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Fairfield police department veteran installed as chief

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Thirty-one year department veteran Anthony Manna has been installed as chief of the Fairfield Police Department.

FAIRFIELD-- The Fairfield Police Department has a new chief.

Department veteran Anthony Manna was sworn in as the 10th chief of the Fairfield Police Chief at a Jan. 4 meeting of the township council as his friends, family members and fellow township officers looked on.

Manna has served as "officer-in-charge" since the May 2014 retirement of former chief Charles Voelker. Manna also served as public information officer.

"Today marks 31 years to the day that I was first sworn in as a police officer in Fairfield, a job I couldn't wait to have," Manna said after taking the oath of office.

"It's comforting for me to know that after all these years, I still feel the same. And yes the dream of one day becoming chief of police and today I've been given the opportunity to realize that dream," he continued.

Manna said his promotion to chief will help establish direction for the department. "We have always demanded the best from our officers and I can tell the people of Fairfield, that is what they will continue to get from us, our best," he said. 

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


 

Man hits 2 cops with car, arrested after pursuit, Wayne police say

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A Belleville man was arrested after he hit two police officers with his car, led authorities on a multi-town pursuit and pushed another cop into the path of an oncoming patrol car Saturday afternoon, police said.

police lights file photo.jpg(File photo) 
WAYNE -- A Belleville man was arrested after he hit two police officers with his car, led authorities on a multi-town pursuit and pushed another cop into the path of an oncoming patrol car Saturday afternoon, police said.

Wayne police officers were investigating suspicious activity at a Route 23 Hooters restaurant parking lot when they saw Nicholas Vizzone, 22, behind the wheel of a BMW with marijuana on the front seat, according to Capt. Laurence Martin.

One of the officers, Mike Polifrone, approached Vizzone when he suddenly put his BMW in reverse, hitting Polifrone and fellow officer David Hoppe, the captain said in an email. Both officers were knocked down and Vizzone drove away.

Polifrone jumped back in his patrol car and chased his attacker, Martin added.

Vizzone tried to lose his pursuers by driving through Nutley, Belleville and Newark, according to police. Eventually, he stopped at Franklin and Mill streets in Newark before running from the car.

Vizzone fought with Officer Darren Williams and pushed him into the path of a responding Essex County Sheriff's car, Martin said.

Williams, along with Newark, Belleville and county sheriff's officers captured Vizzone, Martin added.

Officers Polifrone and Hoppe were treated for cuts and bruises at an area hospital, according to police.

Vizzone was charged with three counts of aggravated assault on police officers, assault with a motor vehicle, criminal eluding, drug possession and various traffic offenses. He was ordered held in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Police said Vizzone ran into a passing vehicle and was also taken to the hospital after complaining of arm pain. 

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

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'Grueling,' 'Monty Python'-esque robotics contest kicks off in N.J.

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Ladies and gentleman, start your robots.

NEWARK -- Ladies and gentleman, start your robots.

A "medieval"-themed robotics competition's 2016 season has attracted at least 65 high school robotics teams from across New Jersey this year.

"We call (robotics competitions) 'the sport of the mind,'" explained John Giardina, of Somerville.

Giardina is the competition chair for the N.J.-based nonprofit Mid-Atlantic Robotics, which implements the international FIRST Robotics Competition in the N.J. area.

"The main thrust is preparing (the kids) for life and preparing them for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math)-related careers and/or pursuits," Giardina said.

Mid-Atlantic Robotics announced the rules for the 27th season of the 2016 FIRST Robotics Competition at three locations on Saturday: the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Montgomery High School in Skillman, and a high school in Pennsylvania.

Warren High School takes the lead at 2015 N.J. high school robotics competition

At the kick-offs, attending teams learned that by the first round of the competition in early March, their teams must create an up-to 5-foot-tall robot that can cross a field, bypass several obstacles, and throw boulders into a goal area, to reach a castle, Giardina said.

A video about this year's competition features engineers riding Segways in the forest to a castle. The "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"-inspired skit features the sound of clopping horse hoofs.

The "kickoff" is also an opportunity for future competitors to meet friends, hear the rules and pick up kits that include parts, organizers said. 

In April, the mid-Atlantic championship will be held at Lehigh University, and the world championship will be held later in St. Louis, likely featuring participants from Brazil, Ireland and Canada, Giardina said.

Sixteen-year-old Somerville High School junior Thomas England, who was at NJIT on Saturday, said he is participating in the competition for the second year. England is on the driving and programming committees of his school's team, "The Gearheads."

