Category Archives: Police and Fire

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News, Police and Fire

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

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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.

Crime, Police and Fire

Arresting News: Heroin Possession, Vehicular Assault, DWIs, Stalking & More

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The following recent arrests were reported by the Middletown police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.

• Matthew Carscadden, 35, of Windswept Road in Holmdel, was arrested on April 6 by Patrolman Thomas Foster and charged with  DWI (driving while intoxicated) and leaving the scene of an accident with injuries.

He was held on $5,000 bail, set by Judge Richard Thompson.

• Robert Kolb, 47, of Route 36 in the Port Monmouth section of Middletown, was arrested on April 7 by Cpl. James Keenan and charged with simple assault.

He was held on $2,500 bail.

• On April 7, Cpl. James Keenan arrested a 15-year-old female juvenile and charged her with obstructing the administration of law.

She was released pending a court date.

Continue reading Arresting News: Heroin Possession, Vehicular Assault, DWIs, Stalking & More →

Police and Fire, Rumson Police and Fire Files

Fire: Rumson VNA Show House Up in Smoke

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The historic Rumson mansion known as Blithewald was all set for a Saturday Gatsby-themed gala to kick-off its month-long feature as the Visiting Nurse Association’s (VNA) fifth Stately Homes by-the-Sea Designer Show House — until a fire ravaged it.

The 19th century home to the Widener family, at 76 Buena Vista Ave., went up in flames on the upper floors and roof area at about 12:55 p.m., according to first responders at the scene.

As of 3:45 p.m., firefighters from several surrounding towns and beyond — Rumson, Fair Haven, Middletown, Red Bank, Little Silver, Sea Bright, Highlands, Atlantic Highlands, Shrewsbury and Asbury Park — were still arriving at what was still considered an active fire.

Smoke could still be seen billowing from the roof and upstairs. And firefighters were still on the scene at about 7 p.m.

There were no reported injuries, authorities said.

Fair Haven Fire Department thanked Tinton Falls Fire Co. No. 1 for covering Fair Haven while its firemen assisted at the Rumson fire.

The VNA released the following statement in the late afternoon:

Today, Blithewald, the house that designers, staff and volunteers have been preparing for the fifth edition of the Stately Homes by-the-Sea Designer Show House event to benefit VNA Health Group, caught fire and sustained heavy damage. The cause is unknown and we thankfully have heard of no injuries to anyone at this point.

We are tremendously grateful to the first responders and to our staff members and volunteers who were on the scene to respond to the emergency.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the first responders and the homeowners as they assess the damage.

Blithewald, a historic treasure from the Gilded Age, was the setting for the fifth edition of the Stately Homes by-the-Sea Designer Show House. Proceeds of tours and the Preview Gala were to benefit VNA Health Group.

We will provide updates about the Stately Homes-by-the-Sea Preview Gala that was scheduled for Saturday, April 25th and the opening of the Show House tours, which were scheduled to begin on April 28, 2015 as information becomes available.

This is a breaking news story. Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect will add information as it becomes available. 

 — Elaine Van Develde

Crime, Police and Fire

Police: DWI, Mischief & Missing Meds

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The following recent arrest and incidents were reported by Red Bank police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.

Arrest

• Linda Vicinio, 50, of Freehold, was arrested on April 11 in the area of Hudson Avenue and charged with DWI (driving while intoxicated) by Patrolman Stanley Balmer.

Incidents

• The theft of medication was reported on April 14 to have occurred sometime between April 3 (when the medication was last seen) and 14.

Patrolman Tanner Shea took the report.

• An incident of criminal mischief was reported to have occurred at the Morford Place parking lot on April 11. The victims reported that an unknown person or persons scratched a parked vehicle around its entire length.

Patrolman Jorge Torres took the report.

 

Crime, Police and Fire

Police: Bread Thief at Large

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

• An April 4 theft from a Broad Street restaurant was reported on April 8. The victim reported that someone stole her wallet, containing, cash and credit cards, from her purse while at the establishment.

Sgt. Joey Fields took the report.

• A recurring theft at a Maple Avenue delicatessen was reported on April 6. The owner reported that in the past two weeks an unknown person or persons in a white van has pulled up to the deli between the hours of 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. and stolen bread from the bread box outside of the restaurant. The incidents were captured on video tape.

Patrolman Ashon Lovick took the report.

Continue reading Police: Bread Thief at Large →

Police and Fire

Police: Several Locals Arrested on DWI, Drug Charges & More

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

• John Corley, 36, of Holmdel, was arrested on April 8 in the area of Broad Street and charged with DWI (driving while intoxicated) by Lt. Errico Vescio.

