Quantcast
Channel: Essex County
Viewing all 10984 articles
Browse latest View live

Man stopped for seatbelt violation in Newark faces weapons charges

0
0

Task force also recovers second weapon Wednesday night

NEWARK -- An Irvington man was arrested Wednesday night after a loaded handgun was found in his car, police said.

 

The man, Omar S. Simmons, 27, was stopped in his Buick near 14th Avenue and S. 7th Street around 8 p.m. because he was not wearing his seatbelt, city police spokesman Sgt. Ron Glover said. Simmons was pulled over by members of the Newark Violence Reduction Initiative, which includes personnel from the State Police, FBI, State Parole and the Essex County Sheriff's Office.

As officers approached the car, Simmons was seen taking a gun from his waistband and trying to place it in the console between the driver and passenger seats, Glover said.

Simmons and the passengers were ordered out of the car as police conducted a search, retrieving a loaded 9-mm handgun, Glover said. Simmons was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and other weapons offenses, as well as being issued motor-vehicle summonses. The passengers were released.

In an another, unrelated incident Wednesday night, members of the same team found an unloaded .380 automatic handgun on Camden Street after receiving a tip.

"One weapon at a time, we are making our city safer with each illegal weapon our officers remove from the hands of criminals. Be it a tip or good old police work, together we are making strides to improve the quality of life here in Newark," said Police Director Eugene Venable.

Police ask that anyone with information about this or any other crimes call the department's 24-hour Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 877 NWK-TIPS (877 695-8477) or NWK-GUNS (877 695-4867).

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaulMilo2. FindNJ.com on Facebook

Gallery preview 

 


26 charged following dawn NJ heroin ring bust, authorities say

0
0

Twenty-four people were taken into law enforcement custody following Thursday morning narcotics raids across New Jersey, authorities say.

NEWARK -- A Thursday afternoon announcement by Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray confirmed an earlier NJ Advance Media report of several narcotics raids by authorities across north and central New Jersey.

Following the raids, 24 people were taken into law enforcement custody in connection to the investigation of the Newark-based heroin distribution ring, authorities confirmed.


PREVIOUS: 48 charged in gang-fueled drug trade bust, officials say

All 26 now face various drug-related charges, including possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession and conspiracy. Another three suspects sought by police in connection to the investigation remain at large, authorities said.

Investigators seized $8,000 in cash, two firearms and over 200 bricks of heroin after executing search and arrest warrants in Essex, Middlesex and several other counties, authorities said. The seized heroin has an estimated street value of $100,000, authorities said.

This was the second takedown of a sprawling, Newark-based heroin ring in as many months. In July, officials arrested 48 people in connection to an Essex County Narcotics Task Force investigation of a heroin ring allegedly led by members of the Bloods street gang.

The ring targeted Thursday operated in a similar fashion, supplying customers from outside of Essex County from its base near the intersection of Foster Street and Frelinghuysen Avenue in Newark, Murray said Thursday.

The raids began early Thursday morning, as teams of officers including New Jersey State Police SWAT teams, Essex County Prosecutor's Office officials and other county law enforcement officials executed the search and arrest warrants.

Several officers could be seen bursting through the doors of two separate Newark residences. The officers appeared to take two suspects -- one male and one female -- into custody outside an apartment residence in the 100 block of Spruce Street in Newark.

At a similar raid at a home in the 100 block of Hobson Street, authorities led a male suspect wearing handcuffs into a waiting car while neighbors looked on.

In Rahway, investigators could be seen removing bags and boxes after a team of officers entered a town home in the 400 block of Hancock Street. Hours later, authorities led a man from the home in handcuffs.

In a released statement,  Newark Mayor Ras Barakapraised the efforts of the joint-task force.

"According to the Prosecutor's Office, this ring was based in Newark, but its tentacles spread into eight other communities, oozing crime and violence across the state, destroying neighborhoods and lives," the statement read. "We will not tolerate Newark being a cesspool or a center for criminals and illegal activity."

Anthony Ambrose, Essex County Prosecutor's Office Chief of Detectives, said the collaboration is example of what can be accomplished when law enforcement stands together.

Multiple Essex County police departments assisted in the investigation, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation the Morris and Monmouth County Prosecutor's Offices and NJ State Police, authorities said.

"These dealers are not operating in an insulated environment," said New Jersey State Police spokesman Lt. Brian Polite. "The drug dealers don't operate within jurisdictional lines, so we as law enforcement have to worker together."

Full list of the arrested suspects: 

  • Alshariek Morgan, 33, of Newark: Conspiracy to distribute, distribution, possession with intent to distribute
  • Elijahwan Green, 24, of Newark: Conspiracy to distribute and unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose and convicted felon
  • Shaquan Reeds, 21, of Newark: Conspiracy to distribute
  • Pablo Genao, 23, of the Bronx New York: Charged with possession, possession with intent to distribute and possession.
  • Alexandre Marques, 36, of Kenilworth: Conspiracy to distribute
  • Joseph Molok , 36, of Union Beach: Conspiracy to distribute
  • Angel Torres, 35, of Newark: Conspiracy to distribute
  • Dong Seok, 30, of Palisades Park: Conspiracy to distribute
  • Felix Perez, 45, of Perth Amboy: Conspiracy to Distribute
  • Clifton Moore, 57, of Newark: Conspiracy to distribute
  • Timothy Smith, 35, of Woodbridge: Conspiracy to distribute and possession
  • Christina Naussner, 37, of Woodbridge: Conspiracy to distribute and possession
  • Juan Middleton, 62, of Newark: Conspiracy to distribute and possession
  • Kerry Garner, 38, of Long Branch: Conspiracy to distribute, possession, possession with intent to distribute
  • Ismael Bimbow, 38, of Newark: Conspiracy to distribute
  • William Harrison, 48 of Piscataway: Conspiracy to distribute and possession
  • Jacqueline Fairley, 52, of Newark: Unlawful possession of a weapon, possession for unlawful purpose and possession
  • Thomas Jaegel, 41, of Bedford: Conspiracy to distribute
  • Raquan McKenith, 25, of Newark: Outstanding warrants
  • Jay Park 28, of Palisades Park: Possession
  • Gina Park, 65, of Palisades Park: Possession
  • Ji Lee, 21, of Palisades Park: Possession
  • The following suspects remain at large and are fugitives from justice
  • Altariq McCoy, 25, of Newark: Conspiracy to distribute
  • Khalil Simpson, 25, of Newark: Conspiracy to distribute

Vernal Coleman can be reached at vcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vernalcoleman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Second suspect in murder of Newark student arrested

0
0

Robert Hayes was found seriously injured on Verona Avenue in July and later died at the hospital

NEWARK -- The second of three men charged in connection with the murder of a college student in July was arrested Thursday afternoon, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said. 

police lights file photo.jpg(File photo). 

