Travis Cavanaugh held off law enforcement for an hour before surrendering, Freehold Township police said.
Smash. Smash. Smash.
It was no way to wake up in the morning.
There are more than a dozen windows facing the front of the bi-level house at 5 Stonehurst Blvd.
But there were far fewer when Travis Cavanaugh, of Freehold, came calling in the dead of the night Wednesday.
And there were far more shards littering the lawn of the 4-bedroom home in a quiet neighborhood near the convergence of Routes 9, 33 and 79.
It was 4:20 a.m., Police Sgt. Jerry Kiwit said.
Cavanaugh, who lives nearby, allegedly began breaking windows in the home where a family was sleeping. He did not know them. They did not know him. There was no relationship between Cavanaugh and the people inside the home, Kiwit said.
It was as random as random gets.
Police were called. Numerous showed: Freehold Township. Freehold Borough. Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, with a police dog named Nanook, Kiwit said.
And there they stood, facing Cavanaugh, who was wielding a 10-inch kitchen knife, threatening police, threatening himself, according to Kiwit.
And so it went, for more than an hour: Police trying to talk down Cavanaugh and Cavanaugh refusing, Kiwit said.
It did end, peacefully. Cavanaugh was taken into custody about an hour after the standoff began, Kiwit said.
Cavanaugh was charged with criminal mischief, making terroristic threats, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and aggravated assault, Kiwit said.
He was taken to CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township, for a psychiatric examination, according to Kiwit. It was not known by 4 p.m. Wednesday if he had been transferred to Monmouth County jail, Kiwit said.
Jail records by 4:30 p.m. Wednesday did not list Cavanaugh as an inmate.
FREEHOLD, NJ – Swimming at a local or backyard pool, or at one of the beautiful beaches in Monmouth County is an important part of fun and enjoyment during the summertime. If the proper precautions are not taken, swimming can also be a danger, especially to our children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention drowning is the leading cause of injury related death for children ages 1 through 4.
“The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office is committed to ensuring safety throughout the summer season,” said Sheriff Shaun Golden. “That’s why we are urging parents and guardians to review the following safety tips in an effort to make this summer enjoyable and most importantly, safe.”
HELPFUL SWIMMING SAFETY TIPS
Teach your children how to dial 9-1-1 in case of emergencies. Children should be prepared to give their full name and explain what happened.
Never leave children unattended. Always provide adult supervision for your children in or around a body of water, including swimming pools, lakes and beaches. Children can drown in as little as two inches of water.
Teach children to always swim with a partner
Air filled flotation devices do not replace adult supervision for children in the water. Flotation devices can give parents and children a false sense of security.
Learn CPR at a certified program in your area.
Always check the water depth before allowing children to enter the water.
Learn to swim. Enroll yourself and or your children (age appropriate) in swimming classes.
SHERIFF’S OFFICE ISSUES SWIMMING SAFETY TIPS FOR SUMMER
Always remember if you are caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shore. Once you are out of the current swim toward the shore.
Always watch for dangerous waves and signs of rip current water that is discolored, unusually choppy, foamy or filled with debris.
Always remember that currents are often unpredictable –they can move rapidly and quickly change direction. A strong water current can carry expert swimmers far from shore.
The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office wishes everyone a safe and enjoyable summer.
At approximately 5:30pm (Sunday 8/25) emergency services responded to Liberty Park, 99 Liberty Street, for reported shots fired in the area. While enroute callers reported a victim was shot at the location. A victim was discovered to be shot in the hip and was conscious and alert. A medevac was originally requested but was cancelled. The victim was transported by ground to an area hospital. Freehold Twp Police along with the Monmouth County Sheriffs Office responded to the area to assist along with a K-9 Unit from MCSO and the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit. There has been no mention of a suspect description at this time. Further information is currently unavailable.
Freehold Borough Police tel: (732) 462-1233.
Tips can be called into Monmouth County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-671-4400, by texting “MONMOUTH” and the tip to 274637.
Photo and article source: Monmouth County Police, Fire & EMS Facebook page
Important message from the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office
SHERIFF ISSUES WARNING AGAINST SOLICITATION SCAMS
Freehold Township: Sheriff Shaun Golden is issuing a warning against solicitation scams by organizations claiming to be associated with the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office.
This comes after the agency received a number of calls from residents and businesses in reference to a telephone solicitation for funds to the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office. Callers to the sheriff’s office complained they were being solicited, lied to and in some cases, harassed. The organization misrepresenting itself is Alliance Fundraising of Princeton.
“This type of solicitation and misrepresentation is inexcusable and will not be tolerated,” said Sheriff Shaun Golden. “Our agency does not make calls for contributions of any kind, nor does it authorize the solicitation of contributions. We will aggressively investigate such scams and pursue all avenues of complaints both on the criminal and civil side.”
Complaints to the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office can be directed to (732) 431-7139. If it is determined any laws, rules or directives have been violated these acts will be reported to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, which is authorized to prosecute cases on a county basis, the Division of Consumer Affairs which is authorized to investigate state offenses or the Federal Trade Commission, which is the federal agency authorized to investigate consumer offenses nationwide.
