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Driver Charged with Vehicular Homicide in Morris County Crash

by Charlie Dwyer
By Charlie Dwyer

CHATHAM, NJ – A driver has been charged with vehicular homicide in relation to a crash that occurred in Chatham Township in March.

The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office released the following statement:

Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Chief of Detectives Christoph K. Kimker, Morris County Sheriff James Gannon, and Chatham Township Police Chief Thomas Miller announce that Yulia Raynova, age 45, of Madison Borough, New Jersey, has been charged with second degree Vehicular Homicide in connection with a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred in Chatham Township.

At approximately 11:30 a.m. on March 28, 2022, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office was called to the scene of a motor vehicle collision involving three vehicles on Shunpike Road at the intersection of Lafayette Avenue in Chatham Township. The investigation revealed that a Nissan Rogue had been traveling west on the roadway into the intersection, and struck a Jeep Wrangler traveling south. The Wrangler impacted a box truck parked on the opposite side of the intersection.

The driver of the Wrangler – Michael Pacchia Jr., 52, Chatham Township – was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The driver of the Rogue was identified as Raynova. As a result of the investigation, on April 7, 2022, she was charged with one count of second-degree Vehicular Homicide. She has also been charged with a number of motor vehicle offenses.

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Members of the Chatham Township Police Department, Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit all took part in this investigation.

If anyone has any information related to this investigation, they are encouraged to call the Major Crimes Unit of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at 973-285-6200, or the Chatham Township Police Department at 973-377-0100.

A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, this Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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US and World News

Child Sex Change Treatments Are A Hill Some LGBT Activists Are Willing To Die On

by The Daily Caller
By The Daily Caller

Child Sex Change Treatments Are A Hill Some LGBT Activists Are Willing To Die On

Child Sex Change Treatments Are A Hill Some LGBT Activists Are Willing To Die On

Laurel Duggan on April 9, 2022

  • LGBT activists criticized a first-of-its-kind Alabama that makes illegal the practice of giving children sex change treatments, and punishes offenders with up to ten years in prison.
  • Several groups claimed the banned procedures, which include castration and genital reconstruction, were life-saving treatments for transgender children.
  • One activist said banning sex-change treatments for kids would cause a shortage of doctors in the state and hurt the economy.

LGBT advocacy groups slammed an Alabama law signed Friday that criminalizes administering medical sex change treatments to children.

The legislation, which was signed by Republican Gov. Kay Ivey late Friday, bans medical sex change interventions for children ranging from puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to mastectomies, castration, vasectomies, hysterectomies and cosmetic genital surgeries.

“Shame on the cruel, heartless, and power-hungry state legislators that want to take away life-saving medical care from transgender youth in Alabama,” Carl Charles, senior attorney for Lambda Legal, said in a statement. “We are ready to use the full force of the law to come down on this clearly unconstitutional legislation should it come to pass.”

Practitioners who violate the law could be charged with Class C felonies, which carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. The law makes exceptions for medical interventions related to medically verifiable sex conditions such as chromosome irregularities.

“They have successfully criminalized critically important care that transgender youth need desperately, and the incredible doctors and care providers who help transgender youth each and every day,” Carmarion D. Anderson-Harvey, Alabama state director for Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement Friday. “In doing so they have jeopardized the future of these doctors, families, and transgender youth who are all considering what their livelihoods will be in Alabama.”

“Alabama is voting on banning evidence-based, peer-reviewed, consensus healthcare. Every major medical association supports gender-affirming care as safe and lifesaving,” GLAAD wrote in a tweet Thursday after the legislature passed the bill.

Some of the activists who spoke out against the bill threatened legal action if Ivey signs it.

“Alabama just passed a bill that criminalizes providing gender-affirming care to trans youth. This is the first piece of legislation nationwide that would make this care a felony,” the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) wrote on Twitter. “If this bill is signed, we will sue.”

An attorney from the ACLU of Alabama called the legislation “shameful,” according to a press release.

One activist said the bill targeted transgender people and repeatedly said it would be deadly for transgender children.

“If passed and signed into law, Alabama will have the most deadly, sweeping, and hostile law targeting transgender people in the country,” Chase Strangio, deputy director for Trans Justice at the LGBTQ & HIV Project, said in a statement. “Moving forward with this bill will be deadly for trans youth, push doctors out of a state that has a shortage of medical providers, hurt Alabama’s economy, and subject the state to costly litigation.”

The Trevor Project, a mental health organization focused on LGBT people claimed the legislation would “criminalize doctors for providing best-practice, gender-affirming care to transgender and nonbinary youth,” according to a press release. The organization also touted statistics demonstrating the high risk of suicide among transgender youth.

“Lawmakers have added last minute votes to push the most extreme anti-transgender agenda we’ve seen to date – all within a matter of hours,” said Sam Ames, director of advocacy and government affairs for The Trevor Project. “We urge Governor Ivey to reject this extreme package and put a stop to these policies before they threaten more lives.”

Lambda Legal, GLAAD, ACLU, ACLU of Alabama and the Trevor Project did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s requests for comment.

