GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ – The Gloucester Township Police Department announced their participation in the national “Click it or Ticket” campaign, aimed at enforcing seat belt usage. The campaign begins on May 20 and will continue until June 2. This enforcement effort will include high visibility seat belt checkpoints and saturation patrols, specifically targeting areas in town with a high incidence of crashes involving unrestrained occupants.
In addition to road enforcement, Gloucester Township Police Officers from the Traffic Safety Unit will be engaging with high school seniors. They will deliver presentations focused on the risks of driving without a seat belt and the dangers of impaired driving, coinciding with the prom season. This initiative is part of a broader national effort to highlight the life-saving benefits of wearing seat belts.
- Albanian Terrorist Who Threatened to Kill People in New Jersey and Pennsylvania Indicted
CAMDEN, N.J. — A man who most recently lived in Albania has been indicted on federal charges alleging he spent more than a year terrorizing victims in New Jersey and Pennsylvania with repeated death threats delivered through voicemails and text messages, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced Thursday.
Jarvis Shabazz, 37, who has ties to New Jersey, Georgia, Malaysia, Morocco and Albania, was charged in a federal indictment with eight counts of interstate threats and two counts of cyberstalking. He made his initial appearance and was arraigned Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sharon A. King in Camden federal court.
According to prosecutors, Shabazz allegedly left graphic voicemail messages threatening to kill one victim before continuing to send threatening communications to two victims over approximately 15 months.
- Jarvis Shabazz was charged with eight counts of interstate threats and two counts of cyberstalking.
- Prosecutors allege the threats targeted victims in New Jersey and Pennsylvania over a 15-month period.
- If convicted on all counts, Shabazz faces a maximum possible sentence of 50 years in federal prison.
Prosecutors detail graphic threats
According to the indictment, the alleged threats began on Oct. 10, 2022, when Shabazz left a voicemail threatening to kill one victim and stating he would soon be “dismembering bodies and carving human f***ing flesh.”
About a week later, prosecutors allege Shabazz left another voicemail for the same victim threatening to kill the individual and warning that the victim’s children “will suffer the same fate.”
Federal authorities allege the communications contained violent imagery, religious references, racial epithets and obscenities.
Harassment allegedly continued for more than a year
According to prosecutors, the threatening conduct continued for approximately 15 months.
The indictment alleges Shabazz repeatedly changed his telephone number after victims blocked his previous numbers, allowing him to continue sending threatening text messages and voicemails.
Federal prosecutors allege two victims ultimately received repeated threatening communications during the course of the investigation.
FBI led investigation
Each interstate threat count carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison, while each cyberstalking charge also carries a maximum sentence of five years.
If convicted on every count, Shabazz faces a maximum possible sentence of 50 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation‘s Philadelphia Field Office and South Jersey Resident Agency with assistance from the West Deptford Police Department.
Federal prosecutors emphasized that the indictment contains allegations only, and Shabazz is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
What charges is Jarvis Shabazz facing?
Shabazz was charged with eight counts of interstate threats and two counts of cyberstalking in a federal indictment filed in New Jersey.
What do prosecutors allege?
Federal prosecutors allege Shabazz repeatedly threatened to kill two victims in New Jersey and Pennsylvania through graphic voicemails and text messages over approximately 15 months.
What sentence could he receive?
If convicted on all counts, Shabazz faces a maximum possible sentence of 50 years in federal prison. Any sentence would ultimately be determined by a federal judge.
Sources: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, West Deptford Police Department
- OCVTS Appoints Accused Former Superintendent’s Son-in-Law to Take Over District Plagued by Criminal Student Sexual Abuse
TOMS RIVER, N.J. — Just weeks after multiple civil lawsuits accused former Ocean County Vocational Technical Schools Superintendent Karen Homiek and other administrators of failing to protect students from sexual abuse, the OCVTS Board of Education voted to appoint her son-in-law, Gary McDonald, as the district’s new superintendent.
Those lawsuits came after two of the school’s former educators were arrested and charged with sexual assaults involving students.
The appointment comes during one of the most turbulent periods in OCVTS history. Two former Performing Arts Academy teachers have already pleaded guilty in separate criminal cases involving sexual relationships with students, while former students, employees and whistleblowers now allege administrators ignored warnings, retaliated against those who spoke out and allowed misconduct to continue for years. Those allegations remain pending in civil litigation and have not been adjudicated.
Three lawsuits have been filed. More are expected as former students are emerging with their stories. The Ocean County Board of Commissioners have requested the district perform an investigation, but victims and whisteblowers are saying it’s not enough.
They want to see the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office involved. So far, both agencies have been implicated by whistleblowers and victims for also turning a blind eye as the case involves political power brokers in Ocean County, pay-to-play law firms, and high-profile politicos on both sides of the political aisle.
