Authorities say 18-year-old Quadir K. Jackson of Newark was killed after being thrown from a Mercedez Benz that he and two other young men had carjacked in the city Saturday night.

NEWARK -- Authorities identified a Newark carjacker killed in a crash Saturday night as an 18-year-old city man.

The man, Quadir K. Jackson, was pronounced dead at University Hospital at 7:15 p.m Saturday, about 15 minutes after the crash, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray said Sunday afternoon.

Murray also identified two other men arrested in the carjacking: Mutah Brown, 20; and Kevin Anderson, 21, both of Newark.

Both were in custody Sunday, charged with receiving stolen property. Murray said Brown was also charged with eluding, and Anderson was charged with resisting arrest.

Murray said Jackson was killed after being thrown from a Mercedes Benz that the three had carjacked on Holland Street, when the car struck a utility pole on Holland Street while being chased by Newark Police. 

The Newark police union president, James Stewart Jr., said a gun was found at the scene, and an officer was injured chasing down one of the men after the crash.

A Newark police spokesman said Brown had been arrested twice before, once in 2016, and more recently on Jan. 25. In the more recent incident, in the city's South Ward, police seized a loaded AK-47 and arrested Brown and three other men after a police lieutenant heard gunfire and spotted the group allegedly fleeing the scene.

The spokesman, Capt. Derek Glenn, said Brown had been released following his January arrest under a state bail reform law that went into effect this year, and Glenn seized on the Saturday night's fatal incident to criticize the new state law.

"Bail reform definitely needs to be re-examined, particularly when you look at the threat posed by individuals to the community," Glenn said. "Brown shouldn't have been out of jail, and he's now participating in an incident where you now have two additional victims: a grieving family; and the victim of a carjacking."

Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Police said they determined the man had conspired with a former employee to steal the restaurant's cash.

Bernard Johnson. (Newark Department of Public Safety)

NEWARK -- City police on Saturday arrested a 22-year-old Irvington man they say lied about men robbing the Domino's Pizza he managed in order to cover up his own theft.

Investigators determined Bernard Johnson had conspired with a former employee to take an unspecified amount of cash from the restaurant, according to a statement from Newark Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose.

Police said officers responded to the Domino's location at 51 Niagra St. around 3:22 a.m. Saturday after Johnson reported the store had been robbed by two men.

Robbery detectives ultimately determined Johnson's story wasn't true, and charged him with theft, conspiracy and making false reports to law enforcement, police said.

Authorities said the investigation into the theft is continuing, and have asked anyone with information to call the department's 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-695-8477 or 1-877-695-4867.

Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Dogs and cats throughout New Jersey await adoption.

There are many common misconceptions about pet adoption.

Petfinder, the for-profit internet company that operates the largest online pet adoption website serving all of North America, put this list together of common adoption myths in the hope that more people will adopt dogs and cats from shelters and rescues.

* "I don't know what I'm getting."

There is likely more information available on adoptable animals than pets for purchase in pet stores. Many of the pets from rescue groups are in foster care, living with their fosterer 24/7; information on their personality and habits is typically vast. Even shelters have a very good idea about how the dogs and cats in their care behave with people and other animals.

* "I can't find what I want at a shelter."

Not only are their breed-specific rescue groups, but some rescues and shelters maintain waiting lists for specific breeds. There are even means on Petfinder.com to be notified when certain breeds are posted for adoption.

* "I can get a pet for free from a friend or acquaintance; why pay an adoption fee?"

The 'free pet' from a source other than a shelter or rescue group isn't necessarily free. Adoption fees usually cover a number of services and treatments including spay/neuter and veterinary checkups. Covering these costs on your own would call for spending the following estimated amounts:

-- Spay/neuter: $150-$300

-- Distemper vaccination: $20-$30, twice

-- Rabies vaccination: $15-$25

-- Heartworm test: $15-$35

-- Flea/tick treatment: $50-$200

-- Microchip: $25-$50

* "Pets are in shelters because they don't make good pets."