Edgardo Mendez, 25, was apprehended at a Linden motel by the prosecutor's office and members of the FBI's fugitive task force, with help from Bloomfield police, the prosecutor's office said. He was being held on $500,000 bail.


RELATED: Man wanted for murder of NJCU student from Newark 


Newark resident Robert Hayes, 20, was found early July 9 on Verona Avenue suffering from blunt-force injuries. He died later that day, authorities said.

Another suspect, Jonathan Tejeda, 23, of Newark, was arrested in July. A third suspect, Belleville resident Eric Santiago, 26, was still at large Thursday.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaulMilo2. FindNJ.com on Facebook

Gallery preview 

 

What's your grade in this week's News Quiz?

0
0

Have you gone to school on New Jersey news, or will you get schooled?

Kids across New Jersey headed back to class this week as lazy summer days were replaced by the rigors of academia. Similarly, it's time for you to tighten up your game in NJ.com's weekly news quiz. The seven questions below will snap you out of your idyllic summer haze with a cold dose of reality. Once you're done, share your score in comments to establish your class rank among NJ.commers. And remember, you're not being graded on a curve.




 

John Shabe may be reached at jshabe@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johndshaber. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Rescued as a stray, kitten is ready for adoption

0
0

BLOOMFIELD — RJ is a 3-month-old kitten in the care of A Purrfect World Rescue. He was rescued from a feral colony in an urban environment and is now ready for a home. RJ gets along very well with other cats and is perfectly healthy. He has been neutered and is up-to-date on shots. For more information on RJ,...

ex0913pet.jpgRJ 

BLOOMFIELD -- RJ is a 3-month-old kitten in the care of A Purrfect World Rescue.

He was rescued from a feral colony in an urban environment and is now ready for a home.

RJ gets along very well with other cats and is perfectly healthy. He has been neutered and is up-to-date on shots.

For more information on RJ, call Kristina at 201-965-9586, email info@apurrfectworld.org or go to apurrfectworld.org. A Purrfect World is a nonprofit group in Bloomfield that places stray and abandoned cats in permanent homes and is currently caring for 100 felines.

Shelters interested in placing a pet in the Paw Print adoption column or submitting news should call 973- 836-4922 or email essex@starledger.com.

N.J. names 'Teacher of the Year' in each county

0
0

The teachers, selected by panels of administrators, teachers and parents in their county, will now compete to become New Jersey's state Teacher of the Year.

TRENTON -- New Jersey on Thursday named 21 educators as Teachers of the Year, with one teacher representing each county in the state.

The teachers, selected by panels of administrators, teachers and parents in each county, will now compete to become New Jersey's state Teacher of the Year. The winner will be announced in October. 

The awards are a tribute to the talent, dedication and success of the teachers, state Education Commissioner David Hespe said. Here are the teachers who won the award in each county:


RELATED: Test your New Jersey back-to-school IQ

Atlantic: Michael Martirone, a social studies teacher at Egg Harbor Township High School in Egg Harbor Township School District. 

Bergen: Gregory Mulford, a music teacher at Roy W. Brown Middle School in Bergenfield School District. 

Burlington: Jennifer Braverman, an art teacher at Maple Shade High School in Maple Shade School District. 

Camden: Elizabeth Light, an art teacher at Gloucester City Junior-Senior High School in the Gloucester City School District. 

Cape May: Erin Ridgway, a second-grade teacher at Glenwood Avenue Elementary School in Wildwood School District. 

Cumberland: Belinda Murphy, a math teacher at ExCEL School in Bridgeton School District

Essex: Jessica Picciuto, a fourth grade teacher at Oak View School in Bloomfield School District.

Gloucester: Jennifer Clune, a special education teacher at Jeffrey Clark School in East Greenwich Township School District,

Hudson: Danielle Savino-Garzon, a second-grade teacher at Dr. Michael Conti School in Jersey City School District. 

Hunterdon: Samantha Billig, a business teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in Hunterdon Central Regional High School District.

Mercer: Edward Holub, a social studies teacher at Pond Road Middle School in Robbinsville Township Public School District

Middlesex: Janet El-Maraghy, a fourth-grade teacher at Dr. H.N. Richardson 21st Century School in Perth Amboy School District.

Monmouth: Amanda Andrews, a math teacher at Keyport Central School in Keyport Public School District.

Morris: Cheryl Zanone, a science teacher at Robert R. Lazar Middle School in Montville School District.

Ocean: Brittany Bucco, a world languages teacher at Lake Riviera Middle School in Brick Township School District.

Passaic: Shawn Rhinesmith, a second-grade teacher at Marshall Hill Elementary School in West Milford Township School District.

Salem: Chelsea Collins, an English teacher at Woodstown Middle School in Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District.

Somerset: Kristine Shurina, an eighth grade teacher at Bridgewater Raritan Middle School in Bridgewater Raritan School District.

Sussex: Lisa Hirkaler Murphy, an art teacher at Vernon Township High School in Vernon Township School District.

Union: Janice Marsili, an art teacher at David Brearley Middle/High School in Kenilworth School District.

Warren: Darlene Noel, an elementary school teacher at Green Street School in Phillipsburg School District.

Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClarkFind NJ.com on Facebook.
Gallery preview 

3-year-old struck, killed during Newark police chase, authorities confirm

0
0

Authorities say they are investigating the chase.

IMG_9081.jpegThe scene of the strike. (Vernal Coleman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) 

NEWARK -- The Essex County Prosecutor's Office is investigating a Newark police chase that ended in the death of a 3-year-old child, authorities confirmed Friday morning.

According to Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly, a Newark police car was pursuing a male suspect driving in the area of 15th Avenue and South 7th Street Friday morning when the suspect's car fatally struck the 3-year-old.

