The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
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FORT LEE, NJ — A Montclair man was arrested after allegedly hacking into a Fort Lee condominium’s communication system and sending hundreds of residents threatening, hate-filled emails, prosecutors announced. Continue reading Montclair Man Charged After Hate-Filled Email Rant Targeting 400+ Fort Lee Condo Residents
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NORTH ARLINGTON, NJ — A 34-year-old Milwaukee man has been arrested for sexually extorting a child under 13 in Bergen County, prosecutors announced Friday.
Christopher Battin was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals in Milwaukee on Tuesday after an investigation revealed he had targeted a North Arlington minor online.
Continue reading Milwaukee Man Arrested for Sexually Extorting North Arlington, Minor
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Fort Lee, NJ — Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella has announced the arrest of 71-year-old Manuel A. Barrantes of Fort Lee, New Jersey, on charges of aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child. The arrest was made following a thorough investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, led by Chief Matthew Finck, in collaboration with the Teaneck Police Department, under Chief Andrew McGurr.
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Palisades Park, NJ – A 23-year-old man from Palisades Park has been arrested and charged with sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, according to Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella.
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Teaneck NJ, on June 28th the Ridgewood blog reported that the Bergen County Prosecutor was investigating a crash in Teaneck that resulted in the death of a 92-year-old man Albert Schnellbacker .
The Ridgewood blog has come into possession of the official Teaneck Police Department Report, Case Number 22-036206 along with the State of New Jersey Police Crash Investigation Report NJTR-1 to interpret the Police Report for this specific crash.
Continue reading Details Emerge on Teaneck Crash that Killed 92-year-old Man
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Washington D.C., the Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Gurbir S. Grewal has been appointed Director of the Division of Enforcement, effective July 26, 2021. Grewal currently serves as Attorney General for the State of New Jersey, a role he has held since January 2018, when he was confirmed by the New Jersey State Senate after being nominated by Governor Phil Murphy.
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Maywood NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announces the following information:
Continue reading Bergen County Prosecutor Investigates Bergen Town Center Homicide
may 23,2018
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Hackensack NJ, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo announces the formation of the Bergen County Safe Schools Task Force. The Task Force will take a multi-disciplinary approach to the issue of school safety, with the primary focus on developing best practices for prevention and response to potential school shooting situations.
According to Acting Prosecutor Calo, “The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office (“BCPO”) and all of Bergen County Law Enforcement place the highest priority on the safety of our children, our schools, and school personnel.” He also noted that the BCPO has been at the forefront of the effort to ensure the safety of our schools and communities. For example, in 2013, the BCPO introduced a School Security Initiative comprised of officers from various Bergen County municipal police agencies. To further this effort, the BCPO sponsored training by Texas A & M University Engineering Extension Service (“TEEX”). As a result of that training, 56 police officers and 41 school security professionals were certified to conduct risk and vulnerability school assessments. Since then, Bergen County has coordinated the security assessments of 165 public and 56 private schools. The BCPO has also partnered with Bergen County municipal law enforcement agencies, the New Jersey Department of Education, and the New Jersey State Police to conduct unannounced visits to local schools to monitor and provide technical assistance for the enhancement of their lock-down procedures. To date, these unannounced visits have involved 66 schools from 42 school districts.
In 2017, the BCPO totally overhauled Bergen County law enforcement’s active shooter policy and training curriculum. Together with Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino and the Bergen County Police Chiefs Association, the BCPO trained every police officer in Bergen County in these new response protocols. Additionally, the BCPO, in conjunction with the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department, instituted the Regional SWAT Team’s mobile patrol, which puts specially trained and equipped officers on routine patrol throughout Bergen County for a more rapid and effective response to emergency situations, such as active shooter calls.
In addition to law enforcement’s efforts, many Bergen County school, mental health, and private sector professionals have been hard at work to address the dangers presented by active shooter situations. It is the goal of this newly formed task force to bring all of these professionals together under one umbrella to identify and implement best practices to address this problem in Bergen County.
The Acting Prosecutor has appointed Senior Assistant Prosecutor Martin Delaney, the Prosecutorial Chief of Investigations, as Executive Director of the Task Force. Assistant Prosecutor Delaney, who oversees all of the BCPO’s specialized prosecutions, has deep experience in crime prevention and response and serves as Legal Advisor to the Regional SWAT Team. Other members of the Task Force are drawn from the law enforcement, educational, mental health and business communities. These members and their affiliations are as follows: Chief Robert Anzilotti, Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office; James J. Tedesco III, Bergen County Executive; Michael Saudino, Bergen County Sheriff; Park Ridge Police Chief Joseph J. Madden, President of the Bergen County Police Chiefs Association; Joseph Zarra, Interim Executive Bergen County Superintendent of Schools; Joseph Masciandaro, President/CEO of CarePlus New Jersey; Harrington Park School Superintendent Adam Fried, Ed.D., President of the Bergen County Association of School Administrators; Saddle River Police Department Sergeant Timothy Gerity, President of the New Jersey Association of School Resource Officers; Jonathan Miller, Bergen County Association of School Security Professionals; Julien Neals, Esq., Bergen County Counsel and Acting Bergen County Administrator; Mary Amoroso, Bergen County Freeholder Pro Tempore; Matt Zames, former Chief Operating Officer of JP Morgan Chase and board member of Tomahawk Strategic Solutions; Agent William Stallone, Risk Mitigation Planner/Critical Infrastructure Coordinator, Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.