Here are the main reasons animals end up in shelters or with rescue groups:

-- Owners have to move, pets not allowed

-- Allergies

-- Owner having personal problems

-- Too many, no room for littermates

-- Owner can no longer afford a pet

-- Owner's health does not allow for pet care

While no one can say that every pet adopted from a shelter or rescue will work out perfectly, it's important to remember that misinformation about these homeless animals often keeps them from finding loving homes.

The gallery above is of pets in New Jersey in need of homes. More adoptable pets can be seen by clicking here and here.

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

These New Jersey towns are starting to grow.

Reps. Rodney Frelinghuysen, by phone, and Tom MacArthur, in person, have scheduled town halls. Watch video

WASHINGTON -- Constituents of the two New Jersey lawmakers who supported repealing Obamacare will have their chance to let them know how they feel about it this week.

Rep. Rodeny Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.), who originally opposed the measure but switched his vote, will hold a tele-town hall at 5 p.m. Tuesday. The House Appropriations Committee chairman has declined requests to hold in-person events. This will be his third time taking questions by phone.

Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-3rd Dist.), who offered an amendment to the GOP's bill that convinced enough recalcitrant Republicansto change their minds and support the legislation, is scheduled to meet district residents in person in Willingsboro on Wednesday.

Obamacare repeal bill hits N.J. hardest

Before he hears from his constituents, MacArthur heard from an advocacy group that supports the existing health care law. Save My Care is beginning a new round of television and digital advertising criticizing MacArthur and 23 other lawmakers nationwide for supporting the Republican alternative.

"Congressman MacArthur - how could you do this to us?" the ad said.

Frelinghuysen and MacArthur were the only two members of the state's congressional delegation to support the legislation that repeals and replaces the current health care law with a measure that the Congressional Budget Office said would leave 24 million more American uninsured, including 500,000 in New Jersey.

The bill would allow states to request waivers from federal requirements that all insurers cover specific benefits such as hospitalization, mental health treatment and maternity care; and from rules preventing those with pre-existing conditions from being charged more for their insurance.

Both lawmakers are favored to win re-election next year, but could face competitive challengers, according to the Cook Political Report, a Washington-based publication that tracks congressional contests.

"I am looking forward to using this forum to listen to concerns and answer the questions from constituents on a wide-range of topics including health care, proposed budget cuts, our national security and immigration, to name a few," Frelinghuysen said.

To join Frelinghuysen's tele-town hall, register on his congressional website or call either his district office, 973-984-0711, or his Washington office, 202-225-5034.

Willingsboro has not been friendly territory to MacArthur; he said he received around 10 percent of the vote there the last time he ran for Congress. Nevertheless, he said he would return.

"Throughout my time in Congress, being accessible to my constituents has always been a top priority," he said. "I am looking forward to visiting Willingboro again to discuss the issues of critical importance to the community."

The town hall meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the John F. Kennedy Center, 
429 John F. Kennedy Way in Willingboro. Sign-up here.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

The boys lacrosse Top 20 for May 8 is highlighted by some teams that were crowned as county champions this week.

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The Montclarion at Bay Street Station has started renting units.

MONTCLAIR -- Construction on new luxury apartment complexes isn't just focused on the millennials of Hoboken and Jersey City.

Montclair, an eclectic, suburban Essex County town of about 38,000 people, is getting in on the trend, too.

The Montclarion at Bay Street Station - also known as the Montclarion II, a nod to its predecessor, an apartment complex on Pine Street built in 1985 - started renting units last week. Its developer, Richard Polton, said he expects the building to attract a mix of renters, including millennials, but also commuters, and baby boomers from in and around Montclair who are looking to downsize.

"They are the kind of apartments you might find in Brooklyn, Jersey City, or Hoboken," Polton said. "But, people want to live in Montclair. It's a great place to live."

The new 46,000 square foot Montclarion on Bloomfield Avenue boasts 33 one- and two-bedroom units, seven penthouse apartments, and 1,200 square feet of retail space on its first floor. It's near the Bay Street train station and other retail in Montclair's downtown.

Janice Talley, Montclair's township planner, said the project, which replaces a parking lot, is in line with the town's plan to redevelop the eastern entrance to its commercial district. Other projects in the works include a five-story mixed-use development next door, she said.

