Jersey Shore NewsNew Jersey NewsOcean County NewsPolice Blotter

Ocean County SWAT Team Raids Home Finds Hollow Point Ammo, Marijuana

by Dinesh Patel
By: Dinesh Patel
BARNEGAT, NJ – Last night at 1:54am, members of the Barnegat Police Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) along with members of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force and Ocean County Regional SWAT Team executed a “No Knock” search warrant at 46 Village Drive.   Officers recovered marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and a Colt .38 caliber revolver loaded with hollow point ammunition.  Naquan Bennett, 29, of 46 Village Drive was charged with possession of a handgun (2nd degree), unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of hollow point ammunition, certain persons not to have a firearm (2nd degree), possession of marijuana less than 50 grams, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Naquan Bennett was lodged in the Ocean County Jail.  Jamilee Bennett, 23, of Hazleton PA was charged with possession of marijuana less than 50 grams and was released pending a court date.
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Community NewsJersey Shore NewsNew Jersey News

Barnegat Announces New Community Policing Initiative

by Your News
By: Your News

BARNEGAT, NJ – We are excited to announce the rollout of our new neighborhood policing initiative. This program will prove to be a significant undertaking for the agency as we continue to adapt to the needs of the community.  In 2018, Barnegat realized the success of years of dedicated commitment by the women and men of the agency when Barnegat achieved the lowest crime rate in Ocean County. Barnegat continues to enjoy a crime rate that is as much as 75% lower than the crime rates of the 90s. That success has continued through 2019 and 2020.  While achieving the lowest crime rate in Ocean County is an important accomplishment, it is not enough for us to sit back and treat it as a victory. Instead, we continue to focus on ways to improve our communication and collaboration with the community.

Community Policing In the Days of Old

In the old days– before policing became so dependent upon the automobiles that put both a physical and psychological barrier between officers and the residents– residents knew who their police officers were. They knew them by name. They were comfortable approaching them when there was a problem in their neighborhood.  In turn, the officers knew the neighborhood. They knew the residents. They could identify hyper-local problems and solve them before they grew into larger, community-wide problems.

As we’ve moved towards larger areas that require officers to regularly be walled-off from the community in cars for much of their shifts, we’ve lost that neighborhood connection and the ability to collaboratively solve problems at the neighborhood level.

The Modern Neighborhood Policing Concept

In order to maximize our partnership with the community, we need to build familiarity with the residents and their concerns– just as it was done in the days of the walking beat.
In order to achieve this goal, we’ve designated 9 Neighborhood Policing Zones (NPZs).

Each NPZ will have at least two officers assigned to it. Unlike our previous patrol district model, the officers will not rotate to different NPZs. They will be responsible for that area for a period of years.

This semi-permanent assignment gives the officers the ability to develop better relationships and knowledge with the hyper-local community in the assigned NPZ.
Residents of the NPZs will be given the identity and contact information of their officers. When they have a neighborhood problem or concern, they can reach out for their specific neighborhood officers.

The officers, in turn, will get to know the people within their neighborhood and will be better able to identify and solve hyper-local problems by collaborating and working with the residents of that neighborhood.

“Barnegat residents have made a significant investment in the Barnegat Police Department over the years, and while we’re proud of the historic low crime rates we’ve achieved, we want to provide more value to the community,” said Chief Keith Germain.

“We’ve got a great community in Barnegat and cops who are outstanding problem solvers. We’re excited to see what we can accomplish as a community by building our relationships and problem solving together.”

Please follow the link to our Neighborhood Policing Page where you can learn more about the program and find your NPZ and contact information for your officers.
https://barnegatpolice.us/neighborhood-policing/

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Government NewsPoliticsVirginia News

Virginia Extends Voter Registration Deadline

by Conservative Times
By: Conservative Times

RICHMOND  – Judge John A. Gibney, Jr. in the Eastern District of Virginia has approved Attorney General Mark R. Herring’s agreement that extends the deadline for voter registration by two days, through 11:59 PM on October 15, because of a registration system outage that lasted several hours, preventing Virginians from registering to vote on the final day before the deadline. Under the terms of the consent decree, Attorney General Herring has said that the Commonwealth will “take all action necessary to extend the October 13, 2020 registration deadline until 11:59 pm on Thursday, October 15, 2020.”

 

“Today’s agreement to extend the voter registration deadline is a big win for democracy. Any eligible Virginian who was not able to register to vote yesterday can now do so,” said Attorney General Herring. “I have made it a top priority over the last several months to protect Virginians’ right to vote by making it as easy, safe and secure as possible, and this agreement is no different. I will continue to fight to make sure that every eligible Virginian can vote in this crucial election and that their vote will count.”

 

In the granted consent decree, Attorney General Herring agrees that the Commonwealth will:

  • Take all action necessary to extend the October 13, 2020 registration deadline until 11:59 pm on Thursday, October 15, 2020
  • Take all action necessary to provide notice to the public of the reopening and extension of this deadline
  • Provide additional information to the public and to voters attempting to register of alternative methods by which individuals may register to vote, in the event of a system outage during the extension period

 

Late yesterday evening, Attorney General Herring asked the Court to extend the voter registration deadline following an hours-long registration system outage that prevented Virginians from registering to vote.

 

You can register to vote online here: https://www.elections.virginia.gov/

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Police BlotterUS and World News

Kansas City Man Gets 35 Years for Stalking Victims Across State Lines

by Press Release
By: Press Release

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing firearms, including purchasing firearms advertised on the internet, and of stalking two female victims associated with massage parlors in Kansas.

“This armed and dangerous criminal, with a history of stalking and violence toward women, will spend the rest of his life in prison,” said U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison.

Robert J. Gross, 69, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to 35 years in federal prison without parole.

On May 15, 2019, Gross was found guilty at trial of two counts of stalking victims across state lines, three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and three counts of receiving a firearm while under indictment.

Gross was under investigation in 2017 for destroying property and harassing and stalking four women associated with massage parlors in Kansas, which led to him being placed under surveillance by law enforcement. While under surveillance in December 2017, Gross purchased handcuffs and other items from a surplus store, visited a gun show twice, and purchased two shotguns from a private seller advertising on the internet.

