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N.J. woman who accepted mail delivery of cocaine faces 20 years

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Sasha Melendez, 37, admitted to conspiring to distribute cocaine.

NEWARK - A Bergenfield woman pleaded guilty Wednesday to her role in a conspiracy to traffic about two kilograms of cocaine, which prosecutors say she received in the mail from Puerto Rico.

Sasha Melendez, 37, admitted to conspiring with a co-defendant from New York to distribute cocaine, according to U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman.

She was arrested on March 24, 2015 when she accepted the drug, contained in a parcel in the mail, Fishman said.

Police arrest alleged drug dealer

Melendez pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of conspiring to distribute.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine, Fishman said.

Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 4.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Accusations against Booker dismissed in Newark Watershed bankruptcy

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The U.S. senator and former Newark mayor was named in a lawsuit targeting more than a dozen individuals who trustees for the city's watershed agency argued should share in the responsibility for its collapse.

NEWARK--A federal judge has dismissed a case against U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) that charged he failed to properly oversee Newark's now bankrupt watershed corporation when he served as mayor of New Jersey's largest city.

However, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Vincent F. Papalia let stand a civil complaint against Vaughn McKoy, the former board vice chairman of the Newark Watershed Conservation and Development Corp.

The ruling on Tuesday came in the wake of a lawsuit filed last year by the provisional trustees of the agency against Booker and McKoy, along with former executive director Linda Watkins-Brashear and more than a dozen others, following allegations that the non-profit corporation had bilked millions of dollars from taxpayers.

Created in 1973, the agency was formed to manage Newark's vast watershed properties in Morris, Passaic and Sussex counties, and later expanded its reach to manage the city's Pequannock water treatment facility and manage Newark's reservoirs.

The corporation operated under the radar screen for decades, until it came under fire in a scathing report issued in 2014 by the state Comptroller's Office, which accused the former director of the agency and her cohorts of siphoning off millions of city dollars in illegal payments, insider deals and risky stock ventures.

Watkins-Brashear later pleaded guilty to federal charges in December in connection with the soliciting nearly $1 million in bribes from businesses in return for overinflated and no-work contracts.

The civil lawsuit by trustees for the agency, which is now in federal bankruptcy court, argued that Booker and other officials with oversight responsibilities must also share financial responsibility for the scandal--even if they were caught off guard by the corporation's ultimate collapse--because their inattention to matters allowed it to happen.

Papalia, however, said as a public employee, Booker was immune from liability under the Tort Claims Act.

"Booker's alleged actions or inactions were taken in the exercise of 'judgment or discretion' and or were legislative in nature," wrote the judge in a 39-page opinion.

Watershed agency took the city for millions

The trustees had argued that Booker was not entitled to the immunity afforded a public employee under the Tort Claims Act because the statute was meant to protect a public employee from a private suit for damages, not to protect a public employee from a claim made by a public entity.

The judge rejected the argument, saying that nowhere in the Tort Claims Act did it state that claims by public entities were excluded.

"Making Booker potentially liable for actions or inactions taken by these various and numerous entities would be directly contrary to many of the act's central purposes," wrote the judge, who said it would fail to protect him from a legal jeopardy for his official functions and also fail to recognize the breadth of his public responsibilities.

He added that finding the exception to immunity urged by the watershed corporation "would endorse a piecemeal approach to public employee liability that would, in this court's view, result in disorder and, more importantly, discourage public service."

Booker's attorney, Marc Elias, called the lawsuit frivolous.

"We hope the trustees will stop wasting watershed resources and respect the decision," he said in a statement. "As we told the court, Senator Booker faithfully executed his duties as they related to the watershed, and we hope that the court's agreement brings this bizarre legal chapter to a conclusion."

The Newark Water Group, a citizen's organization that first shed light on the abuses at the watershed agency, said called the decision unfortunate.

In a statement, the group said despite the senator's dismissal from the suit, it was undisputed that the level of corruption uncovered inside the Newark Watershed Conservation and Development Corp. occurred during Booker's tenure as Newark's mayor.

