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Loose cigarettes may have sparked brutal Newark beating, police reports say

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A local man was brutally attacked in heart of downtown Newark last week. Watch video

NEWARK -- An argument over cigarettes may have prompted the brutal attack of a local man in downtown Newark last week, police reports state.

The victim, whose name is being withheld, told investigating officers that he was distributing flyers near the intersection of Broad Street and Market Street shortly before the incident began.

To help promote his entertainment company, the victim told police he began giving out free cigarettes to pedestrians, along with flyers and compact disks of music.

The victim said that while at the intersection -- the heart of the city's "Four Corners" historic district -- he was approached by several men, who advised that they were selling loose cigarettes, known as "loosies," and that he was inhibiting business, the reports state.

http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2016/01/newark_police_say_several_suspects_idd_in_brutal_d.html

According to the reports, the victim told police the men threatened him with harm if he did not leave the area. The attack began when the victim did not oblige them, the reports state.

The victim said he was hit by an umbrella, after which several men began punching and kicking him, the reports said.

Footage of the beating surfaced last Sunday, showing the victim grow increasingly bloody and unsteady as the attack moved from the sidewalk to the street and back again.

The attack carried on for several minutes, despite the presence of a mini-precinct less than a full block away, the footage shows.

After the initial blows, the bloodied victim gets back on his feet and begins to berate the group. Later, a man approaches from behind to punch the victim in his head, and the victim falls backward into a pile of garbage bags and covers himself as the beating continues.

The victim later told police that his headphones and briefcase were stolen during the beating, the reports said.

Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose called the incident "unacceptable," telling NJ Advance Media that he and police officials intend on implementing a comprehensive plan to "step up" presence of the city's metro police division, which patrols the areas in and around downtown.

"All wards of the city are important to us, but this is where many of our residents work and shop," he said. "So we need to make the necessary changes."

Police have tentatively identified many of the assailants in Sunday's beating, and have interviewed the victim, Ambrose said.

No arrests have been made in connection to the incident.

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


Here's the first flower to bloom in space, courtesy of N.J. astronaut

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NASA astronaut Scott Kelly gave the world its first view of the only extraterrestrial flower — a zinnia — to ever to bloom in zero-gravity over the weekend Watch video

spaceflower309.JPGThis image of the first flower to ever bloom in space, a zinnia flower, was shared on Twitter by New Jersey astronaut Scott Kelly Saturday. 

Winter may be in full swing in Garden State but for New Jersey's homegrown space traveler, spring has sprung. 

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly gave the world its first view of the only extraterrestrial flower to ever to bloom in zero-gravity over the weekend -- a brilliantly bright orange zinnia with strokes of yellow highlights.  

The zinnia flowers were the third attempt at microgravity gardening at the International Space Station, which were planted three months ago to gain an understanding of how plants germinate in space -- a task the astronauts would be charged with on a deep space mission. 

"While the plants haven't grown perfectly, I think we have gained a lot from this," said Dr. Gioia Massa, a team lead on NASA's space veggie growth project.

In December, it looked as if the crop of space flowers might never bloom with its leaves hounded by space mold.  

But after Kelly channeled his inner Mark Watney (Matt Damon's character in "The Martian" who was forced to farm on Mars to survive) the persistent annual pulled through.

Astronauts made their first attempt off-Earth agriculture last May when they attempted to grew a crop of 'Outredgrous' red romaine lettuce, according to NASA. 

"We lost two plants due to drought stress in the first grow out and thus were very vigilant with respect to the second crop," said Trent Smith, International Space Station veggie project manager.

Although the astronauts' first crop ran into issues, their second shot a space farming yielded a harvest of lettuce, which Kelly and fellow astronaut Kjell Lindgren were able to eat. 

Kelly has spent more than 300 days at the ISS as part of his year-long mission. In October, he broke the record for most time spent in space by any other American.

NASA hopes to study the effects zero-gravity has on a human over an extended period of time by comparing Kelly to his Earth-bound twin, Mark Kelly, a former astronaut.

The brothers are both West Orange natives. 

Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Trash bag trafficking: Man sold drugs from Newark garbage can, authorities say

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East Orange man was arrested Saturday, officials said.