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact The Daily Caller News Foundation

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact  [email protected]. Read the full story at the Daily Caller News Foundation

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Suspect May Have Targeted Orthodox Jews in Violent Crime Spree Through Lakewood and Jackson

by Charlie Dwyer
By Charlie Dwyer

JACKSON, NJ – A violent crime spree that started near Martin Luther King Boulevard in Lakewood and ended a few miles away in Jackson. Police have arrested Dion Marsh, 27, of Manchester for three counts of attempted murder.

According to police, at around 1:15 pm on Friday, officers from the Lakewood Township Police Department were summoned to Martin Luther King Drive and Pine Street for a report of a carjacking.  Responding officers determined that a male suspect approached a 2016 Toyota Camry, assaulted the driver, and fled the area in the vehicle.  

An Orthodox Jewish man was removed from the vehicle by Marsh and repeatedly punched in the face. He was treated at the scene by Hatzola.

Prior to this carjacking, Marsh unsuccessfully attempted to carjack another victim, but the driver was able to escape with their vehicle unharmed.

Later in the evening, at around 6:00 pm, the Lakewood Township Police Department received a report of a pedestrian being struck by a motor vehicle in the area of Central Avenue and Carlton Avenue.  

“Responding officers discovered that a male victim had been struck by a dark-colored vehicle.  The victim was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune where he is listed in stable condition,” Ocean County Prosecutor Brad Billhimer reported. “At approximately 6:55 p.m., Lakewood Township Police Officers responded to a 911 call in reference to a stabbing in the vicinity of Pine Circle Drive and Lakewood New Egypt Road.  The officers discovered a male victim with a stab wound to his chest. The victim was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center where he is listed in critical but stable condition.”

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Later another pedestrian was struck, this time in Jackson Township.

“At approximately 8:20 p.m., Officers from the Jackson Township Police Department responded to a 911 call for a report of a pedestrian being struck by a motor vehicle in the area of Galassi Court,” Billhimer said. “Responding Officers were able to determine that the male victim had been struck by the same vehicle that was taken in the carjacking incident in Lakewood earlier in the day.  The victim was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center where he is listed in critical but stable condition.”

Marsh was arrested and charged with three counts of attempted murder, carjacking, unlawful possession of a weapon and three counts of bias intimidation.

All of Marsh’s victims were Orthodox Jews.

“The bias intimidation charges arose over statements Marsh made to detectives,” said Bryan Huntenburg, spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office.

Lakewood and Jackson Township have one of the largest populations of Orthodox Jews in America.

“Our investigation reveals that these criminal acts were committed throughout the day yesterday into the early evening and that Marsh was acting alone and not in concert with anyone else.  I’m grateful for the collaborative efforts of every police officer and detective that worked swiftly to identify Marsh and bring him into custody without further injury to anyone.  A tremendous job by all involved,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.

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Financial News

Exclusive-Sri Lanka to seek $3 billion to stave off crisis -finance minister

by Reuters
By Reuters

By Devjyot Ghoshal and Uditha Jayasinghe

COLOMBO -Sri Lanka will need about $3 billion in external assistance over the next six months to help restore supplies of essential items including fuel and medicine, Finance Minister Ali Sabry told Reuters on Saturday.

The island nation of 22 million people has been hit by power cuts and shortages which have drawn protesters out on to the streets and put President Gotabaya Rajapaksa under mounting pressure.

“It’s a Herculean task,” said Sabry in his first interview since taking office this week, referring to finding $3 billion in bridge financing as the country readies for negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) this month.

The country will look to restructure international sovereign bonds and seek a moratorium on payments, and is confident it can negotiate with bondholders over a $1 billion payment due in July.

“The entire effort is not to go for a hard default,” Sabry said. “We understand the consequences of a hard default.”

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J.P. Morgan analysts estimated this week that Sri Lanka’s gross debt servicing would amount to $7 billion this year, with a current account deficit of around $3 billion.

The country has $12.6 billion in outstanding international sovereign bonds, central bank data showed, and foreign reserves of $1.9 billion at the end of March.

“The first priority is to see that we get back to the normal supply channel in terms of fuel, gas, drugs… and thereby electricity so that the people’s uprising can be addressed,” Sabry said.

The IMF said on Saturday that it had started technical-level engagement with Sri Lanka’s finance ministry and central bank officials for a loan programme, and was “very concerned” about the ongoing crisis.

“We commit to assisting Sri Lanka consistent with our policies, and will engage in discussions on a possible program with senior policymakers in the coming days and weeks,” Masahiro Nozaki, the IMF’s mission chief for Sri Lanka, told Reuters in a statement.

‘SENSE OF CONFIDENCE’

Anti-government protests have raged across the island for days, with at least one turning violent in the commercial capital of Colombo, in a threat to the country’s lucrative tourism industry.

Thousands of protesters gathered near the president’s seafront office in Colombo on Saturday, making it one of the biggest shows of public outrage in recent days.

The protesters included dozens of Muslims who sat in the middle of a blockaded road to break their Ramadan fast and others who urged the president to step down with shouts of “Gota (Gotabaya) go home”.