"Booker never attended even one NWCDC meeting to make certain its dealings were above board," the group said. "Had Booker's plan to turn the NWCDC into a municipal utility authority been approved, the NWCDC corruption would have been institutionalized and continued for years to come."

The trustee's case against McKoy will continue. The judge said the former board chairman was present during the time which the alleged misconduct began to occur with regularity, found the trustees set forth "a plausible claim" that he failed to act in good faith.

Although McKoy maintained he was unaware of the alleged misconduct, which surfaced two years after he resigned, the judge said they were issues entitled to be explored through pre-trial discovery by the trustees.

An attorney for McKoy did not respond to a request for comment.

Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Tractor trailer overturns near Route 78 in Newark: report

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An overturned tractor trailer in Newark is complicating commuters' rides back to Hudson County this afternoon.

overturned map.jpgA tractor trailer overturned in Newark in the northbound lanes of the New Jersey Turnpike, according to 511nj.org. 

An overturned tractor trailer in Newark is complicating commuters' rides back to Hudson County this afternoon. 

The overturned vehicle was reported in the northbound lanes of the New Jersey Turnpike at Exit 14, near the entrance to Route 78 and Routes 1&9, according to 511nj.org, a website that monitors traffic.

The accident was reported at 5:03 p.m. and is just a short distance away from the Hudson County Extension Bridge, which links Newark and Bayonne via Route 78.

No other information was immediately available. 

Man pleads guilty to dealing heroin, oxycodone from Newark store

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Plea came after authorities used undercover buys, recorded deals

Newark federal court.jpgThe justice statue outside the Newark Federal Courts building in Newark, NJ May 16, 2012 (File photo) 
NEWARK -- A Newark man on Wednesday admitted to dealing heroin and oxycodone from a clothing store in the city's downtown.

Lamont Vaughn, also known as "Mont" and "True V," pleaded guilty in Newark federal court to an indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, oxycodone and being a convicted felon in possession of a gun, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said in a statement.

Under a plea agreement, Vaughn, 33, will be sentenced Oct. 5 to 65 months in prison and up to five years of supervised release, Fishman's office added.

Vaughn and others peddled the drugs out of a shop called Ballas Boutique, according to prosecutors. A confidential source made more than 35 undercover drug buys as part of the probe, including many transactions that were captured on audio and video.

Woman who accepted delivery of cocaine faces 20 years

Investigators also intercepted Vaughn's communications, which showed he was working with other employees to sell drugs from the shop, prosecutors said.

"The intercepted conversations further revealed that Vaughn had multiple, established sources of supply for heroin and oxycodone," the statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

The drug conspiracy lasted between August 2012 and Aug. 7, 2013, when law enforcement agents raided the business and Vaughn's home in the city. Authorities said they discovered a large amount of cash, dozens of oxycodone pills and two guns in his bedroom.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahycFind NJ.com on Facebook.

Columbia High School prom 2016 (PHOTOS)

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Columbia High School in Maplewood held its prom on Monday night at Westmount Country Club in Woodland Park

WOODLAND PARK -- Dressed in tuxedos and evening gowns, the young men and woman of Columbia High School in the South Orange and Maplewood School District stepped out for their 2016 senior prom on Monday night at the Westmount Country Club in Woodland Park

Prom season is in full swing and NJ.com is capturing the moments for many New Jersey high schools. Check back at nj.com/essex for other local high school prom coverage.

Be sure to check out our complete prom coverage at nj.com/prom.

BUY THESE PHOTOS

Are you one of the people pictured at this prom? Want to buy the photo and keep it forever? Look for a link in the photo caption or click here to purchase the picture. You'll have the ability to order prints in a variety of sizes, or products like magnets, keychains, coffee mugs and more.

SHARE YOUR PROM PHOTOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Let's see your prom photos. Post your pictures on Twitter and Instragram with #njprom. We'll retweet and repost our favorites on Twitter @njdotcom and Instagram @njdotcompix.

Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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Quad rider wanted for causing police motorcycles to crash, officials say

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Officers are recovering from their injuries

NEWARK -- Authorities on Wednesday asked for the public's help to identify a man who they said was riding an all-terrain vehicle when he caused two police motorcycles to crash.

The motorcycle officers were traveling southbound on Broadway around 3:25 p.m. June 12 when they spotted a group riding off-road four wheel vehicles recklessly and coming in the opposite direction, according to Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose. 

Officers were trying to conduct a traffic stop when a quad suddenly cut in front of their motorcycles, causing the officers to crash as they avoided hitting the off-road vehicle, authorities said in a statement. The quad rider abandoned his vehicle on Summer Avenue and left the scene.

100 summonses issued in ongoing street racing crackdown

Both officers were treated at University Hospital and were continuing to recover from their injuries at home, according to police.

An "intense and in-depth investigation" led Criminal Investigation Bureau Detective Jose Duran to obtain photos of the quad rider who caused the wreck, Ambrose said.

Authorities released the images and anyone with information was asked to call the 24-hour Crime Stoppers' tip line at 877-NWK-TIPS (877-695-8477) or NWK-GUNS (877-695-4867). Police said anonymous tips would be kept confidential.

The motorcycle officers were hurt the same day another officer was seriously injured in an unrelated hit-and-run while he tried to issue a parking ticket in the East Ward. A city man faces charges in that incident.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahycFind NJ.com on Facebook.

Vintage photos of N.J. fun in the good ol' summertime

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I confess that I have characterized kids growing up in the age of the smart phone as less creative than their parents; I was wrong.

Please straighten me out.

I was either completely out of the loop as a child, or "duck, duck goose" was just not a game played in South Jersey.

Recently, I watched children play "duck, duck goose" in an airport and I had to ask someone the object and rules of the game. The adult who kindly answered my questions clearly had played before.

I understood the "goose" part, but wasn't really sure about the need for "duck, duck." I was sure, however, that I never played this particular game as a child.

40848-ar.jpgOh for Pete's sake, I forgot the rules to this game too. 

The point is, though, it was nice to see these children playing a game that apparently was passed from one generation to another.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

I confess that I have characterized kids growing up in the age of the smart phone as less creative than their parents. Well, I was wrong. Now that it's summertime, I'm noticing kids outside playing the way we did in the '60s and '70s.

They are busy on the beach building sandcastles and jumping in the surf; they ride bikes, boards and scooters and play baseball, volleyball, four square and hopscotch.

Sometimes the names change. My son speaks of a game called "volley cheese" -- volleyball where the ball can bounce once before going back over the net. I told him we played the exact same game as kids, but his generation gets brownie points for creative naming; we called it (I'm so embarrassed) "one bounce."

So, I apologize en masse to all of today's youth for having employed the tired cliche of modern children doing nothing but texting and playing video games.

It's summertime - time for children and adults to have fun outdoors; here's a gallery of vintage photos from around New Jersey of folks doing just that. Make sure captions are enabled to see all the information for each photo.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.

These N.J. fire chiefs make more than $175K

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The fire chiefs, deputy chiefs and battalion chiefs all make more than New Jersey's governor


N.J. addicts may soon trade drugs for help, not handcuffs

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The West Orange Police Department plans to be the first in the state to rollout the program that would let drug abusers seeking help turn in their substances and paraphernalia. Watch video

heroin file photoA proposed law would allow addicts to trade drugs for counseling. (File photo)
 

WEST ORANGE -- Police departments across the state may soon be given the all clear to create a new anti-drug program aimed at keeping addicts out of incarceration, and giving them hope for recovery.

Pending a full Assembly vote Monday, and later consideration by the state Senate and Gov. Chris Christie, a new bill would let local police departments establish programs that allow substance abusers to turn in their heroin, opiates, needles and other paraphernalia without being arrested.