Previously, she said, the area "was uninviting. ... We were hoping to encourage new development, help revitalize the streetscape, and bring positive activity to the area."

As part of its agreement, the Montclarion II handed over $100,000 to the town for open space development in the area, Talley said. The apartment complex also includes two affordable units, and the town negotiated an extension of the six affordable units in the Montclarion I, through 2048. The controls on those units were originally set to expire next year.

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Polton declined to comment on the cost of construction. Town officials confirmed the developer did not receive a tax abatement or PILOT program agreement.

Polton said he felt the building was a fitting addition to the community, calling it "a win" for the area. "Bloomfield Avenue's eastern edge is undergoing a renaissance and we are thrilled to be a part of it," he said.

The Montclarion at Bay Street Station's one-bedroom apartments, which range in size from 745 to 790 square feet, start renting at $2,250 per month. Its two-bedroom units, between 1,100 and 1,500 square feet, start leasing at $2,650. The building also includes parking, rooftop lounge, business center, and workout room. The project had a waiting list before even opening rentals, its developer said.

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

Many factors influence how a community will react to a police department's use of deadly force.

A Lab and a bulldog were in the Range Rover when it was swiped Sunday afternoon

ESSEX COUNTY -- A woman whose 1-year-old Labrador and 8-year-old bulldog were in her car when it was stolen Sunday has been re-united with her vehicle and her pets, according to a report.

Newark police recovered Deborah Fineman's Range Rover a few hours after it was stolen out of her driveway at about 5:30 p.m. in Bloomfield, WABC-7 said. 

The dogs were no longer in the SUV, though.

The frantic Bozik, who shared her story on Facebook, received more good news Monday morning when her 1-year-old Nova and 8-year-old Dude were located, the report said.

Fineman told WABC-7 she put the dogs in the vehicle as she and her boyfriend prepared to leave for dinner at her mother's house. When the couple emerged from the house about three minutes later, someone had taken the luxury vehicle.

Newark police didn't respond to a request from NJ Advance Media about exactly where and when the Range Rover and the dogs were located.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Prosecutors have said he admitted shooting her after she wouldn't stop texting another man.

NEWARK -- A Belleville man prosecutors say admitted killing his girlfriend this winter has been indicted on murder and weapons charges, according to court records.

Diana Boggio. (Facebook)
 

Court records show an Essex County grand jury returned a four-count indictment, filed April 28, charging Pedro Lora-Pena, 42, with murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and desecration of human remains.

Lora-Pena was arrested in February after the body of Diana Boggio, 41, was found inside the trunk of her Honda Accord, which was parked on Verona Avenue in Belleville.

During a detention hearing before Superior Court Judge Martin G. Cronin, prosecutors said Lora-Pena admitted shooting Boggio three times when she wouldn't stop texting another man during a drive home from the Bronx.

Authorities said Boggio, who had been dating Lora-Pena for about a year, was reported missing on Jan. 28.

Lora-Pena's attorney unsuccessfully tried to get the case dismissed on the grounds the killing is said to have happened in the Bronx, outside the court's jurisdiction.

Cronin ultimately ordered Lora-Pena jailed pending further proceedings.

Records show Lora-Pena is scheduled for an arraignment on the indictment May 22 before Superior Court Judge Ronald D. Wigler in Newark.

Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The arrests and seizures occurred between Thursday, May 4 and Sunday, May 7, police said.

NEWARK -- City police have arrested 46 individuals, recovered four firearms and seized drugs with a total street value of $7,800 following a four-day narcotics crackdown.

Alyde Corprew (left) and Terry Mitchell (right)Newark Police Department 

Newark Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose said in a news release police made the arrests, recovered four firearms, including one replica, and seized 383 decks of heroin, 309 vials or bags of cocaine, 50 plastic bags of marijuana and 38 pills between Thursday, May 4 and Sunday, May 7.

Ambrose said an ongoing operation was developed based on the complaints of concerned citizens which resulted in the seizure of drugs with a street value of $7,800 along with $4,771.39 in proceeds from drug sales. 

"This continuing operation began as a result of citizens coming forward and voicing their concerns," Ambrose said. "In response, our officers are actively addressing these issues to make our streets safer."