Organizations representing certain bargaining units within the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office frequently hire companies to conduct telephone or mail solicitations on behalf of their members. These solicitations are not endorsed by, nor do they benefit, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office.
“Our agency does not prohibit unions from soliciting contributions, as long as attorney general guidelines are followed, but the agency can educate the public about fraud,” said Sheriff Golden.
In the event you receive a phone call it’s important to adhere to these guidelines:
•You are not being rude you are being shrewd when you simply hang up.
•Beware of offers to “help” and be wary of callers who claim they are law enforcement officers who will help for a fee.
•If you don’t want a business to call you again, say so. If they call back report them.
•Put yourself on the federal do not call list. The toll free number is 1-888-382-1222 or www.donotcall.gov .
•If you receive a call soliciting funds for the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office please report it to (732) 431-7139 and provide the date, time, and phone number of the organization and details of the call.
Freehold: Sheriff Shaun Golden is pleased to announce that work continues on the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Hazard Mitigation Plan update process. The plan is a documented evaluation of the hazards to which a community is susceptible and the extent to which these events will occur.
On Thursday February 27, OEM held two workshop sessions as part of the ongoing Monmouth County Multi-Jurisdictional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan update process. The work sessions included a presentation from the consulting firm URS Corporation, who was hired through a FEMA grant. The sessions provided municipalities with assistance on the development and documentation of the mitigation strategy. Monmouth County’s mitigation strategy is designed to reduce and eliminate risks to people and property from natural hazard events. The need for mitigation strategies has increased due to the increase in natural hazard occurrences.
“As a result of Superstorm Sandy, this plan and the information contained within it has never been more important,” said Sheriff Shaun Golden, whose agency oversees the Office of Emergency Management. “Based on the hazards and risks, the projects identified by each town and Monmouth County will help shape the mitigation planning for the next several years.”
The current Hazard Mitigation Plan was adopted by Monmouth County and municipalities in
2009. Under FEMA guidelines it is required to be updated every five years. The County has taken the lead on the overall planning process to guide the fifty-three municipalities in an effort to meet the FEMA requirements and therefore be able to officially adopt the plan.
Upon completion, Monmouth County OEM will submit the plan to New Jersey OEM and FEMA for final approval. Once approved by those two agencies, each municipality will be required to formally adopt the plan. They will then continue to be eligible for pre and post disaster mitigation grant funding. The County anticipates the draft plan will be available and ready for public comment by late spring of 2014. It will then be posted to the Office of Emergency Management’s website.
Sheriff Shaun Golden is pleased to announce that the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office is the first law enforcement agency in Monmouth County to become equipped and deploy Tasers. Eight sheriff’s officers have been trained and certified to use the four Taser Model X2 Conducted Energy Devices, recently added to the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office Law Enforcement Division.
“This initiative is another innovative step that keeps the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office in the forefront of law enforcement and public safety,” said Sheriff Shaun Golden. “These Tasers are lifesaving mechanisms that can deter lethal force and danger to an officer, an innocent bystander, a victim of a crime or a suspect.”
The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office Law Enforcement Division, consists of the warrants fugitive bureau and five K-9 teams which assist in narcotics & explosive detection and criminal and missing person searches. The division also provides the security for the Monmouth County Courthouse and other facilities.
“During high profile cases in a confined venue of a courtroom setting, the deployment of mechanical force is crucial and more practical than the use of a firearm,” said Michael Donovan, Undersheriff of the Law Enforcement Division.
“Our officers are also placed in situations that present a danger to themselves and others due to the increase in high risk crime areas and the growing drug problem that plagues our county.”
New Jersey was the last state to approve the conducted energy devices and is considered to have some of the strictest policies through the Attorney General guidelines. The Tasers must come equipped with a high definition video recorder so all incidents are recorded to ensure that the device is being used appropriately.
The Taser is a device that fires darts and transmits an electrical charge or current which temporarily disables an individual.
Attorney General Guidelines state:
•An officer may use enhanced mechanical force when the officer reasonably believes such action is necessary to protect the officer or another person from danger or serious bodily injury.
•An officer may use enhanced mechanical force against persons whose conduct is injurious only to themselves.
“Our sheriff’s officers are deployed throughout the entire county and it is important for them to be equipped with these devices, which must and will be used responsibly, when combatting crime and protecting the public,” said Sheriff Golden.
The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office conducts the Taser training for law enforcement officers in Monmouth County. An officer must file a report each time the Taser is used.
Source: Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page
FREEHOLD-Sheriff Shaun Golden is pleased to announce that the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office is among one of the first law enforcement agencies in the county to become equipped with Narcan. Beginning, May 29, Naloxone, also known as Narcan, a nasal spray that counteracts the effects of a heroin overdose, will be carried by trained sheriff’s officers and administered to individuals in emergency situations.