Sabry said he will lead a delegation of Sri Lankan officials to Washington to start talks with the IMF on April 18 and that financial and legal advisers would be selected within 21 days to help the government restructure its international debt.

“Once we go to them, first thing is there is a sense of confidence in the entire international monetary community that we are serious,” he said. “We are transparent, we are willing to engage.”

On Friday, a new central bank governor raised interest rates by an unprecedented 700 basis points in a bid to tame rocketing inflation and stabilise the economy.

Sri Lankan authorities will also reach out to rating agencies, Sabry said, as the country looks to regain access to international financial markets after being locked out due to multiple ratings downgrades since 2020.

He said the government will raise taxes and fuel prices within six months and seek to reform loss-making state-owned enterprises.

These measures were among key recommendations in an IMF review of Sri Lanka’s economy released in early March.

“These are very unpopular measures, but these are things we need to do for the country to come out of this,” Sabry said.

‘FRIEND OF ALL’

He said Sri Lanka will seek another $500 million credit line from India for fuel, which would suffice for about five weeks.

The government would also look for support from the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and bilateral partners including China, the United States, Britain and countries in the Middle East.

“We know where we are, and the only thing is to fight back,” Sabry said. “We have no choice.”

Discussions are ongoing with China on a $1.5 billion credit line, a syndicated loan of up to $1 billion and a request from Sri Lanka’s president in January to restructure some debt.

“Hopefully we will be able to get some relief which would help …until larger infusions come in,” he said.

Beijing and New Delhi have long jostled for influence over the island off India’s southern tip, with the country pulling closer to China under the powerful Rajapaksa family.

But in recent weeks, as the economic crisis deepened, Sri Lanka has leaned heavily on assistance from India.

“We are a neutral country,” said Sabry. “We are a friend of all.”

(Reporting by Devjyot Ghoshal and Uditha Jayasinghe in Colombo; Editing by William Mallard, Jason Neely and Mike Harrison)

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Iran imposes sanctions on 24 Americans as nuclear talks stall

by Reuters
By Reuters

DUBAI -Iran said on Saturday it had imposed sanctions on 24 more Americans, including former Army Chief of Staff George Casey and former President Donald Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani, as months of talks to revive a 2015 nuclear deal have stalled.

Almost all the people named were officials who served during Trump’s administration, which imposed sanctions on Iranian officials, politicians and companies and withdrew the United States from Iran’s nuclear agreement with world powers.

In a statement carried by local media, the Iranian Foreign Ministry accused the sanctioned Americans – who also included several business figures and politicians – of supporting “terrorist groups and terrorist acts” against Iran, and Israel’s “repressive acts” in the region and against Palestinians.

Eleven months of indirect talks between Iran and the United States in Vienna on salvaging the 2015 deal have stalled as both sides say political decisions are required by Tehran and Washington to settle the remaining issues.

The sanctions let Iranian authorities seize any assets held by the individuals in Iran, but the apparent absence of such assets means the move will likely be symbolic.

Gen. Austin Scott Miller, former commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, former U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, and several former ambassadors are among the officials targeted by the new Iranian sanctions.

In a similar move announced in January, Iran imposed sanctions on 51 Americans, many of them from the U.S. military, over the 2020 killing of General Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike in Iraq.

Last year, it imposed sanctions on Trump and several senior U.S. officials.

(Reporting by Dubai NewsroomEditing by Jason Neely and Helen Popper)

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New Jersey NewsNorth Jersey NewsPolice Blotter

Malta Man Sentenced for Boating While Intoxicated Death

by Adam Devine
By Adam Devine

A man on trial for causing the death of Ian Gerber in a boating accident while intoxicated has been sentenced to probation only.

An investigation by the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office revealed that on July 4, 2021, Defendant Heflin, several underage individuals and a number of adults hosted an underage drinking party in the area of Sandy Bay on Saratoga Lake.

The investigation further revealed that just before 7 p.m. that evening, Defendant Heflin and several individuals departed the area of Sandy Bay on the defendant’s pontoon boat and traveled in a southerly direction on Saratoga Lake toward Brown’s Beach. Witnesses observed passengers on the pontoon boat jumping off the side of the boat while the boat was moving. It was determined that one of those passengers-Ian Gerber-later, jumped off the starboard side of the defendant’s pontoon boat as it was moving. While operating his boat in an intoxicated condition, the defendant turned the pontoon boat away from Gerber while he was in the water, thus exposing Gerber to the boat’s propeller. While in the water, Gerber sustained injuries that ultimately caused his death. The investigation also revealed that a second boat in the area may have also struck Gerber while he was in the water. 

The defendant was interviewed by police immediately after the incident, and it was determined that the defendant was intoxicated at the time of the incident. Five additional passengers on the pontoon boat-acquaintances of both defendant and Gerber provided statements to police immediately after the incident. All of the passengers on the pontoon boat claimed that the pontoon boat was not involved. The operator of the second boat and his passenger were interviewed by police and cooperated with the investigation. 