Authorities are currently investigating the police pursuit and the fatal crash, Fennelly said. No other information about the suspect or the child was immediately available.


RELATED: Driver in Newark police chase that killed teen is veteran officer, authorities say

According to Bishop Jethro James, pastor of nearby Paradise Baptist Church, the incident was not the result of a high-speed chase. James said he spoke to authorities at the scene, who said the suspect's car sped up at the intersection, struck a tree and then the small child.

The neighborhood in which the crash took place is home to several schools, including the Marion P Thomas Charter School. It's also one in which many young families live, James added.

James Stewart, president of the Newark Fraternal Order of Police, said the suspect driver is wanted on a warrant issued earlier this year. After being spotted by the Newark police officers involved in the pursuit, the suspect fled and then struck the child, Stewart said. 

"Our officers are devastated and our hearts go out to the family," Stewart said.

Authorities are currently investigating the strike and the chase that led up to it, Fennelly said. No other information about the suspect or the child was immediately available.

The incident marks the latest in a set of several Newark police chases that have ended in injuries or deaths.

On Aug. 27, a 79-year-old woman walking her dog was seriously injured when a car being pursued by Newark police hit her. On Sept. 1, a teenage carjacking suspect was struck and killed by a police car pursuing him. The next day, two people suffered minor injuries when an allegedly stolen car being pursued by police hit their car.

Vernal Coleman can be reached at vcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vernalcoleman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Gallery preview 

Lt. Gov to 9/11 families: N.J. will keep memories of victims alive

0
0

Kim Guadagno was one of a long line of speakers at the annual 'Essex County Remembers' ceremony.

WEST ORANGE -- In front of a packed crowd at the September 11 Memorial at Eagle Rock Reservation Friday morning, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno had a message for family members of the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks: New Jersey will not forget you.

"It is our obligation...to make sure that our children don't forget today," she told the group of family members and others who gathered at the annual ceremony overlooking New York's Freedom Tower.

"We commit to have our children remember your lost children."

Guadagno was one of a series of speakers who commemorated the fourteenth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks in an early morning ceremony in Essex County. Each year, 'Essex County Remembers' is held at the reservation, which county officials constructed a memorial in after thousands of people gathered at the spot on September 11, 2001 to watch the events play out across the river.

"Fourteen years ago, there were thousands of people here, and I was standing at the back," County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo said during the ceremony. The memorial, he said "was not only to recognize Essex County, the people that died, the 57; or the state of New Jersey, approximately 700...we honored all 3,000 (victims)."

Speakers at the ceremony Friday recounted stories of where they were on 9/11, and of people they knew who were killed in the attacks, served in the armed forces afterward, or who responded to the World Trade Center in the months after.

They also spoke about what they said was the importance of continuing to tell those stories to keep memories of the victims alive, and the lessons learned from them current.

"Let us make our lives a symbol representative of what so many people gave up that day," Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) told attendees.

"Let's not embroil ourselves in the pettiness of the day...Let's all remember on this day, those things that are important, and those things that are not."

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


Ex-Newark cop loses appeal of conviction for shaking down drug dealers

0
0

Darius Smith was sentenced in August 2012 to three years of probation and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine

darius-smith.JPGFormer Newark Police Officer Darius Smith, pictured left in this October 2004 photo, has lost an appeal of his 2012 conviction on official misconduct and related charges. Smith had been accused of conspiring with other cops to steal cash, drugs and weapons from drug dealers. 

NEWARK -- A former Newark police officer has lost a bid to overturn his 2012 conviction on official misconduct and related charges for conspiring with other cops to steal cash, drugs and weapons from drug dealers.

In a decision released on Wednesday, a state appeals court affirmed Darius Smith's conviction on conspiracy, official misconduct, and theft charges. After a jury found him guilty in May 2012, Smith was sentenced in August 2012 to three years of probation and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.

Looking to overturn his conviction, Smith argued in part that, before the trial began, the trial judge in April 2012 improperly denied his motion to dismiss the indictment, according to the appellate decision.

Since it had been more than seven years since the indictment was issued, Smith argued in that motion that the delay violated his right to a speedy trial, the decision states.

But the appellate panel agree with the judge's findings that the reasons for the delay were legitimate and largely due to the fact that prosecutors were pursuing separate trials against another city police officer on related charges.

The appeals court also admonished Smith for waiting more than seven years to file his motion to dismiss.

"There is nothing to suggest the delay was deliberate or intended to prejudice defendant," the decision states. "While defendant is not obligated to assert his speedy trial right, the fact that he waited seven years to do so does weigh heavily against him."


RELATED: Ex-Newark cop sues city for nearly $1M in legal fees related to misconduct trials

Smith and at least two fellow city police officers, Lawrence Furlow and Tyrone Dudley, were initially charged in the case.

After two trials for Furlow ended in hung juries, authorities in June 2012 said they declined to try him a third time and dismissed the charges. The trial judge in Smith's case largely attributed the delay in that matter to Furlow's trials, the decision states.

Furlow and his trial attorney are now suing Newark to recoup nearly $1 million in legal fees.

Dudley pleaded guilty in 2004 to conspiracy to commit official misconduct. He was later sentenced to a term of probation and placed in a witness relocation program, the decision states.

At Smith's trial, Dudley testified about how he and his partner would sometimes share money stolen from suspects with Smith and Furlow, who were partners, the decision states.

"According to Dudley, when they took money from a suspect, they would decide how much of it would be reported as evidence before returning to the precinct to write the reports," the decision states.

Sometimes the officers would divert some of the drugs seized into a "stash bag" after they arrested a drug dealer and, other times, the officers stole drugs from dealers without arresting them, according to Dudley, the decision states.

"They put the stolen, unreported drugs into the stash bag; they used this contraband to plant drugs on other suspects in order to justify arresting them," the decision states.

Dudley recalled one incident in which Smith seized about $3,500 from a drug dealer, but the incident reports only stated $546 was recovered from the man, the decision states.

Dudley also testified about how Smith had illegally searched a vehicle and various residences, the decision states.

After one such search, Dudley said he, Smith and another officer seized a handgun and "placed it in their 'stash bag' so they could use it '[i]n the event that at a later date we come across a suspect or someone that we had a vendetta against, we would place it on them,'" the decision states.