McDonald’s appointment means leadership of one of New Jersey’s largest vocational school districts will remain within the same extended family that oversaw the district during the years now under intense public and legal scrutiny. McDonald’s wife is Jody Homiek McDonald, daughter of the former superintendent at the center of the alleged cover-up and investigations.
- Gary McDonald has been appointed superintendent of OCVTS.
- McDonald is the verified son-in-law of former Superintendent Karen Homiek.
- Homiek retired in June after nearly 30 years with the district.
- Two former Performing Arts Academy teachers previously pleaded guilty in separate criminal cases involving students.
- Multiple civil lawsuits allege administrators failed to respond appropriately to reports of abuse and retaliated against whistleblowers. Those allegations remain pending.
- Ocean County Commissioners have called for an independent third-party investigation into OCVTS.
Leadership transition comes during unprecedented legal scrutiny
Homiek’s retirement closed a career spanning nearly three decades with OCVTS. Before becoming superintendent in 2019, she served for years as principal of the Performing Arts Academy, one of the district’s signature programs. That is where the confirmed and other alleged sexual assaults by teachers occurred.
Her retirement, however, coincided with a rapidly expanding legal crisis. She retired in June after a whistleblower lawsuit filed by retired New Jersey State Trooper and former teacher Robert Yaiser. It was also known at the time that former students would soon file lawsuits against Homiek and the district.
Multiple civil lawsuits filed this summer allege administrators created or tolerated an environment in which reports of inappropriate conduct involving teachers and students were ignored, minimized or concealed. Homiek is named as a defendant in those lawsuits, which accuse district leadership of failing to adequately respond to complaints and retaliating against individuals who raised concerns.
Homiek has not been criminally charged, and the allegations against her remain unproven. It is now up to her son-in-law, McDonald to oversee an independent investigation into her actions.
Criminal cases preceded civil litigation
The controversy surrounding OCVTS did not begin with the recent lawsuits.
Former Performing Arts Academy teacher Zachary Slater was arrested in 2022 and later pleaded guilty in connection with sexual conduct involving a student under his supervision. He forfeited his teaching credentials and is required to register as a sex offender.
Former teacher Douglas Bollinger was arrested in 2024 after prosecutors alleged he engaged in criminal sexual conduct involving a student. Bollinger later pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child, received parole supervision for life, forfeited his teaching certificates, must register under Megan’s Law and is permanently barred from public employment.
Those criminal cases have become central to the broader civil litigation now confronting OCVTS.
The lawsuits contend the district’s institutional failures extended beyond the actions of individual teachers, alleging administrators failed to properly respond to warning signs and complaints. Those claims remain allegations that have not been resolved in court.
Lawsuits paint broader picture of institutional failures
The civil litigation now pending against OCVTS reaches far beyond the conduct of Slater and Bollinger.
Former students allege a longstanding culture in which inappropriate relationships between staff and students were overlooked, complaints were discouraged and whistleblowers faced retaliation.
One lawsuit alleges the problems date back decades and identifies multiple incidents that plaintiffs argue should have prompted stronger intervention by school leadership.
The complaints name OCVTS, Homiek and other current or former administrators as defendants.
Those defendants have not been found liable, and the litigation remains pending.
The lawsuits seek damages while asking the courts to determine whether district officials breached duties owed to students.
Whistleblower allegations continue to expand
Former OCVTS instructor Robert Yaiser has become one of the most visible critics of district leadership.
Yaiser filed a whistleblower lawsuit under New Jersey’s Conscientious Employee Protection Act, alleging he suffered retaliation after raising concerns involving student safety and district administration.
His lawsuit names OCVTS, its Board of Education and several current and former administrators.
Yaiser has repeatedly argued that employees who attempted to report misconduct faced retaliation rather than support. Yaiser also accuses Homiek of allowing the conduct to go unreported, even claiming that she and county leadership took punitive action against anyone who spoke out about the alleged student-teacher sexual assaults, bullying, and harassment during her tenure.
Those allegations remain contested and have not been proven in court.
Last week, several people involved in the matter told Shore News Network they had been contacted by FBI investigators. The FBI did not confirm the presence of an investigation when asked by Shore News Network.
Additional records sought through public-records requests by Sean Nelson Boero have focused attention on whether county officials received warnings years before the criminal prosecutions became public.
Boero has argued those records raise questions about what officials knew and what actions, if any, followed.
Whistleblowers have supplied Shore News Network with a trove of audio recordings, emails, texts and photos confirming their allegations.
Other officials who were notified through the years include the Office the Attorney General, Ocean County Commissioners, the FBI, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer, the Toms River Police Department, and Congressmen Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew.
