Category: North Jersey

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Suspect Wanted In Multiple Burglaries in Multiple Jurisdictions in Bergen, Passaic and Sussex Counties

Suspect Wanted In Multiple Burglaries in Multiple Jurisdictions in Bergen, Passaic and Sussex Counties

BURGLARY ARREST:
DATE OF CRIME: Various CASE:17-01726, 17-01716
TIME: During the day when people are at work
LOCATION: Multiple locations in multiple towns
STRUCTURE ENTERED: Homes
FORCED ENTRY: Yes
STRUCTURE LOCKED: Yes
CRIME WITH BURGLARY: Theft
IF THEFT WHAT AND VALUE: Multiple items with multiple values. Estimates by the detectives is at least $20,000.00
OFFICER INVESTIGATING: Hopatcong Detective Bureau, Byram Township Detectives, Sussex County Prosecutors Detectives, Sparta Detectives
NAME OF ACCUSED: Jason Major
ADDRESS OF ACCUSED: 4 Henry Street Hopatcong NJ
AGE OF ACCUSED: 34
ANY RESISTANCE: No

CHARGES: Either investigations or charges for criminal mischief, Burglary and Theft from Hopatcong, Byram, Wayne, Pompton Lakes, Elmwood Park and Morris Township. Also Possession of hypodermic needles, crack cocaine pipe and heroin.
WAS BAIL SOUGHT: See narrative on the new bail reform law
ANY OTHER INFORMATION: The following information on the arrest of Jason Major is a great example of residents helping their police. It also shows how crimes can be solved when multiple police agencies share information. Without the combined efforts of these agencies and residents from many towns giving us information, this arrest would not have happened so quickly.
Major is accused of committing multiple burglaries in multiple jurisdictions over the last month or so. (See the towns that we know of above). Major would put on a tri color safety vest and pose to be a DPW worker. He would knock on doors and if no one answered he would break in and steal what he could.
Through the help of residents, detectives found that Major was driving a 1990’s green Dodge Pickup with a black ladder rack. Hopatcong Police Detectives found that Major was living in our town at 4 Henry Street. On Friday 02/10/17 with the help of the Hopatcong Detectives, Byram Township Detectives, Sparta Township Detectives and the Sussex County Prosecutors Office, Major was investigated and arrested in Elmwood Park late Friday night. With the assistance of the Elmwood park police, drug paraphernalia, and proceeds from many burglaries were recovered.
Major was charged and released to us by Elmwood Park Police late Friday night. We charged him for two burglaries in Hopatcong. Because of the Elmwood Park charges, we were able to get a high enough score on the new PSA (Public Safety Assessment) to have him lodged in the Sussex County Jail on Saturday morning 2/11/17.
Major was released a few hours later after a court hearing On Sunday 2/12/17, Major was arrested in Morris Township for committing another burglary. He was charged and later released. At this time Major is not incarcerated. There is nothing the Police can do about this because of the new bail reform law. In our efforts to keep the public safe we can only attach Major’s picture to this press release. If you see him on your property or a neighbors, please call 911.
Press release by Lt. Kmetz #34 (973)398-5000
(These charges are merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty)
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Mystery Solved: Unnamed Beneficiary of Suicide Lobbyist Was Bill Pascrell

Bill Pascrell

Pharma lobbyist Evan Morris helped Jersey Dems but also helped himself

The must-read story for the political class this week is “The Rise and Fall of a K Street Renegade” from the Wall Street Journal. In brutal, delicious detail—the $2,000 bottles of wine (buy one and the second is free!), the $300,000 mahogany speedboat called Mulligan (a golf term to go with the eight private golf club memberships)—Brody Mullins details the spectacular rise and tragic fall of pharma lobbyist Evan Morris. Morris lived a life that would make Jack Abramoff blush and the article suggests that consultants who participated in the kickback scheme could face “fraud or other charges,” with federal prosecutors already showing evidence to a grand jury.

The lobbyist himself, however, won’t be facing any charges. Morris, just 38 and with a bottle of Petrus by his side, shot himself in July 2015, just as Roche lawyers finally noticed massive amounts of money being paid to consultants who seemed to be lining Morris’ pockets in return.