As the investigation continued, the Sheriff’s Office sought assistance from several boating experts, the New York State Police Forensic Identification Unit, a forensic pathologist and an outside biochemical expert. With the assistance of these outside sources and through physical and scientific evidence collected from the two boats, the Sheriff’s Office determined that the defendant’s pontoon boat struck Gerber while he was in the water, causing traumatic injuries. The evidence also revealed that Gerber had also been struck by a second boat while already incapacitated in the water.

Later in the investigation, the passengers from the pontoon boat provided conflicting information about what had occurred, which materially differed from the prior sworn statements they had given to police. Ultimately, the only eyewitnesses to what occurred refused to cooperate with the investigation.

This week, Blake A. Heflin, 20, of Malta, New York, was sentenced by Saratoga County Court Judge James A. Murphy, III to a three-year term of probation following his December 23, 2021 plea of guilty to charges of Assault in the Third Degree, in violation of New York State Penal Law Section 120.00(3) and Boating While Intoxicated, in violation of New York State Navigation Law §49-a(2)(d)

Saratoga County District Attorney Heggen said, “It is my hope that the sentence pronounced today offers some closure for the loved ones of Ian Gerber knowing that his tragic death is a loss that will never go away or fully be healed.  The victim’s family showed remarkable courage today standing before the Court, facing the young man who is responsible for their son’s death, and wholeheartedly forgiving him for the poor choices he made. The family ultimately chose compassion and forgiveness over anger and retribution.” 

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Breaking NewsNew York NewsPolice Blotter

Man Assaulted, Slashed on New York City Subway Train by 4 Teens

by Adam Devine
By Adam Devine

NEW YORK, NY – A group of teens wearing ski masks assaulted and slashed a 48-year-old man riding the northbound B train at around 4:20 pm Wednesday in Manhattan. The teens engaged in an argument with the man and began to punch and beat him. At least one teen pulled a knife or other sharp object and slashed him across the forehead. The teens were captured on video exiting the subway at the Cathedral Parkway station on 110th Street in Morningside Heights.

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Breaking NewsMaryland NewsPolice Blotter

Police Searching for Suitland Murder Suspect, Large Reward Offered

by Jeff Jones
By Jeff Jones

SUITLAND, MD – A $25,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest of the suspects who shot and killed 29-year-old Saquan Burnett, 29, in Suitland on Thursday.

According to police, on Thursday, at approximately 5:35 pm, Howard County patrol officers were called to the 3500 block of Silver Park Drive for a shooting. The victim was located inside of a vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on the scene.Detectives are actively working to identify a suspect(s) and a motive.  

If anyone has information relevant to this investigation, they are asked to please call detectives at 301-516-2512.  

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Residents return to a charred and changed Bucha in Ukraine

by Reuters
By Reuters

By Mari Saito

BUCHA, Ukraine – Before the war in Ukraine, Bohdan Zubchuk’s job as a community police officer involved patrolling the quiet streets of Bucha outside Kyiv and dealing with petty crime, while handling minor complaints from residents.

Walking down a street where the bodies of multiple victims were found after Russian troops retreated late last month, the 29-year-old said his hometown and his job would never be the same.

“We will never forget everything we saw here, this will stay with us for our whole lives,” he said.

The town became known around the world after images emerged of dead civilians in the streets last week, triggering an international outcry.

Since the Russians left, Zubchuk said he and his fellow community police officers have been tasked with assisting traumatised survivors with everything from receiving humanitarian aid to checking for unexploded ordnance around town.

Ukrainian officials say hundreds of civilians have been found dead since the Russians’ withdrawal. The deputy mayor of Bucha has said 360 civilians were killed during the Russian occupation. Reuters could not independently verify those figures.

Russia, which has repeatedly denied targetting civilians since the Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, has called the allegations that Russian forces executed civilians in Bucha while they occupied the town a “monstrous forgery” aimed at denigrating the Russian army.

Reuters has witnessed the remains of five victims in Bucha who were shot through the head. One had his hands tied behind his back. Another his feet tied. Reuters has not been able to independently determine who was responsible.

By Saturday, local workers and residents had already removed the bodies from the street, but there were still patches of ash and charred cement left behind from shelling.

“Every time I patrol this street I’ll be thinking back about what happened here,” Zubchuk said.

On Friday, forensic investigators began the exhumation of remains from a mass grave in Bucha, carefully lifting bodies out of a muddy trench to examine and identify them.

In the weeks following the arrival of Russian forces in Bucha, Zubchuk said he and his fellow officers hid in basements and continued working until they fled the city with their families.

Zubchuk said Russian soldiers were scouring the town for local police officers and men with military experience during the occupation.

AN ‘ISLAND’ OF CALM

Elsewhere in Bucha on Saturday, volunteers in bright vests swept up debris and workers in hard hats removed what remained of destroyed Russian tanks with heavy cranes.

Moscow calls the war a “special operation” to demilitarise and “denazify” its neighbour. Ukraine and its allies say this is a baseless pretext for war.

Valerie Lysenko was one of many residents who returned to Bucha to see the damage first hand. Lysenko said she fled her hometown a little over a week after Russian troops rolled into Bucha.