Screen Shot 2016-01-19 at 5.08.39 PM.pngVernon Robinson. (Courtesy Essex County Corrections) 

NEWARK -- An alleged Bloods gang member was arraigned Tuesday after authorities say he was found with nearly 300 containers of heroin and crack, authorities announced.

Undercover officers responding to neighborhood complaints of drug activity in Newark's North Ward Saturday afternoon allegedly spotted Vernon Robinson, 30, of East Orange, selling drugs from a trash can on North 9th Street, Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura announced Tuesday.

Officers found 180 heroin-filled glassine envelopes and 111 vials of crack cocaine in a plastic bag in the can, Fontoura said. Robinson, who is unemployed, also had more than $1,300 in cash on him when he was arrested, authorities said.

The drugs found in the can have a street value of about $2,500, officials said. The trash can was a privately-owned can in the area that did not belong to Robinson, authorities said.

Robinson was arrested on various drug charges and is being held at the Essex County jail on $150,000 cash bond, authorities said.

A Bureau of Narcotics task force made up of Irvington police and sheriff's officers conducted the investigation and arrest.

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

Doctor from N.J. accused of lewd acts with patients

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Patients at New York's Mt. Sinai came forward with the complaints

MONTCLAIR -- A physician who works at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Manhattan faces sexual abuse and other charges involving two female patients, WABC 7 reported Tuesday. 

police lights2.jpg 

Dr. David Newman, identified by the New York Daily News as a Montclair resident, allegedly gave a 22-year-old patient a dose of morphine at the hospital's emergency room Jan. 11. The woman had come to the hospital complaining of shoulder pain.

Newman gave the woman the dose of the painkiller even though she'd said she already received one, authorities quoted by ABC 7 said. Newman then groped her and ejaculated on her, according to the Daily News.

A second woman has since come forward and said Newman assaulted her at the hospital when she went there for a cold in September.

Newman, a 45-year-old Iraq War veteran, has been charged with assault, two counts of sexual abuse and facilitating a sexual offense. Mt. Sinai said it has suspended Newman pending the outcome of the investigation and is also conducting an inquiry into the allegations.

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

 

New Essex chief of detectives is first black woman to lead county police operations

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A veteran officer at the Essex County Prosecutor's Office is set to become the next Chief of Detectives at the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

Quovella M. SpruillQuovella M. Spruill will be sworn into office Wednesday at Essex County College. (Courtesy of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office)

NEWARK -- A veteran officer at the Essex County Prosecutor's Office is set to become the next Chief of Detectives at the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, authorities confirmed.

Deputy Chief Quovella M. Spruill, 45, will be sworn in Wednesday, becoming the first African-American woman to serve as the highest ranking officer in the department's police unit.

Spruill, a Newark native, received her bachelor's degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and her master's from Seton Hall University. 

She joined the county prosecutor's office in 1998 as an investigator and has steadily risen through the ranks, serving in a number of units, including homicide, special victims and the professional standards bureau.

Spruill replaces longtime chief of detectives Anthony Ambrose, who was installed as Public Safety Director for the City of Newark in December amid an overhaul of the city's police, fire and emergency management departments.

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

Powerball tickets good for $50K, $100K sold in New Jersey

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Three retailers in North Jersey sold third-prize winners in Saturday's drawing

Three Powerball tickets worth tens of thousands of dollars apiece were sold for the Jan. 16 drawing, New Jersey Lottery officials announced Tuesday.

The three tickets had numbers matching four white balls and the red Powerball, making them good for the third prize of $50,000. One of those tickets was purchased with the Powerplay option, bringing its total value to $100,000.

The winning tickets were sold at the following locations: $100,000 - Eddy's Supermarket, 348-350 Clinton Ave., Newark; $50,000 - Shayona Newsstand, 10 Exchange Place, Jersey City; and  $50,000 - Kwick Mart Food Store, 190 South Ave., Fanwood.  

The winning numbers for the Saturday, Jan. 16 drawing were: 03, 51, 52, 61 and 64. The Red Power Ball number was 06. The Multiplier number was 02. The next drawing will be held Wednesday night for a jackpot estimated at $50 million.