“The availability of Narcan to first responders is a major step forward when it comes to addressing the heroin epidemic that plagues Monmouth and Ocean counties,” said Sheriff Shaun Golden. “I commend the Monmouth and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Offices for leading this movement, and, would especially like to recognize Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato for bringing this innovative program to the forefront several months ago. I look forward to working with him and Acting Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni in the continued efforts of the fight against drug abuse and addiction.”
The initiative comes after Gov. Chris Christie launched a pilot program in Ocean and Monmouth counties that trains and equips first responders to administer Narcan.
Sheriff’s officers were trained by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office which has also supplied and funded the initial Narcan kits.
The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office must follow standard procedures through the pilot program in which a Narcan coordinator designated by the sheriff’s office must ensure the following:
-The Narcan is current and not expired.
-The proper and efficient deployment of Narcan is carried out by officers.
-Any Narcan that is damaged, unusable, expired or deployed must be replaced.
-Ensure that all officers who will be using Narcan have received appropriate training in such.
-Ensure that any deployment of Narcan to a subject will have a corresponding incident report documenting such deployment.
-Report to the County Prosecutor within 24 hours (County Narcan Coordinator) any use of Narcan utilizing the Monmouth County Nasal Narcan Deployment Form.
“In addition to our participation in the Narcan program, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office through the National Prescription Drug Takeback Initiative, continues to be a leader in decreasing prescription drug abuse, which can lead to other dangerous drugs such as heroin,” said Sheriff Golden. “It’s our hope that through this dedication and these efforts, lives will be saved and the drug abuse problem will experience a downward trend.”
Source: Monmouth County Police, Fire & EMS Facebook page
The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office provided this important information. Please be careful in the ocean.
The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office wants swimmers to take precautions and stay safe this weekend since strong rip currents are expected at the jersey shore as a result of Hurricane Arthur.
A Long Branch man was arrested and charged for the 2013 double murder of two individuals found dead inside a Sairs Avenue apartment, announced Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Carlos I. Menjivar, 22, of 45 North Fifth Ave., in Long Branch, is charged with two counts of first degree Murder and one count of third degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose. He is currently being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold Township, on $2 million bail with no 10 percent option, as set by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Francis J. Vernoia, P.J.Cr.
Menjivar was arrested following a joint investigation by this Office’s Major Crimes Bureau with the Long Branch Police Department and Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation began after Maria Catejo-Munoz, 35, of Long Branch, was reported missing around noon on Sunday, March 24, prompting a search for her whereabouts. The search led Long Branch Police to the Sairs Avenue apartment of Fredis O. Ventura, 33, who was romantically involved with Cotejo-Munoz, around 4 p.m. on March 25, 2013. The pair were discovered dead inside the apartment.
If convicted of Murder, Menjivar faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without parole in a New Jersey state prison. If convicted of Possession of Weapon for an Unlawful purpose, he faces a sentence of up to five years in state prison.
Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Bureau at 1-800-533-7443.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.
The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutors Thomas Huth, Director of the Major Crimes Bureau and Matthew Bogner, of the Office’s Major Crimes Bureau.
Roosevelt is a small town that encompasses approximately two square miles and has about 860 residents.
Emergency services include both the Roosevelt First Aid and the Roosevelt Fire Company.
On average, the Roosevelt Fire Company receives between 1-5 calls per month.
Prior to 2006, the Fire Company was relatively defunct and inactive having only three members and using old equipment and firefighting gear.
Over the past several years, members of the Roosevelt Fire Company have worked very hard to reinvent themselves. Their determination and positive attitude have allowed them to exponentially increase their membership from 3 to 18, receive donations of equipment and uniforms from surrounding towns, fund raise to purchase their own uniforms and equipment and receive $15,000 in grants. They were awarded a $10,000 grant from the Gary Sinise Foundation recognizing the work of local first responders, one $5,000 grant from the Firefighters Support Foundation and are currently working with NJ State Forestry on an additional $10,000 in grants as part of the VFA Grant Program and another $3,750 grant from the USDA.
Who are some of the members of the Roosevelt Fire Company?
April Suk, Firefighter, Fire Company Treasurer and member of the Office of Emergency Management, raised $20,000 becoming grant writer for the Fire Company.
April’s husband and fellow firefighter Chris Suk is the President of the Fire Company, Captain of the Fire Department and Lieutenant of the First Aid Squad.
John Lenart has been a Roosevelt resident since 1989 and is the Vice President of the Roosevelt Fire Department and Training Officer.
John’s son, Justin Lenart, just graduated the fire training academy about six months ago and also in training to be a member of the Roosevelt First Aid Squad.
Sam Lopez and Tim Curry just passed their Firefighter 1 State Exams. Tim’s father is a longstanding member North Brunswick Fire Department and the son of a current Roosevelt Borough Councilman.
Brian Erxleben is a Firefighter who lives in Upper Freehold but has been a proud member of the Roosevelt Fire Company for the past 7 months. He was formerly a member of the Hope Fire House in Upper Freehold.