Smith was ultimately convicted of second-degree conspiracy to commit official misconduct; third-degree official misconduct; and a disorderly persons offense of theft under $200.

Since the jury had determined Smith stole less than $200, Superior Court Judge Peter Ryan downgraded the conspiracy charge to a third-degree offense before sentencing Smith to three years of probation.

As part of the appeal, Essex County prosecutors claimed Ryan improperly downgraded the charge, but the appellate panel upheld the decision.

"Here, the jury found the most serious crime was third degree official misconduct," the decision states. "Accordingly, the trial judge properly downgraded the conspiracy conviction to match the official misconduct offense."

Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Gallery preview 

Man in cop chase that killed Newark toddler facing homicide charges, authorities say

0
0

The 22-year-old Newark man who allegedly struck and killed a three-year-old child in a chase with Newark police has been charged with vehicular homicide.

Screen Shot 2015-09-11 at 2.14.35 PM.pngThe driver of the car that killed 3-year-old Rahmere Tullis during a chase with Newark police has been charged with vehicular homicide (Vernal Coleman|NJ Advance Media). 

NEWARK -- The 22-year-old city resident who allegedly struck and killed a 3-year-old child in a morning chase with Newark police has been arrested and charged, authorities said Friday.

Troy Ruff, 22, of Newark, now faces charges of aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide and eluding police, announced Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray.

According to authorities, Ruff was driving the car that killed Rahmere Tullis.


RELATED: 3-year-old struck, killed during Newark police chase

Authorities said Tullis was walking on the sidewalk with his mother near the intersection of 15th Avenue and South 7th Street Friday morning when a Hyundai Sonata allegedly driven by Ruff hopped the curb, striking the 3-year-old. Tullis was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

Hours after the incident, details of the police chase that preceded the crash remain scarce. But authorities said that at roughly 7:40 a.m., Newark police officers from the department's Fugitive Apprehension Team attempted to apprehend Ruff.

According to authorities, Ruff is wanted on a May warrant for aggravated assault and other weapon-related charges. Authorities said Ruff attempted to flee after attempts by police to pull over his vehicle failed.

Witnesses at the scene who declined to be named said the Sonata swerved as it traveled on 15th Avenue, striking a tree and the three-year-old victim.

Ruff was arrested and taken into custody following the crash, authorities said. His bail has been set at $500,000, authorities said. Ruff is also facing charges from the May incident.

Tullis' death and the police chase the proceeded it are now being investigated by the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit and Professional Standards Bureau. 

Vernal Coleman can be reached at vcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vernalcoleman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Gallery preview

N.J. DEP published faulty drought data

0
0

State agency's drought indicators wrongfully indicated no water issues in northeastern New Jersey, when it was clear there was a growing problem.

Everyone except the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection seemed to know that mounting precipitation deficits were becoming a problem for New Jersey's most populous region.  

By several measures of the National Weather Service and the New Jersey State Climatologist, precipitation deficits in northeastern New Jersey, prior to Thursday's rains, were operating between four and six inches below normal. The U.S. Drought Monitor, a national collective of academics, placed northeastern New Jersey in a "moderate drought" designation. United Water, which provides water to more than 800,000, called for voluntarily water restrictions after its reservoirs fell to about 45 percent of capacity, following a scorching and dry August. 

But visit the DEP's drought monitoring site, and a different story is being told: 

Screen Shot 2015-09-09 at 1.29.08 PM.pngThe DEP's measures incorrectly state that there are few water issues facing northeastern New Jersey.  

For an undetermined amount of time, an analytical error has led the state agency to use and publish erroneous information about the state's water situation, a topic that affects virtually every facet of life in New Jersey, from farming to day-to-day residential water usage.  

After initially rejecting an NJ Advance Media inquiry about the seemingly faulty information, the DEP acknowledged that a recent conversion from one National Weather Service product to another had led to an inaccurate processing of information.  

"The problem with the precipitation indicators on the web site is being fixed," said Larry Hajna, a spokesman for the agency. "We did not realize that there was a problem when we shifted from the (Mid-Atlantic River Forecast Center) data collection system to the more precise Advanced Hydrologic Prediction System."

Hajna said accurate information would begin appearing Monday, when the site is next scheduled to be updated.

The DEP's reservoir level data also conflicts with the company, United Water, that manages it in much of northeastern New Jersey.  While United Water said their reservoirs had fallen below 50 percent capacity last week, on the same day, the DEP published figures that state United's reservoirs were well about 60 percent. 

Steve Goudsmith, director of communications for the company, said the DEP likely includes a water source, Lake Deforest in New York, which the company has some but not considerable access to as a primary water source.  

"We have a limited allocation that comes out of Lake Deforest, so we do not use it when measuring our reservoir capacity," Goudsmith said. "Drought can begin at any moment but you don't know you're in one until you have been for some time. One rainstorm isn't going to fix this. We're not out of the woods yet." 

New Jersey is not on the precipice of a water emergency yet, and Thursday's rains certainly will help a region that has barely seen a drop of water in three weeks.  But the flubbed data raises questions about how the state agency tasked with overseeing the state's water supply operates, seemingly ignoring a chorus of information that runs counter to their own analysis. 


RELATED: More than five inches of rain falls in South Jersey, causing flooding.


"It doesn't matter how you look at it, that part of New Jersey has been dry," said David Robinson, the state climatologist at Rutgers University when initially confronted with the anomaly Wednesday. "I'm sort of left scratching my head. They have their own criteria, but I'm not sure what they're using to come up with their figures ... We're talking about an area that's seen, over the last two months, 30 to 40 percent of their normal rainfall. That's the story."

Screen Shot 2015-09-11 at 1.30.00 PM.pngEven after Thursday's rains, parts of New Jersey still have 90-day precipitation deficits of two to five inches.  

It's unclear if use of the correct information would have changed decision making at the DEP. In 2010, the agency issued a drought watch in northeastern New Jersey when reservoir levels were markedly higher, though the watch was issued in August, a month earlier in peak water usage season.

Hajna said the DEP will continue to monitor the drier than average conditions and said it has become increasingly concerned with the situation in northeastern New Jersey. About one to two inches of rain fell across much of the state Tuesday, according to data from the National Weather Service. 

