Category Archives: Police and Fire

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Crime, Police and Fire, Rumson Police and Fire Files

Rumson Police Beat: Teen Party, Tax Fraud, DUI, Theft, Burglary

May 6, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

The following recent criminal incidents and arrests were reported by Rumson police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.

• A Bingham Avenue resident reported on April 9 a fraudulent tax return filed with her personal information.

The incident will be forwarded to the I.R.S. fraud department.

Sgt. Koenig took the report.

• A Lafayette Street resident reported on April 12 that his vehicle was vandalized by numerous eggs being thrown at it sometime during the night.

Patrolman Bryan Dougherty took the report.

• A West River Road resident reported on April 14 that there was a burglary at their home. Bicycles and surfboards were removed from the garage.

Patrolman Gaynor took the report.

• A Rumson Road resident reported on April 16 that a fraudulent tax return had been filed with her personal information. The incident will be forwarded to the I.R.S. fraud department.

Patrolman Lovgren took the report.

• A Little Silver resident reported on April 16 that her purse was stolen from her vehicle while at Meadowridge Park. A credit card was subsequently used at a store in Middletown.

Detective Christopher Isherwood investigated.

• Lea Brantly, 30, of Rumson, was arrested on April 18 on Hartshorne Lane and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) by Patrolman Campanella.

Brantly was released pending a municipal court date.

• A Bingham Hill Circle resident reported a burglary at her home. Entry was gained by breaking a door window. The resident reported jewelry missing.

Sgt. Koenig and Special Officer Leahy took the report. The incident was referred to the detectives.

• A Mays Landing resident reported on April 21 that his cement mixer was stolen from a construction site on Shrewsbury Avenue.

Patrolman Schneider took the report.

• Carl Bergen, 53, of Red Bank, was arrested on April 21 at headquarters on charges of numerous counts of burglary, theft and credit card fraud by Detective Christopher Isherwood.

Bergen was released pending court.

• Headquarters received a report on April 25 of a large party at a Clover Lane address with possible underage alcohol consumption. Patrolmen Fenn and Dougherty responded and were assisted by officers from Sea Bright, Fair Haven and Little Silver.

Patrolman Bryan Dougherty took the report.

Contempt of court

• Paul Dougherty, 50, of Belmar, was arrested April 3 on West River Road on a contempt of court charge by Ptl. Lovgren.

Dougherty was released to Belmar Police.
• Victoria Hayes, 41, of Union Beach, was arrested April 6 on Bingham Avenue on a contempt of court charge by Special Officer Berger.

Hayes was released after posting $350 bail.

• Trevor Eyerkuss, 25, of Little Silver, was arrested on April 20 at headquarters on a contempt of court charge by Special Officer Morse.

Eyerkuss was released after posting $300 bail.

* Contempt of court arrests with a bail of less than $200 have not been included.

Crime, Police and Fire

Arresting News: Prostitution, Cocaine, Marijuana Possession, Dealing & More

May 4, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

The following recent arrests were made by Red Bank police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.

• Esperanza Avendano-Morales, 47, of Freehold, was arrested on April 28 in the area of Shrewsbury Avenue and charged with engaging in prostitution and contempt of court.

Patrolman Sean Hauschildt made the arrest.

• Edwin Ventura-Egochega, 41, of Staten Island, NY, was arrested on April 28 in the area of Locust Avenue and charged with promoting prostitution and contempt of court.

Patrolman Jhonatan Quispe made the arrest.

• Oscar Ciriaco-Molina, 27, of Red Bank, was arrested on April 30 in the area of Monmouth Street and charged with hindering apprehension and contempt of court.

Lt. Errico Vescio made the arrest.

• Alfredo Hernandez-Codero, 38, of Red Bank, was arrested on April 26 in the area of Shrewsbury Avenue and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest by Patrolman Cevin Albert.

• Veirick Kirlew, 26, of Red Bank, was arrested on April 24 in the area of Newman Springs Road and charged with possession of a CDS, Ecstasy, possession of under 50 grams of marijuana and possession of a CDS with intent to distribute by Patrolman Benjamin Springer.

• Pepita Gadson, 22, of Red Bank, was arrested on April 23 in the area of Montgomery Terrace and charged with terroristic threats by Patrolman Jhonatan Quispe.