The Roosevelt Fire Chief is Dan Archer. He became Chief right after Superstorm Sandy. Archer was a member of the Hightstown Fire Company when he was 17 years old. His father was a former Chief of the Hightstown Fire Company.
December was a busy month for new recruits with five new probationary members coming aboard; Grayson Asprocolas, Kevin Balon, Mike Blash, Stuart Faunce and Peter Van Salisbury.
Despite all of the efforts of this extremely positive, new, improved and revitalized membership, many severe obstacles abound.
One of the major challenges that Roosevelt Fire Company had been wrestling with relates to emergency response radio transmission problems. Thankfully, this is currently being resolved through significant efforts by the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, the Roosevelt Borough Council, Motorola and the Roosevelt First Aid and Roosevelt Fire Company.
For the past several months, emergency messages had not been working properly. Emergency messages that should have immediately been transmitted from 911 calls and routed to the Roosevelt Fire Company had been arriving late or in some instances, not at all.
“The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office recently completed testing of the First Aid Squad and Fire Department communications system in Roosevelt. As a result, we believe the upgrades and additional improvements made to the emergency network system that were installed will dramatically improve interoperable communications.”
~ Cynthia Scott, Public Information Officer, Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office
1970 Mack Fire Truck
During Superstorm Sandy, the Roosevelt Fire Company lost their brush truck. They are currently using a 1970 Mack fire truck that was purchased from Freehold in 1997. While the truck still is, for the most part operational, it continuously breaks down.
John Lenart described some of the challenges related to the 1970 truck.
The 1970 Mack truck is old and has a myriad of issues causing it to not function properly.
It is housed in a garage that is just a few inches larger than the truck and has extremely limited space for other emergency equipment.
The garage does not have running water or a bathroom.
The garage sustained roof damage from Superstorm Sandy that has yet to be repaired.
Roosevelt has only one pumper and cannot go on mutual aid calls because they are a one-engine company.
Participating in mutual aid calls would take them away from Roosevelt in the event of an emergency at home.
Having just the one engine precludes the Fire Company from taking part in training with neighboring towns.
1970 Mack CF 1250/500: Roosevelt’s only current apparatus is the 1970 Mack CF-600 that was purchased along with a 1974 Dodge Mini Pumper for $16,000 from Freehold Borough Fire Department in 1997.
Lenart said, “Morganville is donating a brush truck to us and that will give us another pumper. Between the fund raisers we had this year, the $10,000 Gary Sinise grant, the other two $5,000 grants (one from the NJ Department of Forestry and the USDA) and what April has worked hard to raise, April has practically brought in the $25,000 we need to buy the 1993 truck in less than a year. The 1993 truck will be like a Cadillac to us compared to the 1970 Mack we are using now.”
“When we drive down the road in our 1970 truck, sometimes you can’t even see us because there’s so much smoke that comes out of it. We can almost shut down traffic! It only seats four firefighters so if six show up, they have to take their own trucks. We are not allowed to sit in the open seats because it’s against NFP and OSHA standards. It’s a good thing that Roosevelt is only two miles. The truck can only drive 25 mph anyway. We can run quicker,” Lenart continued.
“When we drive down the road in our 1970 truck, sometimes you can’t even see us because there’s so much smoke that comes out of it. We can almost shut down traffic!”
~ John Lenart, Vice President Roosevelt Fire Company
Lenart said, “A few months back, we brought our truck out for training with Hightstown (Fire Department) at Peddie Lake and the truck had an oil leak while we were drafting from the lake. So, here we are going to train, our truck leaks oil in the lake and we cause a hazmat scene. Well, that ended our training!”
This 28 foot 1970 Mack truck just barely fits inside the 30 foot bay of the fire garage. The garage also shares space with all of the other firefighting equipment and uniforms. “It’s tight in there. When you are pulling the truck into the garage, if you don’t move the mirrors in, you can’t get the truck in. We only have two inches of clearance,” April Suk said.
Up until very recently, each firefighter used to either hang their personal fire gear on the nails in the wall or they would take their gear home with them.
In an effort to create a more spacious spot to hang the fire gear in the garage, Justin Lenart became creative.
“We used to just hang our gear on the 5 nails in the wall. Justin came in to the garage in the dead of night and mounted crates on the wall for storage and put each of our names on 2X4’s. I know this makes us sound kind of sad that we store gear in milk crates but it’s a really a tremendous step up from the nails,” April said.
The Roosevelt Fire Company has almost raised the entire $25,000 to purchase a newer 1993 fire truck from the Wall Township Fire Company.
But, while the fund raising is going exceptionally well, there is a problem.
“NEW” 1993 truck won’t fit in current fire garage
The good thing is that there will soon be two fire trucks for the Roosevelt Fire Company to use.
The bad news is that the “new” 1993 truck is 35 feet long and definitely will not fit in the current firehouse garage which is only 30 feet long. The 1993 truck will have to be parked in the driveway of the Roosevelt Fire Company.