In October 2017, Gross visited the Tea Spa Massage in Lawrence, Kan., where he was asked to leave by the employee. Gross took all of his clothes off and walked around the business completely naked, harassing and threatening the employee. The video and audio surveillance show Gross grabbing and groping the employee, who eventually fled the store and flagged down a passing man for assistance in getting Gross out of the business. Gross got dressed and left the business.

Law enforcement investigators began surveillance of Gross after these incidents.

On Dec. 2, 2017, officers saw Gross purchase four sets of handcuffs, two black shirts with “SECURITY” written on them with badges on the front, and two balaclavas (a garment used to conceal facial identity) from a surplus store in Kansas City, Kan. The manager of the business told investigators that Gross had purchased two sets of handcuffs the week before.

On Dec. 16, 2017, officers saw Gross inquiring about the purchase of firearms at the Kansas City Gun Show located at the KCI Expo Center. Gross picked up and handled a 9mm Velocity “Uzi”-type firearm with an empty 30-round magazine at one of the booths. The dealer at the booth told investigators that Gross, who approached his booth multiple times throughout the day, had asked about purchasing up to three firearms. The next day, Gross visited the gun show again and was seen inquiring about the purchase of firearms. Gross visited a different booth, where he picked up a Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun.

At that time, Gross was a convicted felon and also under indictment in the state of Kansas for aggravated sexual battery. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony, or who is under indictment, to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Gross has prior federal felony convictions for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and interstate transfer of a stolen firearm. He also has prior state felony convictions for making terroristic threats and burglary. The state convictions in Kansas stem from breaking into the house of a former girlfriend and stealing a .380-caliber firearm. He threatened to rape and torture the former girlfriend and her sister, to cut off her sister’s head and leave it on her bed, and to burn down her house.

On Dec. 22, 2017, Gross returned to the surplus store in Kansas City, Kan., and was observed purchasing four more sets of handcuffs and a balaclava. Gross also asked about purchasing a bulletproof vest.

On Dec. 22, 2017, officers observed Gross purchase two shotguns from an individual in the parking lot of the Lowe’s Home Improvement store in Liberty, Missouri. Gross first drove to the Pizza Ranch parking lot, where he removed the license plate from the front of his car. The rear license plate had been removed as well. Then Gross drove to the nearby Lowe’s store, where he was met by an individual driving a white pickup truck. The unidentified individual sold Gross two shotguns, which he handed to Gross from his truck. As Gross was putting two shotguns in the trunk of his car, officers arrested him for being a felon in possession of firearms.

The individual who sold the shotguns to Gross told investigators that Gross called him the day before, after seeing the Savage 12-gauge shotgun and Winchester 12-gauge shotgun advertised for sale on a website. Gross told him he wanted to buy the two shotguns for $350 and they arranged to meet at Lowe’s to conduct the sale.

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Georgia NewsPolice Blotter

Douglas Drug Trafficker Gets Almost Two Decades in Prison

by Press Release
By: Press Release

DOUGLAS, GA:  A South Georgia man who has alternated much of his past three decades between selling illegal drugs or serving time in prison has been sentenced to spend nearly 20 years in prison for leading a drug trafficking organization centered in Coffee County.

Wayne Jordan, 62, of Douglas, Ga., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood to 235 months in federal prison after Jordan pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack Cocaine and Marijuana, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his prison sentence, Jordan will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

“The appropriate sentencing for the reoffender in this case exemplifies the clear and present danger that dangerous drugs like cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana poses to our communities,” said the United States Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Atlanta Field Division Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Murphy. “Because of the collective efforts between DEA and its law enforcement partners, this defendant will spend well-deserved time in prison.”

“For decades Wayne Jordan has been a malign presence in south Georgia, never skipping a beat between periods of court supervision to distribute and sell illegal drugs throughout the area,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “For the next 20 years, at least, the community will be rid of his destructive influence.” 

 “It is unfortunate this defendant chose to not only make drug trafficking a way life, but also a family affair,” said GBI Director Vic Reynolds. “With the dismantling of this drug trafficking organization, these south Georgia communities will be safer. Thank you to our federal and local law enforcement partners for making this possible.”

Jordan was indicted with nine other defendants – including his son, Germany Jordan, 33 – in a 57-count federal indictment returned in December 2018. Judge Wood sentenced each of the other nine defendants on earlier dates. The indictment resulted from a nearly two-year investigation under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), the premier U.S. Department of Justice program to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations. Agents of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Douglas Coffee Drug Unit, Douglas Police Department, Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, Appling County Sheriff’s Office, the Jeff Davis Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service participated in the investigation.

According to court documents and testimony, Jordan – who had served multiple stints in state and federal prison on drug trafficking charges since his first arrest and conviction more than 30 years ago – was the main source of supply for a group of co-conspirators who sold cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana in Coffee, Jeff Davis and Appling counties.

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Georgia NewsPolice Blotter

Career Appling County drug dealer sentenced for methamphetamine, opioids, marijuana

by Press Release
By: Press Release
ALMA, GA-   An Appling County man with multiple prior convictions for selling narcotics has been sentenced to nearly two decades in federal prison.

Charlie Williams, 38, of Alma, Ga., was sentenced to 190 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Five Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and Quantities of Hydromorphone and Marijuana, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his prison term, Williams must serve four years of supervised release.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“This drug trafficker, who happens to be a repeat offender, was arrested because of the great working relationship that DEA has with its federal, state and local counterparts,” said U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Atlanta Field Division Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Murphy. “Mr. Williams will now spend well-deserved time in prison and his apprehension makes our communities a safer place today.”

“Charlie Williams first went to prison as a drug dealer 18 years ago, and time behind bars seemed to be the only time he wasn’t pushing poison on the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Our law enforcement partners have made the community a safer place by getting him back behind bars.”

Williams was on felony probation for convictions in state court on charges of selling cocaine when he was arrested in Oct. 2019 after Appling County Sheriff’s Office investigators served a search warrant at his home. During the search, investigators found large amounts of methamphetamine, hydromorphone (Dilaudid) pills and marijuana, along with more than $1,000 cash and drug-sales paraphernalia.

 “One prison term was not enough for this defendant,” said Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vic Reynolds. “His decision to reoffend brings harsh penalties. We will continue to work diligently along with our local and federal partners to investigate drug dealers that threaten the safety of our communities.”