The student, who wants to be a software engineer at Google or Microsoft one day, likened the competition to a fun game of "capture the flag" that teaches students about coding and engineering fields.

"It's really fun. You get to meet a lot of new people," he said. "You really need to work together to have success here, so it builds friendships."

The build season, however, will be tough: "(It) really is a grueling process," England noted; his team will meet after school every day and "for hours" on Saturdays.

Giardina, a computer engineer for Johnson and Johnson, runs England's robotics team. Somerville started one of N.J.'s first school robotics teams, in 1997, he said. 

Giardina said he personally got into the competition in 2001, when there were about 50 N.J. teams.

At that time, his son participated. Now his son is a physics and robotics teacher in North Plainfield, and he is starting a robotics program that exposes children as young as preschool age to robotics, with the help of Legos, Giardina said.

If an N.J. student wants to get involved in this year's competition, they should join their school's team, the chair said.

Those interested in sponsoring a team -- the competition entrance fees alone can reach $10,000 -- or starting a school robotics club should visit www.firstinspires.org, he said.

"I believe any kids can do (robotics)... because you're working together and learning together," Giardina said. "If you know which end of screwdriver is the one that works, you've got more than enough qualification to join the team."

Watch the "Monty Python" competition promo video, below:

Laura Herzog may be reached at lherzog@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LauraHerzogL. Find NJ.com on Facebook


Flooding blocks off Newark streets

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Police are advising people to avoid four spots in Newark until the water subsides. Watch video

 
NEWARK -- Four spots in the city have been barricaded due to flooding, authorities said. 

Police are advising people to temporarily avoid Clay Street and McCarter Highway, Avenue L and Wilson Avenue, Ferry and Foundry Streets, and 357 Wilson Avenue.

Heavy rain Sunday also closed lanes on several highways and some local roads.

Marisa Iati may be reached at miati@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Marisa_Iati. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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East Orange man facing drug charges says Conn. cops caught him 'fair and square'

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Dwayne Harper allegedly confessed to carrying 15 bags of heroin and $330 stacked "the way a drug dealer would carry money", according to The Hour of Norwalk, Conn.

big stock siren.jpgAn East Orange man is facing drug charges after allegedly being caught carrying heroin in Connecticut. (File photo)

NORWALK, CONN. - An East Orange man was arrested Friday after offering a prideful admission to drug charges in Connecticut.

According to The Hour newspaper of Norwalk, Conn., police stopped 22-year-old Dwayne Harper after they spotted him wearing a hood and ski mask while investigating a shooting.

He consented to a search which turned up $330 in cash, stacked "the way a drug dealer would carry money", the paper reported. A search of the area where he was stopped also led officers to a black bag containing 15 bags of heroin.

Harper was taken to a holding facility, where police said he offered his confession.

"Hey, yo. I'm going to be a man about this. (Expletive), it's mine, all the money and the dope, it's mine. You caught me fair and square," he reportedly said.

He was later freed after posting $10,200 bond.

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

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N.J. pets in need: Jan. 11, 2016

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When it's below freezing, cats like to climb inside a car's hood to seek residual warmth. Watch video

Winter can be a dangerous time for pets, and particularly dangerous for dogs and cats that don't have homes.

The Humane Society of the United States offers these tips on assistance that everyone can provide for animals in the cold.

Many neighborhoods have stray or feral cats; sometimes, something as simple as providing them with some food and drinking water makes the difference between surviving the cold months and perishing. They note that to keep water from freezing, a thick plastic water container that's deep and wide is better-insulated than a thin plastic or ceramic container.

When it's below freezing, cats like to climb inside a car's hood to seek residual warmth, and can be injured or killed when the engine is started. Banging on the hood of your car before starting it will cause a cat to leave.

If you see a dog being left out in frigid temperatures by an owner, snap a photo and then call local authorities; documenting the situation will help in ending a possible abusive situation.

Stray and lost dogs should be reported to authorities immediately, as some breeds are not as suited to cold temperatures as others and might not last one night without shelter in winter.

Finally, animal shelters are always in need of donations of blankets and comforters to help keep the animals in their care warm during colder months.

Here's a gallery of homeless pets in need of adoption. More pets can be viewed here and here.

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

Family tries to free N.J. high school grad after immigration raid (VIDEO)

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Family, attorneys and advocates say immigration officers falsely took 21-year-old German Nieto-Cruz during an early morning raid on Tuesday in New Brunswick. They say Nieto-Cruz has a valid paperwork to remain in the country legally. Watch video

NEW BRUNSWICK -- Immigration agents, with guns drawn, pushed in a door and flooded into a Lawrence Street home where 21-year-old German Nieto-Cruz and his family live early Tuesday morning, according to the family that lives there.