Ambrose said three individuals were arrested on charges of unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose: Alyde Corprew, 24, of Newark; Terry J. Mitchell, 27, of East Orange; and a 17-year-old male from Newark, who is also charged with possession of a prohibited weapon.

• The juvenile was arrested on Thursday after police responded to Cutler Street and 6th Avenue on a report of a suspicious male in the area with a gun. The youth reportedly matched the description provided to police and was arrested without incident. 
• Corprew was arrested on Friday after police responded to a report of a man with a gun inside a business located at South 9th Street and Central Avenue. Corprew was observed by officers as having a gun and arrested without incident, police said. He was also charged with certain persons prohibited from weapon possession.
• Mitchell was arrested on Sunday following a report of two men with a handgun on South 13th Street near 9th Avenue. The two men fled after police responded to the area, but, after a brief foot chase, Mitchell was taken into custody. He was also charged with certain persons prohibited from weapon possession and resisting arrest.

More than 20 individuals were arrested and charged with drug possession, some of whom were charged with selling drugs within a school zone or public housing zone.

Seventeen individuals were also arrested on outstanding warrants and charged with contempt of court. Eight individuals were charged with criminal trespass. 

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The driver charged with killing two men as they crossed Route 440 in Bayonne rejected a plea deal in Essex County court on Monday and now faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted of vehicular homicide.

NEWARK - The driver charged with killing two men as they crossed Route 440 in Bayonne rejected a plea deal in Essex County court on Monday and now faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted of vehicular homicide.

Authorities say Waqas Ibrar was driving more than 100 mph on Nov. 2, 2015, when he struck Tyler Sellers and Sabore Worrell. The men, who were Bayonne residents, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Defense attorney Jeffrey Garrigan said Ibrar has decided to "exercise his Constitutional right to a trial."

"We've been in discussions attempting to resolve the case. Unfortunately we're not able to resolve the case," Garrigan told Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler.

Under the state's final plea offer, Ibrar would have been sentenced to five years for each count of vehicular homicide. Those sentences would be served consecutively and he would not have been eligible for release until 85 percent of his time was served.

Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Tom Zuppa said during the short hearing the state intends to prove Ibrar was driving between 106 and 110 mph in a rental car on the night he struck Sellers and Worrell.

The defense hired private experts to investigate the crash. The findings are expected to be revealed during the trial, which is scheduled to begin on Sept. 12.

Ibrar stood mostly quiet in court, only responding to Wigler with one word answers. He said he has no criminal history and understands he could be sentenced to 20 years in prison if convicted. His attorney declined to comment after the hearing.

Sellers was a recent Bayonne High School graduate and avid skateboarder. Worrell was the father of a 5-month-old baby when he died. Their families recently expressed frustrations over the pace of the pretrial hearings.

The next court date is July 21 where the state will look to have Ibrar's video statement to police admitted as evidence. The trial is being held in Essex County because one of the victim's family members works at the Hudson County courthouse. 

Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.

The power of mentoring was the difference in changing the direction of a young person's life.

The picture Dalila Robles sent to me in a text message on Friday confirms that she did the right thing five years ago.

That's when Robles was at home in Elizabeth trying to figure out what to do about her son. Carlos Padilla, then 13, wasn't a bad kid, but he needed some guidance after living with his father in Connecticut didn't work out.

The middle school boy was pretty much on his own while his dad struggled with alcohol and drug addiction.  With no supervision, Carlos said, he followed the wrong crowd, got into fights and was nearly expelled from school.

Moving in with mom to attend Elizabeth High School was an adjustment. She had rules he didn't want to follow.

Plus, he sorely missed his older brother, Giovanni, who left the family, creating a void Robles couldn't fill.

"I was praying to God: 'Please help me with my son,' '' she said. " 'I need help.' ''

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At that moment, she says, her television aired a commercial for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson and Union counties.  That bit of divine intervention brings me back to the picture she sent last week.

Carlos is standing next to Jesse Koblentz, who, with tears in his eyes, has his arm around Carlos.

