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Police & Fire
Overnight Fire Destroys Home Of Couple Raising Special Needs Child Overnight Fire Destroys Home Of Couple Raising Special Needs Child
Overnight Fire Destroys Home Of Couple Raising Special Needs Child Their humble yet cozy Oakland home meant the world to Omar McCalla and Natalie Gregory as they raised their daughter, Amaria, who was born with multiple disabilities. "This was their first true home as a family outside of the extensive time spent at hospitals," friend Ana Sampson said. "(It) represented their bright future." A ferocious overnight fire on Saturday stole that dream. Flames were already shooting through the roof when firefighters arrived shortly before 2:30 a.m June 1. They had the blaze knocked down after about an hour and a half. Fire officials were trying to determine the…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Member Of 'Hit List' Burglary Crew That Targeted Asian Homeowners In NJ, NY, PA Sentenced Member Of 'Hit List' Burglary Crew That Targeted Asian Homeowners In NJ, NY, PA Sentenced
Member Of 'Hit List' Burglary Crew That Targeted Asian Homeowners In NJ, NY, PA Sentenced 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A member of a burglary ring that specifically targeted Asian-American small business owners in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware was sentenced to a plea-bargained 33 months in federal prison. James Hurt, 48, of New York, and other members of the second-story crew worked from what the FBI called a hit list of dozens of homes in the four states based on “stereotype and opportunity" from Dec. 2, 2016, to March 20, 2019. The burglars often got into homes through unsecured upper-floor windows before seeking out cash, jewelry and guns, the FBI said In one instance, th…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
NO CHOICE: Ex-Con Who Shot Victims Five Days Apart In Newark Gets 10+ Years, No Early Release NO CHOICE: Ex-Con Who Shot Victims Five Days Apart In Newark Gets 10+ Years, No Early Release
NO Choice: Ex-Con Who Shot Victims Five Days Apart In Newark Gets 10+ Years, No Early Release 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: There’s no trying to present a defense in court when the prosecutors have a video of you shooting someone, as well as the loaded gun you were carrying when they arrested you. So Ex-con Antoine Hawkins, 31, of Newark, took a deal from the government and was formally sentenced to 12 years in federal prison on Friday, May 31, for shooting two victims five days apart in the Brick City in August 2020. Hawkins must serve no less than 10 years of his plea-bargained sentence before he'll be eligible for release because there's no parole in the federal prison system. Surveillance video…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
SEE ANYTHING? Hit-And-Run Driver Critically Injures 76-Year-Old Kearny Man SEE ANYTHING? Hit-And-Run Driver Critically Injures 76-Year-Old Kearny Man
SEE Anything? Hit-And-Run Driver Critically Injures 76-Year-Old Kearny Man Authorities are hoping the public can help them investigate a hit-and-run crash that critically injured a 76-year-old pedestrian in Kearny. They recovered the vehicle believed involved in the crash, which occurred at the intersection of Kearny and Columbia avenues shortly after 7 a.m. Thursday, May 30, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said. She didn't say, however, whether authorities had taken anyone into custody or had identified any suspects. No area surveillance photos were provided. The prosecutor did say that the victim remained in critical condition Friday at University Hospi…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Chainsaw-Wielding Man Shot By Police In Keansburg Chainsaw-Wielding Man Shot By Police In Keansburg
Chainsaw-Wielding Man Shot By Police In Keansburg A man wielding a chainsaw was shot and critically wounded by police sent to his Keansburg home on a welfare check, authorities said. Borough officers who went to the Seabreeze Way home shortly after 1 p.m. on Memorial Day "encountered an adult male civilian who possessed numerous weapons and a running chainsaw," New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. "As the male approached officers with the running chainsaw, one officer deployed a [Taser] and another officer fired his service weapon, striking the individual," the attorney general said. on Friday, May 31. Unconfirmed reports wer…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Former Newark Officer Sentenced To State Prison In Shooting Death During Pursuit Former Newark Officer Sentenced To State Prison In Shooting Death During Pursuit
Former Newark Officer Sentenced To State Prison In Shooting Death During Pursuit A former Newark police officer who shot and killed a driver during a pursuit and critically injured his passenger was sentenced to 27 years in New Jersey State Prison. Jovanny Crespo, 30, must serve 85 percent of his sentence before he's eligible for parole. Essex County Superior Court Judge Michael L. Ravin Jr. imposed the sentence under the No Early Release Act. Crespo was convicted in July 2023 on six counts of first-degree aggravated manslaughter in the death of 46-year-old Gregory Griffin, and second-degree aggravated assault for critically wounding Griffin's passenger, Andrew Dixon, 3…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