Family members say they were looking for someone named "Rodriguez."

IMG_0243.JPGFamily members and advocate Jorge Torres stand near a back door which they say immigration officers kicked-in to enter the home and falsely take 21-year-old German Nieto-Cruz on Tuesday. (Fausto Giovanny Pinto | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) 

After 30 minutes of questions and searches, they handcuffed and carried away Nieto-Cruz, a New Brunswick High School graduate, employee at a local tire shop and an authorized resident who has been in the U.S. since he was 3 years old, according to Oscar Barbosa, his attorney.

The reason he was detained, "initial reports indicate that he was in a gang," said Alvin Phillips, an ICE spokesman. "His DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) status is being verified."

Surveillance video obtained by NJ Advance Media from a neighbor shows five officers around the property at 6:10 a.m. Tuesday. At around 6:40 a.m. three are shown with a handcuffed Nieto-Cruz.

Now, days later, family, attorneys and immigration advocates are scrambling to get Nieto-Cruz released from ICE custody.

They said the situation shows the callousness of planned raids announced Monday by federal immigration officials to find and deport families that fled violence in Central America in the spring/summer of 2014 and have since lost their cases to stay in the country.

Immigration activists said they believe the raids are happening in the state, and agents are detaining people without cause like Nieto-Cruz who have a right to be here.

"We want to tell ICE that we will keep denouncing these raids," said Jorge Torres, an advocate with Unidad Latina en Accion NJ, at the family's home on Saturday. "They are terrorizing our Dreamers and our families and it's totally unacceptable in New Jersey." DACA recipients are sometimes referred to as dreamers.

ICE officials said Thursday immigration raids under the new initiative have not taken place here.

"There have been no raids in New Jersey, no doors have been kicked down," Phillips said.

But at a rally denouncing the national raids in Newark on Thursday, advocates said they don't believe officials because of incidents like the one in which Nieto-Cruz was taken.

"It's true and it happened," said Nieto-Cruz's sister-in-law Maria, who was also home at the time. "They should not deny it because raids are happening in New Jersey."

Nieto-Cruz's mother Emma, who declined to give her last name, said ICE officers knocked on a back porch door demanding someone by the name of "Rodriguez."

Officers pushed in the wooden door, and placed Nieto-Cruz's his brother and his 14-year-old niece face down on the living room floor. As the teenager started to panic, her father tried to console her but an agent allegedly stopped him by pressing a boot to his face, family members said.

In the end, the officers took Nieto-Cruz, who had tried to talk to them throughout the situation.

Barbosa said his client has no prior criminal record, and that agents may have suspected him of gang activity because of his religious tattoos.

"We don't have a clear reason why he is being held," said Barbosa.

He said the DACA application for Nieto-Cruz, who was born in Mexico, was renewed through 2017. DACA allows those who were brought into the country as a child, and meet certain guidelines, to remain in the country without fear of deportation and to obtain a work permit for two years. DACA does not grant a path to citizenship.

Barbosa visited Nieto-Cruz at the Essex County Jail where he is being held and said his client doesn't understand why he is there if hasn't never committed a crime.

"Our priority," he said, "is getting him [Nieto-Cruz] out."

Fausto Giovanny Pinto may be reached at fpinto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @FGPreporting. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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David 'Bowie Bonds' part of N.J. legacy left by music icon

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David Bowie, who died Sunday, entered into a musical bond agreement with Prudential Financial in the 1990s.

NEWARK -- As the world is mourning the death of pop icon David Bowie, finance gurus are reflecting on the impact the singer had on investing, thanks to an N.J. company's buy-in of his music bonds in the 1990s.

According to a CNN Money report, Bowie was the first artist to issue bonds and sell future royalties in his music catalog, via investment banker David Pullman.

The company to invest was the Newark-based Prudential insurance company, which bought $55 million worth of "Bowie Bonds" in 1997, The Independent reported.

According to the reports, Bowie got the money upfront, but gave up 10 years of royalties that were paid out to investors at a 7.9 percent return.

A spokesman for Prudential confirmed the deal, which went through before the company went public, but declined to comment on the bonds Monday. But, the company told the New York Times in 1997 that it was a "very good deal, offering a superior return compared to the risk."

Pullman could not immediately be reached for comment.

Experts Monday said the move was cutting edge at the time, and the first to look at musical intellectual property as an asset-backed security.

"Today, David Bowie was not only remembered as a legendary musician, but also as the first artist who has brought music to securitization," Xiaoqing Eleanor Xu, a Seton Hall finance professor, said Monday.