Jesse Koblentz gets emotional after Carlos Padilla graduated from infantry school at Fort Benning, a U.S. Army base in Georgia. Koblentz became Carlos' big brother through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson and Union counties. Dalila Robles 

The son Robles was worried about had just graduated from infantry school at Fort Benning, an Army base in Georgia. And Koblentz, 39, a Cranford resident, had started smiling for the photo, but by the third frame, he was in tears, filled with emotion and pride by Carlos' accomplishment. Because he's the big brother who helped usher the 18-year-old through adolescence.

"I've never been more proud of anybody in my life,'' Koblentz told me days before the graduation. "I'm very proud of him for raising his hand and joining the Army. It's not an easy thing to do.''

The picture is a reminder to us all about the power of mentoring and the importance of men maintaining a presence in a child's life.

"An investment in one child is turning into an investment in our entire country,'' said Carlos Lejnieks, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson and Union counties. "That, to me, is the real ripple effect of what mentoring is about.''

Carlos, the little brother, admits he was iffy about the idea the first time Koblentz, a security supervisor, showed up.

He was a Giants fan; Koblentz, a diehard Cowboy. Oh, great, Carlos thought, How is this going to work?

Still, the two hit it off right away.

"Man, when he came back that boy's eyes was lit up with happiness,'' Robles said. "I was like, 'Thank you Jesus.' ''

They had spent the day hiking Bear Mountain in New York. Then they raced back to Jesse's truck.  That's what brothers, do, right? As the bond developed, Koblentz taught Carlos how to drive.

They'd also wrestle, with Carlos always getting the upper hand. Carlos wrestled in high school, a sport his older brother once participated in. With his sibling not around, Koblentz would talk to Carlos for hours about responsibility if his mom had a concern.

The two became inseparable. When Koblentz married two years ago, Carlos was there. When Carlos didn't have a ride to the prom, Koblentz took him and his date to the dance.

Dalila Robles, (left) with her son, Carlos Padilla.Dalila Robles 

"I started realizing that doing the right thing ... good things happen,'' Carlos said. "He was always there, no matter what.''

Koblentz stressed education, telling Carlos that graduating high school would allow him to control his future. He helped Carlos navigate disagreements with others, encouraged him to take the high road when making decisions.

Carlos chose the road of honor, joining the military, a path he said he's wanted since he was 8 years old.

"Before, I didn't care about anything and didn't listen to anyone, and when I met him (Koblentz) I changed all of that,'' Carlos said.

For Koblentz, signing up to be a mentor was easy. Someone looked out for him when he was Carlos' age.

"I had a lot of experienced men who took me under their wing and gave me much-needed tools for success in my life,'' Koblentz said.

It takes just four hours a month to be a big brother or sister. Koblentz encourages others to join because too many young people need direction.

He entered Carlos' world at a critical juncture. At 13, Carlos easily could have strayed, something his mother feared.

"He has been like a son in a lot of ways; both a son and a brother and a friend,'' Koblentz said.

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It's why he drove 15 hours, through heavy rain to get to Carlos' graduation on Friday.

Jermaine Rosado, who is Robles' boyfriend, said he and Carlos are close but the brotherly love the young man has with Koblentz is special.

"He (Koblentz) didn't want to sleep. He didn't want to nap.  He just wanted to see his brother,'' Rosado said.

After the graduation, Koblentz was moved anew as he helped Carlos carry his duffle bag.

Carlos didn't use his plane ticket to come home, where he's been assigned to the New Jersey National Guard.

He rode back with Koblentz, because he didn't want him to make that 940-mile trip alone.

"Call it kindness, call it class, call it respect or call it all of the above. I just call it family,'' Koblentz said.

I call it brotherhood, the unselfish giving from one brother to another.

Barry Carter: (973) 836-4925

or bcarter@starledger.com or http://connect.nj.com/user/bcarter/posts.html or follow him on Twitter @BarryCarterSL

Two months after Ringling Brothers made its last stop ever in New Jersey's largest city, UniverSoul Circus will give 13 performances May 9-14

NEWARK -- Another circus is in town.

Two months after Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus held its final run ever in Newark, the UniverSoul Circus is once again pitching its red-and-yellow tent in New Jersey's biggest city.