The new truck cannot be used in the cold months if it is not housed in a heated building because the water will freeze inside the truck.
At this time, the Roosevelt Town Council is considering several options for housing the new truck.
The Roosevelt Borough Engineer has been out to survey the current property and is drawing up plans for the new Emergency Services Building which will house all three fire trucks, both ambulances as well as have offices for Fire, EMS and OEM.
MUTUAL AID – One Engine Company:
The purchase of this second vehicle will allow Roosevelt to take part in mutual aid calls with surrounding towns.
“Right now, we can’t go on mutual aid calls. We can’t leave town. We only have one fire truck. While we have enough firefighters and we want to participate in the mutual aid calls, we can’t because we just don’t have the equipment,” John Lenart said.
Recently, there was a fire at a home in Millstone. The Roosevelt Fire Company was just two miles away from the burning home while the Millstone Fire Company was five miles away. Roosevelt was the closest fire house but they couldn’t assist because they are a one engine company.
“We just had to sit here. We had enough people but we didn’t have a truck to take. We simply can’t assist because of the age of our equipment, the age of our gear and us being a one engine company,” April Suk said.
“Many firefighters are second generation firefighters, many are volunteers for both the EMT and Fire Company, many have their whole families in rescue. We are turning into a more integrated Emergency Services Department rather than two separate entities of EMT and Fire. We have terrific support for this joint effort with the Roosevelt Town Council. They are looking into the opportunity of building an Emergency Services building now.”
~ April Suk, Roosevelt Firefighter
Revitalization of the Roosevelt Fire Company
In anticipation of Tropical Storm Sandy hitting Monmouth County, John Lenart set up a Sandy Pre-hurricane meeting.
“When we heard Sandy was coming, we gathered up anyone who had been on the Fire Department regardless of activity at that time and asked them to come to a Pre-Sandy Office of Emergency Management (OEM) meeting.
“When Sandy hit, that was our wake up call. We were all trapped here. There were trees down on both sides of the firehouse. We just couldn’t wait for Shade Tree Commission or the County to come out. We couldn’t dispatch our ambulance. We were trying to cut tree trunks and move them off the roads – all in 70 mph winds. Then, a tree fell on our telecommunication box. Our department was in such a defunct state that we literally had nothing here to open roads, to clear passages, to remove volumes of water. So we all used our own personal things, our own personal pool pumps, our own axes, our own chain saws.”
“I had the generator on at my house and I was charging peoples sump pump batteries so they could pump out their basements. People were just dropping off their batteries to charge. It was crazy! At one time, I had 24 batteries charging at my house. We all helped each other out.”
Superstorm Sandy was the catalyst for change to the Roosevelt Fire Department. Immediately after Sandy, Roosevelt Borough bought a generator.
John Lenart is very proud of all the positive changes that have occurred.
“We really turned things around here. We have April to thank for that. April is constantly on the Internet, trying non-stop to find ways to get funds and donations. Without her, we wouldn’t be where we are today, I have no doubt in my mind about that. We would have really nothing without her.”
John Lenart described how they raised funds to get their firefighters suited up in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) qualified suits and equipment costing more than $2,500 each. They had been using borrowed gear from Applegarth Fire Company but it wasn’t NFPA qualified.
“We were so thankful to Applegarth for giving us this gear but we weren’t allowed to use it during training. Gear has a “born on” date and can only be used for a certain period of time. Tim was in training but he couldn’t continue with the training because his gear was not up to standards. We had to provide him and the other firefighters with appropriate PPE personal protective equipment (PPE).”
“State standards are so high now and they don’t allow you to participate unless you are up to NFPA and OSHA standards. But, with an $18,000 a year budget, it’s hard to outfit our guys in gear that costs $5,000 a piece.”
April Suk is constantly researching additional grant opportunities.
The members of the Roosevelt Fire Company are gracious and very thankful for the donations they receive from other fire companies and hope that to continue to be recipients of good will. April Suk described the fact that surrounding towns understand that Roosevelt is rebuilding the Fire Company. Many firefighters are second generation firefighters, many are volunteers for both the EMT and Fire Company, many have their whole families in rescue.
“We are turning into more integrated Emergency Services Department rather than two separate entities of EMT and Fire. We have terrific support for this joint effort with the Roosevelt Town Council. They are looking into the opportunity of building an Emergency Services building now.”
The Roosevelt Fire Company has exceeded each of the goals they have set for 2014:
Fire Company’s 2014 goals:
Update our articles of incorporation, bylaws andSOGs
DONE, making additional updates for 2015
Apply for and be approved for our gambling license
DONE, received June, 2014
Apply for and receive 501(c)(3) status
DONE, approved in August 2014
Acquire a brush truck
DONE, brush truck coming from Morganville in February, 2015
Outfit all of the certified members in new PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
DONE, purchased three sets already and have another three on order
Receive Wildfire Training for all members
DONE, currently working with NJ Forestry
Encourage new members throughNJFF1 training
DONE, had two firefighters graduate in June, have two more graduating in January, and 5 more enrolling in February
The Roosevelt Fire Department’s goal was to reach 10 members. They have almost doubled that now by having 18 members.
