Category: New Jersey State Police

roseland police officer michael gibbons thwarts car burglaries, Dodges car attack and enables recovery of stolen car in parsippany

3/26/2019

ROSELAND POLICE OFFICER MICHAEL GIBBONS THWARTS CAR BURGLARIES, Dodges car attack
AND enables recovery of a
STOLEN CAR in Parsippany

by Carolyne Volpe Curley / Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com
First Published 2:20am

ROSELAND, NJ - In the early morning hours of Tuesday, Mar. 26, Roseland Police Officer Michael Gibbons alerted headquarters to two individuals he reportedly saw breaking into cars in the area of Third Avenue, Roseland. Within minutes, he escaped injury, made an arrest, and assisted with a stolen car recovered in Parsippany.

At about 2:20am, Gibbons called in two individuals he reportedly witnessed on foot breaking into cars on Third Avenue. He was able to make one arrest, while a second individual ran on foot, and another remained in a second car.

The suspect on foot is described as:

Black male
wearing all black including a black skullcap
last seen running in the area of 502 Eagle Rock Avenue, at the end of Third Avenue

The individual driving the second car, described as a white male, reportedly attempted to use his car to attack Gibbons. The officer jumped back into his patrol car, and was not injured. The police car is believed to have sustained driver-side door damage.

The car was determined by police to be a 2012 Toyota Sienna wagon, stolen out of Lakewood. The driver then sped off, followed by Gibbons who was able to follow the car as it drove onto Eisenhower Parkway, and then Route 280 West.

After reportedly driving at speeds over 100 miles-per-hour, the car exited the road at some point after Exit 1 in Parsippany, in the back-lot of an office building. At that point it's believed that the driver bailed from the car and was seen running behind the building. Gibbons secured the car, and police were able to report its recovery to Lakewood authorities.

Multiple Parsippany Police units responded at about 2:33am to the car's location, along with a K9 unit. East Hanover also responded to the Parsippany location.

Roseland Police requested mutual aid from all surrounding towns and the State Police were also notified. By about 2:30am, Roseland Police began scouting in the areas of Harrison, Eisenhower, and Eagle Rock. As of 2:45am, the Essex County Sheriff Officers, including K9, were dispatched to Third Avenue to locate the second individual.

By 3am, officers responded from Caldwell, East Hanover, Livingston, and West Caldwell and surrounded the perimeter from QuickChek to Noecker School, while the K9 unit was picking up a scent at 3:15am in the Third Avenue location.

At 3:40am, all police units were released from the Third Avenue area with the investigation continuing.

"Officer Gibbons performed an excellent job this morning," commented Roseland Police Chief Rich McDonough.
"The recovered stolen car will be used to complete the investigation and identify all individuals involved with these incidents."

This morning at 8:45am, at least one car was reported to have been confirmed broken into overnight on Glen Avenue, Roseland, near Passaic Avenue.

Additionally, a car was reported stolen overnight from Green Avenue, near Cooper. The investigation continues and any new information will be updated.

Anyone with information should contact Roseland Police:
973-226-8700

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Patrick T. Deck, 54, of Watchung, Arrested at Land of Make Believe, Sentenced to 34 Years for Transporting Children and Producing Sexually Explicit Videos

6/1/2015

by Carolyne Volpe Curley / Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com
Published 7:57pm

NEWARK, NJ - Today, Patrick T. Deck, 54, of Watchung, was sentenced today in Newark federal court to 34 Years in prison for producing and transporting sexually explicit videos of children, US Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced. Deck had previously pleaded guilty before US District Judge Esther Salas to two counts of transportation of child pornography. Salas imposed the sentence today.

Information Gathered from Case Documents and Court Statements

On Aug. 12, 2012, Deck was arrested by the New Jersey State Police at the Land of Make Believe amusement park in Hope for allegedly filming children in the men’s restroom, without any consent.
Police executed a search warrant the next day at Deck’s home in Watchung and discovered multiple videos and images containing child sexual abuse on Deck’s computers and other electronic devices.