"It was a substantial rain. We're still dry, but it helps," Robinson said. 

Already, farmers around the state are reporting that a very dry August is having a significant impact on fall crops, like pumpkins and corn.  

But the DEP, Goudsmith and Robinson all said the concern isn't so much for the coming fall and winter, but the spring and summer that follow. 

"You don't want to be in a hole heading into the growing season," Robinson said. "This is typically the time of year that the reservoirs replenish themselves. If you don't go into the spring and summer with a nice cushion, you can find yourself in trouble very quick."

Stephen Stirling may be reached at sstirling@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @sstirling. Find him on Facebook.

Gallery preview 

Professor, accused of sex assault, declares love for disabled man

0
0

Rutgers-Newark professor Anna Stubblefield told the man's mother they loved each other during a phone call recorded by law enforcement officials

NEWARK -- A few months after disclosing her sexual relationship with a severely mentally disabled man, Rutgers-Newark professor Anna Stubblefield discussed their mutual love in a phone call with his mother.

"We love each other so much," Stubblefield told the man's mother. "He's the most important person in my life. I'm the most important person in his life.

"I'm lucky if I get through twenty minutes...of any day without thinking about him and that's how much I miss him."

What Stubblefield didn't know was that law enforcement officials were listening in on the phone conversation.

A recording of that conversation was played on Thursday for the jury during Stubblefield's trial on two counts of aggravated sexual assault. She is accused of abusing the man, known as D.J., in her Newark office in 2011.

Prosecutors argue the 34-year-old man was unable to consent to the sexual activity, but Stubblefield, 45, of West Orange, has claimed he consented through a controversial technique, known as "facilitated communication."

With that method, advocates say a disabled person can type on a keyboard while a facilitator provides physical support, but critics say the technique is ineffective and that the facilitators are controlling the messages.

Rutgers has placed Stubblefield on administrative leave without pay.

D.J., who suffers from cerebral palsy and other ailments, wears diapers, does not speak and requires assistance with walking, bathing, dressing and eating, his mother has testified.


RELATED: Professor goes on trial in alleged sexual abuse of disabled man

Stubblefield first met D.J. in 2009 through his brother, then a Rutgers student, who was taking a course of Stubblefield's and asked the professor if she could help D.J. with his communication, according to Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Eric Plant. Stubblefield then spent about two years working with D.J., Plant said.

On May 28, 2011, Stubblefield revealed to D.J.'s mother and brother that they were in a sexual relationship and she was in love with him, Plant said. D.J.'s brother ultimately reported the alleged abuse to another Rutgers professor, and the university contacted Essex County prosecutors, Plant said.

In a June 18, 2011 voicemail message Stubblefield left for D.J.'s mother - which also was played in court on Thursday - Stubblefield said she was willing to commit in writing that she would "leave my husband and I will make a permanent life and home with DMan."

On Aug. 22, 2011, officials with the Essex County Prosecutor's Office recorded the mother's phone call to Stubblefield after the mother had consented to the recording. The mother made the call while accompanied by Plant and two other law enforcement officials.

On the call, the mother questioned Stubblefield about how she and D.J. had sex, and asked her to explain how their relationship reached that point.

"I need to know, were you two really sexually involved?" the mother asked Stubblefield.

Stubblefield said she and D.J. had been talking about their feelings for each other, and D.J. asked whether they could "do anything physical." Stubblefield said she told him they'd "have to experiment and find out."

When the mother pressed her for details on the sexual encounters, Stubblefield said her office has "enough floor space" and she brought in an exercise mat, a beach towel and condoms. Stubblefield said they had sex on two Sundays.

"We were able to make things work," Stubblefield said

But Stubblefield maintained that her relationship with D.J. was not primarily about the sex.

"We love each other very, very, very much and I wouldn't have sex with somebody that I didn't love," Stubblefield told the mother.

After the recording was played on Thursday, Plant asked D.J.'s mother why she ultimately terminated the phone call.

"Because I had had enough of what was being said and I was very emotional at that time," the mother testified.

Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Newark mourns 3-year-old killed in police pursuit

0
0

Family of the toddler is reportedly speaking out about the incident.

NEWARK -- The father of a 3-year-old boy who was killed after being struck during a police chase in the city Friday morning is reportedly questioning why officers were involved in a pursuit in his neighborhood.

"I'm more angry at the police. They should have never been chasing that man like that," Cordell Tullis said in an interview with PIX11. "(If) that would have never happened, my son would still be here."

Tullis's son, Rahmere, was standing with his mother on the corner of 15th Avenue and South 7th Street when he was struck by a Hyundai Sonata involved in a police chase, authorities confirmed Friday. Rahmere Tullis was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.


MORE: Driver accused of killing Newark toddler during police chase charged

The man driving the car, 22-year-old Newark resident Troy Ruff, has been arrested on numerous charges including vehicular homicide, authorities said.

The young boy's death has sent shockwaves through the city. "This tragedy touches us on so many levels and the loss of young Rahmere is felt in our homes, our neighborhoods, our communities and throughout Newark," Mayor Ras Baraka said in a statement.

IMG_9081.jpegScene in Newark Friday. (Vernal Coleman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
 

"The way in which his life was taken is not just a crime against the laws of the land but a crime against humanity."

According to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, Ruff was wanted on aggravated assault and weapons charges.

"The tragic and unnecessary death of 3-year-old Rahmere Tullis...weighs heavy on the hearts of every law enforcement agency," Newark Police Director Eugene Venable said in a statement.

Venable confirmed that the department is cooperating with the prosecutor's office's investigation of the chase. "We have no doubt that justice will be brought to bear in this incident," he said.

Other officers said the incident could serve as a tragic warning.

"To flee or fight only puts others at risk, and as shown today, can create an unimaginable tragedy," James Stewart Jr., president of the city's chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police, said in an interview with NJ Advance Media.

"Our officers are devastated and out hearts go out to the family."

Area residents have reportedly created a makeshift memorial near the scene of the child's death.

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

Gallery preview 

Montclair State thanks referendum bond, donors for new $66M building

0
0

School held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday.

MONTCLAIR -- A new, $66 million, six-story building on the campus of Montclair State University is an example of a positive collaboration between the public and private sectors, school and government officials said Thursday while officially unveiling it.