The Roosevelt Fire Company has clearly come a long way in the past several years. They are continuing to work hard providing Roosevelt with emergency services. They are always looking for members and volunteers. To volunteer, please contact (609) 832-3473 or visit the Roosevelt Volunteer Fire Company website www.rooseveltfire.org
The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office has some cold weather tips to share.
Stay warm!
The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office wants all to stay safe and apply cold weather tips during this arctic blast as temperatures dip down into the single digits and the wind chills make it feel below zero.
Woman in blue becomes the first female lieutenant to serve in the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office Correctional Division
Lt. Susan Stephenson, first female Lieutenant to serve in Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff Shaun Golden is pleased to announce the first female lieutenant of the Monmouth County Correctional Division. Lt. Susan Stephenson recently took the oath of office to the position after working at the correctional institution for 19 years.
“It is a great honor and privilege for me to promote Susan Stephenson to lieutenant,” said Sheriff Shaun Golden. “She has served as a role model to both, women and men through her hard work, dedication and leadership skills. There is no one more deserving of this position.”
Lt. Stephenson began her career at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in 1995 and worked in all sections of the facility including key operational areas such as booking, central control, disciplinary detention and protective custody housing. In 2010, she was promoted to sergeant and one year later became the supervisor of accreditation. In that role, she was responsible for maintaining MCCI’s Four Star Accreditation, policies and procedures and insuring that MCCI was in compliance with all the standards implemented by the Department of Corrections and the American Correctional Association. In 2013, Sheriff Golden presented Lt. Stephenson with the Accreditation Team Excellence Award.
“Lt. Stephenson has done an exceptional job in maintaining the national accreditation of our facility,” said Warden Barry Nadrowski.
“She and her ACA team helped meet the nationally accredited standards with above average compliance. Those are results that set MCCI apart from other correctional facilities.”
Lt. Stephenson is an active member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 30 Monmouth County Superior Officers and sits on the executive board as second vice president. She also dedicates her time to the RAINE Foundation, Reaching All in Need Everyday, which is made up of members who conduct a holiday gift drive to help struggling families throughout the Bayshore area of Monmouth County.
As lieutenant, Stephenson will serve as watch commander overseeing operations at MCCI.
“I’m honored to have risen through the ranks and become the first female to serve in this position at MCCI,” said Lt. Susan Stephenson. “I hope to set an example for all women in law enforcement, but particularly the younger ones, who are just starting out in this profession.”
MCCI presently has 26 female corrections officers, and one female lieutenant.
Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Labor Program is assisting with a cleanup in Millstone this week. Six inmates have been clearing trash and debris from roadways by the Millstone River and near the Jersey State Memorial Park.
Pair Brutally Killed Two Borough Restaurant Owners in Search for Cash
Two New York City men, convicted of the brutal 2010 double homicide and armed robbery of siblings, who owned a borough restaurant, were sentenced Tuesday to life in a New Jersey state prison, announced Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Zeng Liang Chen, 25, a Chinese national, and Dong Biao Lin, 27, both previously residing in New York City, were sentenced by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Anthony J. Mellaci, Jr., J.S.C, to life in prison. Both men are also subject to the provisions of the “No Early Release Act” (NERA) requiring each of them to serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed, or 63 years and 9 months, before becoming eligible for release on parole. They will also be under parole supervision for an additional five years following any release from state prison.
Lin pleaded guilty on January 8, 2014, to two counts of first degree Murder and two counts of first degree Felony Murder, and agreed to testify against Chen.
Chen was found guilty of numerous crimes on February 5, 2015, including first degree Murder and two counts of first degree Felony Murder, first degree Armed Robbery, second degree Armed Burglary, second degree Conspiracy to Commit Armed Burglary and third degree Possession of Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose
The case involved the brutal slaying of two restaurant owners occurring on South Street in Freehold Borough on June 16, 2010. At approximately 5:00 p.m., Freehold Borough Police responded to a call from a motorist reporting an injured man on South Street in the Borough. Officers found Mr. Yao Chen, 28, of Freehold Borough, in the street in front of his residence. Mr. Chen was conscious and attempting to move although is hands were bound. The victim was bleeding profusely from multiple knife injuries to his body, including severe injuries to his neck and abdomen. Mr. Chen was subsequently transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center where he died. An autopsy revealed Mr. Chen had suffered 74 separate stab wounds.
While tending to Mr. Chen in the street, police received a report of two young Asian males on Main Street in Freehold Borough who appeared to have recently been involved in an altercation. A description of these men was broadcast over police radio and, a short time later, the Freehold Township Police located them near Route 9 where they were taken into custody. The two men were later identified as Chen and Lin.