Van Drew’s office told the whistleblowers that an investigation was out of their jurisdiction and that they could not use their influence to push law enforcement to conduct an investigation. Both are Republicans. Republicans control the OCVTS board, and Ocean County Board of Commissioners.
Commissioners demand independent investigation
The growing controversy has expanded beyond the courthouse.
The Ocean County Board of Commissioners has publicly called for an independent third-party investigation into OCVTS and the district’s handling of past allegations involving student safety. That effort was spearheaded by Commissioner Director Frank Sadeghi.
Commissioners have said the public deserves confidence that concerns were handled appropriately and that any institutional failures are fully examined. However, the decision on whether to investigate now lies with MacDonald, the son-in-law of the former superintendent at the center of the investigation.
That request came as additional lawsuits continued to be filed and public scrutiny intensified, and other news agencies began reporting after the story was first reported by Shore News Network in June.
One prominent Toms River law firm and its principal, Robert C. Shea, are also at the center of the investigation. Yaiser claims the school district leaned on Shea’s legal expertise to help them navigate troubled waters over the past few years, even accusing Shea of assisting in the cover-up.
Separately, Shore News Network has previously reported that sources familiar with the matter said the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office was reviewing allegations related to the district’s handling of abuse complaints. The Attorney General’s Office has not publicly confirmed such an investigation.
Questions surround succession planning
Against that backdrop, the appointment of McDonald raises governance questions that are likely to receive public attention.
Although family relationships do not by themselves establish wrongdoing or disqualify someone from public employment, governance experts often emphasize that public confidence depends upon transparent hiring processes, particularly when agencies are facing litigation involving prior leadership.
The board has publicly selected McDonald to lead the district through one of the most challenging periods in its history.
Whether the board considered outside candidates, how finalists were evaluated and why McDonald was selected are questions likely to be raised by members of the public given the district’s ongoing legal challenges.
The board’s vote places McDonald in charge of rebuilding confidence among students, parents, faculty and taxpayers while defending the district against multiple lawsuits.
District faces long road ahead
Regardless of the outcome of the pending litigation, OCVTS faces years of legal, financial and reputational challenges. The criminal convictions of two former teachers fundamentally changed public perception of the Performing Arts Academy.
Now the courts must determine whether the broader allegations against district leadership have legal merit.
At the same time, district leaders must restore confidence that student safety systems are effective and that complaints are handled appropriately.
McDonald now inherits responsibility for leading those efforts while simultaneously guiding one of New Jersey’s largest vocational school districts.
How the new administration responds to ongoing litigation, whistleblower claims and calls for independent oversight will likely shape OCVTS for years to come.
- Who is the new OCVTS superintendent?
- Gary McDonald was appointed superintendent by the OCVTS Board of Education.
- What is his relationship to Karen Homiek?
- McDonald is Karen Homiek’s son-in-law.
- Why is OCVTS under scrutiny?
- The district faces multiple civil lawsuits alleging administrators failed to appropriately respond to reports of sexual misconduct involving students. Those allegations remain pending.
- Were any teachers criminally convicted?
- Yes. Former teachers Zachary Slater and Douglas Bollinger each pleaded guilty in separate criminal cases involving students.
- Has Karen Homiek been criminally charged?
- No. She is a defendant in pending civil litigation but has not been criminally charged.
- Has an independent investigation been requested?
- Yes. The Ocean County Board of Commissioners has publicly called for an independent third-party investigation.
Sources: Ocean County Commissioners, OCVTS, Toms River Police Department OPRA, Opramachine, Robert Yaiser, Commissioner Frank Sadeghi, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Ocean County Jail Records
- Newark Police Seek Public’s Help Identifying Suspect Accused of Flower Pot Assault
NEWARK, N.J. — The Newark Police Division is asking for the public’s help identifying a suspect wanted in connection with an aggravated assault that left a man injured inside an apartment building earlier this month.
According to the Newark Department of Public Safety, the attack occurred at approximately 9:47 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1, inside the lobby of an apartment building in the 500 block of Kenneth A. Gibson Boulevard.
Police said the suspect entered the building through a rear entrance before being questioned by the building’s concierge. Authorities said the suspect became agitated during the encounter, picked up a flower pot and threatened to throw it at the victim.
- Newark police are seeking help identifying a suspect wanted for aggravated assault.
- The incident happened Aug. 1 in the lobby of an apartment building on Kenneth A. Gibson Boulevard.
- Police said the suspect struck the victim in the face with a flower pot.
- The victim suffered a chin laceration and a broken tooth.
- Surveillance video and photographs have been released.
- Anonymous tips may qualify for a reward through Crime Stoppers.
Engineer attempted to calm suspect
Police said a second employee, identified as the building’s engineer, attempted to de-escalate the situation, but the suspect allegedly refused to calm down.