The 143,000 square foot building was funded partially by private donations, and in part by the "Building Our Future" bond act, which was approved by New Jerseyeans in a 2012 referendum vote. In a joint celebration Thursday, officials marked the completion of the business center, and its renaming of the now so-called "Mimi and Edwin Feliciano School of Business."

The couple's donations helped pay for the new building, as well as other developments on the school's campus, officials said.

"This is ushering in an exciting new era for Montclair State University," the school's president, Susan Cole, told a large crowd during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday evening.


SEE ALSO: Montclair State raises tuition and fees 2 percent

Cole spoke both of the donors' "deep commitment" to the school, and of the bond funding, which she advocated heavily in favor of.

"This is the first significant, concrete manifestation of the enormous value of the (bond act) to the people of New Jersey," she said.

The building, she said, is state-of-the-art, and includes high-tech facilities like a 35-unit 3D printer lab, 12 Bloomburg terminals, and a financial resource center. It will serve the school's current 2,800 business majors, and 20,000 other students who choose to take classes at the growing school, officials said.

Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno commended Cole and the school for turning the bond - which provided $750 million for projects at schools across the state - into what she called a tangible advantage for the state's students.

"Thank you for making this a game changer for so many people," she said to the school and the donors.

"This is a school that reaches out, this is a school that understands it has to be a part of a larger community."

The building is one of two large infrastructure projects the school is undertaking as part of the $94 million it received from the state bond. The other is a 107,500 square foot Center for Environmental and Life Sciences.

Expansions at the college, officials said, would not be possible without private contributions. In addition to the Feliciano's donations, Montclair State also recently received an anonymous $20 million gift, the largest in its history.

Mimi Feliciano said her donations are motivated by the hope that they will inspire students in the future. Feliciano said her own business success was thanks to her parents, whose belief in her inspired her to succeed.

"I wanted to prove to (my parents) that they didn't waste their time and energy on me," she said during the ceremony.

"Now, (the students) need to make us proud...because we believe in them."

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

N.J. hospitals excluded from Horizon's proposal worry about their future

0
0

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey's plan that will be phased-in beginning in January appeared to create a distinct group of winners and losers in New Jersey's cutthroat health care marketplace, industry insiders and observers said.

TRENTON -- Hours after the state's largest insurance company announced Thursday it was forging a partnership with 34 hospitals to "significantly transform how health care is financed and delivered in New Jersey," officials from St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton, a small but renowned community hospital excluded from this new venture, said they were contemplating a grim future.

"This would have a significant financial impact, and could affect the future viability of Saint Francis Medical Center," said spokeswoman Kim Barnes. 

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey's plan that will be phased-in beginning in January appeared to create a distinct group of winners and losers in New Jersey's cutthroat health care marketplace, industry insiders and observers said.


RELATED: Horizon Blue Cross partners with 22 hospitals to lower rates


Consumers accustomed to rising premiums every year would win, Horizon executives said, by seeing their out-of-pocket expenses decline if they agreed to use the 34 "tier one" hospitals and affiliated doctors that have agreed to accept lower reimbursement rates.

These 34 hospitals would benefit by seeing greater patient volume. And the 22 hospitals who were accepted into the "OMNIA Alliance" would earn higher reimbursements if they show they are providing quality care by keeping people healthier at a lower cost, Horizon executives said.

"Through the OMNIA Health Alliance, we are all making a long-term commitment with a new level of trust, cooperation, and energy that will benefit health care consumers in New Jersey," Horizon Chairman and CEO Robert A. Marino said.

The biggest players in the state's hospital landscape are included in the alliance, such as Atlantic Health, with its flagship hospital Morristown Medical Center, Robert Wood Johnson University Health, based in New Brunswick, Barnabas Health, based in Livingston, and Hackensack University Medical Center.

Yet many of the remaining 38 hospitals in New Jersey who are left out expressed confusion over why they weren't selected, and concern for their future. Patients would still be allowed to use these "tier two" hospitals, but they would pay more. Marino and other executives who announced the plan said they would share more details about cost in the next month.

The 2016 rates listed on the State Health Benefits Program website indicate a big price difference between tier one and two hospitals.

State employees would pay no deductible if they used a tier one hospital, but would pay a $1,500 deductible for a tier-two facility. Patients would see they out-of-pocket expenses capped at $2,500 at tier-one facilities compared to $4,500 at tier-two hospitals. Those seeing a primary care doctor or a specialty physician would pay $5 and $15 if they are affiliated with tier-one hospitals, compared to $20 and $30 co-pays for doctors at tier-two facilities, according to the website.

Enrollment in the new OMNIA Alliance and tiering plans is optional for state employees when the open-enrollment period begins in October, Horizon spokesman Thomas Rubino said. But state employees in specific HMO plans who decline to choose a plan will be "auto-enrolled into the OMNIA Alliance plan," he said.

Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex), chairman of the state Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, said he is concerned about the power Horizon is wielding. He said would hold a legislative hearing to dissect what the changes will mean for consumers and the stability of the hospital industry.

"I don't know if the state's largest insurer gets to decide which hospitals succeed and which ones don't," Vitale said.

Vitale said he sees a lot of gaps in hospital coverage. Burlington County has no Omnia or tier-one hospitals. Neither does Trenton. The only Catholic hospital is Saint Joseph's Medical Center in Paterson, and many inner-city, safety net hospitals are conspicuously absent, he said.

Vitale said he was particularly concerned about the exclusion of Trinity Health, with St. Francis in Trenton, Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden, and Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County. The Trenton and Camden facilities are renowned for their cardiac care.

Horizon has recognized St. Francis' high marks on the Leapfrog Group's patient safety scorecard, said Barnes, Trinity Health's spokeswoman. Trinity asked to join the OMNIA and tier-one group, but was turned down without explanation, she said.

"As one of the top hospitals for safety, we're sort of scratching our heads trying to understand what criteria they used," Barnes said.  

Horizon "engaged in a thoughtful and deliberate selection process in developing the OMNIA Health Alliance," Rubino said, explaining these hospitals "share a vision and commitment to reward high quality health care, the ability to impact the health status of large populations, strong brand reputations among consumers and employers, and the resources and capabilities to use new technology to deliver more effective and efficient health care to our members."

Rubino declined to be more specific.