• Daniel Giammarino, 23, of Middletown, was arrested on April 7 in the area of Broad Street and charged with possession of a CDS, anabolic steroids, possession of a hypodermic syringe, and possession prescription legend drugs by Patrolman Benjamin Springer.

• William Faherty, 55, of Little Silver, was arrested on April 5 in the area of Spring Street and charged with DWI (driving while intoxicated) by Patrolman John Camarca.

• Craig Gangi, 46, of Rumson, was arrested on April 5 in the area of E. Front Street and charged with DWI (driving while intoxicated) by Patrolman Kristin Altimari.

• Anthony Carrozza, 36, of Red Bank, was arrested on April 5 in the area of Spring Street and charged with DWI (driving while intoxicated) by Patrolman Nicholas Maletto.

• Robert Blazer, 24, of Holmdel, was arrested on April 4 in the area of West Front Street and charged with simple assault by Patrolman John Camarca.

• Ketti Pecyna, 20, of the Belford section of Middletown, was arrested on April 7 in the area of Broad Street and charged with possession of a CDS, under 50 grams of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia by Patrolman Benjamin Springer.

• Jasper Tyler, 28, of Neptune, was arrested on April 6 in the area of Herbert Street and charged with possession of a CDS, under 50 grams of marijuana, and contempt of court by Patrolman Shane Dengel.

• Jose Lemus-Martinez, 19, of Red Bank, was arrested on April 6 in the area of Shrewsbury Avenue and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest by Sgt. Joey Fields.

Police and Fire, Rumson Police and Fire Files

Rumson Police Report Burglary, Theft, Vandalism, Assault & More

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

Incidents

• On March 24, Special Officer Berger took a report of an altercation between juveniles at a Rumson Road address.

• There was a report on March 1 of vandalism to a mailbox at a home on Edwards Point Road.

Special Officer Class II Morse took the report.

• There was a report on March 1 of vandalism to a vehicle on Holly Street. The caller reported that the spark plugs of the vehicle were loosened.

Special Officer Class II Morse took the report.

• There was a report on March 2 of harassing phone calls being made to a West River Road business.

Patrolman Ciambrone took the report.

• An attempted wire fraud was reported on March 5 by an Edwards Point Road resident.

Patrolman Gaynor took the report.

• There was a report on March 16 of a stolen license plate from a Wardell Avenue resident.

Special Officer Class II McCurdy took the report.

• A theft of jewelry and tools was reported by a Park Avenue resident on March 17.

Patrolman Torres took the report which was turned over to Detective Christopher Isherwood for investigation.

Arrests

• Nicholas Aarseth, 24, of Sea Bright, was arrested by Patrolman Torres on March 13 and charged with DWI (driving while intoxicated).

Aarseth was released pending court.

• Robert Toros, 36, of Philadelphia, PA, was arrested by Special Officer Class II Morse on March 22 and charged with simple assault.

Toros was released pending a court date. Patrolmen Gaynor and Ciambrone assisted in the arrest.

• Robert Toros, 36, of Philadelphia, PA was arrested on March 22 by Special Officer Class II Morse on a contempt of court charge.

Toros was transported to Monmouth County Correctional Institution. Patrolman Campanella assisted.

• Christopher McKnight, 28, of the Lincroft section of Middletown, was arrested by Special Officer Berger on March 24 on a contempt of court charge.

McKnight posted bail and was released. Lt. York assisted.

• Theresa McGroarty, 24, of Oceanport, was arrested on March 24 by Detective Christopher Isherwood and charged with receiving stolen property.

McGroarty was released on a summons pending court.

• Michael Carter, 23, of Sea Bright, was arrested on March 31 by Detective Christopher Isherwood and charged with receiving stolen property.

Carter was released on a summons pending court.

• Paul Procopio, 27, of Eatontown, was arrested on March 31 by Detective Christopher Isherwood and charged with burglary, theft and receiving stolen property.

 

Police and Fire

Police: $1.2K Worth of Merchandise Stolen & More

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The following recent criminal incidents and arrest were reported by the Shrewsbury police:

Incidents

• A shoplifting of $1,176 worth of merchandise from Anthropologie on Broad Street was reported on March 29.

Patrolman Tracy Polk is investigating.

• A shoplifting of $439. 80 worth of merchandise from Staples on Broad Street was reported on March 31.

Patrolman Ralph Latham is investigating.

Arrest

• Jay D. Patten, 35. of Red Bank, was arrested on April 2 in the area of Sycamore Avenue and charged with theft, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, paraphernalia and a hypodermic needle by Patrolman Tracy Polk.