• Zachary Roslin, 23, of West Palm Beach, FL, was arrested on April 23 in the area of Bridge Avenue and charged with possession of a CDS (cocaine), and possession of of under 50 grams of marijuana by Patrolman Sean Hauschildt.

• Alvin Ross, 25, of Eatontown, was arrested on April 25 in the area on Monmouth Street on a contempt of court charge by Patrolman Gary Watson.

• Maximo Sanchez-Gonzales, 18, of Red Bank, was arrested on April 29 in the area of Bridge Avenue on a contempt of court charge by Patrolman Shane Dengel.

• Leanni Munoz, 28, of Red Bank, was arrested on April 29 in the area of Monmouth Street on a contempt of court charge by Sgt. Juan Sardo.

Crime, Police and Fire

Police: Patient Flees Hospital with Heart Monitor in Tow

May 1, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

The following recent criminal incidents were reported by Red Bank police:

• An incident of criminal mischief — air let out of tires on a parked vehicle Montgomery Terrace — was reported on April 24.

Patrolman Michael Zadlock took the report.

• A theft was reported to have occurred at a Tower Hill Drive residence sometime between April 23 and 25. The victim reported that someone stole cash and a pair of gold and diamond earrings from the residence.

Patrolman Shane Dengel took the report.

• A theft was reported to have occurred at Riverview (Medical Center) Plaza on April 25. Staff of the hospital reported that a patient who left from the Emergency Room took a heart monitor, valued at $3,000, and never returned.

Patrolman Benjamin Springer took the report.

• A theft was reported to have occurred at a McLaren Street residence. The victim reported that an unknown person, within the past few weeks, stole a bicycle, circular saw and Craftsman tool box with tools in it from the garage.

Patrolman Shane Dengel took the report.

Crime, Police and Fire

Police: Local Man Arrested, on Heroin Dealing, Possession Charges; $41.5K Bail

April 29, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

An area man is being held in jail on heroin dealing and possession charges.

Ronald Scott Newell Jr., 47, of Route 36 in the Leonardo section of Middletown, was arrested on April 28, by Middletown police officers Stephen Greenwood and Thomas Hughes of the Anti Crime Unit, and charged with: possession of heroin, possession of heroin with the intent to distribute, possession of heroin within 500 feet of a public park, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a hypodermic syringe, a release from Middletown police said.

The arrest came after an investigation by Middletown police into alleged narcotics activity, police said.

Newell was transported to Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold.

Police and Fire

Arresting News: Contempt, Non-Support

April 27, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

The following arrests on contempt of court charges were reported by the Middletown police.

• Daniel Hayes, 32, of Johnson Avenue in Matawan, was arrested on April 19 by Patrolman Charles Higgins on a contempt of court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal Court and on a non-support warrant issued by the Monmouth County Superior Court.

He was held pending a court date.

• Jesse Ballard, 24, of Birchwood Lane in Middletown, was arrested on April 20 by Patrolman Jason Andrews on a contempt of court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal Court.

He was held on $258.00 bail.

• Kevin Finnegan, 54, of Walter Street in Keansburg, was arrested on April 19 by Patrolman Jason Andrews on a contempt of court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal Court.

He was held on $1,000 bail.

• Robert Difortuna, 35, of Normandy Court in Middletown, was arrested on April 20 by Patrolman John Soltysik on a contempt of court warrant issued by the West Long Branch Municipal Court.

He was released after posting $500 bail.

Stacy Milanes, 27, of South Hope Chapel Road in Jackson, was arrested on April 20 by Patrolman Ricardo Cruz on a contempt of court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal Court.

She was released after posting $250 bail.

• Jose Padro, 18, of 7th Avenue in Long Branch, was arrested on April 22 by Patrolman Joshua Midose on a contempt of court warrant issued by the Eatontown Municipal Court.

He was released after posting $200 bail.

Crime, Police and Fire

Police Report: Marijuana Possession, DWIs & More

April 27, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

The following arrests were made between April 17 and 27 and reported by the Middletown police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.

• Richard Torres, 24, of Brook Forest Drive in South Toms River, was arrested on April 19 by Patrolman Richard Belmonte and charged with possession of under 50 grams of marijuana.

He was released pending a court date.

• Ronald Ahlholm, 51, of Second Avenue in Atlantic Highlands, was arrested on April 21 by Patrolman Scott Davis and charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI).