“Much of the crime in our communities is driven by a handful of repeat offenders who continually challenge the efforts of law enforcement to keep our streets safe,” said Appling County Sheriff Mark Melton. “We appreciate the help of our law enforcement partners in getting this drug dealer out of our neighborhoods and back where he belongs: behind bars.”

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Police BlotterSouth Carolina News

Charleston’s Diamond “Dime-Bag” Floyd sentenced to more than 11 years for armed drug trafficking

by Dinesh Patel
By: Dinesh Patel

Charleston, S.C. — United States Attorney Peter M. McCoy, Jr., announced today that Diamond Floyd, also known as “Dime-Bag”, 24, of Charleston, was sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to three counts of drug trafficking and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Evidence presented to the court showed that Floyd was involved in trafficking marijuana in the Low Country since at least 2018. On June 27, 2019, agents and officers with a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force and the Charleston Police Department searched Floyd’s home pursuant to a warrant. In her home, they located 800 grams of marijuana, over $34,000 in cash, a 9mm handgun, a .357 handgun, and a Micro Draco AK. Furthermore, on August 22, 2019, the Charleston Police Department responded to a complaint of a housing resident stating drug dealers had taken over the home. When officers arrived, Floyd jumped out of a second-story window. Officers located marijuana and two additional handguns at the residence and more marijuana on Floyd.      

Senior United States District Judge Margaret B. Seymour sentenced Floyd to 138 months in federal prison, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

The case was investigated by the DEA Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Charleston City Police Department. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Lea Schoen of the Charleston office prosecuted the case.

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New York NewsPolice BlotterPolitics

Governor Cuomo Appointed Judge Shoves Cop After Wife involved in “Girl Fight” Released Video Reveals

by Conservative Times
By: Conservative Times

BUFFALO, NY – New York State Supreme Court Justice Mark Grisanti stood shirtless outside his Buffalo home yelling and threatening police as they handcuffed his loud-mouthed wife who was screaming at, and taunting officers to arrest her. The incident happened on June 23rd, but has come to light today after a Freedom of Information Act request has made the police officer’s bodycam footage public.  According to Grisanti, it was just a “girl fight” and he felt officers overreacted and mistreated his wife who was engaged in an argument with what appeared to be her neighbors.  Now, the judge is being investigated by the New York State Committee on Judicial Conduct, which could end up removing him from the bench.

At one point, Judge Grisanti shoved the officers as they were cuffing his wife.  Grisanti told the officers he has family members who are cops and that he is friends with the mayor.

“Ma’am, if you don’t stop yelling, this is going to be a problem for you,” the officer said to Grisanti’s wife who was screaming at the officer from across the street.

“I don’t care, you can’t arrest me,” she said before being pulled to the ground and handcuffed while resisting the officer.

While being handcuffed, Judge Grisanti aggressively approached the police officer, forcefully shoving the officer away from his wife.

“Dude you’re going to get off my [expletive]ing wife,” Grisanti said. “Dude, my daughter and my son are both Buffalo police officers.”

“I know,” the officer responded. “But you are not going to fight a cop.”

“If you don’t get the cuffs off her right now, you are going to have a problem,” he said. “I am going to call my son and daughter who are lieutenants.”

The officer advised Grisanti to call whoever he needed.

Later, another cop took issue with Grisanti dropping names of cops in public, saying he’s creating a scene and implying that the cops would give him preferential treatment, saying he is a good friend with the mayor.   He was then cuffed by a cop who gave him a firm knifehand treatment.

“Shut up and let me talk to you, you old geezer,” the cop said. “You’re dropping everyone’s name with a [expletive]ing badge, how doe that look in this environment right now, what do you want me to do?”

Before being appointed as a judge by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Grisanti served as a Senator in the New York State Senate.  According to his biography on the Senate website, Mark was born on October 21, 1964. He was raised in the City of Buffalo and is the youngest of six brothers and sisters. Mark graduated from Sweet Home High School and attended Canisius College, where he received his Bachelor’s of Arts degree in English. After finishing his undergraduate degree he received his Juris Doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Michigan. Throughout college he served as a member of the Student Bar Association, received numerous certificates and book awards and was also a member of the Entertainment Committee for the Bar Association and the Italian Law Society.After graduating from law school, Mark went on to work at his father’s law firm, a small business that his grandfather founded in 1921.

No charges have been filed to date against Grisanti or his wife.

 

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Police BlotterPoliticsUS and World News

Former Idaho GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Pankey Charged for Death of 12-Year-Old in 1984

by Conservative Times
By: Conservative Times

MERIDIAN, ID – Steven Pankey offered to “Drain the Swamp” in Idaho during his 2018 run for Governor. He was a supporter of President Trump, sought to defund abortion and defund common core, but he was hiding a deep dark secret.   Today, that secret came out.   A grand jury in Weld County, Colorado issued an indictment for the 69-year-old man for the death of a 12-year old girl who went missing in 1984.

“Steven Pankey is accused of kidnapping Jonelle Matthews from her Greeley home in December of 1984, before shooting and killing her.” the grand jury decided.

He has been charged with two counts of first degree murder, kidnapping and committing a crime of violence.

Detectives with the Greeley Police Department were present when officers from the Meridian, Idaho Police Department arrested the defendant Monday morning.  Pankey is currently in custody in Idaho at the Ada County Jail. A court date in Colorado has not yet been set. Because this is an active investigation, no further comment or additional information is available at this time.

During his campaign, Pankey’s slogan was, “Traditional core values with a biblical and constitutional perspective.”

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North Carolina NewsPolice Blotter

Trenton Postal Employee Guilty of Stealing Mail

by Press Release
By: Press Release

NEW BERN , N.C. – A Havelock man pleaded guilty today to Theft of Mail by a Postal Employee.

According to the United States, William E. Lundy, Sr., 41, worked as a time clerk in the Trenton Post Office.  From June 2019 through January 2020, Lundy rifled through the outgoing and incoming mail and stole mail that contained cash, personal checks and gift cards.  Based upon customer complaints, the Postal Service conducted an investigation and found 36 first class envelopes in Lundy’s car.  32 victims were identified, resulting in a loss of $1,265.   Lundy voluntarily resigned.

Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Jones accepted the plea. The United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General is investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Menzer  is prosecuting the case.

U.S District Judge Louise W. Flanagan will sentence Lundy during the February 2021 term of court.  The maximum penalties are five years’ imprisonment and a $250,000.  Restitution is mandatory.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:20-cr-00050-FL.

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Police BlotterPoliticsTravel

Celebrity Cruise Line Employee Indicted for Sexual Abuse, Hate Crime Against Filipino Shipmate

by Press Release
By: Press Release

St. Thomas, USVI – On October 8, 2020, a federal Grand Jury in St. Thomas returned a two-count superseding indictment against Louie Ison Mangampat, 37, of the Philippines, charging him with one count of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of committing a hate crime, United States Attorney Gretchen Shappert announced.  The indictment stems from Mangampat allegedly sexually assaulting a crew member on board a Celebrity cruise ship in September of 2019. The superseding indictment adds the hate crime offense to the original Grand Jury indictment previously returned on November 7, 2019. Under federal law, Mangampat faces a maximum sentence of up to life in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.

 

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California NewsPolice Blotter

Nathan Wilson of Irvine Charged for Setting LAPD Cop Car on Fire During May Riot

by Press Release
By: Press Release

LOS ANGELES, CA  – An Irvine man was taken into federal custody today on charges alleging he set fire to a Santa Monica Police Department car during civil unrest that accompanied widespread protests in late May.

Nathan Wilson, 27, is charged in a federal criminal complaint with malicious damage to property owned by an institution or organization receiving federal financial assistance.

Wilson was linked to the May 31 fire that destroyed the unmarked Santa Monica Police car when a witness told law enforcement they had driven Wilson to Santa Monica on that day and they believed he had set fire to a police car.

Publicly available social media posts show that the person who set fire to the police car parked at the loading dock of the Santa Monic Civic Center was wearing certain clothing and accessories, had an American flag bandana over his face, and had a distinctive tattoo of a rifle on his left arm, according to an affidavit filed with the complaint. The witness directed authorities to one of Wilson’s social media accounts – an Instagram account under the handle “yup_i_eat_crayons” – where Wilson had posted a “selfie” taken in Santa Monica on May 31. In his Instagram selfie, Wilson appeared exactly like the person seen in other social media posts who stoked the fire that destroyed the police car, the affidavit alleges.

In early June, the FBI and the Santa Monica Police Department issued a wanted poster for the person later identified as Wilson. After receiving tips and conducting investigations, law enforcement was not able to identify the perpetrator who caused the fire that destroyed the police car.

That changed when Wilson became a suspect in a September 28 vehicle arson that occurred in Irvine, according to the affidavit. Following a domestic dispute that culminated with a fire in a vehicle owned by Wilson’s live-in partner, authorities obtained information that linked Wilson to the May 31 fire in Santa Monica.

Wilson was taken into custody on October 9 when Santa Monica Police officers, in conjunction with the Irvine Police Department and the FBI, executed a search warrant at the Irvine residence and found Wilson hiding in a mattress box spring in the bedroom. During that search, authorities recovered items of clothing that appear to be the same seen on Wilson in the various photos taken near the destroyed police car.

After Wilson was taken into custody by Santa Monica Police officers, the federal criminal complaint was signed by a United States magistrate judge late on October 9. Wilson was taken into federal custody this morning, and he is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted of the malicious damage offense alleged in the complaint, Wilson would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years.

This matter was investigated by the SAFE LA Task Force, which includes representatives of the FBI and the Santa Monica Police Department. The Irvine Police Department and the Orange County Fire Authority provided substantial assistance.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sara B. Milstein of the Violent and Organized Crime Section.

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Police BlotterUS and World News

Man Pleads Guilty to Soliciting 14-Year-Old Belleville Girl

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

Belleville, Ill. – Joseph L. Hughes, a/k/a “Joe King,” 28, of St. Louis, Missouri, has pleaded guilty to enticement of a minor and two counts of traveling to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a 14 year-old girl in St. Clair County, Illinois. The offenses were committed between Nov. 21, 2018, and Dec. 8, 2018.

In pleading guilty, Hughes admitted using the name “Joe King” on Facebook Messenger to text with the girl and arrange visits to her home in Belleville, Illinois, to have sex. Hughes traveled from Missouri to the girl’s home on two occasions – Nov. 24 and Dec. 8, 2018.

Both times, Hughes engaged in illicit sexual conduct with the girl. He also admitted that the victim told him her age right away and that he knew that what he did was against the law. Hughes’ sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 12, 2021, in East St. Louis.

He faces 10 years to life in prison on count one (enticement of a minor) and up to 30 years in prison on counts two and three (travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct). All three counts also carry a fine of up to $250,000 and a possible lifetime term of supervised release. The case was investigated by the Belleville Police Department, the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, the St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott is prosecuting the case.

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Police BlotterUS and World News

Missouri Man Admits to Topeka Car Jacking, Shooting Near Washburn University

by Press Release
By: Press Release

TOPEKA, KAN. – A Missouri man pleaded guilty today to an armed carjacking in Topeka, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.

Antonio Duane Simpson, 43, Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of carjacking.

In his plea, Simpson admitted he stopped a man near SW 13th and College Avenue in Topeka and demanded his wallet. The victim refused and during a struggle Simpson shot him. Simpson took the victim’s keys and drove away. He left behind a hat and wig he had been wearing. A DNA test on those items tied Simpson to the crime. When the victim’s Toyota Tacoma was recovered in Kansas City, Mo., it had been destroyed by fire.

Sentencing is set for Feb. 2. Both parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of 15 years in federal prison. McAllister commended the FBI, the Topeka Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag for their work on the case.

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Police Blotter

Rhode Island Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing Andover Bank

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

ANDOVER, MA – A Rhode Island man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to five bank robberies, including one that resulted in a high-speed chase.

Dong Lee, 50, pleaded guilty to five counts of bank robbery before U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns who scheduled sentencing for Feb. 16, 2021. In Oct. 2018, Lee was charged with co-defendant Charles Lamont Wheeler, 46, who pleaded guilty in March 2020. Wheeler’s sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 14, 2020.