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

 

Cops lose bid to throw out conviction for false police reports

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Superior Court Judge Michael L. Ravin denied the motion for a judgment of acquittal filed by Bloomfield Police Officers Sean Courter and Orlando Trinidad

NEWARK -- A Superior Court judge has rejected a bid by two Bloomfield police officers to throw out their conviction on official misconduct and related charges for submitting false police reports about a 2012 arrest.

Judge Michael L. Ravin denied the cops' motion for a judgment of acquittal after finding that prosecutors had presented sufficient evidence to enable "a rational jury" to convict Sean Courter and Orlando Trinidad, according to the judge's Jan. 13 written decision.

Jurors convicted Courter and Trinidad on Nov. 5 of making false statements in police reports about the June 7, 2012 arrest of Bloomfield resident Marcus Jeter on the Garden State Parkway.

Based in large part on police dashboard videos - including footage of Jeter with his hands raised inside his vehicle - the jury determined the officers' reports falsely claimed Jeter tried to grab Courter's gun while Courter was removing Jeter from the vehicle, and that Jeter struck Trinidad.

Jeter testified during the trial that he had his "hands up" the whole time and that he did not resist arrest or strike Trinidad.

In his written decision, Ravin cited Jeter's testimony and the dashboard footage as among the evidence that supports the guilty verdict.

"The Court finds that a rational jury could have found Mr. Jeter's testimony credible and interpreted the dash cam video as corroborating Mr. Jeter's testimony," according to the decision.

"On the basis of this evidence, a rational jury could find that Defendants knowingly submitted false reports and complaint warrants regarding Mr. Jeter's actions during the incident giving rise to their charges," the decision states.

The decision adds that "a rational jury could infer that Defendants knowingly committed a violation of official duty."

"Additionally, the State presented sufficient evidence that Mr. Jeter was injured and that Defendants' reports were inconsistent with the dash cam video from which a rational jury could conclude that Defendants sought the benefit of concealing their actions during the incident at issue from departmental review in order to make their actions appear to be correct," the decision states.

courter-trinidadBloomfield Police Officers Sean Courter and Orlando Trinidad, pictured left to right, when their photos were taken after they were taken into custody on Nov. 5, following their conviction on official misconduct and related charges. 

In addition to official misconduct, Courter, 35, of Englishtown and Trinidad, 34, of Bloomfield, were convicted of conspiracy to commit official misconduct, tampering with public records, falsifying or tampering with records and false swearing.

Trinidad also had been charged with aggravated assault for striking Jeter during the incident, but the jury convicted him of the lesser offense of simple assault.

Courter and Trinidad are scheduled to be sentenced by Ravin on Friday. The officers are each facing a minimum of five years in state prison without parole on the official misconduct charge.

After the verdict was issued, Ravin revoked the officers' bails and remanded them to the Essex County Correctional Facility, where they remain in custody.

After the officers were convicted, Bloomfield Police Director Samuel DeMaio said the township police department was moving to terminate Courter and Trinidad. The officers had been suspended without pay.

Jeter also is pursuing a lawsuit against Bloomfield, Courter, Trinidad and other defendants.

The officers' motion centered in large part on their argument that the police reports were based on what they "reasonably believed" had occurred at the time they prepared those documents.

Courter's attorney, Charles Clark, argued at a Jan. 8 hearing that the state did not present evidence that would lead a "reasonable juror" to conclude the officers' intent was to falsify those reports.

"I just don't think the evidence is there where a reasonable jury could conclude there was intent," Clark said.

Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Berta Rodriguez, one of the prosecutors who tried the case, said at the hearing that the state had presented sufficient evidence to warrant the conviction.

At the time of the incident, Courter stopped Jeter on the Parkway after he and Bloomfield Police Officer Albert Sutterlin had responded to a domestic-related call at Jeter's township home. His girlfriend's sister called 911 after Jeter threw the girlfriend's cell phone down a staircase during a verbal dispute.

After the officers arrived, Jeter left the residence. Courter has said Jeter was drunk and fled after he had ordered him to stop, but Jeter has said he was not drunk and that Courter indicated he could leave the residence.

When Jeter drove off, Courter returned to his patrol vehicle and chased after him, followed by Sutterlin. During the motor vehicle stop, the officers approached Jeter's vehicle with their guns drawn and ordered him to get out. Trinidad arrived at the scene and struck the front of Jeter's car with his patrol vehicle.