Naturally, for a political story this juicy, there’s a Jersey angle. The story includes a passage in which Morris helps the Washington trade group Biotechnology Innovation Organization hire former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for its 2014 convention. She received $335,000 for her appearance and he arranged additional six-figure donations to the Clinton Foundation. But that largesse was simply a continuation of earlier Clinton-reflected glory, which brings us to Hudson County.

https://observer.com/2017/02/unnamed-beneficiary-of-suicide-lobbyist-was-bill-pascrell/?utm_campaign=new-jersey-politics&utm_content=2017-15-02-8873047&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=New%20Jersey%20Politics

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Diner Bailout : GREECE could ditch Euro for US Dollar

tick toc diner theridgewoodblog.net

EURO HUMILIATION: Germany ‘freaked out’ as Greece ‘could ditch EU currency for US DOLLAR’

GREECE could be poised to humiliate Brussels by ditching the euro and instead choosing to be tied to the US dollar, Donald Trump’s reported pick as EU ambassador has sensationally claimed.

By NICK GUTTERIDGE IN BRUSSELS
PUBLISHED: 07:15, Tue, Feb 14, 2017 | UPDATED: 08:04, Tue, Feb 14, 2017

Professor Ted Malloch revealed that senior Greek economists have enquired about the possibility of adopting the greenback if the country crashes out of the single currency.

He asserted that Athens is so desperate it is prepared to tie itself to the dollar on the same terms as the likes of Puerto Rico if it means being able to quit the eurozone.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/766811/Eurozone-crisis-Greece-ditch-euro-US-dollar-Trump-Ted-Malloch

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Vehicle slides off the roadway into Goffle Brook Pond in Hawthorne

Vehicle slides off the roadway into Goffle Brook Pond in Hawthorne

photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook

February 13,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hawthorne NJ, An adult female driver lost control of her vehicle while traveling northbound on Goffle Road in Hawthorne and slid off the roadway into Goffle Brook Pond on Sunday morning, 02/12. An adult male passerby and a uniformed Hawthorne PD patrol officer jumped into the pond and successfully removed the driver before the vehicle became submerged.

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The victim was taken to a local hospital by a Hawthorne ambulance The vehicle, a 4-door sedan, was lifted from the water by a heavy duty tow truck. A flatbed tow truck then removed it from the scene. The passerby, uniformed police officer, and one (1) firefighter who were exposed to the icy water during the vehicle recovery process, were all reported to be fine after drying out and warming up.

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) most wanted fugitive’ captured in New Jersey

Javier Atlixqueno-Vaquero

February 4,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Newark NJ, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Newark Fugitive Operations team officers arrested one of ERO’s most wanted fugitives Tuesday.

Javier Atlixqueno-Vaquero, 37, a citizen of Mexico, was arrested late Tuesday night after ERO identified Vaquero leaving his residence. Atlixqueno is a convicted felon for the crimes of sexual assault with a minor, felony sale of hallucinogen/narcotic controlled substance, and felony failure to appear.

He was ordered removed by an immigration judge May 7, 2004 and was removed from the U.S. to Mexico May 19, 2004. Atlixqueno unlawfully re-entered the U.S. at an unknown date.

Vaquero was recently added to ERO most wanted fugitives list https://www.ice.gov/most-wanted.

“Protecting national security, public safety and our borders by identifying and removing dangerous criminal fugitives from our communities is the top priority of our fugitive operations teams, said John Tsoukaris, Field Office Director for ERO Newark. “A convicted felon and one of our most wanted fugitives; Mr. Atlixqueno-Vaquero is a threat no more and is in custody awaiting removal from the United States. I commend the hard work and dedication of our officers.”

The ICE National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center (NCATC) provided critical investigative support for this arrest, including criminal and intelligence analysis from a variety of sources. The NCATC provides comprehensive analytical support to aid the at-large enforcement efforts of all ICE components.

Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 1,700 foreign fugitives from the United States who were being sought in their native countries for serious crimes, including kidnapping, rape and murder. ERO works with Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) Office of International Operations, foreign consular offices in the United States and Interpol to identify foreign fugitives illegally present in the country.