According to the prosecutor at today’s plea hearing, Lee and Wheeler were responsible for the robberies of the Santander Bank in Andover on Sept. 8, 2018; the Berkshire Bank in Boston on Sept. 8, 2018; the Rockland Trust in Braintree on Sept. 12, 2018; the Abington Savings Bank in Avon on Sept. 14, 2018; and Crescent Credit Union in Brockton on Sept. 14, 2018.   Both Lee and Wheeler were arrested following the Sept. 14, 2018 robberies which resulted in a high-speed auto chase by the Massachusetts State Police.

The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police Department; Avon Police Chief Jeffrey J. Bukunt; Brockton Police Chief Emmanuel Gomes; Attleboro Police Chief Kyle P. Heagney; and North Attleboro Police Chief John J. Reilly made the announcement.

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Pennsylvania NewsPolice Blotter

Armed Robber of Philly Trolley Car Diner Gets 19 Years in Prison

by Press Release
By: Press Release

PHILADELPHIA, PA  – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Keenan Smith, 29, of Philadelphia, PA was sentenced to nineteen years in prison and five years of supervised release by United States District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno for attempting to rob the Trolley Car Diner on Germantown Avenue in Northwest Philadelphia.

The defendant was convicted after trial in August 2019 of attempted robbery which interferes with interstate commerce (Hobbs Act robbery), and using or carrying, and discharging, a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. In the early morning hours of January 31, 2018, Smith snuck into the Trolley Car Diner through a side entrance before it opened for business that day, and waited outside the manager’s office with a gun. When the manager arrived, Smith pointed the gun at the manager’s head, and then a struggle ensued as the manager attempted to disarm the defendant. Ultimately, the defendant was shot in the hand, causing him to flee, but he was later arrested by the Philadelphia Police Department after seeking medical treatment for his gunshot wound at a hospital in Roxborough. Evidence presented at trial showed that Smith’s DNA was found to match DNA from blood left at the scene of the crime.

“Nobody should be put in a positon of fearing for their life when simply showing up to do their job,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “My Office is committed to prosecuting and punishing this type of inexcusable violence, which is all too prevalent in Philadelphia. Federal crime means federal time: here, 19 years. Keenan Smith deserves every bit of that sentence.”

“Imagine the terror of walking into a gunpoint ambush, alone with an armed stranger making demands,” said Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “In attempting this armed robbery, Keenan Smith made clear that he’s a threat to public safety. Although Smith was the one injured during the robbery, it could have easily been his intended victim or an innocent bystander harmed. The FBI and our partners at the Philadelphia Police Department are committed to taking violent criminals off the street, to keep them from victimizing anyone else.”

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Philadelphia Police Department, with assistance from the Whitemarsh Township Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy M. Stengel.

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New York NewsPolice Blotter

Forestville Man Gets 20 Years For Filming Himself Having Sex with Minor

by Press Release
By: Press Release

Forestville, NY – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Richard C. Miller, 53, of Forestville, NY, who was previously convicted of receipt and possession of child [censored]ography, was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison and lifetime supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan P. Cantil, who handled the case, stated that between 2006 and 2009, Miller produced child [censored]ography by filming himself engaged in a sexual act with a minor. Between January 2016 and March 2017, Miller and co-defendant Joseph Harvey exchanged images of child [censored]ography and engaged in illicit discussions regarding child [censored]ography and pedophilia. In addition, a search of the residence shared by the defendants revealed multiple electronic devices that contained child [censored]ography.

Joseph Harvey was previously convicted and sentenced to serve 96 months in prison.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly.

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New Jersey NewsPolitics

New Jersey Mayor Blasts Trump, Orange Monster with COVID…Go F*ck Yourself to Supporters

by Phil Stilton
By: Phil Stilton

FLEMINGTON, NJ – Trump derangement syndrome has struck one small New Jersey town after Flemington Mayor Betsy Driver made a post on the Hunterdon GOP Facebook page this weekend that angered Republicans and Trump supporters alike.

“This is day one of the new SCOTUS term – the religious zealots want to enact the Christian version of Sharia law,” Driver said in a now-deleted post. ” If you voted for the orange monster with COVID, go [expletive] yourself. If you plan on voting for him again, unfriend me and go [expletive] yourself again.”

New Jersey GOP Chairman Doug Steinhardt quickly condemned Driver and called for her to apologize to her constituents which she had offended.

“President Trump earned nearly 43% of the vote amongst Mayor Driver’s constituents,” said NJGOP Chairman Steinhardt. “I think we all know she will never step down, but is it too much to ask for her to apologize? Her comments are bigoted and hateful and quite frankly the silence on the left speaks to the character of party leaders like Tom Malinowski and Phil Murphy who lack the courage to stand up to people in their own party.”

A former Republican “Never Trumper” who once called Trump a “Charlatan” and criticized those who supported the President in 2016 has also jumped in to condemn Driver.  Now, former NJ Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli is running for Governor of New Jersey, as a Republican is calling for Driver’s resignation.
“What has become of us? The vitriolic language of Mayor Driver is totally unacceptable,” Ciattarelli said. “By any elected official, it has no place whatsoever in the public discourse. I join with Chairman Plumer in calling for Driver’s resignation & urge leaders across our state to do the same.”

In 2015, Ciattarelli said Trump was a charlatan who is embarrassing our country, adding that Trump was not fit to be president.
“Sitting silently and allowing him to embarrass our country is unacceptable,” Ciattarelli said. “He is not fit to be president of the United States,” Ciattarelli said.
Matt Rooney, editor of Save Jersey, a conservative blog site also called for Driver’s resignation. In 2016, Rooney said on his website, “We should throw Trump supporters over the wall.”

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California NewsPolice Blotter

Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing $1.5M to Fund Marijuana Operation in Oregon

by Dinesh Patel
By: Dinesh Patel

EUGENE, Ore.—A California woman pleaded guilty today to participating in a complex multistate credit card “bust- out” conspiracy that funded an illicit Interstate Marijuana Operation, and defrauded banks for over a $1,500,000, announced U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams.

Mariam Gevorkova pleaded guilty today to Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, and a Drug Trafficking Conspiracy.