The bill, officials said, was put together after West Orange Police Chief James Abbott said his department was creating one of these programs, which the township is calling Operation HOPE (Heroin - Opiate Prevention Effort).

Once an abuser comes to the West Orange police, the department will pair that person with a volunteer "Angel" who will guide him or her through recovery, officials said. Marc Ackerman, director of admissions for the Integrity House, said his treatment facility will help place individuals in various programs, whether it be at the Integrity House or elsewhere.

"You can't arrest your way out of this issue," Ackerman said.

Herointown, N.J.: The dead, 5,217 and counting

Abbott said he hopes to rollout the initiative in West Orange, approved June 14 by the town council, by Oct. 1.

"We are trying to help people rather than incarcerate them for something that is somewhat outside their control," Abbott said, mentioning that the war on drugs was "kind of a failed effort."

The bill that would allow programs such as this statewide, sponsored by Assembly Democrats John McKeon, Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Ralph Caputo and Mila Jasey, is number 3744 in the Assembly and 2330 in the Senate.

McKeon, who served as the township's mayor from 1998 to 2010, said New Jersey's overdose rate is three times the national one, noting that overdoses kill twice as many in the state as car crashes.

From 2004 to 2014, Essex County accounted for the second most heroin-related deaths in the state at 11 percent, just behind Camden County at 11.6, according to an NJ Advance Media report in December. In the same time period, the number of those ages 30 and younger who died from heroin in the Garden State increased, jumping from 91 in 2004 to 219 in 2014. 

"Cleary, more needs to be done," McKeon said.

West Orange's top cop said in October, a high school friend whose son was suffering from addiction came to him with a better way to treat addicts, telling him about the ANGEL Program created in spring 2015 by the Gloucester Police Department in Massachusetts. 

More than 100 departments in 22 states have created programs similar to the one initiated by Gloucester Police Chief Leonard Campanello, who was honored in April by President Barack Obama's administration for his innovation, according to the Wicked Local Gloucester. 

Theresa De Nova, the township's health officer, said the West Orange Health Department is in full support of the "preventative measure."

"Painkillers such as Oxycodone, Vicodin and Codeine are being prescribed and overprescribed, finding a supply into our household medicine cabinets in greater numbers than before," Nova said in a statement. "It is in every community (affecting) all categories of the population but younger people can be more vulnerable to drug use and abuse."

On top of building trust among the community, Abbott said this cause could also help decrease violent and property crimes caused by abusers stealing to support their habit. 

"A lot of these people want help," Abbott said. "They just don't really know where to go."

Luke Nozicka may be reached at lnozicka@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @lukenozicka. Find NJ.com on Facebook and Twitter.

NJ.com's softball postseason honors and year in review, 2016

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Check out who is first, second- and third-team all-state

Check out who is first, second- and third-team all-state

NJ.com's baseball postseason honors and year in review, 2016

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Who was honored in NJ.com's season in review?

Who was honored in NJ.com's season in review?

Advisor to Malcolm X Shabazz Class of 2016: Give back to Newark

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The senior class graduated Wednesday.

NEWARK -- Graduates, family members, and teachers were all smiles Wednesday morning as 168 seniors graduated from Malcolm X Shabazz High School.

The Class of 2016's commencement celebration included addresses from Class President Grace Tyler, Salutatorians Ismail Hines and Clervins Clerjusce, and Valedictorian Ameena Corney.

Christine Carter, a Newark native who founded Against All Odds - an organization that helps at-risk youth and impoverished families in the city - was the keynote speaker. Her story of giving back to the city is one that senior class advisor Kia Woodson said she hoped would inspire the grads.

"We want them to remember to always give back to the community," she said.

"Always come back home."

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

N.J. pop-punkers Halogens rage with honesty in Montclair

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The raging Wall four-piece rocked wildly for a small crowd at the Meat Locker Wednesday

If you're one for irony, here's a goodie -- a band called Halogens unscrewed the lone lightbulb illuminating its stage and thrashed in the dark.