A search of the victim’s South Street residence revealed the lifeless body of a second victim, Mrs. Yun Juan Chen. An autopsy performed on Mrs. Chen, 39, concluded that she had died as a result of 80 separate stab wounds. The two slain victims, Mr. Chen and Mrs. Chen, were brother and sister. Defendant Zeng Liang Chen is not related to either of the victims.
The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Freehold Borough Police Department immediately launched a joint investigation into the double homicide with the assistance of the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and Freehold Township, Tinton Falls and Piscataway police departments. The investigation revealed Lin previously worked in a Freehold-area restaurant owned by the Chen family. The two men broke into the home while Mr. Chen and Mrs. Chen were inside; believing a significant quantity of cash was within the residence. Other members of the Chen family, who resided in the home, were working at a nearby family-owned restaurant at the time of the break-in. Lin and Chen attacked the victims inside the home before fleeing the scene. Mr. Chen made his way outside and to the street where he was observed by a passerby who contacted police.
Lin testified at Chen’s trial that Chen participated in the planning of the crime, tying the male victim to a bed and holding him captive while Lin searched the home for money and other valuables. Lin, who admitted he inflicted the fatal knife wounds on Mr. and Mrs. Chen, testified that defendant Zeng Liang Chen also brandished the knife during the attack. Chen himself admitted to the police that he beat the male victim with brass knuckles after tying him to the bed.
Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutors Matthew Bogner and Jennifer Lipp prosecuted the case for the State. Chen was represented by Raymond Santiago, Esq., of Freehold. Lin was represented by Maria D. Noto, Esq., of Freehold.
Monmouth County: Sheriff Shaun Golden wants residents of Monmouth County to have easier and enhanced accessibility when finding information regarding the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, and, in doing so, has recently unveiled the agency’s redesigned website.
“The sheriff’s office newly redesigned website increases our contact with the residents by providing them with a wealth of public safety resources in a fast and efficient manner,” said Sheriff Shaun Golden. “It includes valuable and real time information and those who visit the website will find it easier to navigate and more user friendly.”
The website can be entered directly by logging on towww.monmouthsheriff.org. It was created by the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, Information Technology Department and is equipped with the latest web design, which enables the page to work on all devices, including smart phones, tablets and desk top computers.
All of the sheriff’s office divisions are highlighted on the website which includes Law Enforcement, Communications, Special Operations and Corrections, along with the Office of Emergency Management, community outreach programs and an archive of current and past news releases.
The redesigned site now hosts the Monmouth County Correctional Institution’s (MCCI) inmate database, which is updated with information close to real-time. That lays the groundwork for further upgrades planned in 2016 which will allow real-time, instantaneous information directly from MCCI.
The foreclosure information section includes an up to the minute sales list, foreclosure procedures, foreclosure mediation forms and contact information. In addition, there are frequently updated photos of the services provided by the sheriff’s office and a direct link to the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office social media pages. The sheriff’s office Facebook page was recently verified by Facebook for being the Official Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office Facebook presence. This certification is only provided after the agency provides proof and verification that it is legitimately maintained and monitored by the agency, ensuring the public’s trust in getting valid information. The verification is represented by a check within a blue circle. The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office is one of the first sheriff’s offices nationwide to pass the verification.
“The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office continues to be a leader when it comes to how law enforcement agencies generate information,” said Sheriff Golden. “Between the new website, our active social media pages and Facebook verification, the public is well connected with the services and information the office provides.”
The Fourth of July weekend tallied the 200th deployment of naloxone since the drug overdose antidote was deployed just 13 months ago and consequently 176 lives have been saved during the 207 total deployments to-date, announced Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
“Police officers are usually the first responders to the scenes of crimes, motor vehicles accidents, and a long list of events including drug overdoses. Having these live-saving tools at the ready has only proven their value time after time. The program is working. We are saving lives,” Gramiccioni said.
The first deployment of naloxone occurred in Ocean Township less than four hours after the deployment was announced on June 5, 2014. By mid-September the antidote had been deployed 50 times, and the 100th deployment successfully revived a 24-year-old Aberdeen man on New Year’s Day 2015. The 200th deployment occurred on July 1, when Neptune police successfully used the overdose antidote on a 55-year-old man.
The 207 naloxone deployments includes 22 people who died and 8 two-timers who received naloxone on two separate occasions for a suspected overdose of heroin or prescription opiates: Male, 50, Keansburg; Male, 26, West Long Branch; Male, 18, Matawan; Male, 58, Eatontown; Female, 25, Keyport; Female, 44, Middletown; Male, 19, Manalapan; and a now deceased Male, 28, from Middletown. The 22 who died include 18 males and 4 females, ranging in age from 22 to 59 years old.
“Monmouth County Sheriff’s Officers have been trained to use naloxone, and the efforts of law enforcement across the county are paying dividends with the lives that are being saved, thanks in no small part to this program,” Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden said.
Statistics show the average age of a naloxone deployment recipient is slightly less than 33 years old, with an age range from 15 to 68 years old. Three juveniles (15-year-old female from Middletown, 16-year-old female from Colts Neck, and 17-year-old male from Manalapan) have had heroin or prescription opiates overdoses reversed by naloxone since the program started 13 months ago.