Members of the public who have information about foreign fugitives are urged to contact ICE by calling the toll-free ICE tip line at 1 (866) 347-2423 or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also file a tip online by completing ICE’s online tip form.

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New Jersey $1M Cash4Life ticket goes unclaimed

NJ_lottery_theridgewoodblog

file photo

February 1, 2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Jersey City NJ,  The New Jersey Lottery says a winning $1 million Cash4Life ticket has not been claimed and is set to expire later this month.

The ticket was purchased on Feb. 22, 2016 at EZ Market & Liquors in Jersey City. The ticket matched the following numbers: 08, 09, 10, 11 and 27. It did not match the cash ball of 04.

Anyone holding the ticket should sign the back and contact lottery headquarters or have it validated by a lottery retailer asap.

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Report: 25% of Morris households can’t afford to live in county

Sweeney & Prieto

Michael Izzo , @MIzzoDR4:40 p.m. ET Jan. 16, 2017

Rising costs are putting basic necessities out of reach for 37 percent or 1.2 million New Jersey households, according to the United Way ALICE Report released by United Way of Northern New Jersey.

“ALICE – Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed; Study of Financial Hardship” shows that the minimum costs to survive in New Jersey rose by 23 percent since 2007, outpacing the rate of inflation of 14 percent. The report finds that it costs a single adult $24,300 to survive annually and $64,176 for a family of four with two children under the age of five.

https://www.dailyrecord.com/story/news/local/new-jersey/2017/01/16/report-25-morris-households-cant-afford-live-county/96489638/?utm_campaign=Observer_NJ_Politics&utm_content=New+Campaign&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=New+Jersey+Politics

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Traffic Light Taken Out by Hit and Run on Goffle Road in Hawthorne

Traffic Light Taken Out by Hit and Run

photos courtesy of Boyd Loving

January 13,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hawthorne NJ, A hit and run collision at the intersection of Goffle Road and Goffle Hill Road in Hawthorne resulted in a traffic light stanchion being knocked into the Goffle Brook on Thursday afternoon, 01/17. A Hawthorne PD supervisor caught the fleeing vehicle, a tractor trailer, minutes later on Route 208 northbound in Franklin Lakes. No injuries were reported in the mishap and an electrician from the Borough of Hawthorne was summoned to begin removing the damaged equipment and installing replacements. No word from police on the scene as to whether any summonses were issued to the truck driver.

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Car Drives Onto Rail Road Tracks on Diamond Bridge Avenue in Hawthorne

Car Drives Onto Rail Road Tracks on Diamond Bridge Avenue in Hawthorne

photo courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page

December 31,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hawthorne NJ, The adult female driver of a 4-door Chevrolet sedan escaped injury after driving her vehicle onto the New York Susquehanna and Western Railroad’s tracks off of Diamond Bridge Avenue in Hawthorne on Friday evening, 12/30. The vehicle was able to be driven away on its own power after being removed from the tracks by a flatbed tow truck. Hawthorne PD responded to the incident.

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Deer Not Quite In the Headlights

Deer

photo courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page

October 28,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hawthorne NJ, Hawthorne PD units responded to a telephone call reporting a large buck (deer) wedged under an SUV parked at 1107 Goffle Road, Hawthorne on Friday morning, 10/28. It was not clear how the buck became entrapped under the vehicle. An agent of Tyco Animal Control Services was called to assist in freeing the animal, however, the seemingly uninjured buck freed himself and ran into a nearby wooded area prior to the agent’s arrival.

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Atlantic Stewardship Bank Run/Walk for Housing

Atlantic Stewardship Bank
Sat, April 23, 2016
Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Location: Garret Mountain, Woodland Park, NJ

4-Mile Run & 1-Mile Family Walk Saturday, April 23, 2016, at Garret Mountain in Woodland Park, N.J.