After Courter received approval from a supervisor, he broke the driver's side window and removed Jeter from the vehicle.

In their police reports, Courter and Trinidad claimed Jeter tried to disarm Courter and that he struck Trinidad. Jeter was charged with eluding, attempting to disarm a police officer, resisting arrest and aggravated assault.

While Jeter's case was still pending, prosecutors only had the dashboard video from Courter's patrol vehicle. Jeter's attorney later obtained the dashboard video from Trinidad's patrol vehicle through an open public records request made with the Bloomfield Police Department.

After reviewing that second video, prosecutors determined the video was inconsistent with the officers' police reports. The charges against Jeter were then dropped in April 2013 and Courter and Trinidad were ultimately indicted in January 2014.

At the trial, prosecutors argued the videos showed the officers made false statements in their reports that Jeter tried to grab Courter's gun when Courter was removing him from the vehicle, and that Jeter hit Trinidad.

The officers' attorneys countered that the video from Trinidad's patrol vehicle shows Jeter's hands came down at some point when Courter was trying to remove him. The attorneys also claimed the officers' reports are based on what they "reasonably believed" about the incident at the time they prepared those documents.

Retired Bloomfield cop testifies in fellow officers misconduct trialRetired Bloomfield police officer Albert Sutterlin. the third Bloomfield police officer associated with the arrest of Marcus Jeter, reads from his incident report as he testifies at the trial of Bloomfield cops Sean Courter and Orlando Trinidad. Newark, NJ 10/21/15 (Robert Sciarrino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)  

In his decision denying the motion for a judgment of acquittal, the judge also cited the trial testimony of Sutterlin.

Sutterlin, who retired in May 2013, pleaded guilty in October 2013 to falsifying or tampering with records. After testifying at the officers' trial, Sutterlin was later sentenced to two years of probation.

Sutterlin testified he included information in his police reports that Jeter tried to grab Courter's gun and that he struck Trinidad, even though Sutterlin had not witnessed those events. He said he received those details from Courter and Trinidad when he consulted with them about the sequence of events.

Sutterlin said no one had told him to lie about the incident, and that he believed his reports were accurate when he wrote them.

But Ravin found that Sutterlin's testimony could lead jurors to believe Courter and Trinidad conspired to submit false police reports.

The judge wrote that "the State's presentation of testimony from Mr. Jeter and Officer Sutterlin, in addition to the dash camera video, was sufficient to allow a rational jury to infer that Defendants wanted to injure Mr. Jeter out of anger and deceive the Bloomfield Police Department, or alternatively, that they sought to conceal their own wrongdoings in connection with Mr. Jeter's arrest."

"Based on Defendants' communication with Officer Sutterlin, the similarity of all three reports and the video evidence allegedly contradicting the reports, a rational jury could infer that Courter and Trinidad knowingly prepared false reports and helped Officer Sutterlin prepare a false report for the purpose of committing official misconduct," according to the decision.

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

Newark school board cries foul over no-bid deal for politically connected firm

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Superintendent Chris Cerf has signed off on a deal that will transfer prescription benefits for district employees to Benecard, a company owned by former gubernatorial candidate Doug Forrester with ties to South Jersey political boss George Norcross

NEWARK - The city's School Advisory Board expressed their reservations over Superintendent Chris Cerf's recent decision to award a contract to a politically connected prescription benefits provider.

At the board's business meeting at Newark Public Schools headquarters Tuesday, members said they were dismayed that officials had bypassed both the board and the open bidding process to switch all district employees to the new provider, Benecard, as of Feb. 1.

The move had previously drawn the ire of the Newark Teachers Union over its ties to prominent Trenton power players. Benecard is owned by former U.S. Senate and gubernatorial candidate Doug Forrester, and was recommended by Conner Strong & Buckelew, an insurance brokerage firm run by South Jersey political power broker George Norcross that also does business with Benecard.

While the board said they understood exploring all potential cost savings measures as the state-controlled district continues to grapple with significant revenue shortages, the manner in which the switch was made appeared to give them pause.

"I suggest we go out to bid and seek the lowest bidder. The one that's going to give us the lowest rate, so it can look like in fact we are being transparent and we have nothing to hide," said Chairwoman Ariagna Perello.