“The defendant and her co-conspirators built a house of credit cards fueled by a bottomless pit of greed.” said U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams, “The sheer scale and amount of the fraud exposed by the dedicated and determined law enforcement investigators on this case is astounding and took years to unravel. This prosecution signals the end of the line for this criminal enterprise and all those involved”

“This fraud funded a lavish lifestyle of luxury goods and vacations while also supporting an illegal marijuana grow operation that was not licensed in Oregon and sent pot out of the state,” said Renn Cannon, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Oregon. “While Gevorkova and her co-conspirators used the Corvallis Cannabis Club as a legal front they cost the victim banks hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses.”

“Gevorkova and her co-conspirators took advantage of the U.S. Mail to commit bank fraud and identity theft in furtherance of the distribution of illegal narcotics while acting under the guise of a legitimate business. This abuse of the U.S. Postal Service allowed them to finance a lavish lifestyle at the expense of honest Oregonians. The Postal Inspection Service works tirelessly to hold criminals who misuse the U.S. Mail accountable.” said Tony Galetti, Inspector in Charge, Seattle Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).

According to court documents, in December 2016, USPIS and the FBI initiated an investigation concerning a credit card “bust-out” fraud perpetrated by individuals residing in the Corvallis, Oregon area. As the investigation expanded, it included the Drug Enforcement Administration. Gevorkova and her co-conspirators opened credit card accounts using stolen and fictitious identities, using the funds on expensive jewelry, clothing, gambling, vacations, as well as establishing and operating at least two large marijuana grows and covering the operating expenses of Corvallis Cannabis Club, a state-licensed marijuana retail sales business in Corvallis.

Gevorkova obtained numerous credit cards, working with co-conspirators to create fake or altered identification information, such as fake Oregon ID cards. Gevorkova recruited others into the conspiracy, including enticing workers at Corvallis Cannabis Club to engage in the fraud for a monetary kickback.

After numerous purchases and payments on the fraudulent credit cards, the co-conspirators reported to their financial institution that the payments made to the cards were not authorized. The banks obtained reimbursement from the card company, which resulted in losses in excess of $1,500,000 in amounts substantially greater than the card’s credit limit.

As part of the conspiracy, Gevorkova and her co-conspirators used the proceeds of the conspiracy to establish and operate marijuana grows and Corvallis Cannabis Club. The investigation uncovered two active marijuana grows, both of which were not licensed by the State of Oregon. One marijuana grow was located in a warehouse one block away from Corvallis Cannabis Club. Gevorkova and her codefendants established the marijuana grow and paid for expenses, such as rent, utilities, and growing supplies, utilizing credit cards from the fraud conspiracy. On June 12, 2018, agents seized over 1,200 marijuana plants from the warehouse and another 200 plants from another illegal grow site in Philomath.

Marijuana from the warehouse grow was also sold at Corvallis Cannabis Club. Gevorkova and her co-conspirators purchased marijuana from state-licensed marijuana distributors, which it then entered into Oregon’s Cannabis Tracking System. The product purchased would be very cheap. Gevorkova and her co-conspirators would replace this cheap product with marijuana grown at the illegal marijuana grow sites, raise the price, and sell to consumers at a substantial profit. Gevorkova and her co-conspirators would then sell the state-licensed and tracked marijuana illegally to others, including to out-of-state purchasers.

Gevorkova faces maximum penalties of 30 years imprisonment for the Bank Fraud Conspiracy, 20 years imprisonment for the Drug Trafficking Conspiracy, and a mandatory two years imprisonment for Aggravated Identity Theft, a $2,250,000 fine and five years of supervised release. She will be sentenced on March 11, 2021 before U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. McShane.

As part of the plea agreement, Gevorkova has agreed to pay restitution to the victim financial institutions.

The FBI, USPIS, and DEA investigated this case, assisted by the Oregon State Police, Corvallis Police Department and Philomath Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Gavin W. Bruce, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

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Police BlotterVirginia News

Two Plead Guilty for Roles in Akron to Huntington Meth Conspiracy

by Press Release
By: Press Release

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced that a Huntington woman and Akron man who participated in a conspiracy that saw large quantities of methamphetamine shipped from Akron and sold in Huntington pled guilty today.  Niki Renee Maynard, 49, entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and Robert Von Wilson, 24, entered a guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

“100% pure meth from Akron,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “These two defendants were distributing significant amounts of deadly meth in the Huntington area. Now they each face significant prison sentences for their crimes.”

Maynard admitted that between the fall of 2018 and September of 2019, she participated in a conspiracy with multiple individuals to distribute methamphetamine in the Huntington area.  During the conspiracy, Maynard repeatedly obtained quantities of methamphetamine which were transported from Akron to Huntington.  Maynard relied on multiple individuals from Akron to deliver the methamphetamine to her and Maynard would in turn distribute the methamphetamine to various customers in Huntington.  Maynard also admitted that she permitted others to sell methamphetamine from her residence located at 1223 26th Street in Huntington and that she was responsible for distributing up to 500 grams of methamphetamine during the conspiracy.

Wilson admitted that he was present at 1235 25th Street on June 6, 2019, when investigators executed a search warrant at the residence.  During the search, investigators seized over 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine.  Wilson admitted that he possessed the methamphetamine and intended to distribute it in the Huntington area.  The methamphetamine was later examined by a chemist and determined to be 100% pure.

Maynard faces 5 to 40 years in federal prison and Wilson faces 10 years to life in federal prison when sentenced on January 19, 2021.

This joint investigation was spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  Other agencies which participated and assisted in the investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force, the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, the United States Marshals Service, the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Akron, Ohio Police Department, and the Brecksville, Ohio Police Department.  United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearings.  Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is handling the prosecution.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:19-cr-00245.

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California NewsPolice Blotter

San Diego Gang Member With Sex Trafficking History Busted for Trafficking Minor

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

SAN DIEGO, CA –  A member of a North Park-based gang, who was previously convicted of participating in a conspiracy to engage in racketeering enterprise (RICO) involving sex trafficking of minors and adults, pleaded guilty to once again being involved in sex trafficking.

Jonathan Devon Price, aka Lil’ TY, who was a member of Black MOB, previously pled guilty to RICO in October 2015, where he admitted he was involved transporting females from San Diego, California to El Paso, Texas for purposes of prostitution.  He also admitted to transporting an adult female in San Diego, California to a hotel to engage in prostitution after an online ad had been posted.