Before the war Lysenko said she was always inviting her friends to visit Bucha, telling them it was an “island” of calm outside of Kyiv with beautiful parks and great infrastructure.

Now, the name of her town had become synonymous with war and the suffering of civilians.

“The only thing they know (of Bucha) is people dead, people with their hands tied, people tortured, murdered and this just breaks my heart,” she said.

“If I say I’m in pain it’s only one percent of what I’m feeling,” she said.

(Reporting by Mari Saito and Herbert Villarraga; Editing by Frances Kerry)

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Newark Teen Charged for Grand Theft Auto of Mountain Lakes Maserati

by Charlie Dwyer
By Charlie Dwyer

NEWARK, NJ – After a Maserati was stolen from a home in Mountain Lakes and found abandoned in Newark, a Newark Police Department investigation tied the crime to an 18-year-old city resident.

This week, Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Chief of Detectives Christoph K. Kimker, Morris County Sheriff James Gannon and Mountain Lakes Police Chief Shawn Bennett announce the arrest of Raymond Branch, 18, of Newark, New Jersey.

“On August 15, 2021, the Mountain Lakes Police Department responded to the report of a 2017 black Maserati Ghibli stolen from a residence. During the initial investigation of the stolen vehicle, it was learned that a male also attempted to steal a 2021 Audi Q7 from a nearby residence. The Maserati was recovered in Newark, NJ, later that morning,” the department said. “Subsequent investigation and information provided by surrounding law enforcement agencies identified Branch as a suspect. Cellular telephone records, provided by Essex County authorities, were analyzed by Mountain Lakes Police and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Intelligence Unit. It was learned that Branch used real estate and mapping applications on his cellular phone in the area of the theft in Mt. Lakes on the morning of August 15th.”

Members of the Morris County Sheriff’s Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) section forensically processed the Maserati, which resulted in recovering a latent fingerprint from the front driver door window interior, matching to Raymond Branch.

As a result of these investigations, Branch was charged by complaint warrant and is currently lodged in the Somerset County Correctional Facility on separate theft charges.

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She Stabbed and Killed Her Boyfriend, Now She’s Being Charged with Manslaughter

by Jeff Jones
By Jeff Jones

BUFFALO, NY – A woman arrested for a 2020 stabbing murder has been arraigned in court.

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced that 47-year-old Charrinda Gray of Buffalo was arraigned yesterday afternoon before State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek on an indictment charging her with one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony).

“It is alleged that on Thursday, November 19, 2020, at approximately 7:57 p.m., Buffalo Police officers responded to a 911 call for a reported stabbing at the defendant’s residence on Heward Avenue in the City of Buffalo. Officers allegedly found the male victim outside of the home with stab wounds to his abdomen and buttocks. The defendant is accused of intentionally stabbing the victim, her boyfriend, with a kitchen knife during an argument,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

The victim, 46-year-old Samuel A. Jackson, was taken by ambulance to ECMC where he died from the injuries.

Gray is scheduled to return on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. for a pre-trial hearing. She remains released on $250,000 bond previously posted in Buffalo City Court.   

If convicted of the charge, Gray faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

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Breaking NewsDelaware NewsPolice Blotter

Two Men Charged For Murder of Laurel Man in His Driveway

by Jeff Jones
By Jeff Jones

LAUREL, DE – The Delaware State Police arrested two men who had committed a murder of a man in his driveway in Laurel. The men were captured by police after checking in to Beebe Medical Center.

According to police, on April 7th at approximately 12:24 a.m., troopers responded to the 18000 block of Laurel Road in Laurel, DE, for a report of a shooting. Responding troopers located the victim, a 49-year-old Laurel man, in the driveway suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper torso.

“The ensuing investigation revealed that two subjects had been involved in an altercation with the victim at this residence. During the encounter, the suspects robbed and shot the victim. The suspects then ordered an acquaintance of the victim at gunpoint to drive them away from the scene,” the Delaware State Police said in a statement.

The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. Identification is pending notification to the next of kin.

DSP reported, through investigative measures, it was determined that the two suspects involved in this incident were 18-year-old Josiah Garrison of Denton, MD and 21-year-old Ramon Duker of Millsboro, DE. On April 7th, 2022 at approximately 2:20 p.m., Garrison traveled to Beebe Medical Center in Lewes, DE seeking treatment for an injury. Garrison was accompanied by Duker at the hospital.

Troopers responded to Beebe Medical Center and took both suspects into custody.

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Beachwood Man Gets 16 Years in Prison for String of Robberies

by Charlie Dwyer
By Charlie Dwyer

TOMS RIVER, NJ – A Beachwood man was sentenced to prison for 16 years for his role in a string of robberies in 2020.

According to police, Thomas Jann, 34, was identified as the individual responsible for a string of robberies that occurred in Berkeley Township, Beachwood and Toms River in December 2020. 

“The investigation revealed that Jann attacked a gas station attendant at the Wawa convenience store on Route 9 in Toms River on December 19, 2020 and stole money from the cash register,” said Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer.