"We have a new superintendent who is saying to everyone 'I'm going to be transparent.' So why not be transparent in this case?"

District officials defended their decision, saying Benecard's plan would offer an estimated $1.5 million in savings over current providers while improving service for subscribers. They also stressed that Conner Strong recommended the switch only after examining plans from a number of providers - a process that has been employed with the past while contracting services such as insurers and legal representation.

Conner Strong has been the district's broker since 2007, when it took over a smaller benefits consulting firm that had previously been contracted for the role, according to Cerf.

"The Conner Strong process was a deliberative one," said Business Administrator Valerie Wilson. "There were competitive proposals sought from several vendors."

Cerf also pointed out that the move to act unilaterally was made only after negotiations with the Supplemental Fringe Benefits Fund - an unusual joint trust between the district and union - were thwarted by a number of NTU-appointed trustees.

The adoption of Benecard as the district's sole prescription provider essentially renders the SFBF - which has managed dental, vision and prescription benefits for city teachers since 1972 - null and void.

"We have been in discussions with them, with this board, I believe going back to last spring," Cerf said. "We hit brick wall after brick wall after brick wall. Finally we decided enough is enough."

Top Newark schools official announces exit from district

Board member Antoinette Baskerville-Richardson said she feared for any legal ramifications the district might face if it was found to have violated its contract with its roughly 4,000 teachers. The union has already filed a complaint alleging as much with the state's Public Employment Relations Commission, and has provided notice that it plans to file a formal lawsuit.

"In the larger picture this is a question of the (district) taking their toys and going home...because the district didn't get its way," Baskerville-Richardson said. "I think that that's basically unethical. Some changes may have to be made, but that is not a responsible way to make them."

Cerf, however, doubled down on earlier comments that any deviation from the norm was done solely for the sake of the city's students.

"We clearly have a different view in terms of what's ethical or moral, and I'm going to stand by mine," he said.

Vice Chairman Marques-Aquil Lewis suggested the board produce a resolution formally opposing the no-bid deal for a possible vote at next week's regular meeting.

Other members, including Perello, voiced support for such a measure, saying the district's action had sent a disheartening message as the board prepares to shed its advisory status and assume legitimate power over city schools in the coming years.

"It makes us feel that the board really doesn't matter and obtaining financial control doesn't matter either," she said. "Because at the end of the day the district will do whatever they feel that is best for them."

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

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4 charged with robbing man who went to hotel for massage appear in court

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A man who dialed an escort service for a massage in Secaucus was then allegedly robbed by the three men and one woman who showed up Saturday, an official said.

JERSEY CITY - The three men and a woman who authorities say robbed a man after he contacted an escort service for a massage at a Secaucus hotel appeared in court yesterday on the charges.

Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor John Wojtal said the 54-year-old victim contacted "an escort-type operation" for a massage on Saturday, but instead the four people showed up and robbed him.

The criminal complaint said Gregory A. Jackson, 28, of New York; Casey A. Medley, 24, of Connecticut; Desinea S. Dudley, 26, of New York, and Shawn Harrison, 21, of East Orange, grabbed the man and took $200 from him.

Bail was set at $50,000 cash or bond for Medley, Dudley and Harrison. It was initially reported that Harrison's bail was $75,000.

Jackson was additionally charged with restraining the victim, "unlawfully in circumstances exposing him to the risk of serious bodily injury" and his bail was set at $75,000 cash or bond.

The defendants appeared in Central Judicial Processing court today via video link from Hudson County jail in Kearny.

Jackson has four prior arrests in New York, one in Connecticut and one FBI arrest, court official said, adding that the other had minimal contacts with the justice system.

Arrest made in brutal downtown Newark beating caught on video

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Police have made an arrest in connection to last week's brutal beating in downtown Newark, NJ Advance Media has learned. Watch video

NEWARK -- Police have made an arrest in connection to last week's brutal beating in downtown Newark.

Broad Street and Market Street in NewarkThe victim told police it was an argument over cigarettes that sparked last week's beating at the intersection of Broad Street and Market Streets in Newark (William Perlman| NJ Advance Media). 

Public Safety Director Anthony Ambose confirmed that an arrest had been made, but declined to release additional details, citing the ongoing investigation into the assault.

