Plainfield Man Sentenced For DWI Crash That Injured Seven: Somerset County Prosecutor Plainfield Man Sentenced For DWI Crash That Injured Seven: Somerset County Prosecutor
Plainfield Man Sentenced For DWI Crash That Injured Seven: Somerset County Prosecutor A 24-year-old Plainfield man was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday, May 10, for a DUI crash that left seven people injured last June. Jose Cruz Villanueva-Izaguirre was behind the wheel of a 2004 Honda Civic and collided with a Kia Sedona after driving at high speed through a red light on June 11, 2023, at 2:09 a.m., Somerset County Prosecutor John McDonald said. Villanueva-Izaguirre, as well as his passengers — two adults and a teen — were seriously injured in the crash, authorities said. One passenger was found unresponsive in the back seat, suffering from near-fatal i…
Student Brought Gun To School, Newark PD Says Student Brought Gun To School, Newark PD Says
Student Brought Gun To School, Newark PD Says A 16-year-old student was detained by police after he brought a handgun to a Newark school on Tuesday, May 14, authorities said. At 10:26 a.m., police responded to the KIPP Newark Collegiate Academy after a student was found to be in possession of a handgun, Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé said.  School officials turned the handgun over to responding officers, Fragé said. The 16-year-old male was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon by a minor, Fragé said.
Officers Pursue Suspects Onto Route 78: Berkeley Heights PD Officers Pursue Suspects Onto Route 78: Berkeley Heights PD
Officers Pursue Suspects Onto Route 78: Berkeley Heights PD Two people who attempted to enter a home in Berkeley Heights led police on a pursuit on the early morning of Tuesday, April 30, authorities said. At 3:13 a.m., police in Berkeley Heights received a report of a resident from a resident on Cambridge Drive about a break-in, officers said in a release. Two people were attempting to gain entry into the home but then fled the scene in a BMW SUV before making entry, police said. Police intercepted the vehicle on Killarney Drive and initiated a pursuit, officers said. The chase went east on Mountain Avenue, south on Glenside Road and then onto Rout…
Scottie Scheffler Says Arrest Was 'Big Misunderstanding' After Being Charged In Cop's Assault Scottie Scheffler Says Arrest Was 'Big Misunderstanding' After Being Charged In Cop's Assault
Scottie Scheffler Says Arrest Was 'Big Misunderstanding' After Being Charged In Cop's Assault Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 golfer in the world and a Bergen County native, has been charged with assaulting a law enforcement officer just before the second round of the PGA Championship, court records show. Scheffler, 27, was trying to drive past the scene of a fatal crash scene involving shuttle bus at the Valhalla Golf Club around 5 a.m. Friday, May 17, when he allegedly dragged an officer at the scene, as reported by ESPN. The reigning Masters champion was ultimately arrested and charged with  felony second-degree assault on a police officer, along with lesser charges of third-de…
Single Mom Struck, Killed By Vehicle In Maplewood, Prosecutor Says Single Mom Struck, Killed By Vehicle In Maplewood, Prosecutor Says
Single Mom Struck, Killed By Vehicle In Maplewood, Prosecutor Says A 28-year-old Irvington resident was killed after she was struck by a vehicle in Maplewood on Monday, May 13, authorities said. At 9:10 a.m., Maria Ganzhi Zhao was struck by a vehicle on the 1400 block of Springfield Avenue and pronounced dead at the scene, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said.  Zhao, a native of Ecuador, was a single mother who is survived by her two daughters, Noemi, 7 and Genesis, 9 months, according to a fundraiser set up to support the family.  A viewing will be held on Saturday, May 18 at Mt. Alvarez Funeral Home in Newark from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., a…
NJ Police Chief Admits Coverup of Sex Affair With Subordinate NJ Police Chief Admits Coverup of Sex Affair With Subordinate
NJ Police Chief Admits Coverup of Sex Affair With Subordinate A retired New Jersey police chief admitted trying to cover up a sexual affair with a subordinate, authorities said. Andrew Kudrick, 50, will be banned for life from public employment and will receive probation instead of prison time in exchange, state Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. Kudrick, of Farmingdale, lied to Howell Township officials about the affair and “threatened to launch an improper internal affairs investigation” of a captain who called him on it, the attorney general said. A confrontation between the chief’s wife and his alleged mistress during a 2021 retirement party …
Embattled Senator Bob Menendez Announces Wife Has Breast Cancer Embattled Senator Bob Menendez Announces Wife Has Breast Cancer