Several other artists followed suit, but Moody's downgraded the bonds' investment rating in 2004, following a change in the music industry via digital downloads, reports said.

Scott Rothbort, a business professor at Seton Hall University and founder of LakeView Asset Management, said Bowie Bonds worked best when the music industry capitalized on album sales.

"It was essentially a stroke of genius," Rothbort said. "It worked based on the way the music business operated then."

Now, he said, artists make more money from touring than from individual song sales.

"I don't see the potential" for it to work in today's atmosphere, he said.

Bowie, 69, died Sunday after a battle with cancer. Countless celebrities expressed remorse Monday, many calling him an inspiration and a legend.

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


Audiobook giant Audible to expand operation into historic Newark church

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The Amazon subsidiary has received a $10-year, $39.3 million award to open an engineering and development hub in the long-vacant former Second Presbyterian Church on Washington Street

NEWARK - Audiobook giant Audible will expand its Newark holdings in the months to come by renovating a historic church into new office space.

Otis Rolley, president and CEO of the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation, confirmed Monday that the Amazon-owned company has laid claim to the former Second Presbyterian Church on Washington Street and two adjacent buildings on James Street.

The sites lie only about a block away from Audible's high-rise headquarters at 1 Washington Park.

"It's great for downtown, great for Newark," Rolley said. "It's a really smart and innovative and adaptive reuse of a long-vacant property."

Screen Shot 2016-01-11 at 11.27.01 AM.pngThe former Second Presbyterian Church on Washington Street.

According to an application filed with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority last year, Audible plans to use the site to house an engineering and development hub that would create approximately 350 new jobs, and help keep 50 existing positions in Newark.

The EDA approved a 10-year, $39.3 million Grow New Jersey award for the project in May, according to minutes approved by the agency's executive board.

Audible representatives did not immediately return a request for comment.

The former Second Presbyterian Church has been vacant since 1995, when it shut its doors for good. According to property records, the building was built in 1810.

Venture fund looks to raise $50M to transform Newark into start-up tech hub

An application approved by the city's Central Planning Board last month says no changes will be made to the exterior of the building, though new floors and mezzanines will be constructed. The adjacent buildings on James Street include the former home of a cultural center managed by the Women in Support of the Million Man March.

Audible, led by former journalist and Montclair native Don Katz, was founded in 1998 and moved its offices from Wayne to Newark in 2007. The relocation was hailed as a major victory for a city sorely in need of both jobs and development.

Amazon acquired the company for $300 million in 2008, and it has since solidified its spot as one of Newark's most visible corporate citizens. Last year, it announced its stake in an effort to raise $50 million to invest in a select group of start-up tech companies that would be housed in an "accelerator" downstairs from its headquarters.

"They've been great partners," Rolley said. "We're happy about its growth."

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

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WATCH: Baraka takes aim at critical blogger in YouTube video

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The mayor called a recent post by frequent detractor Eric Dawson a "personal attack on (his) character"

NEWARK — Mayor Ras Baraka took to YouTube late last week to fire back at a critical blog post written by one of his most frequent detractors.

The 5-minute video posted Friday takes aim at Eric Dawson, a local politico who recently launched an opinion website, The Newark Report. A transcript of his latest post, which accused Baraka of using intimidation tactics to silence critics at an anti-violence rally turned brawl late last month, was distributed to a number of city email addresses on Thursday.

Baraka accused Dawson of hacking into the city's computer system, and called his online commentary "childish."

"This is a personal attack on my character, on me. I never sent anybody outside to attend a rally, to disrupt it, to struggle or fight with anyone," he said.

"These things are salacious kinds of articles that are designed to kind of aggravate, divide the people in this city. And I'm telling you it won't work."

A Newark native and the son of late political power broker Carl Sharif, Dawson is a marketing and design consultant who has worked closely with several campaigns for local office, including that of Shavar Jeffries, who Baraka defeated in a contentious 2014 campaign.

Though he now lives in Montclair, he has become a vocal critic of Baraka's administration, airing his dissent through a steady stream of posts on his Facebook page, where he regularly does battle with the administration's supporters.

Baraka decries latest charter school spat as 'organized campaign' to divide parents

He defended his position in an interview Monday afternoon, noting that Baraka had risen to prominence in the city as a vocal critic of various officials such as former mayors Sharpe James and Cory Booker and former superintendent of schools Cami Anderson.

"It's all hypocritical," he said. "Everything from the way that he conducted himself for the last 20 years - protesting, rallying, holding administrations accountable. Now he's being held accountable and he says that that's being divisive."