As part of our 30th anniversary celebrations, we are continuing our commitment of supporting local nonprofit organizations by hosting a 4-mile run and 1-mile family walk on Saturday, April 23, 2016, to benefit three local Habitat for Humanity affiliates:
Paterson Habitat for Humanity
www.patersonhabitat.org
Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County
www.habitatbergen.org
Morris Habitat for Humanity
www.morrishabitat.org
Please consider joining us to support these three worthy affiliates by becoming a sponsor, by making a donation or by participating in our event!
Visit our website at www.asbnow.com to learn more and to view our
Charity Run/Walk brochure.
For further information, please contact Diane Kerner at Atlantic Stewardship Bank at
(201)444-7100 or by email [email protected]
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Lead fears grow in Newark schools, but the problem isn’t new

saint-cory-booker

BY BEN FINLEY
ASSOCIATED PRESS

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — In New Jersey’s biggest city, fears are growing over lead in the school district’s water after a lab found elevated levels in nearly half its schools. The Newark district quickly shut off sinks and fountains in 30 buildings and has offered to test as many as 17,000 kids for contamination.

But the problem isn’t new for the state’s largest school district. Testing has shown elevated levels in some buildings over the last few years. And the district has been addressing issues of lead in the water since at least 2003.

The highest lead levels found in the water in Newark’s schools, however, are far lower than those found in homes in Flint, Michigan, which is experiencing a crisis after the city changed its water supply.

Water also poses a relatively small risk of lead poisoning compared to more common sources, such as lead paint.

“One square centimeter of lead paint, about the size of your pinkie nail, has two times what you’d get from drinking a quart or water from highest level of lead in one the schools,” said Dr. Steven Marcus, executive director of the New Jersey Poison Information & Education System at Rutgers University.

Nevertheless, parents are concerned, with dozens submitting their kids for blood tests when the district first offered them on Thursday.

“My first thing was, Flint, Michigan,” said Dionne Bradshaw, whose daughter was tested. “That’s the first thing I thought about. Ok, here we go again.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/lead-fears-grow-in-newark-schools-but-the-problem-isn-t-new-1.1530245

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Should Cory Booker be liable for watershed’s financial losses?

cory_booker_theridgewoodblog

file photo by Boyd Loving

For lawyers arguing in federal court over whether U.S. Sen. Cory Booker should remain in a lawsuit alleging that he failed to properly oversee the city’s bankrupt watershed corporation, the question could come down to this: How far does a board member have to go to say he’s done his duty? Tim Darragh, NJ.com Read more

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Paterson stunned by proposal for 27% school tax hike

group_njea_logo_300x143

BY JOE MALINCONICO
PATERSON PRESS

Paterson school board members reacted with shock and outrage Wednesday night when district officials presented them with a preliminary 2016-17 budget that would increase property taxes by 27.2 percent to support the school district.

After more than 10 years without an increase, the tax levy for the district would jump from $38.9 million to $49.5 million for the school year beginning on July 1, according to budget documents made public Wednesday night.

That proposal comes at a time when Paterson property owners also face a 6.1-percent increase in municipal taxes, a hike that precipitated a partial shutdown of city government this week.

“We just can’t afford to increase taxes at this time,” said board member Nakima Redmon.

School board members asserted that they were blindsided by the proposed increase and vowed to remove it from the budget. But they delayed taking a vote to do that until the district administration provides them with more information on what spending cuts would be made to offset the elimination of the $10.6-million tax increase.

“Why is it you always seem to run out of money?” parent Rainbow Williams asked district officials during Wednesday night’s meeting. “Last year, you were $50 million in the hole. This year it’s $45 million … It seems somebody needs to learn how to do math.”

Eighth-grader Fabliha Zaman bemoaned the impact that last year’s budget cuts had on instruction in city schools, saying she missed terminated teachers who helped her learn. ”It doesn’t make sense to me,” said Zaman who attends School 7. “We all don’t deserve this.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/paterson-stunned-by-proposal-for-27-school-tax-hike-1.1521121

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Passaic prosecutor says Wayne cops never publicized that hostage was shot

Keystone

Local police department issues a press release claiming that they shot a perpetrator when in reality they shot a hostage.  No correction ever made to the press release.  Two years later the truth comes out in court.  Wow!  Heads need to roll there for sure.