Deck admitted that between 1997 and 2010, he transported two minors, beginning when they were approximately 11-years old, to locations across the country, including New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Colorado and Montana for the purpose of filming them to creating sexually explicit films.
Deck admitted to producing the videos and images of child pornography and then transported those images back to his home in Watchung.
Deck was earlier convicted in 1988, in Burlington County Superior Court on two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Those convictions had arisen out of prior incidents when Deck, then 27, photographed or filmed minors engaged in sexual acts.

Penalties

34 Years in prison; age 88
Forfeit the video cameras and other devices that he used to commit the offense.
Deck will also be required to register as a sex offender.
In addition to the prison term, Salas sentenced Deck to serve a lifetime of supervised release.

Sentencing
Fishman credited the following in leading to today’s sentencing:

Special agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE)
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Newark Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin Kelly
NJ State Police under the direction of Col. Rick Fuentes
Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Richard T. Burke

Trial Representation
The US Government is represented by:

Assistant US Attorney Francisco J. Navarro of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.

The Defense is represented by:

James Wronko Esq., Somerville, New Jersey

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Three More Members of "Dirty Block Crime Fam" Gang Admit to Heroin Distribution And Money Laundering Conspiracies

5/29/2015

by Carolyne Volpe Curley / Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com
Published 6:10pm

TRENTON, NJ - Two Atlantic City men and a Millville woman today admitted their roles in a criminal street gang that used threats, intimidation and violence to maintain control of the illegal drug trade in Atlantic City, US Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Defendants
All three defendants entered their pleas today before U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson in Trenton federal court.

Franklin "Fat Boy" Simms, 31
US v Franklin Simms Court Papers
He pleaded guilty to:

one count of conspiring to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute
100 grams or more of heroin

Rayshell "Big Truck" Strong, 34
US v Rayshell Strong Court Papers
He pleaded guilty to:

one count of conspiring to distribute a detectable amount of heroin

Latasha "Tasha" Cherry, 31
US v Latasha Cherry Court papers
She pleaded guilty to:

one count of conspiring to engage in money laundering

Dirty Block Crime Fam
All three defendants were members of a gang known as “Dirty Block,” also known as:

Crime Fam
3.6.6.12
3.6

The group operated in a geographic area of Atlantic City that includes the public housing apartment complexes of Stanley Holmes Village and Schoolhouse Apartments. To date, 23 of the 34 defendants charged in this matter have been convicted, either through guilty pleas or following trial.

The Facts Gathered from Case Documents and Court Statements

Simms and Strong admitted distributing heroin on behalf of one of the gang’s alleged leaders, Tyrone "Rome" Ellis, 33, of Galloway, New Jersey, who was among the 34 defendants charged in May 2013.
Simms and Strong admitted that from October 2012 through March 2013, they conspired to distribute between 400 and 700 grams of heroin.
Cherry stated that she conspired with Ellis and others to launder the proceeds by transferring cash onto reloadable prepaid debit cards.

Penalties

The drug conspiracy charge to which Simms pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine.
The drug distribution conspiracy charge to which Strong pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
The money laundering charge to which Cherry pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

Sentencing
Sentencing for all three defendants is scheduled for Sept. 21, 2015.

Investigative Team
Fishman credited the following in leading to today’s sentencing:

Special agents of the FBI’s Newark Division
Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel
Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor James P. McClain
Atlantic City Police Department, under the direction of Chief Henry White
South Jersey Safe Streets Violent Incident and Gang (Safe Streets) Task Force

For their contributions, Fishman also thanked:

Trial Representation
The US Government is represented by:

Assistant US Attorneys Patrick Askin
Justin Danilewitz of the US Attorney’s Office in Camden
Special Assistant US Attorney Edmund Burgos of the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office

The Defense counsel is made up of:

Simms:
Troy A. Archie Esq., of Cinnaminson, New Jersey
Strong:
J. Michael Farrell Esq., of Philadelphia
Cherry:
Richard Sparaco Esq., of Cherry Hill, New Jersey