Dawson also dismissed the mayor's suggestion that his input bore less weight because he lives outside the city.

"I think that's absurd," he said. "The reality is when he went to the state and asked the state for money because there was a shortfall - is he gonna give me my tax dollars back, that went to pay for that?"

In his video, Baraka said he had great respect for Sharif and his family, in spite of often finding themselves on opposite side of Newark's political battlefield. However, he said he believed Dawson was behaving as though the mayoral race was alive and well.

"Its unfortunate that his son is still campaigning. He has never stopped campaigning since 2014," he said. "Our city needs to heal. It needs to move forward."

The mayor also took issue with a recent blog by Dawson accusing him of attempting to obscure his support for a moratorium on charter school expansion in Newark, saying his position on the issue " has always been the same."

"What Eric Dawson is doing is just dead wrong. He knows its wrong. If his father was alive, he wouldn't agree with what he's doing," he said.

"We have no room for campaigning. During campaign season, we campaign. But during governing season, we govern."

Dawson said he was taken aback by Baraka calling him out by name, but was thankful for the web traffic and attention that arrived after the video.

"I was shocked that he has the time to respond in that kind of way to a critique of his administration," he said. "At the end of the day, I don't think he meant to do good for the city, but I think he's done an amazing job at getting my message out there."

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

'Mobile drug bazaar' dealer punched, spit on cops during arrest, authorities say

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Newark man was arrested Sunday afternoon, officials said.

Screen Shot 2016-01-11 at 1.48.15 PM.pngBilal Rodgers. (Courtesy Essex County Corrections)
 

NEWARK -- A city man was arraigned Monday after allegedly trying to beat up undercover cops who uncovered his "mobile drug bazaar," authorities announced.

Bilal Rodgers, 25, was arrested Sunday after Essex County Sheriff's detectives allegedly saw him dealing heroin to a Belleville woman in the area of Broadway and Oriental Place in Newark's North Ward Sunday afternoon, Sheriff Armando Fontoura announced in a release Monday.

When officers approached Rodgers, he "went into an immediate rage and began punching, elbowing, kneeing, kicking and spitting at our detectives," Fontoura said.

"He was, however, subdued quickly and placed under arrest."

Rodgers was found with 164 envelopes of heroin, 28 vials of crack cocaine, and 26 Xanax tablets hidden in a knit cap in his 2003 Acura TL, which authorities referred to as a "mobile drug bazaar," Fontoura said. Rodgers was arrested on multiple assault and drug charges, and is being held at the county jail on $150,000 cash bond, officials said.

Authorities, who were patrolling the area after multiple neighborhood complaints of drug activity, also arrested the woman who allegedly purchased the drugs, Fontoura said. She is being held at the county jail, officials said.

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

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'Rot!,' victim's mother yells at man who killed wife in front of her daughter

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Shazam Meighoo, 38, of Newark, was sentenced to 18 years in state prison for fatally shooting his 21-year-old wife, Sanithia Jones-Meighoo, on June 20, 2012 in their city home

NEWARK --With her great-grandmother standing behind her, 6-year-old Shyaa Jones stood on Monday in a Newark courtroom and faced the man who killed her mother in front of her.

"I feel so sad," said Shyaa, adding that her mother, Sanithia Jones-Meighoo, was the "only mom...that I can love."

A few moments later, Shazam Meighoo, 38, of Newark, was sentenced to 18 years in state prison for fatally shooting Jones-Meighoo, 21, on June 20, 2012 in their city home. Meighoo pleaded guilty on Nov. 30 to aggravated manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful possession of a weapon.

Meighoo must serve slightly more than 15 years before becoming eligible for parole, and he will receive credit for about a year of time served.

Meighoo and Jones-Meighoo were legally married, but did not have any children together. Shyaa Jones, who witnessed the shooting when she was three years old, was a child of Jones-Meighoo from a prior relationship.

Before Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler imposed the sentence, Meighoo's niece, Jillana Surujmohan, addressed the court about her bond with Meighoo and described him as being trustworthy, supportive, intelligent, and lovable.

"Please have mercy on my uncle," Surujmohan told the judge. "I love my uncle more than words can describe."

But soon after Surujmohan returned to her seat, Jones-Meighoo's mother, Miss Jones, stepped to the front of the courtroom and said Meighoo was a "predator" who took her daughter's life.

"You took it. How dare you?" Jones yelled at Meighoo. "You are a predator. You are a menace, and I hope you rot.

"I hope you suffer for the rest of your days that God give you in this world," Jones added. "I hope you suffer and I hope they go quick, hope your days is quick."