Today, Price admitted that in November 2019, he transported a minor in San Diego, California to meet with “johns” for the purpose of her to engage in commercial sex acts.  In addition, Price caused online advertisements to be posted offering the minor for commercial sex. An undercover sting operation conducted by members of the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force resulted in the arrest of Price, who was transporting the minor for prostitution.

Price also admitted during his guilty plea that he used fraud, force and coercion against another adult female in order to cause her to engage in commercial sex acts.  This conducted occurred between June 2018 and November 2019, while Price was on federal supervised release.  As a result of his criminal conduct in November 2019, Price has violated his supervised release in his prior RICO case, Criminal Case No. 13CR4510-JAH.

“Sex trafficking is a crime that causes devastating long-term effects for victims, especially minors,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer. “Our office will continue to vigorously enforce federal laws that are in place to protect women and girls from the pain, humiliation and suffering associated with sex trafficking.” Brewer praised prosecutor Joseph Orabona and members of the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force for their excellent work on this case.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 4, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. before the U.S. District Judge John A. Houston.  Price has been detained in custody since his arrest in November 2019.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph J.M. Orabona. This guilty plea is the result of the collaborative work by the FBI and the San Diego Police Department.

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New Jersey NewsPolice Blotter

Jackson Home Hit by Several Gunshots, Police Investigating

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report
JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ – A Jackson resident came home to find his home shot up with several rounds of gunfire on Friday, police here said.  Nobody was home at the time of the shooting at the Route 571 home, but bullet holes were found in the home, including in their living room couch. Luckily the female homeowner and her children were not in the home at the time.
“The Jackson Police Department is seeking any witnesses who may have information regarding a recent shooting incident in the Township,” the Jackson Police Department said in a statement. “On Friday October 9, 2020, officers responded to a residence located in the 300 block of Toms River Road (571) on the report of a resident who had returned home to discover what appeared to be bullet holes in the house.”
Investigating officers discovered that the residence had been struck by several rounds, one of which penetrated a couch in the living room of the residence. The resident and her children were not home at the time of the incident and there were no injuries.
The officer’s investigation determined that this incident took place between 8:00 – 8:15 pm. The scene was processed by the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Investigations Unit and the investigation is ongoing and is being followed up by Jackson Police Detective Robert Reiff. Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to contact the Jackson Police Department at 732-928-1111 or through the department’s Stop It app.
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New Jersey NewsOcean County NewsPolice Blotter

Stabbing in Jackson Leads to Aggravated Assault Charge for 60 Acres Resident

by Breaking Local News Report
By: Breaking Local News Report

JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ – A stabbing on Saturday in the 60 Acres Reserve townhome complex sent one male victim to the hospital according to police.   At approximately 12:49 am on Saturday, October 10, 2020, officers responded to a residence located on Begonia Court in Sixty Acres on the report of a disturbance.

According to a police report, while on scene investigating the incident, officers were informed that a male who had also been involved in the disturbance was at Hackensack Meridian Health Ocean Medical Center in Brick seeking treatment for a stab wound to his arm. Police Officer Kevin Scheuerman and Det. Robert Reiff responded to the hospital to interview the victim who advised that during the course of the disturbance, a male suspect retrieved a knife in the residence and stabbed the victim in the arm. The suspect had fled the residence after the incident and was unable to be located during the investigation.
Det. Reiff prepared complaint warrants charging the suspect with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and he is currently entered as a New Jersey wanted person. The suspect was identified as Timothy Brown (pictured) , age 53 of Begonia Court, Jackson. He also had a previous address on Justin Way in Manalapan. Anyone who has information of Mr. Brown’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Det. Reiff at the Jackson Police Department at 732-928-1111 or through the department’s Stop It app
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New Jersey NewsPolitics

Mayor Berger Requests AG Investigation into Monmouth Freeholder, Township Council Plan to Rubber Stamp Howell Dump

by Conservative Times
By: Conservative Times
HOWELL TOWNSHIP, NJ – Last year, the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders was ready to fast track the application for Resource Engineering’s new and huge solid waste transfer facility on Randolph Road.  For the Monmouth County GOP, the plant would have been a major political and financial victory against their counterparts in Ocean County who right now how a firm grip on the municipal, county and private construction waste recycling company.  The plant, if built will take millions of dollars out of the Ocean County GOP political coffers and put that money into the Monmouth GOP coffers, along with the traffic it brings.
The Randolph Road project will compete directly with the Ocean County Landfill and GOP aligned operator C.J. Hesse.  It was pretty much a done deal until an associate of C.J. Hesse tipped off Shore News Network last spring that brought the matter to the public spotlight.  Howell Township and the residents of the community were stuck in the middle of a trash war between two trash supergiants.  Monmouth County GOP backed Resource Engineering, operated by the husband of former Monmouth County Clerk Claire French and the Ocean County Landfill, operated through the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders and C.J. Hesse, a political ally of the Ocean County GOP.
Today, as the plot thickens, Howell Mayor Theresa Berger and Councilman John Bonevich sent a detailed letter to Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal to request an investigation into the handling of an application for a proposed solid waste transfer station (known locally as “the dump”) by the Monmouth County Freeholders. They have asked Grewal to stop any action or approvals by the Freeholders until an investigation can be completed.  There is much for the AG to investigate here should they pursue it.  In the old days, it was organized crime that controlled the garbage and recycling business.
Today, it’s feuding GOP business factions, which we like to call, “the Dirt Mafia” fighting over control of the shore’s tens, if not hundreds of millions of dollars in commercial and industrial waste management.  When Ocean County GOP leaders found out the Monmouth County GOP Freeholders were pushing this through, with the support of the Howell Township Republican Club, a whistleblower contacted us. After confirming the story and with days left before the Monmouth Freeholders were ready to rubber-stamp the approvals, people showed up at the meeting that was now publicized, but was set to happen in private, away from prying eyes and out of the purview of the public.
The letter from Berger and Bonevich explained the devastating impact a dump could have on Howell residents, including traffic problems that would be caused by the transfer station, the impact of the noise and smog in the largely residential part of town, and the vehicles idling and emitting pollution. The proposed facility on Randolph Road would accept 1500 tons of materials per day. It would also include a 25,000 square foot main building and an 8,000 square foot maintenance garage.
Berger has opposed the dump since she took office in January 2017. Despite her opposition, the County continues to conduct studies and appears to be quietly working on the approvals.
For months, Berger has been requesting the release of public documents related to the waste transfer station, including a traffic study and “in need” study, regarding the need for the facility. To date, the county has refused to release the documents.
Berger said, “The Freeholders are intentionally hiding information about this dump project. I have no choice but to seek the assistance of the Attorney General to compel the release of what should be public information.”
Bonevich added, “They don’t care what the Township wants, they don’t care about the law, they just want to build the dump so Claire French and her family can make a bunch of money.”
A recent lawsuit filed by the developer of the dump, Resource Engineering, blames Berger and her opposition for the stalled project and claims that Republican officials in Howell signed off on the application. The lawsuit seeks to have a court compel the Freeholders’ approval of the dump. The principals of Resource Engineering are family members of the former Republican County Clerk, Claire French, which has led Berger and Bonevich to suggest in their letter that “political influence might be at play.”
Berger is correct in her assumption, politics in play with “the dump”.   In one way, it’s probably a good thing Ocean County didn’t want to part with the millions of dollars that come into the Ocean County landfill each year.  Had RE been granted that approval thousands of dump trucks and container trucks would be traveling through the township each day from destinations across Ocean County and Monmouth County.
Berger said, “My opposition is not driven by politics but by the best interests of the residents of Howell. I will use every resource at my disposal to ensure that this project is stopped, including our request for assistance from the chief law enforcement officer in the State.”
“We have included herein a detailed recitation of the facts underlying our request. We would prefer not to need your assistance, but given the ongoing concerns of our Township residents, along with the indisputable justifications for denying the application, it appears that political influence might be in play. We therefore believe that we have no choice but to seek the assistance of your office to investigate the manner in which the Freeholders are processing and making decisions in this matter,” Bonevich and Berger wrote in the request.
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Police BlotterUS and World News