Other Crimes committed by Jann

On December 24, 2020, Jann entered the Robins convenience store in Beachwood and brandished what appeared to be a box cutter in the direction of the attendant; he then stole money from the cash register and fled the scene. 

On December 26, 2020, Jann entered the Shoprite supermarket located on Route 9 in Bayville, stole money from the cash register, and pushed a female as he fled the store.  That same day, Jann entered the Krauszers convenience store on Hooper Avenue in Toms River, attacked the cashier, and fled with cigarettes. 

On December 30, 2020, Jann entered the 7-11 convenience store on Route 166 in Toms River, grabbed the cashier around the neck and held a rock to his head; he then stole money from the cash register and fled the scene. 

On December 31, 2020, Jann entered the Exxon Tiger Mart on Route 37 in Toms River, threw hot coffee at the attendant, and stole money from the cash register.

“Through the course of the investigation, Detectives were also able to determine that Jann unlawfully entered a residence in Beachwood on July 27, 2020 and stole cash from the home,” Billhimer added.

On January 1, 2021, Jann was apprehended by the Officers of the Toms River Township Police Department.  He has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since that date.

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Howard County Police Beat: April 8th

by Jeff Jones
By Jeff Jones

HOWARD COUNTY, MD – The following incidents were reported by the Howard County Police Department on April 8th.

Robbery
Ellicott City, 21042: AT&T, 9500 block of Baltimore National Pike, April 8 10:10 a.m.
A store employee reported that a male suspect with his face partially covered entered the store, displayed a handgun, and demanded merchandise. The suspect then assaulted the employee and fled without stealing anything. The employee was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 
SUSPECT: Black male wearing a gray hooded jacket, fluorescent yellow shirt, and jeans

Theft from vehicle/vehicle break-in
Columbia, 21044: 10100 block of Twin Rivers Road, April 7, tires 
6800 block of Pyramid Way, April 7-8 overnight, two vehicles: unclear what, if anything, was stolen

Ellicott City, 21043: 8100 block of Brightridge Court, April 7-8 overnight, airbags

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New Jersey Public Employee Charged for Illegally Recording Co-Worker Conversations

by Charlie Dwyer
By Charlie Dwyer

NORTH BERGEN, NJ – A North Bergen town hall employee has been arrested for recording conversations of her colleagues without their consent.

“An employee with the Township of North Bergen was arrested on Friday, April 8, 2022 on charges relating to conversations she recorded of her colleagues without their consent,” the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office said. “Jennifer Jimenez, 24, of North Bergen, was charged with one count of illegally tape recording conversations in violation of N.J.S.A 2A-156A-3, a crime of the third degree.”

She was arrested without incident at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in Jersey City and released on a summons. Jimenez is scheduled to make her first court appearance on Wednesday, April 27, 2022.

The investigation revealed the recordings were done as a result of an ongoing personal dispute and did not pertain to any official government business, operation, or function.

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Caught on Camera, Man Offers Two Columbia Minors Money for Indecent Proposal

by Jeff Jones
By Jeff Jones

COLUMBIA, MD – Police were able to capture a child predator who had offered two teenage girls money earlier in the morning. Luckily, the girls thought quickly and could take a picture of the man before leaving him.

Richard Morgan, 32, of an unknown address, was charged with two counts of solicitation of a minor after officers spotted him walking in the area of 10900 block of Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia around 4:35 p.m.

According to police, “Two 14-year-old girls reported to police that a man had approached them and offered money for sex near Swansfield Pool around 9 a.m. The girls took a picture of the suspect before leaving the area and calling police.”

Officers located Morgan after following up on tips from social media after investigators released his photo today.

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Car Shot at While Driving Through Utica Neighborhood

by Adam Devine
By Adam Devine

UTICA, NY – The driver of a car in Utica said he was shot at while driving in the area of Watson Place and Sunset Avenue. On Friday, at around 5:00 pm, Utica Police officers responded to find a bullet had passed through the vehicle, entering the passenger side and exiting through the driver’s side window.

“Upon arrival, they learned that an individual was seated in a vehicle when unknown suspect(s) fired a shot that traveled through the rear driver side window exiting the front passenger window. They then fled in an unknown direction,” the department said. “Thankfully the individual seated in the vehicle was not injured during the incident.”

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Two Men Charged for September Murder in Elizabeth

by Charlie Dwyer
By Charlie Dwyer

ELIZABETH, NJ – Two men have been charged for the shooting death of Paul Baez, 17, of Elizabeth on September 27th, last year.

According to the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, Tyreek Howard, 31 and Ali Karim, 18, both of Elizabeth, are charged with first-degree murder, second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, and second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose in connection with the shooting death of Paul Baez, 17, of Elizabeth.

“Shortly before 2:30 p.m. on September 27th Elizabeth Police Department Patrol units responded to the 100 block of Fulton Street where they found Baez, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds.  He was subsequently pronounced dead, said Assistant Prosecutor Jillian Reyes, who is prosecuting the case,” the police department reported last year.

An investigation led by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force and the Elizabeth Police Department, with the assistance of the Union County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit and the Union County Police Department Ballistics Unit led to the identification of Howard and Karim as the suspects.  They were both arrested Wednesday in Elizabeth and subsequently lodged in the County Jail pending initial Court appearances.    