Atlanta-based UniverSoul, with a cast from two dozen countries around the world, will perform Tuesday through Sunday at a site on Broad Street, by Bears and Eagles Stadium.

"Get ready for some pure unadulterated energy under the Big Top," UniverSoul CEO Cedric Walker, who founded the circus in 1994, said in a statement. "Our show is bigger and more explosive than ever, with acts that are going to blow your mind. Come on out to the show, sing and dance and free your mind. Come Un-Limit Yourself!" 

Now in its 24th season, this year's UniverSoul show includes a mix of new and returning acts: the Fresh Clownsss, a kind of comic dance troupe hailing from Detroit; Chicago-based motocross aerialists known as Xtreme Bikes; the Bone Breaking Contortionists, from Guinea; Ethiopia's Roller Skaters; Caribbean dancers; elephants and other animal acts; and Lucky the Ringmaster.

Music is key part of the show, which is previewed on the UniverSoul website, and incorporates pop, classic R&B, Latin, hip hop, gospel and jazz.

There will be a total of 13 evening and matinee shows, at varying times. Tickets range from $16 to $40, available at Ticketmaster and by calling 1-800-653-8000 or 866-448-7849.

The vibrancy of UniverSoul notwithstanding, these are tough times for some in the circus world. The biggest of the big tops, Ringling Bros., is permanently shutting down this month after 146 seasons.

The Greatest Show on Earth gave nine performances at the Prudential Center in March as part of a farewell tour that also included a stand in Trenton, and will end, once and for all on May 21 at Nassau Coliseum on Long Island.

Kenneth Feld, Ringling Bros. owner since 1967, blamed the show's demise on rising costs, falling attendance attributed to changing consumer tastes, and legal and public relations battles with animal rights groups that included a $25 million payout and the elimination of elephants -- perhaps the circus' signature performer, man or beast -- from performances. 

With animals featured in its own shows, UniverSoul itslef has been a target of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, which will stage an appearance of its own in Newark on Tuesday.

UniverSoul insists its animals are treated humanely, and are valued on a par with humans as performers, as well as protected by federal state and local animal welfare laws.

But PETA, known for its aggressive and risque tactics on behalf of creatures who can't advocate for themselves, announced this week that "a PETA 'zebra'--wearing little more than body paint," will be in front of Newark City Hall at noon on Tuesday to condemn UniverSoul's use of zebras, elephants and other animals.

Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A new opioid combination is causing major concerns in the fight against drug overdoses.

With opioid-related deaths already plaguing the state and country, a new, lethal cocktail of synthetic opioids -- being called "gray death" -- is causing concerns while also highlighting the evolving landscape of drugs in the battle against addiction.

The mixture, which is being blamed for overdoses in a handful of states, combines several opioids already responsible for thousands of fatal overdoses, including heroin, and synthetic opioids like fentanyl, carfentanil and U-47700.

The gray mixture looks like concrete and is the basis for the drug's nickname.

Fentanyl, a better known lethal synthetic substance, pales in comparison to carfentanil, which is so potent that just a pin drop can kill, according to a report by Time. Produced from morphine, carfentanil is 100 times more powerful than fentanyl and 10,000 times more powerful than morphine, according to the National Institute for Health.

The new mixture has been limited to the Gulf Coast and states like Georgia and Ohio, according to a report by The Associated Press. However, federal drug enforcement officials say they are closely monitoring the potential spread of the drug, the report said.

Al Della Fave, spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, said law enforcement in Ocean County is all too familiar with synthetic opioids on the street like fentanyl and carfentanil. Ocean County has one of the highest rates of overdose deaths in the state.

Synthetic opioids have been causing such a problem in recent years that Della Fave has called it a "synthetic storm" responsible for many fatal overdoses. Overdose deaths related to the synthetic opioid in New Jersey tripled from 2013 to 2014. 

Carfentanil, he noted, is "even more powerful than fentanyl by a ridiculous amount."

The synthetic opioid U-47700 -- known on the street as "Pink" or "U4" -- has been blamed for 46 deaths in six states in the past two years, according to the DEA. The deaths led the DEA to temporarily ban the drug last year.

The new "gray death" mixture is one of the most lethal opioid compounds, and it is causing major concerns among law enforcement and addiction advocates, reports say.