Embattled Senator Bob Menendez Announces Wife Has Breast Cancer Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), who is facing federal corruption charges said his wife, Nadine, is battling breast cancer. “Nadine is suffering from Grade 3 breast cancer, which will require her to have mastectomy surgery,” Menendez said. “We are of course, concerned about the seriousness and advanced stage of the disease. She will require follow up surgery and possibly radiation treatment.” Like her husband, Nadine Menendez is facing corruption and bribery charges. While the senator's trial is currently underway, her trial was pushed back due to medical concerns. Her trial is currently schedu…
Newark Rapist Told 15-Year-Old They Can Do It Again If She's 'Not A Snitch,' Police Papers Say Newark Rapist Told 15-Year-Old They Can Do It Again If She's 'Not A Snitch,' Police Papers Say
Newark Rapist Told 15-Year-Old They Can Do It Again If She's 'Not A Snitch,' Police Papers Say Disturbing details have come to light in the case of a 41-year-old man arrested for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl this month in North Jersey. According to the affidavit for probable cause obtained by Daily Voice, Solomon Blay was in a white SUV when he approached his victim, who was walking home from school. Blay called the girl over to his vehicle, asked her age, and if she wanted a ride home, police papers said. She agreed, but instead of taking the girl home, Blay took her to his home, a basement of a home on Brighton Street in Union, the affidavit says. ** WARNING: The followi…
Armed Suspect Found Sleeping Following Assault On Morristown Walking Path, Officials Say Armed Suspect Found Sleeping Following Assault On Morristown Walking Path, Officials Say
Armed Suspect Found Sleeping Following Assault On Morristown Walking Path, Officials Say An armed man accused of assaulting another person on a Morris County train system was found sleeping nearby, and promptly arrested, authorities said. Ricardo Martinez-Bonilla, 31, of Morristown, had gotten into an argument around 2:25 a.m. on Tuesday, May 14 on Patriots Path in Morristown off Martin Luther King Avenue, Morris County Sheriff James Gannon said. The victim told officers that the suspect was still in the area and provided a description. Sheriff’s Sergeant Kyle Koster, Sheriff’s Officer Brian Weber and Morristown Police found Martinez-Bonilla, sleeping on the trail, Gannon …
Mediterranean-Inspired Villa Listed At $1.395M In New Jersey Mediterranean-Inspired Villa Listed At $1.395M In New Jersey
Mediterranean-Inspired Villa Listed At $1.395M In New Jersey A Mediterranean-inspired villa is on the market in Hunterdon County.  The home at 112 Dunkard Church Road in Delaware Township is listed at 1.395 million and features a newly-lined pool, outdoor basketball, bocce, and tennis courts, putting green and gardens. Sitting on a 10-acre plot of land, the house has four bedrooms — including one with a fireplace and pavilion-style deck, five bathrooms, a courtyard with a fountain, glass-enclosed breakfast room, screened-in porch overlooking greenery, and more. Wrap-around porches encase the sprawling villa that also includes a gym, w…
Groundwater Contamination Case In Bergen County Settled For $14M: State AG Groundwater Contamination Case In Bergen County Settled For $14M: State AG
Groundwater Contamination Case In Bergen County Settled For $14M: State AG 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: Two companies have agreed to pay the state of New Jersey $14 million to resolve groundwater contamination charges in Bergen County, authorities announced. The settlement with Cycle Chem, Inc. -- formerly known as Perk Chemical Co. -- and Handy & Harman resolves a 2019 lawsuit over the discharge of a degreasing solvent and other hazardous substances at an etching and surfacing facility on Craig Road in Montvale. The solvent, trichloroethylene (TCE), has been linked to cancer, in the liver and kidneys, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. It was used at the site from…
NJ Postal Worker Admits Spending $54,000 On USPS Credit Cards NJ Postal Worker Admits Spending $54,000 On USPS Credit Cards
NJ Postal Worker Admits Spending $54,000 On USPS Credit Cards A post office worker in South Jersey admitted going on a $54,000 personal spending spree, buying power tools, gift cards, groceries and more with U.S. Postal Service plastic. Austin T. Mahan, 44, of Cape May Court House, was working at the Sea Isle and Somers Point facilities when he used postal service credit cards at retail stores in and around New Jersey over a six-month period beginning in 2022, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. "These purchases included thousands of dollars’ worth of gift cards as well as various home décor items, home renovation materials, power and handhel…