“We appreciate the hard work and the collaboration with our local law enforcement agencies who assisted our Office in locating and apprehending the suspects,” Prosecutor Daniel said. “And we hope that this arrest can bring some small measure of comfort to all those grieving Mr. Baez.”

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Foster Child Kidnapped by Biological Father in Bridgeport Park

by Adam Devine
By Adam Devine

BRIDGEPORT, CT – A foster child was at the park at Went Field with his foster parent in the area of Wordin Avenue and Hanover Street. The foster parent reported that the child’s biological father, Douglas James, 30, arrived at the park, grabbed the child, and fled. Now, the police are searching for James. He drove off in a maroon 2014 Honda Civic.

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Financial News

Russia calls for integrating BRICS payment systems

by Reuters
By Reuters

(Reuters) – Russia, hit by Western sanctions, has called on the BRICS group of emerging economies to extend the use of national currencies and integrate payment systems, the finance ministry said on Saturday.

Sanctions have cut Russia off from the global financial system and from nearly half of its gold and foreign exchange reserves, which stood at $606.5 billion in early April.

On Friday, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told a ministerial meeting with BRICS, which consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, that the global economic situation had worsened substantially due to the sanctions, the ministry’s statement said.

The new sanctions also destroy the foundation of the existing international monetary and financial system based on the U.S. dollar, Siluanov said.

“This pushes us to the need to speed up work in the following areas: the use of national currencies for export-import operations, the integration of payment systems and cards, our own financial messaging system and the creation of an independent BRICS rating agency,” Siluanov said.

International payment cards Visa and MasterCard suspended operations in Russia in early March and Russia’s biggest banks have lost access to the SWIFT global banking messaging system.

Russia set up its own banking messaging system, known as SPFS, as an alternative to SWIFT. Its own card payment system MIR began operating in 2015.

They were part of Moscow’s efforts to develop homegrown financial tools to mirror Western ones, to protect the country in case penalties against Moscow were broadened.

The finance ministry said BRICS ministers have confirmed the importance of cooperation in efforts to stabilise the current economic situation.

“The current crisis is man-made, and the BRICS countries have all necessary tools to mitigate its consequences for their economies and the global economy as a whole,” Siluanov said.

(Reporting by Reuters; editing by Jason Neely)

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New York Police on the Alert for Possible Child Predator in Alphabet City

by Adam Devine
By Adam Devine

NEW YORK, NY – The New York City Police Department is searching for a man who allegedly attempted to lure a 12-year-old girl in Alphabet City in March. According to police, on March 16th, at around 7:49 am, the man approached the girl and asked her to accompany him. His effort was thwarted by a good samaritan who intervened. The man fled the scene. The incident happened in the area of East 5th Street and Avenue C.

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Location: Manhattan, NY

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Perth Amboy Subway Restaurant Burned During Early Morning Fire

by Charlie Dwyer
By Charlie Dwyer

PERTH AMBOY, NJ – Early Saturday morning, the Subway restaurant on Convery Boulevard in Perth Amboy caught fire. At 3:22 am, the Perth Amboy Fire Department responded, and upon arrival, heavy smoke was seen coming from the roof of the one-story building. After calling a second alarm, firefighters searched the building for possible victims, but none were found. The fire burned through the roof of the building, and firefighters were able to contain the fire to the single structure.

Photo by Perth Amboy Fire Department.

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New York G-Shine Bloods Gang Members, Accomplices Sent to Prison for Murder

by Adam Devine
By Adam Devine

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY – Several members of the Westchester based G-Bloods gang have been sentenced to prison for their role in the murder of a witness of a shooting in 2019.

The Westchester County Prosecutor’s Office issued the following press release:

Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah announced the successful prosecution of five G-Shine Bloods gang members and associates for conspiracy to murder an eyewitness. The last of five defendants, Damien Rickard, was sentenced on April 4, 2022.

Between August 2018 and March 2019, Jason Garcia conspired with Matthew Brown, Cassaundra Dunham, Laquanna Kershaw and Damien Rickard to murder an eyewitness to a shooting outside the Garden Bar & Grill in Mount Vernon in 2016. At that time, Garcia and Brown were being held at Westchester County Jail awaiting trial on charges connected with the shooting, at which trial the eyewitness was scheduled to testify.

The defendants were all arrested on March 16, 2019.

Garcia, 38, of Mount Vernon, and Rickard 44, of Yonkers, were each convicted after trial before Judge Robert Neary in Westchester County Court.

Garcia, a discretionary persistent violent felony offender, was convicted of Attempted Murder in the First Degree, Conspiracy in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, and Promoting Prison Contraband in the First Degree, all felonies, and was sentenced on March 8, 2022, to 25 years to life in state prison. The sentence will run consecutive to the 20 years to life Garcia had received in 2020 after trial before Judge Anne Minihan for the Garden Bar shooting.

Rickard, a discretionary persistent felony offender, was convicted of Conspiracy in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, and was sentenced on April 4, 2022, to 18 years to life in state prison.