The search for suspects began last week, after police interviewed the victim in the Jan. 10 attack, which occurred around 1 p.m. near Broad and Market streets, one of the busiest intersections downtown.

According to police reports, the victim, whose name is being withheld, told investigating officers the attack began as a confrontation over cigarettes.

http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2016/01/brutal_beating_caught_on_video_sparked_by_argument.html

The victim told police he was distributing promotional flier and free cigarettes near the corner when a group of men selling cigarettes nearby took issue.

Their confrontation led to a fight, during which several men began kicking and punching the victim, the reports said.

Footage of the beating, which surfaced last Sunday, show the victim growing increasingly bloody and unsteady as the attack moved from the sidewalk to the street and back again.

The attack carried on for several minutes, despite the presence of a mini-precinct less than a block away, the footage shows.

In the days following, Ambrose called the incident "unacceptable," telling NJ Advance Media he and police officials intend on implementing a comprehensive plan to "step up" presence of the city's metro police division, which patrols the areas in and around downtown.

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

Baraka hires third communications director since taking office

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Frank Baraff is a veteran political strategist and publicist who worked on Baraka's 2014 campaign for mayor

Screen Shot 2016-01-14 at 3.19.19 PM.pngFrank Baraff (LinkedIn)

NEWARK - For the third time since taking office, Mayor Ras Baraka has hired a new communications director.

Frank Baraff, a veteran publicist and political strategist who worked on Baraka's 2014 campaign, was brought on board earlier this month to succeed recently departed director Felipe Luciano.

Since 1979, Baraff has worked as a strategist and media consultant with politicians on the national, state and local levels. His long list of clients include 20 years with  former New Jersey governor Dick Codey, and stints working for former New York Congresswoman Bella Azbug, former Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith and West Orange Mayor Robert Parisi.

He has also served as press secretary to former Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton, and worked on campaigns for federal office by such notable names as U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and former vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro.

5 things we learned at Baraka's Newark Town Hall meeting

Prior to beginning his new job at City Hall, Baraff had been on staff at New York City strategic consulting firm The Advance Group.

In an interview Tuesday, the Maplewood native said he was compelled to return to Newark after bearing witness to Baraka's engagement of interest groups from all corners of the city.

"If you look at almost all of his programs, they have that kind of a broad base input. It's a unique way of managing a city," he said.

Upon taking office in July 2014, Baraka hired local public relations consultant Sakina Cole as communications director. Cole left the post just seven months later, however, to pursue opportunities with her private communications firm, Cole Media Inc. - which has since been awarded a no-bid contract to provide marketing and branding services for the city.

She was replaced by Luciano, a former New York City activist and television reporter, at the $106,817 post. Details of his recent exit were not immediately available.

The city also added a press secretary Marjorie Harris, to its communications roster last March.

In his new role, Baraff said he plans to increase the use of social media, video and other forms of outreach to help residents and other community stakeholders be both informed and involved in city affairs.

"I believe that there's a story to tell about Newark and about this administration," he said. "I'm going to make sure that the story gets out to people."

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

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Accused Brendan Tevlin killer gets lengthy prison term in armed robbery

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Ali Muhammad Brown, 31, of Seattle, is still facing murder, terrorism and related charges in the 2014 shooting death of Livingston teen Brendan Tevlin Watch video

NEWARK — The criminal convictions of Ali Muhammad Brown began in 2005 with a bank fraud case in federal court in Washington State.

Brown was later convicted in Washington in 2008 for assault and in 2012 for communication with a minor for immoral purposes.

Then in 2014, Brown allegedly killed three men in Washington and traveled to New Jersey, where he is accused of fatally shooting Livingston teen Brendan Tevlin before committing two armed robberies.

Citing Brown's "downward spiral of criminality," Superior Court Judge Michael Petrolle on Wednesday sentenced him to 36 years and six months in state prison on his conviction in one of the robbery cases.

In that case, Brown, 31, of Seattle, was found guilty by a jury on Nov. 17 of robbery and weapons offenses for robbing a man at gunpoint on July 10, 2014 in the parking lot of an apartment complex in West Orange.

While imposing the sentence, Petrolle noted that Brown's criminal record demonstrates a "descending progression" from property crime to violent crime.