As she returned to her seat, Jones screamed: "Rot! Rot!"

The incident occurred at the couple's home at 56 Stone Street in Newark. When he pleaded guilty, Meighoo admitted to shooting Jones-Meighoo in the residence after the couple got into an argument and she struck him with a laptop computer. While Meighoo said his wife hit him, he admitted he did not act in self-defense.

The day after the shooting, Meighoo fled to his native Trinidad, authorities said. Meighoo was ultimately arrested there and extradited to the United States by U.S. Marshals in December 2014, authorities said.

Since Meighoo is not a U.S. citizen, he will likely be deported after completing his sentence, Wigler said during the Nov. 30 hearing. Under a plea agreement, prosecutors recommended an 18-year prison sentence for Meighoo.

During Monday's hearing, Meighoo's attorney, Martin Goldman, asked the judge to consider a 17-year prison sentence. Goldman also claimed the couple's argument before the shooting stemmed from the fact that Jones-Meighoo was selling marijuana out of the house and Meighoo told her to stop.

Goldman asked Wigler for "some mercy based upon the circumstances."

Sentencing of man in wife's killingMiss Jones, mother of the victim speaks in court. Shazam Meighoo, 38, of Newark, was sentenced to 18 years in prison before Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler in the June 20, 2012 fatal shooting of his 21-year-old wife, Sanithia Jones-Meighoo. Meighoo shot his wife in front of her young daughter. Sentencing was at the Essex County Courthousein Newark 1/11/16 (Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)  

But Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Naazneen Khan, who handled the case, told the judge there is "absolutely no evidence" that Jones-Meighoo was selling marijuana.

Khan called on Wigler to impose the recommended 18-year prison sentence, noting how Meighoo killed Jones-Meighoo in front of her daughter. According to Khan, the state agreed to the plea deal to "save Shyaa the additional trauma" of having to testify at Meighoo's trial.

"There was some very serious concerns about what that would do to her emotionally and mentally, because of what the defendant did to her," Khan said. "He took her mother in front of her."

In handing down the sentence, Wigler noted the impact on Meighoo's family and also said Meighoo has "decimated young Shyaa and the Jones family."

"They're never going to be the same," the judge said.

As for the pleas of mercy from Meighoo's niece, Wigler told him: "I think the plea agreement itself has shown all the mercy you are entitled to and then some."

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

Employees take down armed robber at Newark gas station, police say

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One of the employees had to be hospitalized after being injured in a struggle with the armed man

newark-cruiser.jpgNewark police say a group of gas station employees helped thwart an armed robbery early Monday morning. (Star-Ledger file photo)

NEWARK - A group of employees managed to subdue an armed man attempting to rob a South Ward gas station early Monday morning, authorities said.

Newark police spokesman Capt. Derek Glenn said the group of workers was able to subdue 38-year-old Richard Carter as he attempted to flee the Exxon station at 1 Elizabeth Avenue with an undisclosed amount of cash.

They were able to hold him until officers arrived at the scene, and took Carter into custody on robbery and weapons possession charges.

One of the workers was injured during the struggle, and was taken to University Hospital to be treated for minor injuries, Glenn said.

'Mobile drug bazaar' dealer punched, spit on cops during arrest, authorities say

Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose praised both the officers and station employees, but urged other civilians to call 911 rather than follow their example.

"We are all fortunate that this incident turned out well and that there were no serious injuries, but confronting armed suspects is extremely dangerous and not recommended," he said.

An employee who answered the phone at the station Monday afternoon declined to comment, saying he was not present during the altercation.

Detectives continue to investigate the incident. Police believe Carter may eventually face charges for other robberies in the city, according to Glenn.

Anyone with information about this or any other crimes is asked call the Newark Police Department's 24-hour "Crime Stoppers" anonymous tip line at (877) NWK-TIPS (877-695-8477) or (877) NWK-GUNS (877-695-4867). 

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

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NJ Transit bus slams into tree, 25 injured, officials say

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All injuries were non-life threatening, authorities said. Watch video

NEWARK -- About 25 people suffered non-life threatening injuries after a New Jersey Transit bus crashed into a city tree Monday afternoon, NJ Transit spokeswoman Lisa Torbic confirmed.

The #37 line bus was traveling from Newark Airport to the Ivy Hill section of the city at about 1: 51 p.m. when it hit into a tree at the intersection of Wainwright Street and Lyons Avenue, Torbic said.

According to Newark Police spokesman Det. Hubert Henderson, two people on board the bus suffered broken bones as a result of the crash. All 31 riders on the bus were transported to various local hospitals, he said. 