Brown, 37, of Wilmington, Delaware, pled guilty to Conspiracy in the Second Degree and was sentenced as a predicate felony offender on March 10, 2020, to an indeterminate term of 10 to 20 years in state prison. The sentence will run concurrent to the 20 years, with five years of post-release supervision, Brown had received in 2020 after pleading guilty to the Garden Bar shooting.

Kershaw, 34, of Ossining, pled guilty to Conspiracy in the Second Degree and was sentenced on June 22, 2021, to an indeterminate term of 7 to 21 years in state prison.

Dunham, 45, of Yonkers, was sentenced on Jan. 11, 2022, to a determinate term of 7.5 years in state prison on a plea of guilty to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree and an indeterminate term of four to 12 years in state prison on a plea of guilty to Conspiracy in the Second Degree.

The investigation was a collaborative effort between the District Attorney’s Office and the Westchester County Department of Corrections’ Major Case Squad. The Westchester County Department of Public Safety, Ossining Police Department, Mount Vernon Police Department and Yonkers Police Department assisted with the investigation and arrests.

District Attorney Rocah said: “Protecting witnesses and their safety is absolutely critical to a well-functioning justice system. This case demonstrates how law enforcement works together to protect witnesses and ensure their safety. I commend the members of my Office and the Department of Corrections for their vigilance in preventing a murder and a travesty of justice. I also want to thank our other law enforcement partners for their assistance on this very important case.”

Corrections Commissioner Joseph Spano said: “I applaud the efforts of the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office for the successful prosecution of these five G-Shine gang members. The collaboration that uncovered this unique and complex attempted murder and conspiracy case is a testament to all involved law enforcement agencies, including our Departments Major Case Squad.”

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Branchburg Crash Attributed to DUI, Police Say

by Charlie Dwyer
By Charlie Dwyer

Branchburg Township, N.J. – A single-vehicle crash that occurred on March 31st has been attributed to drunk driving acting Somerset County Prosecutor Annmarie Taggart said this week.

Police arrested Christian Graverson, age 44, Hillsborough Township, New Jersey, after an investigation into a single motor vehicle crash.

“Acting Prosecutor Taggart stated that on March 31, 2022 at approximately 5:50 p.m. Branchburg Township Police responded to the area of South Branch Road near the Neshanic Valley Golf Course for a report of a single motor vehicle crash involving an SUV that crashed into a tree,” the agency said. “Upon arrival, Officers made contact with the driver of the vehicle, identified as Christian Graverson, who reported that he was not injured. Further investigation led police to determine that Graverson was under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance(s). Graverson was subsequently placed under arrest and was found to be in possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia.”

Acting Prosecutor Taggart stated that defendant Graverson was charged with 3rd Degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession of Narcotic Paraphernalia a Disorderly Persons Offense, and several motor vehicle summonses which included Driving While under the Influence of Narcotics as a result of the incident. Defendant Graverson was later released on his own recognizance pending an appearance in Somerset County Superior Court.

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83-Year-Old Manchester Woman Killed in Crash on Route 70

by Charlie Dwyer
By Charlie Dwyer

Manchester Twp. NJ – A crash on Route 70 in Manchester Thursday night ended with one senior citizen dead and another rushed to the hospital after their vehicle crossed in front of another while attempting to make a turn, according to police.

Manchester Police reported, “At approximately 9:59 pm, officers from the Manchester Township Police Department responded to the intersection of State Highway 70 and Manchester Boulevard in the Whiting section of town to investigate a two-car motor vehicle accident involving a Pickup Truck and Sedan, with the occupants of the sedan still inside the vehicle.

When police arrived, they observed a grey 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup with extensive front-end damage facing west in the east-bound travel lane of State Highway 70.

“Officers also observed a gold 2005 Honda Accord with extensive passenger-side damage on the dirt shoulder of Manchester Blvd. The investigation revealed that the Dodge Ram was traveling eastbound on State Highway 70. The Dodge Ram was approaching the intersection of State Highway 70 and Manchester Blvd with a green traffic signal. The Honda Accord was in the left turn lane of State Highway 70 west, attempting to make a left hand turn onto Manchester Blvd from State Highway 70,” police said. “The Honda Accord, also having a green traffic signal, began to make its left-hand turn onto Manchester Blvd. At this time, the Dodge Ram impacted the Honda Accord on the passenger side of the vehicle. The Honda Accord then impacted a utility pole, where it came to final rest.”

The driver of the pickup truck was identified as 19-year-old Justice Wilson of Whiting, NJ.

“Mr. Wilson did not sustain any injuries at the time of the crash,” the MPD said. “The Honda Accord was occupied by two (2) passengers. The driver of the vehicle was identified as 82-year-old Monica McCord of Whiting, NJ. The driver of the vehicle sustained facial lacerations and chest pain and was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, NJ, and she was listed in stable condition.”

The passenger, identified as 83-year-old Joan Maniaci, suffered severe internal trauma and was transported to Community Medical Center, where she was later pronounced deceased. The roadway was closed for several hours during the rescue and cleanup.

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