"In bringing that handgun here, he has escalated the level of his aggression and, in using it here, he has brought the potential for death and actual threat of serious bodily injury in New Jersey," Petrolle said.

Under the judge's sentence, Brown received a 35-year prison sentence for the first-degree robbery charge and two weapons offenses, and an 18-month prison sentence for the charge of unlawful possession of hollow point bullets. Those sentences are to be served consecutively.

Brown will likely serve about 33 years before becoming eligible for parole, and he will receive credit for roughly a year and a half of time served, the judge said.

While a first-degree robbery charge normally carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, Petrolle granted the state's application for an extended prison term, which ranged from 20 years to life in prison in Brown's case. The judge determined Brown is eligible for such a term in light of his at least three prior convictions.

Brown declined to make a statement during Wednesday's hearing.

During the hearing, Brown's attorney, Albert Kapin, called on Petrolle to impose a 20-year prison sentence, arguing in part that Brown's criminal history is not as significant as the records of many other offenders in New Jersey. Kapin also claimed Brown was unlikely to commit another offense, given the prison time he was facing.

But Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Jamel Semper, who tried the case, asked the judge to impose a life sentence, which equates to 75 years in prison.

In addition to Brown's criminal history and the need to deter him, Semper pointed to the risk that Brown will commit another offense. Semper said Brown committed "a calculated and deliberate act of violence" by cloaking himself in camouflage and robbing the victim at gunpoint.

Noting the fake ID later found on Brown, Semper said he actively attempted to elude law enforcement. At the time of the West Orange robbery, Brown was wanted for the three homicides in Washington and he was a fugitive out of Point Pleasant Beach, Semper said.

Semper said Brown was "simultaneously blending into society, while also eluding police, while also targeting our citizens."

"His criminality represents a clear and present danger to the citizens of Essex County," said Semper, adding that "the need to deter this defendant is overwhelming."

In the robbery case, Brown, while wearing a mask, approached the victim at about 6 a.m. as he opened a passenger side door of his vehicle in the parking lot of an apartment complex at 200 Mount Pleasant Avenue in West Orange.

Brown stole the man's wallet and other belongings, according to Semper. While pointing a handgun at the man, Brown then ordered the victim to get inside the trunk of the man's vehicle before he fled the scene, Semper said.

When police arrested Brown on July 18, 2014 in a nearby makeshift campsite, officers found him with various items, such as the handgun, the clothing used to mask his face and the victim's wallet, including his driver's license, Semper said.

RELATED: Brendan Tevlin's alleged killer convicted in an armed robbery, facing 20 years

Brown is still facing murder, terrorism and related charges in the June 25, 2014 shooting death of Tevlin.

Authorities have said Brown gunned down Tevlin, 19, when Brown and at least three other men attempted to rob Tevlin at a traffic light at Walker Road and Northfield Avenue in West Orange.

While the other men fled the scene, Brown moved Tevlin's body into the passenger seat of Tevlin's Jeep Liberty and drove it to a nearby apartment building, where he abandoned it, authorities said.

Brown — who also faces charges in the three homicides in Washington State — has told investigators he killed Tevlin as an act of "vengeance" for innocent lives lost in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Iran.

Before he was sentenced by Petrolle, Brown appeared briefly on Wednesday before Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler in the murder case. During that hearing, Kapin indicated he would be pursuing motions in the case, including a challenge to the terrorism charge.

Brown also is charged with robbing a man at gunpoint on June 29, 2014 at a coffee shop in Point Pleasant Beach.

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

First African-American woman sworn in as Essex County chief of detectives

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Quovella M. Spruill was officially sworn in Wednesday at the new head of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office police unit.

NEWARK -- The investigative unit of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office is officially under new leadership.

Quovella M. Spruill, who has been with the prosecutor's office for nearly two decades, was sworn in as the department's chief of detectives at a ceremony in Newark Wednesday morning, becoming the first African-American woman to ever hold the position.

"I hope to continue on the progress that we've made," Spruill said, as her husband, two children and dozens of police officers from around the county looked on. "I want to leave this place better than I found it. I want to leave everyone looking at how we conduct our business better, and how we serve our citizens better."

A Newark native, Spruill received her bachelor's degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and her master's from Seton Hall University before joining the prosecutor's office as an investigator in 1998.

http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2016/01/newark_council_makes_police_fire_department_shakeu.html

Spruill previously spent time in a number of units, including homicide, special victims and the professional standards bureau, before being named deputy chief of detectives in 2012.