The cause of the accident is unknown, and is under investigation by the Newark Police Department, he said. 

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

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3 neighboring buildings catch fire in Newark (PHOTOS)

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No occupants were injured in the blaze, officials said. Watch video

NEWARK -- Firefighters are battling a blaze that struck three residential buildings on Bergen Street, authorities confirmed.

According to Newark Police Department spokesman Det. Hubert Henderson, the fire broke out at 2:59 p.m. in the buildings at 212, 214, and 216 Bergen Street.

Two of the buildings were fully engulfed as of 4:20 p.m., he said.

All of the people who live in the three buildings have been accounted for, and none were injured in the fire, he said.

The cause of the fire was not immediately made clear.

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


Dozens of complaints filed against E. Orange animal shelter: report

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State SPCA issued summonses for 44 violations Monday

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EAST ORANGE -- The state SPCA has accused the city's animal shelter of numerous violations, including failing to provide enough food and water, News !2 New Jersey reported Monday.

Following an inspection, the state found 44 violations, summonses for which were filed Monday afternoon with the city's health department. The inspection comes after News 12 investigated the shelter over the summer following reports of unsatisfactory conditions and a lack of public access. The shelter was open only two hours a day but sometimes members of the public, including animal welfare groups, weren't allowed in even during those scheduled hours.

A city spokeswoman said East Orange has been working with the state to bring the shelter into compliance.

Kathy Yates, who belongs to a local animal rescue group, plans to ask the city if her organization can take over the shelter and operate it under its existing budget.

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

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N.J.'s biggest commercial leases of 2015

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The 10.9 million square feet of office space leased in 2015 was the most in a decade, according to the commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield.

JERSEY CITY -- Last year was a good one for leases in New Jersey.

The 10.9 million square feet of office space leased in New Jersey in 2015 was the most in a decade, with a net gain in leased space and a decline in the vacancy rate statewide, according to the commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield, which tracks and reports market activity. 

"Office vacancy fell by 1.4 percentage points since a year ago to 18.7 percent, its lowest point since 2011," Andrew Judd, a New Jersey executive for Cushman & Wakefield, said in statement.

Judd said more space was filled than was vacated throughout the Garden State during all four quarters of 2015, when the net gain in occupancy was nearly 2 million square feet, well above the 300,0000-square-foot gain in 2014.

Experts say commercial leasing is related to residential development, because availability of nearby housing can be a factor in a company's decision where to locate. For example, the Hudson Waterfront office space sub-market, which led all submarkets in the fourth quarter of 2015 and where two of New Jersey's top 10 leases were signed last year, is home to booming residential growth.

Chris DeLorenzo, executive vice president of leasing at Mack-Cali, one of the state's biggest commercial landlords, said his firm's experience in 2015 was consistent with the growth that Cushman & Wakefield was reporting.

"I would echo that same sentiment," DeLorenzo said.

While the Mack-Cali had not announced its fourth quarter totals, DeLorenzo said the firm's first three quarters of 2015 had been strong, with leases totaling 3.1 million square feet. Mack-Cali's year-long total for 2015 was well on its way to exceeding the 3-3.6 million-square-foot range the firm had been within since 2010, he added.     

DeLorenzo related the healthy office market to the nation's overall economic health, pointing to steady job growth in 2015 as consistent with the need for more office space to house those additional hires.    

The increased leasing activity in New Jersey in 2015 was reflected in its higher square-footage costs last year, as reported by Cushman & Wakefield. According to the firm, the cost of Class A, or prime, office space rose by 1.5 percent, to $39.34 per square foot on average statewide.  

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

 

WATCH: 'Funeral' video honors 200-year-old church scorched in fire

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Video pays tribute to St. Mark's Church in West Orange, which caught fire New Year's Day.

WEST ORANGE -- When a 200-year-old church burned down on New Year's Day, a New Jersey town lost more than an iconic building. When St. Mark's Church on Main Street burned for hours on Jan. 1, township historian Joseph Fagan said West Orange lost a bit of its character, and one of the last remaining pieces of its history.

Fagan called a video tribute he compiled in memory of the structure, which was built in 1827, a "funeral for a friend."

"It was a tremendous loss to the West Orange community," Fagan said. "I just felt compelled, I had to do something," he said of making the video highlighting the building's past.

Fire rips through historic West Orange church

The church was originally one of three historic structures in a row at the entrance to West Orange, Fagan said. It stood next to a train station constructed in 1881, and the historic "Conditt House," built in 1812. It was the last remaining historic structure in the area. The train station fell into disrepair and was demolished in 1965 after being abandoned and neglected for many years, and the then-empty Conditt House was knocked down in 1989, he said. Both lots remain vacant now, he said.