Crowd Topples Abe Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt Statues in Portland

by Press Release
By: Press Release

PORTLAND, OR – Two Americans who epitomize the fundamental beliefs of ANTIFA, Black Lives Matter, and, supposedly the Democrat Party had their statues toppled in protest of…who knows what, to be honest…

From the Portland Police Department:

A destructive crowd toppled two historic statues in the South Park Blocks, broke windows, and caused other damage during a riot downtown Sunday evening.  On Sunday, October, 11, 2020 at about 7:45p.m., a group gathered near Southwest Naito Parkway and West Burnside Street. A published advertisement for the event indicated it was a direct action where cameras, journalists, and live streamers were specifically excluded. This indicated that those attending were planning to engage in criminal behavior and were attempting to prevent the collection of video evidence that could be used to hold them accountable. Many in the group were wearing all black, masks, body armor, helmets, and were carrying shields. At its peak the crowd numbered close to 300 people.

The group marched on West Burnside Street and Southwest Broadway, blocking all vehicular traffic. They stopped in the South Park Blocks, Southwest Park Avenue between Southwest Madison and Southwest Jefferson Streets. Individuals put chains and straps around the Theodore Roosevelt, Rough Rider equestrian statue. People pulled on it for several minutes. Then a vehicle was attached to it and used to topple the statue. The park was also marred with graffiti. According to Portland Parks and Recreation, that statue has stood there since 1922.

The crowd turned its attention to the Abraham Lincoln statue in the Park Blocks between Southwest Madison and Main Streets. The 1928 statue was also pulled to the ground (photo). After that, people in the crowd began breaking windows at the Oregon Historical Society building, 1200 Southwest Park Avenue. At least three lit flares were thrown into the structure in an apparent attempt to start fires. The flares went out before causing significant damage.

About the same time as the efforts to topple statues was occurring, Central Precinct Officers responded to a call of a subject in the 2500 block of Southeast Clinton Street shooting a firearm in the neighborhood. Multiple callers reported this alarming and dangerous behavior to dispatch. Upon arrival, police located the suspect who fled in the area of Powell Park. Additional resources were requested to assist, but most of the resources were busy with the escalating events downtown. Two officers arrived in the park and contacted the suspect who was not cooperative. The suspect was on his knees at one point, but not following orders, then got up and fled again. Officers were able to locate the suspect and take him into custody after he ran to a residence and went onto the front porch. Officers recovered a revolver and fortunately there were no reports of injured persons.

The march proceeded south to the Portland State University Campus Public Safety office at Southwest Broadway and Southwest Montgomery Street, where numerous windows were shattered (photos).

Due to the ongoing tumultuous and violent conduct, the incident met the legal definition of a riot. The crowd was advised that it was a riot over loudspeaker and via PPB’s Twitter feed: “This has been declared a RIOT. All persons must immediately disperse to the NORTH. Failure to adhere to this order may subject you to arrest, citation, or crowd control agents, including, but not limited to tear gas and impact weapons.”

Portland Police is adhering to a prohibition on use of CS gas, but a warning using the general term “tear gas” is required by state law.

Despite the warnings, the crowd continued committing acts of destruction. They broke windows and applied graffiti on businesses as they went, including a jewelry store, restaurants, coffee shop, bank, phone store and more. A restaurant in the 1400 block of Southwest Park Avenue had at least two bullets fired through the front windows, which lodged in the back wall.

Officers moved in and dispersed the crowd. They made targeted arrests, including one for breaking numerous windows. He was also armed with a loaded pistol (photo). The driver of a vehicle used to pull over the statue was also arrested, as was a person involved in an assault. More arrests and charges are possible. Officers also seized rocks and a hammer (photo).

The following were booked in the Multnomah County Detention Center on the listed charges:

Malik Muhamad, 23, of Portland – Criminal Mischief in the First Degree (6 counts), Riot, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Possession of a Loaded Firearm in Public (city code)

Justin Bowen, 25, of Portland — Assault in the Fourth Degree (2 counts), Unlawful Use of Pepper Spray

Brandon Bartells, 38, of Washington — Criminal Mischief in the First Degree, Reckless Endangering

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