Not to mention, Della Fave said, that the heroin currently circulating throughout the tri-state is already the most potent it's been in several decades with a purity level of roughly 80-percent -- a massive spike since the 5-percent in the 1970s.

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Schools from across New Jersey, including Passaic, Bergen, Ocean and Essex counties, top the list and are among the top rated districts in the U.S.

Civil lawsuits by undocumented immigrants waiting in detention facilities for months without a bond hearing are on the rise in New Jersey and elsewhere.

NEWARK--Steve Balbose, an undocumented immigrant, was held for eight months at the Elizabeth Detention Center awaiting a hearing before he finally went to court to file a civil complaint.

The circumstances of his detention are unknown. His complaint is not public, except for the judicial order by a federal judge in Newark ordering a bond hearing.

But Balbose is one of many people detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for long periods of time who have been turning to the courts to gain release from custody as they await decisions on whether they can remain in this country.

According to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, or TRAC, a nonpartisan, nonprofit data research center based at Syracuse University, there have been 763 new civil immigration lawsuits filed in disputes nationwide involving immigration matters this year through the end of March. The group said almost all were brought by immigrants seeking redress from federal government action or inaction.

About half sought to be released from detention or a court order to prevent their deportation. Most of the remaining suits challenged government inaction. More than 1 in 10 of those cases were filed in New Jersey--most by detainees seeking to be released from custody.

"In most cases. detained immigrants who are not eligible for bond have to seek remedies through district court," said Raquiba Huq, supervising attorney at the Legal Services of New Jersey in Edison. "Most people not eligible for bond under immigration law who want to force a hearing would have to go to the federal court first."

The long wait in NJ immigration courts

Under a 2011 federal appeals court ruling, immigrants fighting deportation cannot be held in custody for unreasonable periods of time without a bail hearing. That case involved a Senegalese native who languished in custody for nearly three years as a result of an old drug conviction. But the court never specified what it meant by "unreasonable."

Lori Nessel, director of the Seton Hall University School of Law Center for Social Justice, said judges have interpreted the ruling to require those in detention awaiting a bond hearing to file a petition in federal court alleging an unreasonably long period detention.

TRAC found 90 lawsuits lodged in New Jersey, which may reflect the number of detention beds located in the state. In addition to the Elizabeth Detention Center, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, contracts with a number of county jails, including Essex and Bergen counties.

Most of those were filed without lawyers, the docket filings show. According to federal data, nearly 70 percent of those detained in New Jersey in immigration removal proceedings have no legal representation.

The filings, such as the one by Balbose, are not public.

Federal officials said all immigration habeas cases--essentially an order to produce someone in detention to determine the legality of their custody--are automatically placed under a so-called "restricted docket." Because such cases often mention or tangentially involve claims for asylum, withholding of removal or protection from torture under the Convention Against Torture, release of such information is restricted by law.

In cases that have been decided, though, the judicial orders are public. Carlos Alberto Fermin Soto, a native of the Dominican Republic, had been in custody due to a 13-year-old criminal conviction since July 2016, when he petitioned for a bond hearing in February, according to the court order that granted his request. Giwah Issakah in January challenged his seven-month detention by ICE at the Hudson County Correction Facility in Kearny. After U.S. District Judge John Vazquez ordered the government to respond to the petition, ICE informed the court that Soto had been deported.

According to TRAC, the growth in such suits actually pre-dates the Trump administration, and began during Obama's presidency. The data analysis group that has been tracking immigration statistics said the number of lawsuits filed each month began to rise beginning in March 2015. But it said the latest figures through March 2017 indicate that increase has continued under Trump.

Immigration attorney Eric Mark of Newark, who has represented a number of those in detention seeking bond hearings, believes the increase in civil filings are due to procedural changes by the immigration courts. Previously, he said the immigration courts would accept a direct motion for a bond hearing. Now, he said, the courts will not act on a bond hearing request unless a federal judge issues an order.

A spokeswoman for the Executive Office for Immigration Review, the Department of Homeland Security office that oversees the nation's immigration courts, said detained cases remain "the agency's highest priority."

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