The New Jersey pop-punk outfit was brightened only by fans' cell phone flashlights -- 100 or so in the sweltering basement of Montclair's Meat Locker -- as it launched into an explosive cover of Modern Baseball's "Your Graduation."

A wild sing-along, mosh pit and stage diving ensued -- part and parcel for one of the local scene's more volatile acts.

The four-piece from Wall kept fans in a frenzy all night Wednesday with high-octane hooks driving their brutally honest lyrics -- the kind of stuff you can happily scream along to, but a closer listen leaves a knot in your stomach.

Since its 2011 inception, Halogens has built a strong local following through raucous basements and backyard shows. In January, the band joined the roster at Mayflower Collective, a DIY label based in Eatontown.

The small crowd packed the underground venue (literally and figuratively) known for its blankets of graffiti and band stickers. On a tiny stage at the far end of the building, Halogens started its set with the fervently fun "Run Around" from its self-titled EP released in January. Each of the band's choruses seem to coast not only on a trilling, intense guitar riff, but on an overtly emotive aesthetic.

From his denouncement of the existence of God to worries that his mother won't ever be proud of him, Zach Henry sings -- and screams -- with a palpable sense of anguish.

"Was I everything you needed in an idol?" he asked on "Olive Garden, Pt. 2." "Was I the best big brother that I could've been?" He soon lost himself in the band's raging finale.

Charlie Throckmorton on guitar, Tim Wuestneck on bass and George Saives on drums round out the Halogens lineup.

The group's Facebook page lists Blink-182, Brand New and Jersey indie rockers The Front Bottoms as inspirations; the band even displays the the same fun guitar chug as the Jersey rockers in "Ayudame!" A few fans commandeered the microphone for the song's final verse.

Wednesday's show was the halfway mark of Halogens' month-long tour with Jersey-based punks Corrina, Corrina. The band will travel the East Coast and on July 23, Halogens will play perhaps its biggest show yet when it opens for English rock band Moose Blood at GameChanger World in Howell.

Oh, and they never turned the light back on.

Sydney Shaw may be reached at sshaw@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ShawshankSyd. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Solitary confinement is 'excessive' and 'arbitrary' at Essex jail, report finds

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'Isolated in Essex: Punishing Immigrants through Solitary Confinement' was released Wednesday.

essex county jailThe Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark. (File photo) 

NEWARK -- Solitary confinement, a punishment given out to immigrant detainees housed in the Essex County Correctional Facility, is used on an inconsistent and excessive basis. And, the process used to dole out the controversial punishment lacks transparency and due process.

That's according to a new report, "Isolated in Essex: Punishing Immigrants through Solitary Confinement," conducted by students at New York University School of Law, and advocacy groups the American Friends Service Committee and the New Jersey Advocates for Immigrant Detainees. 

The report considered 446 incident reports of what the jail calls the "disciplinary segregation" of immigrant inmates between 2013 and 2015.

More than 42 percent of detainees punished with solitary confinement were accused of committing non-violent acts, the report found. About 95 percent of prisoners facing disciplinary action were placed in solitary before there was a hearing on their alleged actions. And, in about 23 percent of those cases, the charges were dismissed or the inmates found not guilty, it said.

Despite the accreditation of the Essex County facility in 2013, the study says 39 percent "of all incidents leading to solitary confinement were related to frustration over jail conditions--whether it be concerns over food, language accessibility, television policies, or desire to speak with federal immigration officials."

The statistics, the authors say, don't add up.

"It shows a system of punishment that perpetuates itself," said Alina Das, an Associate Professor of Clinical Law at NYU who supervised the study.

For example, she said, some detainees who raised concerns about solitary confinement were punished with solitary confinement, "(making punishment an opportunity) to just create more punishment."

But, a spokesperson for the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which manages immigrant detainees, said the agency closely monitors the implementation of "disciplinary segregation" in Essex County to make sure they are in accordance with its "Performance Based National Detention Standards."

"Every disciplinary action is examined separately by a trained correctional professional, based on the incident's specific circumstances," spokesman Alvin Phillips said.

