Friday, May 3, 2013
In September 2009, a Lakewood man opened fire at multiple police officers
A Lakewood man was sentenced to 45 years in prison after the 2009 shooting of multiple police officers. Judge Francis R. Hodgson, Jr. sentenced Jaime Gonzalez, 43, of Lakewood to 45 years, with no chance of parole until 29.5 years of his sentence is served, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato said. “Today’s sentencing rids society of a truly callous individual,” Coronato said. The Lakewood Police Department Entry Team executed a court-authorized no-knock search warrant of Gonzalez’s home on Mackenzie Court just after 2 a.m. Sept. 24, 2009, the Prosecutor’s Office said. The search warrant was obtained because Gonzalez was being investigated involving his sale of illegal controlled dangerous substances. Upon hearing the police …
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Authorities recover 50 bags of heroin from Rasan McGee, aka 'Money'
Law enforcement authorities today arrested an Atlantic City man who may have sold heroin to a Stafford Township man found dead in his car on Friday. Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato announced the arrest of Rasan S. McGee, 22. He was charged with distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance and resisting arrest, authorities said. His bail was set at $25,000, with no ten percent option. The charges stem from an investigation that began at 2:15 p.m. on Friday, when Barnegat police discovered Steven Janson, 26, Stafford Township, dead in his red Hyundai Genesis parked across the street from 26 Starboard Avenue. A search of his car produced four bags used for heroin with the stamp "…
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Brandon Holt, 6, died Tuesday from an injury sustained during an accidental shooting
The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office has taken over investigative duties in the accidental shooting death of a 6-year-old Toms River boy by his 4-year-old neighbor. The case has been transferred out of county to avoid any potential conflicts among law enforcement who may have ties to the case, according to Al Della Fave, spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. Haleigh Walz, a spokeswoman for the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, confirmed the case was transferred to Atlantic County Tuesday evening. Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor James P. McClain released the following statement just before 10 a.m. "Yesterday evening, my office was advised by the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice that we will supersede the Ocean …
Monday, April 8, 2013
Residents from Toms River, Brick, Manchester, Lakewood and other New Jersey towns are among those charged
A Toms River woman working as a police dispatcher in Lavallette was among the many arrested and charged in connection with a multi-jurisdictional drug investigation, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato announced Monday. Residents from Toms River, Brick, Manchester, Lakewood and other New Jersey towns are among those charged. The investigation is continuing and additional arrests are expected, Coronato said. Known as "Operation Road Runner," the investigation began in August of last year and ended on Friday, April 5, as police executed search warrants in Ocean, Mercer, Essex and Monmouth counties, leading authorities to charge 25 individuals with various drug, weapons and money laundering offenses, the prosecutor said. Kathy Anne …
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Joseph D. Coronato will be sworn in as prosecutor at 3:30 p.m. Friday
Joseph D. Coronato will take the oath to become Ocean County's new prosecutor on Friday. Coronato, a Republican with a law firm in Toms River, will replace outgoing prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford during a Friday afternoon ceremony in Historic Courtroom One, according to Executive Assistant Prosecutor Michael Paulhus. Gov. Chris Christie appointed Ford, a Democrat, as a Superior Court judge. She previously served a stint as a Superior Court judge before being named prosecutor in 2007 by Gov. Jon Corzine. Both Ford and Coronato were confirmed for their positions by the state Senate Monday, according to the Asbury Park Press. County freeholders offered praise for both during a meeting last week. "I'm conflicted here, because I'm going to …
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Marlene Lynch Ford 'has set an example,' freeholder board member says
Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford is down to her last few days in her office in Toms River, and they've been spent showing incoming prosecutor Joseph Coronato the ropes. Both Ford and Coronato received high praise from the county's freeholder board at its meeting Wednesday. "I'm conflicted here, because I'm going to really miss you as a prosecutor, working with you and seeing what you've done," said Freeholder James Lacey, to Ford. "But I'm glad you found a home back on the bench." Ford, a Democrat, has been nominated as a Superior Court judge by Republican Gov. Chris Christie. She previously served a stint as a Superior Court judge before being named prosecutor. "Years ago … I admired you from afar, your legislative work," said …
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Manahawkin, Toms River residents nabbed in marijuana and hashish bust
Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford has announced the culmination of an investigation into drug activity in the Southern Ocean County area. "On Dec. 21, 2012, detectives from the Prosecutor’s Special Operations Group, along with detectives from the Stafford Township Police Narcotics Unit and the Barnegat Township Police Narcotics Unit, conducted an investigation into the distribution of marijuana and hashish in the southern Ocean County area," said Ford. The investigation resulted in the arrest of two Ocean County residents and the seizure of marijuana, hashish and cash. While conducting the investigation, detectives from the Prosecutor’s Special Operations Group, along with members of the Stafford Township Police Narcotics Unit and…
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Early morning blaze results in death of Lakewood resident
According to the Ocean County’s Prosecutor’s Office, a fire which occurred early this morning has claimed the life of a male Lakewood resident. Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford issued a statement concerning the fire. “At approximately 12:45 a.m. this morning, Lakewood Police and Fire Departments were dispatched to a residence on Lanes Mill Road in Lakewood. Upon arrival, emergency personnel observed a residential structure on fire with numerous residents outside,” said Ford. Ford explained that residents at the scene advised authorities that an adult male was still inside the home. A search of the interior resulted in the discovery of the body of an adult male, said Ford. “An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of …
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Two died of hypothermia, one of asphyxia and one drowning
There were four people from Ocean County who lost their lives due to conditions connected to Hurricane Sandy, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced Thursday. “Our thoughts are with these families,” Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford said. Below are the individuals who died: Celestine Kreitzer, 94, of Forked River Pronouncement Date: Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 2:35 p.m. Cause of Death: Hypothermia George Tatay, 61, of Brick Pronouncement Date: Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 5:01 p.m. Cause of Death: Asphyxia due to drowning Erwin Bockhorn, 72, of Little Egg Harbor Pronouncement Date: Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 11:30 a.m. Cause of Death: Drowning Leonard Thompson, 71, of Stafford Pronouncement Date: Wednesday, Oct. 31 at 9:46 p.m. Cause of Death…
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Pilot program launching in Ocean County to distribute a limited number of the apps free of charge
As the battle to curtail texting and driving rages on, law enforcement officials continue to look for ways to discourage drivers from taking the risk. A cell phone application that disables the phone when a vehicle is traveling over a certain rate of speed may be the answer police departments have sought. “Prosecutors have now been given great authority to charge a person with assault by auto or vehicular homicide, if it is proven that they were texting while driving,” Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford said. However, she said, the better option is to educate the public and deter the action in the first place. To that end, the prosecutor’s office and the Ocean County Association of Chiefs of Police have entered into an agreement to…
Point Doom
12:31 pm on Tuesday, May 7, 2013
I was wondering the same thing about the NERA more ›