Category Archives: Police and Fire

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News, Rumson Police and Fire Files

Sea Bright: Cat Gains One of Nine Lives After Fire Rescue

Sea Bright firefighters, joined by their brothers from the greater Rumson-Fair Haven area extinguished a fire in the borough this morning and gave a pet owner some good news with the rescue and resuscitation of Felix the cat.

Yes, Felix the cat, like the iconic cartoon. After Sea Bright stations 43 and 44 responded to a structure fire at a town house in Sea Bright Village early this morning, a Rumson firefighter found Felix “unresponsive in the third floor bedroom,” a Facebook post by Sea Bright Fire Rescue said.

“Felix the cat was removed from the house and turned over to Firefighter Joe Eskridge and FF/EMT Dan Drogin who, utilizing the new pet O2 masks that were recently donated, performed numerous rounds of pet CPR which resulted in a successful resuscitation.”

Sea Bright firefighters thanked the responding companies for their assistance with the the morning blaze: Rumson and Fair Haven fire departments, Monmouth Beach Fire Company, Little Silver Fire Department and Community Fire Company.

The fire is currently under investigation by the Sea Bright Fire Marshal’s Office, the post said.

Fair Haven Police and Fire Files, News

Young Fair Haven Firefighter Faces Aggravated Arson Charge

A young Fair Haven volunteer firefighter was arrested on Saturday and could face up to 10 years in prison on a charge in connection with a Friday arson in the borough in which he serves after also responding as a firefighter to extinguish the blaze, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni announced in a released statement.

Nicholas Joyce, 19, of Fair Haven, also a former boy scout in the borough, was arrested on one count of second-degree aggravated arson after he allegedly set fire to a storage shed on Friday afternoon on the property of the United Methodist Church at 300 Ridge Road, the release said.

The Fair Haven Fire Department, Joyce included, responded on Friday, April 1, at 4:28 p.m., to a report of a fire in the back of the church property at a storage shed belonging to a local scout troop, the release added. Responding firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, which was contained to the exterior of the shed.

A joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and Fair Haven Police Department resulted in Joyce’s arrest the next day, Saturday. The investigation revealed that Joyce had allegedly set fire to the shed, returned to the fire house and then responded to the scene with other firefighters when the fire was reported, according to the Prosecutor.

Joyce was released from custody after posting $5,000 bail with a 10 percent option, set by Municipal Court Judge James Berube.
If convicted of Aggravated Arson, Joyce faces up to ten years in a New Jersey state prison, subject to the No Early Release Act (N.E.R.A.), requiring that he serve 85 percent of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

The case has been assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Decker.

 

Rumson Police and Fire Files

Rumson Police: Meet IRS Phone Scams with a Hang-Up


 

It’s tax season. Did you know that “Americans have lost more than $23 million by giving information” over the telephone to fraudsters posing as IRS agents?

Well, they have, according to U.S. Department of Treasury Inspector General Timothy Camus. And the problem is a pervasive one that has hit the Rumson-Fair Haven area, according to Rumson police in an advisory Facebook post.

In light of the season and a few reports of such attempted scamming in Rumson, police are advising people to be on the alert for these IRS phone scammers.

Three Rumson residents reported getting scam calls from people posing as IRS agents and delving into their personal information to perpetuate fraud.

So, Rumson police shared the above video from Camus to offer tips on how to recognize a fraudster and deal with him or her.

These fraudsters tend to be very aggressive in trying to obtain personal information to bilk people of personal funds and access their bank/credit accounts and other material assets, according to Camus.

The IRS, he says, will always make first make initial contact via mail (paper), never telephone. The scammers have a habit of being extremely aggressive and may even threaten police action or deportation, according to Camus. The IRS will not threaten force, he said.

Just hang up, Camus advised.

Fair Haven Police and Fire Files, Police and Fire

Police: Fair Haven Man Charged in Graffiti Spree

A young Fair Haven man has been arrested on charges stemming from a graffiti vandalism spree in the area.

Joseph D. Horner, 21, was arrested on Jan. 15 and charged with six counts of criminal mischief after an investigation by Fair Haven Police Detective Stephen Schneider

The incidents, according to police, spanned from Jan. 3 to 15 when police got reports of vandalism to six locations in the borough, police said.

Places vandalized were: Two Rivers Water Reclamation Authority (TRWRA), Raven and the Peach restaurant on River Road, a Red Bank Recycling dumpster on Church Street, a Verizon box on Fair Haven Road, Fair Haven Borough Hall and a TRWRA substation on Fair Haven Road.

Red Bank recycling dumpster on Church St., TRWRA substation on Fair Haven Rd, Verizon box on Fair Haven Rd.

Horner was issued a summons pending a Fair Haven Municipal Court appearance.