He was released pending a court date.

Continue reading Police Report: Marijuana Possession, DWIs & More →

News, Police and Fire

Police Rescue Cat, Search for Owner

April 27, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

Cat rescued from highway median by Middletown police Photo/Middletown Police Facebook page screenshot — Cat rescued from highway median by Middletown police
Photo/Middletown Police Facebook page screenshot

A statement released by Middletown police on Saturday:

On the afternoon of Saturday April 25, a motorist reported observing that a cat had been straddling the concrete median divider in the middle of State Highway 36 for some period of time, and appeared to be clinging on for its life.

Officer Nicholas Fenezia responded to the area and located a very frightened gray tiger striped cat perched on top of the concrete barrier with cars speeding past in both directions.

Continue reading Police Rescue Cat, Search for Owner →

Crime, Police and Fire

Police: Alleged Marijuana Dealer Busted

April 24, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

An area teen is facing drug dealing and possession charges.

On April 23, Robert Fiore, 18, of Walling Street in the Belford section of Middletown, was arrested by Middletown police and charged with: possession of more than 50 grams of marijuana, possession with over 50 grams of marijuana with the intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to a release from Middletown police.

Police said that they were called to investigate an “occupied suspicious vehicle, a tan Mazda Protege, parked in the street with no license plates,” according to the release.

Upon approaching the vehicle, the officers reported that they found Fiore holding a bag of marijuana. Fiore was placed under arrest and police searched the vehicle.

As a result of the search, police said they found “a large bag containing more marijuana as well as drug paraphernalia.” In addition, the release said, they found Fiore to be in possession of $2,100 in cash.

The $2,100 was seized and the car was seized for forfeiture.

Fiore was released on his own recognizance.

Officers Michael Heaton and Richard Belmonte made the arrest.

Police and Fire

Arresting News: Contempt of Court

April 23, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

The following arrests were made recently by Red Bank police on contempt of court charges.

• Guy Abrahamsen, 34, of Brick, was arrested on April 14 by Patrolman Tanner Shea in the area of Monmouth Street on a contempt of court charge.

• James Kirgan, 55, of Keansburg, was arrested on April 14 by Patrolman David Smith in the area of Riverview Plaza on a contempt of court charge.

Continue reading Arresting News: Contempt of Court →

News, Police and Fire, Rumson Police and Fire Files

Prosecutor: Rumson Blithewald Fire an Accident

April 23, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

They weren’t able to rule out electrical malfunction as a cause of Monday’s Rumson fire, but the tri-fold investigative team has determined that, regardless, it was an accident, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office spokesman Charles Webster said.

There were “energized electric circuits or equipment” in the area of the fire’s origin, “in the area of a wall located between a guest bedroom and an en-suite bedroom, both located on the second floor” of the 19th century mansion dubbed Blithewald, a joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Monmouth County Fire Marshal and Rumson Police Department determined, Webster said.

There were no injuries sustained from the six-hour, four-alarm blaze fought by several area fire departments at the 76 Buena Vista Avenue home owned by the Widener family.

Designers had been on site putting finishing touches on the home that was to be the centerpiece of the Visiting Nurse Association’s Stately Homes by-the-Sea Designer Show House event slated to kick off on Saturday.

Police and Fire

Police Report Contempt, Probation Violation

April 22, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

The following recent arrests on contempt of court and violation of probation charges were reported by Middletown police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.

• James Georgianna, 23, of Port Monmouth Road in Middletown, was arrested on April 14 by Patrolman Stephen Greenwood of the Anti-Crime Unit on a contempt of court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal Court.

He was held on $4,416 bail.

Continue reading Police Report Contempt, Probation Violation →

News, Police and Fire

Sea Bright Fire Company’s Focus on the Rumson Blithewald Fire

Video April 22, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

The Sea Bright Fire Company has shared its view from a head cam of Monday’s Rumson fire at the Blithewald historic mansion via a post on its Facebook page.

In the post, the company’s representatives said that the release of the video on YouTube, they felt, would “not only give the public insight on what we do but will allow our brothers and sisters of the service an opportunity to better both themselves and ourselves in the future.”

No cause has been as of yet determined. The fire is under investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Rumson police and the county fire marshal.

Take a look for a glimpse into the life of a local firefighter on the job. Firefighters have asked that the public excuse their language at some points.