The Acting Prosecutor stated with reference to the Task Force members, “These busy professionals have committed themselves to study and advise our school districts on best practices to prevent school violence and to keep our children safe. Part of that effort is identifying dangerous individuals and situations and addressing them before they turn into tragedies. The Task Force will also advise on the best law enforcement responses to violent situations.”
The Task Force is charged with making its initial recommendations by October 2018. However, the Acting Prosecutor emphasized that he envisions the Task Force as an ongoing endeavor to provide ever increasing safety to our schools and children.
January 30,2018
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Teaneck NJ, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo announced the investigation into the deaths of Gerald Ryan (DOB: 6/18/1936; married; retired) and Roseann Ryan (DOB: 12/10/1936; married; retired), both of 130 Sherman Avenue, Teaneck, New Jersey, pending positive identification from the Bergen County Medical Examiner’s Office. The investigation is being conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti, Teaneck Police Department under the direction of Chief Glenn O’Reilly, and Teaneck Fire Department under the direction of Fire Chief Jordan Zaretsky.
On Sunday, January 28, 2018, the Teaneck Police Department received a report of a house fire at 130 Sherman Avenue, Teaneck, New Jersey. When the Teaneck Police and Fire Departments arrived on scene, the single family residence was consumed by heavy fire and the occupants, Gerald and Roseann Ryan, were unaccounted for and presumed to be inside.
On Sunday, January 28 and Monday, January 29, 2018, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad and Arson Task Force, the Teaneck Police and Fire Departments, and Bergen County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Criminal Investigation conducted an investigation into the cause of the fire at 130 Sherman Avenue, Teaneck, New Jersey. the remains of Gerald and Roseann Ryan were located inside the residence. The exact cause of the fire is undetermined due to the extensive fire damage. However, the fire does not appear to be suspicious in nature.
December 28,2017
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Paramus NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announced the arrest of ANTHONY B. SAVINO (DOB: 03/29/1965; married; and employed as an attendant) of 62 Newton Street, Staten Island, New York on fraud charges. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti.
In October 2017, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office received a complaint from representatives of the Bergen County Utilities Authority regarding an employee, Anthony B. SAVINO, who they believed had violated New Jersey Civil Service and employment regulations by obtaining employment with a public entity using a fraudulent New Jersey residential address.
During the course of the investigation, it was determined that, in 2013, SAVINO obtained a New Jersey driver’s license using a fraudulently obtained mailing address in Bergen County, New Jersey even though, at the time, he resided in Staten Island, New York. Using the New Jersey driver’s license as proof of residence, SAVINO applied for and obtained employment with the Bergen County Utilities Authority (“BCUA”). At the time of his application, employment at the public entity required applicants and non-exempt employees to maintain their primary residence in New Jersey as per the residency requirements of the New Jersey First Act. SAVINO maintained the fraudulently obtained address while employed at the BCUA and, in fact, changed his residency to a second, fraudulently obtained address in November 2017. Upon receiving a position with the BCUA, SAVINO applied for and obtained health insurance benefits by completing an insurance application on which he reported the fraudulent information.
On Friday, December 22, 2017, Anthony B. SAVINO was arrested in Paramus, New Jersey and issued a summons. Upon his release from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, SAVINO was turned over to the Port Authority Police Department on an unrelated matter. He was wanted by the Port Authority Police Department in reference to a theft of services investigation which was initiated as a result of 343 EZ-Pass violations committed utilizing an EZ-Pass account and vehicles to which he had access.
Anthony B. SAVINO was charged by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office with one count of Insurance Fraud, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-4.6(a), a 3rd degree crime; and one count of Falsifying Records, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-4(a), a 4th degree crime. SAVINO was released pending his first appearance in Bergen County Central Judicial Processing Court on January 10, 2018 at 8:30 a.m.
SAVINO was charged by the Port Authority Police Department and issued a summons for one count of Theft of Services, in an amount greater than $500 but less than $75,000, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-8(a), a 3rd degree crime. SAVINO was released pending his first appearance in Bergen County Central Judicial Processing Court on January 5, 2018 at 8:30 a.m.
Prosecutor Grewal states that these charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutor Grewal would like to thank the Port Authority Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.
![High_End_MV_Thefts[1]](https://theridgewoodblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/11-27-17_High_End_MV_Thefts1.jpg "Bergen County Prosecutor : RISE IN THEFT OF HIGH END MOTOR VEHICLES")
November 28 2017
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Ridgewood NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal is issuing a public advisory for county residents. During the past month, there has been a rise in motor vehicle thefts occurring in the overnight hours throughout Bergen County. Residents are advised to be aware of subjects entering their driveways for the purpose of stealing motor vehicles. Local police departments are aware of the crime spree and are actively investigating.
