last Saturday in Ocean Grove. This event, sponsored by Hackensack Meridian Health, is recognized as one of New Jersey’s most significant charitable 5K events promoting organ and tissue donation.
Participants included organ and tissue transplant recipients, donor families, living donors, hospital partners, and volunteers, all gathered to raise awareness and support for organ and tissue donation. The event featured not only the race but also music, dancing, food, refreshments, and children’s activities in a designated “Kid’s Village.”
To date, the event has raised nearly $1.3 million, benefiting the Sharing Network Foundation’s efforts in clinical advancements, family support, and education on organ and tissue donation. Another opportunity to participate will occur on Sunday, June 9, at the NJ Sharing Network headquarters in New Providence, NJ, with RWJBarnabas Health presenting. Interested parties can register or donate at www.SharingNetworkFoundation.org/5K.
- Human Trafficking Arrest Made at New Jersey Go-Go BarSECAUCUS, NJ — Secaucus Police have made another arrest at AJ’s Go-Go Bar, intensifying scrutiny over the establishment’s operations. Dilcia Nunez Gomez, 36, of Belleville, was arrested this past week…
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- Case Update: Court Opinion on DUI Driver Who Rear-Ended New Jersey DOT Truck in Toms RiverDriver admitted to using heroin after first responders could had difficulty with veins TOMS RIVER, NJ – In a recent legal battle, Thomas A. Fredella and his ex-wife, Kelly A.…
- Human Trafficking Arrest Made at New Jersey Go-Go Bar
SECAUCUS, NJ — Secaucus Police have made another arrest at AJ's Go-Go Bar, intensifying scrutiny over the establishment's operations. Dilcia Nunez Gomez, 36, of Belleville, was arrested this past week on charges of engaging and promoting prostitution. This follows a series of undercover operations by the Secaucus Police Department's Anti-Crime Unit, responding to ongoing complaints about illegal activities at the bar.
The recent operations stem from a tip received in April 2024 about continued prostitution at the venue located at 201 Secaucus Road. This is not the first time AJ's has been the focus of law enforcement efforts. Previous police actions at the bar included nine arrests in December 2021 for offenses ranging from promoting prostitution to cocaine distribution and three additional arrests in November 2022 for similar charges.
Despite these recurring legal issues, AJ's Go-Go Bar continues to operate, a fact that has drawn criticism from local law enforcement. Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller expressed frustration over the State Alcohol and Beverage Control Board's decision to allow the establishment to remain open, citing it as a factor enabling the persistence of vice crimes at the location.
The charges against Gomez are pending, and she is presumed innocent until proven guilty. These events highlight the ongoing challenges faced by local authorities in curbing illegal activities associated with nightlife venues.
- Teen Reported Missing in Queens
The New York City Police Department is requesting the public's help to find Anihya Rivera, a 14-year-old White Hispanic girl reported missing from her home in Queens. Anihya was last seen at her residence at 59-56 56 Road within the 104 Precinct on Thursday, June 13, 2024, around 7:04 PM.
Anihya is described as having brown eyes and black hair. She stands about 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighs approximately 100 pounds. When last seen, she was wearing a white shirt, a black sweater, and black and white sneakers.
The NYPD has released media of the missing teenager and is urging anyone with information about Anihya's whereabouts to come forward to assist in her safe return.
- New York City Cop Arrested for DUI
An off-duty NYPD officer, Marlaine Cleveland, was arrested early Saturday morning for allegedly operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The 43-year-old officer was taken into custody at 3:06 AM within the confines of the 69th Precinct in Brooklyn.
Officer Cleveland, who is employed by the New York City Police Department, now faces charges related to impaired driving.
Marlaine Cleveland, the NYPD officer recently arrested for driving under the influence, has been with the force since July 2012. Currently assigned to the 106th Precinct, she has been active there since October 2022 and has previously served at the Intelligence Bureau and Patrol Borough Queens South.
Officer Cleveland, 43, has a service badge number 27796 and earned a salary of $99,400 last year. She has faced disciplinary actions in the past, with two substantiated allegations of abuse of authority from a single complaint in June 2013, involving a refusal to provide her name and shield number, and issuing a retaliatory summons.
Both allegations led to command disciplines, with the NYPD concluding that corrective instructions were sufficient.
The NYPD has not released additional details about the circumstances leading to Cleveland’s arrest. The case is expected to proceed through the legal system where the specific details and the evidence gathered will be further examined.
- Syracuse Police Seize Three Illegally Operated ATVs in Citywide Crackdown
SYRACUSE, NY — The Syracuse Police Department's ATV Detail successfully removed three illegally operated ATVs from public spaces on Thursday, underscoring their ongoing efforts to address this issue within the city. The operation led to three arrests, including one individual charged with the possession of a stolen Honda dirt bike from Fulton County.
The police department is maintaining a zero-tolerance policy towards the illegal operation of ATVs in city parks and on public roadways. Offenders caught in such acts will face arrest and a local law violation charge, which includes a $500 fine for first-time offenders and additional significant redemption fees.
The Syracuse Police expressed gratitude towards the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office for their collaboration and the support provided by their Air One unit during the operation. The initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance safety and enforce local laws strictly concerning ATV use in Syracuse.
- Shooting Victim Leaves Baltimore Hospital Before Police Arrived
BALTIMORE, MD — Early Friday morning, Baltimore Police responded to reports of a shooting victim at a local hospital, only to find that the individual had already left the facility. The initial call came in at about 6:15 a.m.
Shortly after, at approximately 6:45 a.m., police were dispatched to the 7000 block of McClean Boulevard following another shooting report. Upon arrival, officers found a 34-year-old man with a graze wound to his arm. The victim stated the shooting incident occurred around 12:30 a.m.
Northeastern District detectives are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. The police are urging anyone with information related to this case to come forward and contact them at 410-396-2444 as the investigation continues.
- New Jersey Man Gets Maximum Sentence in Cat Torturing Case
FREEHOLD, NJ — Bani J. Mezquititla, a 19-year-old from Asbury Park, has been sentenced to five years in state prison after being found guilty of torturing and killing his pet cat. The sentencing occurred on Thursday, as announced by Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago.
The court also ordered Mezquititla to pay for the necropsy of the cat and issued a permanent ban preventing him from owning, residing with, or having custody over any animals. The ruling was handed down by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Chad N. Cagan.
The investigation into Mezquititla began in March 2023 after a concerned citizen reported the deceased cat to the Asbury Park Police. Authorities, including the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Humane Law Enforcement Division, found that Mezquititla had sexually abused the cat and subjected it to further acts of torture leading to its death.
Following his arrest on the day the investigation started, Mezquititla has been held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution. In April, he pleaded guilty to third-degree crimes of animal cruelty by tormenting, torturing, or cruelly abusing a living animal, resulting in its death, and using an animal in a sexual manner.
Prosecutor Santiago described the case as reflecting "greater depths of depravity" and highlighted the sentence as one of the most substantial penalties for such an offense in New Jersey's history. He expressed hopes that this outcome would satisfy the community and those nationwide who demanded justice for the animal, known as Ellie.