Crime, Fair Haven Police and Fire Files, Police and Fire

Fair Haven Police: Borough Business Burglar Nabbed, Connected to String of 30

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A Freehold Borough man linked to a Fair Haven business burglary/theft has been linked to a string of more than 30 similar cases spanning Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex counties and is being held at Monmouth County Correctional Institution on $113,000 bail.

Isiah Casrell, 28,  was arrested along with an alleged co-conspirator, Rachael Lovely, 33, of Newark, at 1:30 a.m. on April 5 in Holmdel, police said. The two were allegedly leaving the scene of a commercial burglary there when they “were spotted and stopped on State Route 34 in the area of the border of Aberdeen Township and Marlboro Township by Marlboro Township Police Officer Johnathan Gramcko,” a release said.

The Holmdel burglary was found, by a multi-jurisdictional police task force, to allegedly be one of more than 30 that occurred in the three-county span in the past few months.

Fair Haven Police Detective Stephen Schneider, a member of the task force, said he signed specific complaints against Casrell in connection with the March 19 burglary of Distinctive Toys, 595 River Road.

As a result, Casrell was charged by Fair Haven police alone with: criminal mischief, burglary and theft of movable property. His bail on the Fair Haven charges alone was set at $30,000 with no 10 percent option, set by Judge James M. Newman, according to police.

In addition to the Fair Haven burglary/theft, Casrell, Schneider said in a release, “was responsible for committing numerous commercial burglaries in the following jurisdictions: Marlboro, Howell, Aberdeen, Colts Neck, Holmdel, Ocean Township, Plumsted Township, Old Bridge, Berkeley, Upper Freehold Township, Manalapan and Shrewsbury Borough.”

Concerning the alleged burglaries throughout the three counties committed by Casrell and Lovely, detectives from Monmouth County’s Marlboro, Howell and Holmdel Township police departments charged the two with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of burglary tools, theft, burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary and criminal mischief.

 

Police and Fire

Arresting News Nearby: Contempt

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The following arrests were recently made by Middletown police on contempt of court charges and violations of court orders: 

• Peter Dickson, 20, of Hartshorne Road in the Locust section of Middletown, was arrested on March 24 by Patrolman Adam Vendetti on contempt of court warrants issued by the Middletown and Holmdel municipal courts.

He was released after posting $1,500 bail.

• Darren Mensch, 38, of Schelly Drive in Middletown, was arrested on March 24 by Detective Daniel Sullivan for shoplifting and on a contempt of court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal Court.

He was held on $5,500 bail, set by Judge Richard Thompson.

Continue reading Arresting News Nearby: Contempt →

News, Police and Fire

Caution: Lights Out in Fair Haven

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Fair Haven firemen and fire police stationed at Smith Street and River Road man and block off the street Wednesday night. Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Fair Haven firemen and fire police stationed at Smith Street and River Road man and block off the street Wednesday night.
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

If you live in the area of River Road, between Hance and Smith Street, in Fair Haven you may have heard a boom and been without electricity for a short period of time or longer around 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

While Fair Haven Fire Police were too busy redirecting traffic to provide an answer, a drive to the area would show that that block-long stretch of River Road was cordoned off, fire trucks, an ambulance and utility trucks were out.

No one has confirmed exactly what the issue was, but, with the presence of utility trucks and the outage, it seemed to be a power issue that was being tended to.

As of 7:45 p.m., the road was still blocked.

This post will be updated when more information becomes available.

Crime, Police and Fire

Police: Alleged Heroin Dealers Busted

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The following arrests that occurred between March 20 and April 7 were reported by Middletown police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.

• Andrew Gill, 21, of Willis Avenue in Keansburg , was arrested on March 24 by Detective Keith Hirschbein and charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with the intent to distribute, possession of heroin within 500 feet of a public park, unlawful possession of suboxone, possession of a hypodermic syringe, possession of drug paraphernalia and on a contempt of court warrant issued by the Oceanport Municipal Court and a violation of probation warrant issued by the Monmouth County Superior Court.

He was held pending a court date.

• Christopher Gill, 23, of Mercer Avenue in Hazlet, was arrested on March 24 by Detective Keith Hirschbein and charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with the intent to distribute, possession of heroin with the intent to distribute within 500 feet of a public park, unlawful possession of suboxone, possession of a hypodermic syringe and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was held on $75,000 bail, set by Judge Richard Thompson.

Continue reading Police: Alleged Heroin Dealers Busted →