Rumson Police Make Several DWI Arrests

July 1, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

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

Arrests

• Special Officer Class II Morse arrested Timothy J. Hill, 40, of Little Silver, on May 3 in the area of Rumson and Seven Bridges Road in Little Silver and charged him with DWI (driving while intoxicated). Hill was released pending court.

• Special Officer Class II Morse arrested Lea C. Brantly, 30, of Rumson, on May 10 in the area of the Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge and charged her with DWI (driving while intoxicated). She was released pending court.

• Patrolman Lovgren arrested Christopher P. Merker, 23, of Atlantic Highlands, on May 13 on the Oceanic Bridge and charged him with contempt of court (COC). He was released after posting $310 bail.

• Patrolman Torres arrested Julia Concannon, 20, of Shrewsbury, on May 31 in the area of Navesink Avenue and Ridge Road and charged her with DWI (driving while intoxicated). Concannon was released pending court.

• Special Officer Class II Morse arrested Kristy Leight, 33, of Rumson, on June 14 in the area of Rumson Road and Sailor’s Way and charged her with DWI (driving while intoxicated). Leight was released pending court.

• Special Officer Class II Morse arrested Drew Flynn, 40, of Rumson, on June 18 and charged him with DWI (driving while intoxicated) and possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana. He was released pending court.

• Patrolman Lovgren arrested Robert Piwko, 38, of Jackson, on June 19 and charged him with COC (contempt of court). Piwko was released to the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Department in lieu of $29,426 bail.

• Patrolman Torres arrested Thomas Cozzens, 26, of Annandale, on June 29 and charged him with DWI (driving while intoxicated). Cozzens was released pending court.

Local Life, News

Former Fair Haven Mayor, ABC Director Joins Genova Burns Legal Firm

July 1, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

Former Fair Haven Mayor Michael Halfacre has a new job; and, there’s nothing controversial about the fact that he resigned from an appointed, high profile state position before signing on to the private sector post, he told Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect a couple of weeks ago at Fair Haven Day.

Halfacre announced he would be bowing out as director of the NJ Division of Acoholic Beverage Control (ABC) in the state Attorney General’s Office not too long before making the announcement that he had joined Genova Burns LLC law firm as a member of its Commercial Real Estate & Redevelopment and Business Law & Commercial Transactions Practice Groups effective today, July 1, a release from Genova Burns said. He will also be available for consultation to the firm’s Craft Beer, Spirits & Alcohol Law Practice Group, a new branch of the firm, it added.

The Gov. Chris Christie administration-appointed public sector job with the ABC, the lifelong Fair Havenite added, was an opportunity to serve the public that he was honored to have had. He just made a decision to move on, he said, nothing more. “It’s all good,” Halfacre said casually on the subject, before revealing his next career move.

Of his new job, he said in a released statement that he was “honored to join this prestigious law firm. I was basically a small-town attorney before joining the Attorney General’s Office (under which the ABC is run) as head of the ABC, and I am thrilled to join a firm with the prestige and regional presence of Genova Burns.”

Michael Halfacre at Fair Haven Day 2015 Photo/Elaine Van Develde — Michael Halfacre at Fair Haven Day 2015
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

Halfacre stepped as mayor of Fair Haven in his second term to accept the ABC appointment. He had been mayor since 2006. Prior to the ABC position, he worked ion the private sector as a commercial real estate attorney specializing in transactions, including sales and refinance of commercial real estate and transfers of ABC licenses, the release said.

“Michael’s experience running the ABC these past three years makes him an excellent choice to offer counsel to the firm’s newly formed Craft Beer, Spirits & Alcohol Law practice group,” said Managing Partner Brian W. Kronick. “Genova Burns occupies a niche at the nexus of business, law and government. Michael’s background, experience and knowledge of top business people around the state is a perfect fit.”

Crime, Police and Fire

Police: Several Arrested on Drug Charges, DWI, Weapons Possession

June 30, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

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

• Michael Vanalstyne, 30, of Coffey Lane in the Leonardo section of Middletown, was arrested on June 8 by Patrolman Kent Thorton and charged with simple assault and criminal mischief.

He was transferred to the Keansburg Police Department for bail to be set.

• Matthew McKee, 29, of Pedee Place in Middletown, was arrested on June 9 by Patrolman Brian McGrogan and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and aggravated assault.

He was released after posting $15,000 bail, set by Judge Richard Thompson.

• Susan Romo, 52, of Florence Avenue in the Leonardo section of Middletown, was arrested on June 9 by Detective Daniel Sullivan and charged with theft.

She was released pending a court date.

• Elizabeth Bernhard, 24, of Greene Road in the Belford section of Middletown, was arrested on June 10 by Sgt. Donald Coates and charged with unlawful possession of Xanax.

She was released pending a court date.

• Joan Cappadona, 33, of Kimberly Court in Red Bank, was arrested on June 11 by Patrolman Antonio Ciccone and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, shoplifting from the Foodtown store, and on contempt of court warrants issued by the Middletown Municipal Court.

She was held on $6,121 bail.

• Daniel Kaszak, 26, of Fairfield Avenue in the Belford section of Middletown, was arrested on June 10 by Patrolman Nicholas Haines and charged with possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was released after posting $7,500 bail, set by Judge Richard Thomspon.

• Patti Hoverson, 27, of Park Avenue in the Belford section of Middletown, was arrested on June 15 by Patrolman Richard Fulham and charged with unlawful possession of various prescription medications and possession of drug paraphernalia.

She was released pending a court date.

• Regina Yahara-Splain, 52, of Shrewsbury Avenue in Highlands, was arrested on June 14 by Patrolman Raymond Sofield and charged with driving while intoxicated.

She was released pending a court date.

• Jeevan Chunni, 38, of Westminster Boulevard in Parlin, was arrested on June 14 by Patrolman Adam Colfer and charged with obstructing the administration of law and obstructing an investigation.