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Fairfield Officer Frank Tracey Arrests East Orange Teen for Car Theft After Crash and Foot Chase through Roseland Wooded Areas Early Monday Morning

1/13/2015

by Carolyne Volpe Curley / Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com
Published 9:30am

Credit: Kathy Pigott

ROSELAND, NJ - Early Monday morning, West Essex area police participated in a combined effort to catch a suspect wanted for stealing a car in Parsippany. It began around 1:15am when the NJ State Police announced that two cars had been stolen out of Parsippany; a car matching one of the descriptions was found crashed and abandoned in Roseland near the Route 280 / Eisenhower Parkway ramp.

Roseland officers alerted the State Police that the car had been found and began a foot pursuit of a suspect who was believed to be dressed in dark clothing. As officers canvassed the wooded area, mutual aid was requested from police of the area towns including East Hanover, Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell and West Caldwell.

Officers from West Caldwell were searching the streets and wooded areas of Passaic Avenue while the other towns centered on the backyards and woods near Cooper Avenue, Glen Avenue and all around Pitcairn Drive. By 1:52am, an Essex County Sheriff's Office canine unit had arrived to assist with the search.

During this time period, Fairfield Police Officer Frank Tracey was patrolling the streets along Passaic Avenue. According to Fairfield Officer in Charge Anthony Manna, Tracey came across a gold colored Ford Explorer, coming out of the Stonegate condos.

"Officer Tracey observed that the vehicle was occupied
by two African American males," Manna explained.
"The Explorer then turned down Cooper Avenue and disappeared from sight
by the time Officer Tracey could turn around to check on it.
He reacquired it on Glen Avenue, and based upon its suspicious activity, initiated a motor vehicle stop to investigate further.
As he approached the vehicle, he observed a third African American male
lying across the back seat of the vehicle.
This individuals clothing allegedly appeared wet and muddy,
the individual appeared to be sweating and
he had fresh scratch marks on the back of his hand."

After Tracey located the suspects at about 2:20am, officers from West Caldwell arrived to assist. The occupant of the backseat was arrested and turned out to be a teen, 17-years old, out of East Orange. The Parsippany Police responded to the scene to investigate further and by 2:50am, all units had cleared the scene.

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State Police Increasing Trooper Patrols Statewide Over Holiday Weekend

7/3/2014

by Carolyne Volpe Curley

The New Jersey State Police will be increasing their roving patrols this holiday weekend with well over 100 additional troopers statewide.

From Friday to Sunday, motorists should be prepared for troopers watching for the following:

people not wearing their seat belts
drivers using their cell phones to talk or text
drivers driving aggressively
drivers speeding
drivers driving erratically
drivers showing signs of fatigue
drivers showing signs of impairment due to drugs or alcohol

This holiday weekend, many people will be traveling long distances to vacation or visit friends and family. The State Police reminds everyone that if a driver plans on drinking an alcoholic beverage, they must make sure to have a designated driver. Similarly, if a driver will be traveling long distances, they should make sure to take a break from driving or take turns driving with a passenger.

“This program is designed to reduce crashes and crash-related fatalities,”
said Deputy Superintendent of Operations Lt. Colonel Edward Cetnar.
“We want everyone to get to and from their destination safely
and to enjoy the holiday weekend with their friends and families.”

NJ State Police assist passengers of a one car crash on Charlestown Road, in Union. Credit: NJ State Police

When we think of serious car crashes, the highways, interstates
and toll roads are the first to come to mind," a State Police spokesperson noted.
"Let's not forget about those winding, tree-lined
county roads riddled with hidden driveways.
Fast speeds and driver inattention can have disastrous consequences.
Go slow and enjoy the scenery."

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Drug Arrest Leads to Toxic Exposure in Livingston Tuesday

7/1/2014

Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com

Updated on Monday, July 14

LIVINGSTON, NJ - The 300 block of South Livingston Avenue (near Inglemoor Care Center) was shut down for about four hours on Tuesday, July 1, after a motor vehicle which was stopped for hazardous driving turned out to have toxic elements within it.