Jersey City Medical Center, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch and Newark Beth Israel -- all owned by Barnabas -- are included in OMNIA, said Suzanne Ianni, president of the Hospital Alliance of New Jersey, the trade group for safety net hospitals who treat the most low-income and uninsured people.

But St Francis' exclusion "is quite concerning for the residents of Trenton, state employees and the hospitals that serve them. Not only is this an access issue for Trenton, it could negatively affect the bottom lines of the hospitals that currently serve that population," Ianni said.

Officials from some tier-two hospitals that stood to lose market share and patient volume touted their value but declined to speculate what Horizon's announcement might mean for their bottom line. Saint Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick was among them.

"Saint Peter's is a stand-alone Catholic institution that operates New Jersey's largest neonatal intensive care unit, delivers more babies than anyone else in central New Jersey, is home to the region's first accredited breast center, and operates New Jersey's only hospital to be ranked by The Joint Commission in all five key quality indicators, including heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, surgical care, pneumonia, and childhood asthma," said Philip Hartman, Saint Peter's spokesman. "Thousands of New Jersey's healthcare consumers prefer Saint Peter's as their provider of first choice, believing that bigger isn't always better, and that clinical expertise and personal attention are of prime importance."

Some consumer advocates said they could not form an opinion yet until more details were available, but expressed guarded optimism over Horizon's announcement.

"At first glance, it could be a positive thing but I will reserve judgment until I can see some of the ramifications," said India R. Hayes Larrier, a health care organizer for Citizen Action New Jersey. "Giving a tiered benefit which allows consumers to be able to judge their own costs, is good. You also have to think about it down the line. They may be paying less, but do they have access to less care or the care (they) need?"

The hospitals participating in OMNIA are:

  • Chilton Medical Center
  • Clara Maass Medical Center
  • Community Medical Center, Toms River
  • Hackensack UMC Mountainside
  • Hackensack University Medical Center
  • Hackensack UMC at Pascack Valley
  • Hunterdon Medical Center
  • Inspira Medical Center Elmer
  • Inspira Medical Center Vineland
  • Inspira Medical Center Woodbury
  • Jersey City Medical Center
  • Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus
  • Monmouth Medical Center
  • Morristown Medical Center
  • Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
  • Newton Medical Center
  • Overlook Medical Center
  • Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway
  • Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset
  • Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital New Brunswick
  • Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital HamiltonSaint Barnabas Medical Center

Hackettstown Medical Center, which is in the process of being acquired by Atlantic Health, and Meridian Health, the Shore-based hospital system that is merging with Hackensack, will ultimately be folded into the OMNIA group, Horizon officials said.

Other hospitals that will not be part of the OMNIA partnership, but will be considered Tier One offering reduced costs are: AtlantiCare; Cape Regional Medical Center, Cooper University Health System; Englewood Hospital; Shore Medical Canter; St. Joseph's Medical Center; and Princeton HealthCare System.

Staff writer Kathy O'Brien contributed to this report.

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

Gallery preview 
 

Vigil planned for 3-year-old killed in Newark police chase

0
0

Rahmere Tullis was struck and killed by a suspect's vehicle while standing with his mother on the corner of 15th Avenue and South 7th Street on Friday.

IMG_9081.jpegThe scene of the strike. (Vernal Coleman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) 

NEWARK -- A prayer vigil is planned for Sunday afternoon on the street where a 3-year-old was struck and killed by a suspect's vehicle during a police chase last week.

Rahmere Tullis was standing with his mother on Friday morning near the intersection of 15th Avenue and South 7th Street when a car driven by Troy Ruff, 22, of Newark, jumped the curb and hit the child, officials said. Police were chasing Ruff at the time of the crash.

Thomas Ellis, a minister and founder of the anti-violence group Enough is Enough, said a prayer vigil and memorial will be held at the site of the deadly crash at 4 p.m. on Sunday. Community members and relatives of the toddler are expected to attend, said Ellis, who is calling for police chases in the city to stop because innocent people are losing their lives and "it does not help the community."

Rahmere's father, Cordell Tullis, told PIX11 that police "should have never been chasing that man like that."


ALSO: Driver accused of killing Newark 3-year-old during police chase is charged 


Newark Police Director Eugene Venable said that the department is cooperating with the investigation into the chase by the prosecutor's office. "The tragic and unnecessary death of 3-year-old Rahmere Tullis...weighs heavy on the hearts of every law enforcement agency," he said in a statement.

Ruff, who was wanted on aggravated assault and other weapon-related charges, now faces charges of aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide and eluding police, according to the Essex County Prosecutor's office.

Erin O'Neill may be reached at eoneill@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LedgerErin. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Gallery preview 

Filmmaker, TV host completes swim down polluted Newark River

0
0

Justin Fornal, better known as "Baron Ambrosia", said the swim was aimed at combating violence and other negativity in the area

NEWARK - On an overcast Saturday afternoon, Justin Fornal strapped on a wetsuit and began a journey few others might undertake.

The filmmaker, television host and self-professed "Bronx Ambassador" more widely known as Baron Ambrosia dipped into the notoriously polluted Passaic River, and swam about 4 miles through Newark - an endeavor he claims is aimed at promoting positive aspects of a city more often noted for crime, violence and corruption.

"I've always thought of Newark as kind of a sister city. The Passaic is a cool river - it's a fascinating, historic river. Newark is a city that has so many positive things and so much talent," he said.

The 90-mile river's history is indeed filled with decades of pollution from former factories in and around Newark, including the Diamond Alkali Co. plant, which produced Agent Orange and other deadly pesticides during the 1960s.

The chemicals dumped into the river have created a heavy layer of toxic sediment in the river - enough to scare most people away. Canoes and kayaks are not unusual in the water, but fishermen are warned not to eat their catches, and swimmers are rarely, if ever, spotted.

In order to protect himself, Fornal had covered his exposed skin with coconut oil, placed himself on a diet of medicinal roots. During the swim, he chewed cola nuts and occasionally gargled with hydrogen peroxide.

As he paddled, he was surrounded by a trio of canoes carrying his father, a photographer and a number of friends affiliated with the Bronx-based Universal Zulu Nation group.

Among them was Derrick "Doc Strange" Benjamin, a 43-year-old East Orange native. The 43-year-old said he believed the swim might raise awareness about the river and other natural assets in the Newark area that might not otherwise receive much attention.