Investigators said surveillance video captured the suspect striking the victim in the face with the flower pot before fleeing the building.
The victim was transported to University Hospital for treatment of a laceration to his chin and a broken tooth.
Police ask public for assistance
Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda Sr. is urging anyone who recognizes the suspect or has information about the assault to contact the Police Division’s 24-hour Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477).
Anonymous tips may also be submitted through the Newark Police Division website. Authorities said all Crime Stoppers tips remain confidential and may be eligible for a reward.
- When did the assault occur?
- Police said the incident happened at approximately 9:47 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1.
- Where did the assault happen?
- Inside the lobby of an apartment building in the 500 block of Kenneth A. Gibson Boulevard in Newark.
- What injuries did the victim suffer?
- Authorities said the victim sustained a laceration to the chin and a broken tooth.
- Has anyone been arrested?
- No. Police are seeking the public’s help identifying the suspect.
Sources: Newark Department of Public Safety, Newark Police Division
- 19-year-old and 15-year-old arrested in stolen car amid Clarksburg crime spike
Montgomery County police say weeks-long investigation led officers to the two teens
CLARKSBURG, MD – A 19-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy were arrested after Montgomery County police spotted them in a stolen car Monday, a break that came after several weeks of investigating an increase in crime across the Clarksburg area.
Police identified the adult suspect as Antonio Diggs, 19. The 15-year-old was not identified because he is a juvenile.
Photo: police in south jersey to enforce seat belt use in "click it or ticket" campaign Detectives and officers assigned to the Montgomery County Police Department’s 5th District had been working together for several weeks to investigate the increase in crime and identify those responsible.
Police did not specify the types of crimes involved in that broader investigation or say whether Diggs and the juvenile have been linked to any additional incidents.
Officers spot stolen car
The investigation led to Monday’s arrests after officers observed Diggs and the 15-year-old inside a stolen vehicle, according to police.
Both were subsequently taken into custody.
After the arrests, officers discovered that the 15-year-old was also in possession of stolen property, police said. The department did not identify that property or disclose where it was allegedly stolen.
Diggs and the juvenile were both charged with motor vehicle theft-related offenses.
Police did not provide a complete list of charges or additional information about the stolen vehicle.
The allegations are accusations. Diggs and the juvenile are presumed innocent unless proven guilty or adjudicated delinquent.
Key Points
- Antonio Diggs, 19, and a 15-year-old boy were arrested after Montgomery County police said officers spotted them in a stolen car.
- Police said the arrests followed several weeks of work investigating an increase in crime in the Clarksburg area.
- Officers said the 15-year-old was also found with stolen property after his arrest.
- Lakewood Traffic Stop Leads to Drug Bust
LAKEWOOD, N.J. — What began as a motorist assist for a disabled vehicle ended with a narcotics arrest early Saturday morning in Lakewood, according to police.
At approximately 1:58 a.m. on Aug. 15, a Lakewood police officer patrolling the area of Ridge Avenue and Lanes Mill Road observed a disabled vehicle with a flat tire and stopped to investigate.
The driver was identified as 42-year-old Ryan Laudisi of Brick Township. During the encounter, the officer determined Laudisi had an outstanding warrant from Ocean County. Police said the subsequent investigation led to the recovery of suspected crack cocaine and cocaine from inside the vehicle.
- A Lakewood officer encountered a disabled vehicle with a flat tire during a routine patrol.
- The incident occurred around 1:58 a.m. on Aug. 15 near Ridge Avenue and Lanes Mill Road.
- Police identified the driver as Ryan Laudisi, 42, of Brick Township.
- Officers determined Laudisi had an outstanding Ocean County warrant.
- Police recovered suspected crack cocaine and cocaine from the vehicle.
- Laudisi was charged with two counts of Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance.
Routine patrol leads to arrest
Laudisi was arrested and charged with two counts of Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance.
Following his arrest, he was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he remained pending a future court appearance.
Lakewood Police Chief Gregory H. Meyer said the case illustrates the value of proactive patrol work.
“This arrest demonstrates how proactive policing and attention to detail can turn an ordinary encounter into a meaningful enforcement action,” Meyer said. “We remain committed to keeping illegal drugs off our streets and protecting our community.”
Authorities did not disclose the quantity of narcotics allegedly recovered or whether additional charges could be filed.
- Where did the arrest occur?
- Near Ridge Avenue and Lanes Mill Road in Lakewood.
- Why did the officer stop?
- The officer observed a disabled vehicle with a flat tire during a routine patrol.
- What charges were filed?
- Two counts of Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance.
- Where was the suspect taken?
- The Ocean County Jail pending a future court appearance.
Sources: Lakewood Police Department