Since deploying the overdose antidote, naloxone has reversed the effects of heroin or opiate-related overdoses for people ranging in age from 15 to 68, saving the lives of 66 females and 142 males. Those who died, despite the efforts of law enforcement officers using naloxone, included 12 men and 10 women. They range in age from 20-59 years old, and are from Aberdeen, Asbury Park, Bradley Beach, Highlands, Howell, Keansburg, Manalapan, Manasquan, Oceanport, Middletown and Wall Township.
There is cause for concern about the pervasiveness of the epidemic. There were 99 deployments of naloxone in the 210 days it was authorized for use in 2014, and in the first 188 days of 2015 there have been 108 deployments. But more lives were lost to overdoses of heroin or prescription opiates last year despite the deployment of the overdose antidote – 12 in 2014, and 10 in 2015.
The 12 to 17-year-old age group has seen a negligible decrease in heroin use over the past ten years, while the 18 to 25-year-old age group saw a 109 percent explosion of heroin use over the past decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
“The latest reports from the Centers for Disease Control indicate our young people are at the greatest risk for heroin addiction. We can’t ignore the fact that young people are using and abusing these drugs and dying at alarming rates. We must stem the tide of this deadly addiction,” said Monmouth County Chief of Detectives Michael Pasterchick.
Statistics show an increase in heroin and prescription painkiller abuse across most demographics nationally. Heroin use among women has doubled in the past ten years, and use of the deadly drug has increased by 114 percent for the non-Hispanic white community. Over the past decade heroin-related deaths have increased by 286 percent nationally, according to the CDC.
Prescription painkillers sales have nearly quadrupled since 1999, yet, according to the CDC, there has not been an overall change in the amount of pain Americans have reported and an average of 44 people-per-day are dying from prescription painkiller-related overdoses – a staggering statistics of one death every 32.7 minutes across the United States.
“We must continue our vigilance to protect our families and communities from this deadly epidemic. We all have a stake in the outcomes of each and every naloxone deployment because it is our sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters, our moms, dads and neighbors who are getting a second chance at life,” said Avon-by-the-Sea Police Chief Terence P. Mahon, President of the Monmouth County Police Chiefs Association.
Last week, Prosecutor Gramiccioni was joined by Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato and representatives from the nine hospitals in both counties, Barnabas Health-affiliated hospitals, CentraState Medical Center and Meridian Health-affiliated hospitals, to announce a new partnership in the fight to stem the tide of the overdose epidemic with each hospital agreeing to replenish the overdose antidote naloxone for law enforcement officers free of charge.
“Thanks to our working partnership with local law enforcement agencies and our local hospitals, the naloxone deployment program is working and getting better. We are saving lives, and we need to continue to provide hope so the victims of this epidemic can get the much-needed treatment that can help break this all-too-often fatal cycle of addiction,” Gramiccioni said.
An update to the swimmer who went missing Wednesday night in Sandy Hook. The 25 year old male’s body was found washed up this morning by a fisherman in Sandy Hook. #MCSONJ and Sheriff Golden thanks all agencies who participated in the search. ~ Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office
The diver was identified as Andros Vega-Pena from Red Bank.
UPDATE:
Maritime Emergency Response Team along with Sheriff’s Marine 1, the Middletown Marine Unit and New Jersey State Police Marine Bureau continue to assist the National Park Service in the search for the swimmer off of Sandy Hook. The 25 year old male went missing Wednesday evening around 7:30. Emergency crews are using side-scan sonar which effectively searches areas. The search is now a recovery effort.
Searching for a missing swimmer at Sandy Hook
Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office along with the Maritime Emergency Response Team were part of the search for a missing 25-year old man last night and will continue today.
Authorities say the man was swimming without the supervision of a lifeguard.
Two swimmers were recently rescued in this area.
“This is the scene at Sandy Hook tonight where #MCSONJ‘s Maritime Emergency Response Team, Sheriff’s Marine 1 and numerous agencies continue to search for missing swimmer at Sandy Hook. Stay safe out there all.” ~ Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office
The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office asks that you put safety first to avoid becoming a victim of theft as you head out to start your holiday shopping.
All is clear after bomb threat at Freehold Theater
Authorities have sounded the “all clear” after no explosives were discovered inside the AMC Theater complex at Freehold Raceway Mall, announced Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
An employee at the theater discovered a note in the men’s bathroom shortly before 5 p.m. The note indicated that there were multiple bombs in multiple theaters set to detonate at a specific time. Theater management immediately evacuated the building and notified the Freehold Township Police Department sparking a response from K-9 units from the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, Middletown and Wall police departments, New Jersey Homeland Security, Freehold Independent Fire Company, and Freehold First Aid.
By 6:51 p.m. the theater was cleared of any potential explosives.
A joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Freehold Township Police Department is active and ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Pamela Riccardi, of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443, and Detective Daniel Valentine, of the Freehold Township Police Department, 732-462-7908.