"Hopefully you know the whole mission or the objective is to raise the awareness on the beautification, or the effort to beautify and further purify the natural beauty in the city, so that kids of color or indigenous kids in the area can benefit from it," he said.

"You have some beautiful stuff here, and if you clean it up, people can benefit a lot more."

Fornal, whose resume includes a Cooking Channel show ("The Culinary Adventure of Baron Ambrosia") and a recent spot on Anthony Bourdain's CNN show, has taken similar swims in the past.

His first endeavor was down the Bronx River, and paddled down the Cooper River through Camden last year. The latter trip earned him a feature in the New York Times, as well as the disapproving eye of county authorities.

Driven by a brisk current, he completed Saturday's swim in about 90 minutes, after which he and his group disembarked at Newark Riverfront Park and headed to the Mendez Jeep Club House on Arlington Avenue for some hard-earned food and beer.

Fornal acknowledged that many people would likely dismiss the swim as a stunt, but he said he believed his effort would "push out the negative energy" in the area, whether it manifested itself in violence or cynicism.

"If I'm willing to swim in the poison for you, you should be willing to help yourself," he said.

Dan Ivers may be reached at divers@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanIversNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Ex-Army clerk from N.J. admits embezzling $150,000 in benefits

0
0

Federal prosecutors say Paul Tillson had received the benefits based on his claims of combat related injuries.

NEWARK -- A former Army clerk has admitted embezzling $150,000 in disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs over a 13-year period.

Federal prosecutors say Paul Tillson had received the benefits based on his claims of combat related injuries.

Tillson served in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait as an administrative clerk from July 1991 through January 1992. But a federal investigation determined that he didn't serve in a combat function or engage in combat during his tour of duty overseas, which started after cease-fire terms had been accepted by Iraq.


ALSO: Obama picks Morristown Medical Center president to fix scandal-scarred Veterans Affairs 


Tillson also acknowledged that he falsified information related to his alleged combat stressors.

The 49-year-old Bloomfield resident faces up to 10 years in prison when he's sentenced Dec. 16.

Gallery preview 
 

2 homicides in 2 days in Newark, authorities say

0
0

Authorities are investigating two unrelated homicides that occurred within hours of each other this weekend.

NEWARK--Authorities are investigating two unrelated homicides in Newark that occurred within hours of each other this weekend. 

Miguel Lopez Jr., 27, of Elizabeth, was shot and killed in the 100 block of Irving Street Saturday afternoon, Essex County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly said in a release. Lopez was taken to St. Michael's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:44 p.m., Fennelly said. A second man, who Fennelly wouldn't identified for "security reasons," was also shot in the incident and was taken to University Hospital, where he remains in stable condition.


PLUS: Paterson man charged with fleeing, dragging cop

Another man was rushed to University Hospital Sunday morning after he was shot on Cypress Street, Fennelly said. He was pronounced dead at 11:16 a.m. Fennelly wouldn't identify the man, since his family is still being notified.

The shootings come roughly a month after a string of homicides in the city. Newark has seen more than 60 homicides this year, six of which occurred within the span of a week in August.  

The recent shootings are not believed to be related, Fennelly said, and are being investigated by the Essex County Prosecutor's Major Crimes Task Force. Anyone with information on either shooting is asked to call detectives at 877-847-7432 or 973-621-4586.           

Kathryn Brenzel may be reached at kbrenzel@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @katiebrenzel. Find NJ.com on Facebook

Gallery preview 

After toddler's death, a call to action in Newark

0
0

Dozens turn out Sunday to mourn Rahmere Tullis, a 3-year-old killed when he was reportedly struck by a fleeing criminal suspect

NEWARK -- About half an hour into a vigil to mourn the loss of little Rahmere Tullis, the gray rain clouds overhead broke, leaving the intersection where the toddler was killed Friday bathed in sunlight.

For attendees, who bowed their heads as clergy members led them in prayer and recited Scripture, it was a sign.


RELATEDMan charged with homicide in death of 3-year-old boy in Newark


"He was a gift, a gift," Latayna Wright, a family friend who helped care for the 3-year-old said. "He was an adorable child, he touched everyone's heart."

Wright was among a few dozen people at the corner of 7th Street and 15th Avenue Sunday, when well-wishers gathered to drop off flowers, balloons and stuffed animals at a makeshift memorial to Rahmere. Many also signed condolence placards affixed to a nearby house.

Rahmere was on the sidewalk with his mother Friday morning when, according to police, he was struck and killed by a Hyundai Sonata that hopped the curb. The driver, 22-year-old Troy Ruff of Newark, was wanted on an outstanding warrant and was fleeing from fugitive-unit officers who had tried to pull him over, authorities said. Ruff was being held on $500,000 bail.

Attendees at the vigil Sunday alternately expressed pain, frustration and anger before vowing to attend the next meeting of the city council Wednesday to demand concrete action.

Minister Thomas Ellis, president of the Enough of the Violence Project and organizer of Sunday's vigil, said he would spearhead an effort to have a stop sign placed at the intersection, or to place speed bumps on 15th Avenue, to calm the traffic coming to and from nearby Bergen Avenue.

"To get a stop sign, that's a project," Ellis said. "We're going to take this tragedy and turn it into something positive."

To underscore his belief that traffic-calming measures are needed, Ellis pointed up the street to where he said a drunk driver had slammed into several parked cars earlier Sunday. Ellis also noted that there was a preschool across the street from where Rahmere was killed.

Ellis and others, however, also called for greater caution on the part of the police during high-speed pursuits, while also acknowledging the need for law enforcement to protect the community from criminals.

"We need the police," Ellis said, "but we don't need over-aggressive policing."

Others attending the vigil took turns addressing the crowd, placing the blame for Friday's tragedy on permissive parents or on criminal suspects who endanger the community when they attempt to speed away from police.

"I want to tell these young men, it could be your little brother, your little sister," one woman said. "You got a charge, you stop, 'cause you might hit somebody."

Mostly, however, people merely grieved for the loss of a child. Those planning to attend Wednesday's council meeting also plan to ask that a vacant lot across the street from where Rahmere died be turned into a park named in his honor.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaulMilo2. FindNJ.com on Facebook

 

Viewing all 10984 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images