"Disciplinary action is applied within PBNDS and facility guidelines to ensure fairness."

A spokesperson for Essex County deferred questions on the report to ICE.

Solitary confinement for skipping breakfast?

The report, which was published by the American Friends Service Committee online and in pamphlets Wednesday, will be used, its authors said, to help push for legislative support of a bill aimed at limiting the use of solitary confinement in New Jersey prisons.

The bill (S-51), known as the "Isolated Confinement Restriction Act" is up for consideration by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee Thursday, and on the agenda for a full Senate vote on June 27. As it is written, it would apply to federal and other agencies that lease space in N.J. jails, like ICE.

"The experience at the Essex County jail is significant, layered upon the many reports from throughout the country about the negative consequences of solitary or isolated confinement on inmates' mental health and rehabilitation," said Senator Raymond Lesniak (D-Union), a sponsor of the bill.

"The bottom line is it's cruel, counterproductive and unnecessary."

Serges Demefack, of the American Friends Service Committee, said he planned to speak to the Senate committee about the bill, and distribute copies of the report. His group, he said, advocates for the abolishment of solitary confinement.

The issue is especially pressing, he said, for immigrant detainees, who are being held for civil offenses, but "still face confinement...(and) the same penal system as hardened criminals."

The report is a follow up to one the groups released last year, "23 Hours in the Box, Solitary Confinement in New Jersey Immigration Detention," which looked at similar data in the jails in Bergen and Hudson Counties. The results in Essex, the researchers said, were similar to those in the previous report, but on a larger scale.

The students said they were surprised by what they found.

"I could never have imagined that solitary confinement would be used in such an excessive form," said Andrea Savdie, one of the co-authors.

"Especially for infractions that didn't seem to warrant it."

But, while the report and its authors questioned the discretion used when handing down disciplinary actions to immigrant detainees, Phillips said ICE updated its directives in 2013 to address such concerns.

The new rules, he said, "(enhanced) existing procedures for review and oversight of facility decisions to place detainees in segregation for any extended period of time, and in the case of detainees for whom heightened concerns exist based on health issues or other special vulnerabilities, for any length of time." 

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

2 arrested after gunfire on Newark street, police say

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Charges include aggravated assault, weapons offenses

NEWARK -- Police say two men opened fire on a city street Wednesday and tried to run from detectives before they were both arrested.

Terrance Haywood, 23, and Corey Thompson, 29, both of Newark, face charges of aggravated assault, weapons offenses, conspiracy and criminal mischief, authorities said.

Police responded to a call that two men fled in a car after the gunfire on Tillinghast Street around 7:30 p.m., according to the city's Department of Public Safety.

Rider wanted for causing police motorcycles to crash, officials say

Detectives with the police division's Special Enforcement Bureau saw the car on Hawthorne Avenue and tried to stop the fleeing vehicle, authorities said. Haywood and Thompson were arrested after they abandoned the car and took off on foot.

Authorities said no one was hit by the gunfire. The investigation was ongoing.

Anyone with information was asked to contact the Newark 24-hour Crime Stoppers' tip line at 877-NWK-TIPS (877-695-8477) or NWK-GUNS (877-695-4867). Police added anonymous tips would be kept confidential.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahycFind NJ.com on Facebook.


Video shows man wanted for causing Newark cops to crash, authorities say

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Both officers recovering from injuries Watch video

NEWARK -- Police released new security camera video on Thursday showing the man they said is wanted for causing two police motorcycles to crash, leaving the officers injured.

The footage was made public a day after authorities released still images of the suspect and asked anyone who could identify the man to call police.

According to authorities, the motorcycle officers were traveling southbound on Broadway around 3:25 p.m. June 12 when they spotted a group of people riding all-terrain vehicles in the opposite direction.

Rider wanted for causing police motorcycles to crash, officials say

The motorcycle officers were making a traffic stop when a quad rider quickly cut them off, police said. The officers crashed as they tried to avoid hitting the rider.