According to Livingston Police Detective Sergeant Anthony Dippold, his police department received calls at about 5pm on July 1, alerting them to a 2006 Blue Honda Element driving north erratically on S. Livingston Avenue. When police pulled over the vehicle they noticed that the driver, Andrew Straub, 27, had hypodermic syringes on the center console.

311 S. Livingston Avenue, Livingston Credit: Google Maps

Straub explained to the officer that he was in the process of transporting items from his old home in Plainfield to his new residence in Livingston. As the officers examined the vehicle, they also found labelled containers of what turned out to be sealed, separated from each other, alcohol-based chemicals. Soon after, three of the officers became ill from the fumes which were emanating from the containers.

The police called in the Nutley Hazmat Team to identify the chemicals and the Honda was impounded at police headquarters. In addition, animal control was called in because live fish were also found in the car, which the driver stated were pets being moved to his new Livingston home.

The items inside of Straub's vehicle caused police to be concerned enough to close down South Livingston Avenue. Nutley Hazmat arrived at the scene by 5:24pm and after a subsequent observation of the car, determined that the driver and the responding officers were contaminated with toxic elements and all were transferred by the Livingston First Aid Squad to St. Barnabas Hospital by 5:56pm.

At the hospital, a staff member trained in contaminates met them outside and treated them. The Hazmat team continued to secure the area by 6:51pm.

The Hazmat team, the Livingston Fire Department and officers from the the NJ State Police and the Essex County Sheriff's Office - along with an agent from the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) - continued to work through the night and by 9:44pm the officers left the scene and declared the area to be safe.

"For anything like this,
we have to be extremely careful,"Dippold expressed.

Straub's house ended up being searched by law officials but no evidence for the reason he was transporting the chemicals was ever found. He was ultimately charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Although neighbors reported hearing a possible explosion during the arrest, to their knowledge police were unaware of any noise or any connection of a noise to the arrest.

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Police

roseland police officer michael gibbons thwarts car burglaries, Dodges car attack and enables recovery of stolen car in parsippany

ROSELAND POLICE OFFICER MICHAEL GIBBONS THWARTS CAR BURGLARIES, Dodges car attack
AND enables recovery of a
STOLEN CAR in Parsippany

Patrick T. Deck, 54, of Watchung, Arrested at Land of Make Believe, Sentenced to 34 Years for Transporting Children and Producing Sexually Explicit Videos

Three More Members of "Dirty Block Crime Fam" Gang Admit to Heroin Distribution And Money Laundering Conspiracies

Fairfield Officer Frank Tracey Arrests East Orange Teen for Car Theft After Crash and Foot Chase through Roseland Wooded Areas Early Monday Morning

State Police Increasing Trooper Patrols Statewide Over Holiday Weekend

Drug Arrest Leads to Toxic Exposure in Livingston Tuesday

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Police

roseland police officer michael gibbons thwarts car burglaries, Dodges car attack and enables recovery of stolen car in parsippany

ROSELAND POLICE OFFICER MICHAEL GIBBONS THWARTS CAR BURGLARIES, Dodges car attack​AND enables recovery of a ​STOLEN CAR in Parsippany

Patrick T. Deck, 54, of Watchung, Arrested at Land of Make Believe, Sentenced to 34 Years for Transporting Children and Producing Sexually Explicit Videos

Three More Members of "Dirty Block Crime Fam" Gang Admit to Heroin Distribution And Money Laundering Conspiracies

Fairfield Officer Frank Tracey Arrests East Orange Teen for Car Theft After Crash and Foot Chase through Roseland Wooded Areas Early Monday Morning

State Police Increasing Trooper Patrols Statewide Over Holiday Weekend

Drug Arrest Leads to Toxic Exposure in Livingston Tuesday

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ROSELAND POLICE OFFICER MICHAEL GIBBONS THWARTS CAR BURGLARIES, Dodges car attack
AND enables recovery of a
STOLEN CAR in Parsippany