The last remaining building, which had operated as St. Mark's Episcopal Church until it closed in 2004, burned on New Year's Day. West Orange spokeswoman Susan Anderson said Thursday that the fire has been ruled accidental, but that investigators are still working to determine what caused it.

According to Fagan, after being rented to several other religious groups, the church was sold about nine months ago to the International Federation of Chaplains. The group could not be reached for comment. It was one of many religious buildings that have been sold by the Episcopal Church in recent years.

Though the history of the building is rich, town officials said its future remains unknown. According to Fagan, though there is a lot of support in town to restore the building, the cost to do so would be in the millions of dollars. The building, he said, has been deemed unsafe, but not yet marked for demolition.

"There is a safety concern. There is a historical concern. There is a feasibility concern," Fagan said of what may become of the structure now.

"It remains to be seen."

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

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WATCH: Drone video shows new view of Newark

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Watch a video taken from a drone flying over the Brick City. Watch video

NEWARK -- It's not quite the bird's-eye view you get after just having taken off from Newark Liberty International Airport, or the scene you see from a high floor of one of the city's tallest buildings.

But, a new drone video panning through the Brick City shows a softer, greener view than some might expect.

"(I'm) surprised at the passionate response I have gotten from this video," a YouTube drone videographer who goes by "DroneFanatic" said in an interview.

"So many people hate and love Newark, and my video seems to get a visceral response from people who don't like it (because it casts) the city in a beautiful light."

The three-minute video shows a vibrant mix of downtown buildings, parks, and residential neighborhoods.

DroneFanatic, who lives abroad, took the video about a year ago during a visit to the U.S., he said. He works as an IT manager, but takes drone videos of different cities in his spare time, and posts them to his YouTube channel. He has also created videos of Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Nev., and Orlando, Fla.

He chose Newark, he said, because he hasn't seen any other videos that show off the city. The DroneFanatic video shows a bright, colorful, bustling city - the opposite of the oft-cited high crime and unemployment rates that have come to define Newark's reputation.

DroneFanatic said he hopes the video can help provide an interesting, aerial perspective.

"I was trying to show how huge the city was, and was surprised at the amount of green space for such a dense place," he said.

"(People) can't seem to grasp, it's what you make of a place."

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

 
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Newark approves tax breaks aimed at spurring development outside downtown

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Mayor Ras Baraka signed off Monday on amendments approving five-year abatements for newly constructed buildings in neighborhoods far from the city center, airport or seaport

NEWARK - As development in Newark appears to be trending upward, officials are taking measures aimed at ensuring any new era of prosperity will extend to the city's most needy neighborhoods.

On Monday, Mayor Ras Baraka signed amendments to an existing ordinance that will grant five-year tax abatements for newly constructed commercial, industrial or multiple-dwelling properties outside the downtown, airport and seaport districts.

"This new initiative will accelerate development outside of downtown, with a five-year window that enables building the housing, commercial, and industrial projects we need to revitalize our neighborhoods," Baraka said in a statement.

Under the plan, newly constructed buildings will receive a five-year tax assessment based on one of three formulas: either 2 percent of its construction costs, 15 percent of its gross annual revenues or a plan that allows it to pay no taxes during the first year, while paying an additional 20 percent of its assessment over the following four.

The newly amended ordinance also provides incentive for existing landlords to make improvements to their properties, offering to hold assessments steady for five years should their projects meet city standards.

All abatements and exemptions and proposed improvements will still require approval from the City Council or tax assessor.

The newly signed ordinance comes as areas in and around the city's downtown continue to attract significant new attention from developers, resulting in rapid transformation around the Prudential Center, New Jersey Performing Arts Center and Military Park.

Audiobook giant Audible to expand operation into historic Newark church

Work is already underway on a new mixed-use development that will bring a Whole Foods supermarket to the former Hahne's building on Broad Street, and developers are currently eying a newly available plot just east of Newark Penn Station that stakeholders say could bring a high-rise office tower or apartment building to the city's iconic Ironbound District.

As new businesses and loft apartment buildings go up, however, many residents have challenged officials as to how they plan to develop long-suffering areas such as the South and West wards, where crime, unemployment and poverty still cast a pall over much of daily life.

Officials such as Baye Adofo-Wilson, the city's deputy mayor for economic and housing development, say the new abatement program could prove part of the answer to those concerns. In a statement, he called the move "one of the most aggressive measures we have taken to improve our neighborhoods."

"This five-year abatement allows everyone to participate in the city's growth and development," he said.

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

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