NJ Treadmill Abuse Dad Not Guilty Of Murder, Convicted Of Agg Assault In Son's Death (VIDEO) NJ Treadmill Abuse Dad Not Guilty Of Murder, Convicted Of Agg Assault In Son's Death (VIDEO)
NJ Treadmill Abuse Dad Not Guilty Of Murder, Convicted Of Agg Assault In Son's Death (Video) A Monroe Township man was convicted of abusing his six-year-old son during a treadmill workout that ultimately led to the boy's death, authorities said. After a six-week trial, a jury unanimously found 32-year-old Christopher Gregor guilty on Friday, May 31 of aggravated manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. The jury found Gregor not guilty of murder. A nearly video shared by Law & Crime shows the judge delivering the verdict. Gregor had been indicted on a murder charge in the death of his s…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Mom Charged With Aggravated Manslaughter For Drug OD Death Of Daughter, 12, In Fort Lee Mom Charged With Aggravated Manslaughter For Drug OD Death Of Daughter, 12, In Fort Lee
Mom Charged With Aggravated Manslaughter For Drug OD Death Of Daughter, 12, In Fort Lee 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A 48-year-old Fort Lee mom was charged with aggravated manslaughter for the drug overdose death of her 12-year-old daughter. Frances Caso was initially jailed on various child endangerment and drug possession charges after onetime child model Trinity Caso Perez overdosed on May 25. Further investigation led to the more serious charge, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said on Friday, May 31. Fort Lee police responding to a 3:34 p.m. call last Saturday found the lifeless child at Caso's Maple Street home. The youngster was pronounced dead soon after at Hackensack University Med…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
UPDATE: State Authorities Probe Police Vehicle Crash In Sussex County That Killed Woman, 19 UPDATE: State Authorities Probe Police Vehicle Crash In Sussex County That Killed Woman, 19
Update: State Authorities Probe Police Vehicle Crash In Sussex County That Killed Woman, 19 State authorities are investigating a police-involved Memorial Day crash in Sussex County that killed a 19-year-old passenger in a private vehicle. The on-duty officer's car T-boned the civilian vehicle outside the ShopRite of Franklin shopping center on Route 23 at Walsh Road, according to witnesses, shortly after 10:30 a.m. May 27. Deanna D’Arco was rushed to Morristown Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 12:45 a.m. Wednesday.  Her organs were donated through the New Jersey Sharing Network. ****** GoFundMe verified a fundraiser to help support D'Arco's family cov…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Jersey City Police Lieutenant's Cremation To Follow Saturday Funeral Mass Jersey City Police Lieutenant's Cremation To Follow Saturday Funeral Mass
Jersey City Police Lieutenant's Cremation To Follow Saturday Funeral Mass She devoted her life to those in need and put others first. She was "the glue that held her family and friends together." And at only 44 years old, Jersey City Police Lt. Marina Angelica Ugolini is gone far too soon. Ugolini died Tuesday evening, May 28. The 19-year department veteran, who was promoted to lieutenant six years ago this month, worked in the city's North District. Ugolini was an alumnus of Jersey City Medical Center and Ambucar EMS who "took pride in helping people by devoting her life to serving those in need," her obituary says. "She transported the first medical …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Man Fired Gun 9X Times To Break Up Fight, Warren County Prosecutor Says Man Fired Gun 9X Times To Break Up Fight, Warren County Prosecutor Says
Man Fired Gun 9X Times To Break Up Fight, Warren County Prosecutor Says A 34-year-old Port Murray man was recently arrested and charged after he fired a gun nine times in Warren County on Friday, May 24, authorities said. At 10:15 p.m., police in Mansfield Township responded to Gulick Street after receiving a report of gunfire, Acting Warren County Prosecutor Anthony Picione said. An investigation found that Kajaun Manley had fired nine gunshots to break up an altercation, Picione said. No one was shot, Picione said. Manley was charged with possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, Picione said.

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
Ex-NJ Boy Scouts Worker, 70, Admits Trafficking Child Porn, Recording Kids In Bathroom: Feds Ex-NJ Boy Scouts Worker, 70, Admits Trafficking Child Porn, Recording Kids In Bathroom: Feds
Ex-NJ Boy Scouts Worker, 70, Admits Trafficking Child Porn, Recording Kids In Bathroom: Feds 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A 70-year-old former New Jersey Boy Scout camp employee admitted secretly recording videos of children using bathrooms there, federal authorities said.  William Mickel was employed by the Boy Scouts of America in Morris County when he trafficked videos and still images of child sex abuse via email, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. Mickel had hundreds of files stored on electronic devices in his Lake Hopatcong home, some of which "depicted children who were surreptitiously recorded using bathrooms in the Boy Scout camps where Mickel worked," Sellinger said.…

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by Jerry DeMarco