Both officers were treated at University Hospital and were continuing to recover at home from their injuries, a police statement said. City Detective Jose Duran obtained the video and pictures showing the rider who caused the wreck and fled the scene.

Authorities released the images and anyone with information was asked to call the 24-hour Crime Stoppers' tip line at 877-NWK-TIPS (877-695-8477) or NWK-GUNS (877-695-4867). Police said anonymous tips would be kept confidential.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahycFind NJ.com on Facebook.

Take this week's local news quiz

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Can you get a perfect score in NJ.com's weekly quiz?

Time to see how well you know New Jersey news. Below are seven questions that will test how well you recall the biggest New Jersey stories of the week gone by. But fear not: The links below have all the answers to all of the questions below. If you don't think you're ready to take on the quiz without a little extra cramming, review each story so you can ace this test. Remember to brag on your score in comments.

John Shabe can be reached via jshabe@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter, and find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Boy, 6, shoots 4-year-old brother in East Orange, official says

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Child rushed to University Hospital late Saturday morning

Update: Boy, 4, shot earlier Saturday has died.


Boy, 6, shoots 4-year-old brother in East Orange, official saysA 6-year-old boy accidentally shot his 4-year-old brother Saturday morning on Norman Street in East Orange, the spokeswoman for the mayor's office said. (Luke Nozicka | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) 
EAST ORANGE -- A 6-year-old boy accidentally shot his 4-year-old brother in the head while the child was playing with a gun at a home in the city Saturday, an East Orange spokeswoman said.

The child was rushed to University Hospital after the shooting around 11:15 a.m. on Norman Street, according to Connie Jackson, spokeswoman for the mayor's office.

The boy was listed in serious condition as of late Saturday afternoon, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said.  

"This is a terribly unfortunate incident," East Orange Mayor Lester E. Taylor III said in a statement. "As the victim undergoes emergency surgery, our primary concern is for his well-being and recovery. Our thoughts are with him and his family."

The gun belonged to the boy's mother, according to Jackson.

No charges have been filed and the investigation was ongoing, the city spokeswoman added.

Essex County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly confirmed the agency's Major Crimes Task Force, which includes East Orange police, was investigating the shooting. 

There was no threat to the community, Fennelly added. 

Authorities did not immediately release further details. 

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahycFind NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Experience all 21 obstacles at MuckFest MS 5K mud run (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

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MuckFest MS is a 5K mud run over 21 obstacles now in its fourth year at South Mountain Reservation.

11 men face prostitution charges after Newark police operation

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Most of those arrested not from Newark, official says

NEWARK -- Police arrested 11 men on charges of soliciting prostitution as part of an overnight operation in the city's North Ward, Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said Saturday.

The arrests came in response to complaints of men driving through the area looking to solicit sex, including approaching random residents and actual prostitutes on the street, according to authorities.

"I won't tolerate any behavior that denigrates the quality of life in our city or needlessly damages the city's image," Ambrose said in a statement. "I will continue to attack crime and quality of life complaints regardless of where they occur in our city."

9 N.J. men charged in undercover prostitution sting, official says

The director noted that seven of the men charged overnight were not from Newark, including one man from Ocean County and a New York City resident.

Police focused their efforts on the area near Broadway and Irving Street and worked on the operation through late Friday into early Saturday.

According to officials, the following men were charged with soliciting prostitution in the operation:

  1. Bella Warner, 30 from Union
  2. Scott Munroe, 43 from Linden
  3. Robert Perez, 56 from Bloomfield
  4. Mark Vassos, 55 from Toms River
  5. James Keelen, 55 from Bloomfield
  6. Carl Robinson, 49 from Bronx, N.Y.
  7. Gianfrac Tipacti, 22 from Kearney
  8. Luis Rodriguez, 43, from Newark
  9. Nestor Revollar, 60, from Newark
  10. Willie Scott, 56, from Newark
  11. Chester Sterling, 22, from Newark

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahycFind NJ.com on Facebook.

 
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