During this crime spree, actors looking to steal vehicles check door handles to determine if a vehicle is unlocked. If the keys are left in the unlocked vehicle, the actor(s) simply enter the vehicle, start the vehicle, and drive away.
If the vehicle is unlocked and no keys are left in the vehicle, actor(s) remove valuable items left in the vehicle by the victim, and then target the next available home.
On two occasions, multiple vehicles have been stolen from the same home. During the last month, there have been 30 incidents in 19 Bergen County towns.
To reduce your risk of becoming a victim, residents should do the following:
1. NOT LEAVE KEYS, or REMOTE KEY FOBS in an unattended VEHICLE.
2. Lock your vehicles.
3. Do not leave any valuable items in plain view inside your vehicle.
If there are any suspicious individuals lurking around a driveway at any time during the day or night, residents should immediately contact your local police department.
July 29,2017
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Mahwah NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal issued a warning to the Township of Mahwah over the enforcement of Township Ordinernce 1806 limiting access to Mahwah’s recreational facilities .
Yesterday ,Grewal sent a strongly worded letter to Mahwah Township Police Chief James N. Batelli, directing him not to enforce Mahwah Township Ordinance No. 1806. Copies of the letter were also delivered to Mahwah Mayor William Laforet, members of the Mahwah Township Council, and the Mahwah Township Attorney.
In the Letter Grewal spelled out problems he had with the ordinance including saying , enforcement raises serious legal issues such as “racially influenced policing ” and “violations of individual constitutional rights”.
The Township of Mahwah had passed the ordinance, which took effect Thursday hopping it would provide protection against what residents have called an organized incursion from Rockland County of Hasidic families who’ve recently swarmed parks in Mahwah, Montvale, Ramsey and Upper Saddle River by the busload.
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Hackensack NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announced today the identities of two deceased males discovered on Sunday, June 4, 2017 at 5 Linden Street, Hackensack, NJ. The investigation was conducted by members of the Hackensack Police Department under the direction of Officer in Charge Captain Francesco Aquila, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department under the direction of Sheriff Michael Saudino.
At approximately 9:17 AM on June 4, 2017, the Hackensack Police Department received a 9-1-1 call reporting gunshots and a man down in the lobby area of 5 Linden Street. Police officers arrived and located the body of JAMES BELLAMY (DOB: 9/6/50) next to the building’s elevator. Bellamy had been shot multiple times and was declared deceased at the scene. A building resident directed officers to the rear parking lot of the building and the path taken by the alleged gunman, later identified as ARTHUR HILLMAN (DOB: 9/20/53). The officers located HILLMAN’S deceased body in a 2011 Honda Civic in the rear parking lot; he was the victim of a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound and was found to be in possession of a loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, which is believed to be the weapon used in the murder/suicide. Detectives also located a loaded .38 caliber weapon on Hillman’s body. The investigation revealed that no one else was involved in this incident.
Subsequent investigation revealed that both men were residents of 5 Linden Street. Bellamy resided in Apartment 4J and Hillman resided in Apartment 3J. Hillman had made repeated complaints to the Hackensack Police Department regarding the noise emanating from Bellamy’s upstairs apartment.
Prosecutor Grewal would like to thank the Hackensack Police Department and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department for their assistance in this investigation.
By Sara Jerde | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on September 13, 2016 at 5:56 PM, updated September 13, 2016 at 5:58 PM
Gov. Chris Christie has again nominated Gurbir Grewal to be Bergen County prosecutor.
Christie announced late Monday that he would ask the state Senate to approve Grewal, who has been serving as acting county prosecutor. Christie previously nominated Grewal for the job in 2013, but the Senate did not approve the appointment.
Grewal was appointed acting prosecutor by Christie in January when former County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli retired from the job.
Mitchell criticised the Democrat-controlled freeholder board who ignored the scandal until OPRA requests by the Bergen Dispatch forced the issue.It’s an interesting story you can find linked here.
After the Bergen Dispatch broke the story Mitchell called for his Democrat opponents on the Freeholder Board to ask New Jersey’s Attorney General to step in. OPRA requests by the Bergen Dispatch were answered with no communications to the Attorney General from the Democrat Freeholders as existing , but mysteriously, days later, undated letters were provided to the Dispatch containing the Freeholders’ request to the Attorney General. (Bergen Dispatch, 10/23/15
Why did Christie pick now to replace Bergen County prosecutor?
OCTOBER 27, 2015, 8:38 PM LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015, 11:19 PM
BY DUSTIN RACIOPPI
STATE HOUSE BUREAU |
THE RECORD
It was no secret that Governor Christie wanted someone else leading the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office. The question at hand is: Why now?
A little more than two years ago, Christie thanked Prosecutor John Molinelli for his many years of service and said he looked “forward to a swift confirmation for his successor.”