Spruill replaces Anthony Ambrose, who was installed head of public safety for the City of Newark last month amid a recent shakeup of the city police, fire and emergency services departments.

Ambrose joined other officials in praising the new chief of detectives before the swearing-in, saying Spruill was his "right arm" during his tenure at the prosecutor's office.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray called the new chief of detectives "invaluable," saying that in Spruill she has a partner who shares her own goal to make sure the office "conducts itself ethically and at the pinnacle of prosecutorial excellence."

Spruill acknowledged that she is assuming leadership of the department's police operations at a time when its 120 officers and administrators are being asked to do more with less. 

In an interview following ceremony, Spruill said one of her first challenges will be ensuring that investigators have access to the latest technological tools, so as to better help prosecutor's office investigators and officers from other agencies reduce crime.

Earl Graves, Essex County Prosecutor's Office Deputy Chief of Detectives and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 205 Superior's Officer's Union president, said following the ceremony that both Spruill and the new tools will be benefit to the department.

"We look forward to working with her," he said. "She's someone who knows all the ins and outs of the office. Basically, we couldn't ask for a better leader."

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

Newark firefighter admits to withholding ledger during theft inquiry

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Latina Byrd, 46, of Newark, pleaded guilty to the disorderly persons offense of hindering and she is expected to receive a sentence of fines and fees

latina byrd.jpgNewark firefighter Latina Byrd, shown here in a file photo, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to withholding a financial ledger when she was under investigation for allegedly stealing from her fellow firefighters. 

NEWARK -- A Newark firefighter pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a hindering charge for withholding a financial ledger when she was under investigation for allegedly stealing from her fellow firefighters.

Latina Byrd, 46, of Newark, pleaded guilty to the disorderly persons offense when she was scheduled to go on trial on a third-degree theft charge, according to a news release from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

Her sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 26 before Superior Court Judge Peter Ryan.

Under a plea agreement, prosecutors are recommending that Byrd be ordered to pay between $150 and $200 in fines and fees as her sentence on the disorderly persons offense, according to Katherine Carter, spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office.

Prosecutors also are seeking that Byrd be forced to forfeit her job and pay restitution, Carter said.

The state maintains that state law requires Byrd to forfeit public employment as a result of her guilty plea, but the defense claims she should be able to keep her job, according to Carter.

The judge is expected to hear oral arguments and rule on the forfeiture issue at the sentencing hearing, Carter said. Byrd agreed to pay restitution, but the exact amount remains to be determined, Carter said.

The theft charge Byrd was facing could have meant between three and five years in state prison if she was convicted at the trial.

RELATED: Newark firefighter pleads not guilty to charge of stealing $2K from fellow firefighters

The case centers on a fund Byrd was responsible for managing for firefighters at the Engine 19 firehouse on Frelinghuysen Avenue in Newark, the release states. Firefighters pooled together money in the fund to help pay for cable, supplies and other incidental expenses at the firehouse, the release states.

In pleading guilty on Wednesday, Byrd admitted she concealed and did not turn over the fund's ledger when she was ordered to do so, the release states.

As part of her plea deal, Byrd admitted she knew, when she withheld the ledger, that she was being investigated for allegedly stealing between $200 and $500, the release states.

Byrd did not admit to stealing any funds and only pleaded guilty to her refusal to turn over the ledger, Carter said.

Authorities had alleged Byrd failed to deposit around $2,000 into the fund and failed to pay bills it was intended to take care of. Instead, authorities claimed Byrd used the money for personal expenses.

Byrd was indicted in November 2014 and she then remained on duty at her job with the fire department's Community Relations Division. Byrd is a 14-year veteran of the city's fire department.

"This is a very unfortunate situation of someone being entrusted to manage a relatively small amount of money and violating that trust," Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Seth Yockel, who is handling the case, said in the news release.

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

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Authorities arrest 3 of 5 men wanted in brutal downtown Newark beating

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Police have arrested three of the five men wanted in connection with the attack of a 28-year-old local man. Watch video

NEWARK -- Police have arrested three of the five men wanted in connection with a bloody attack on a local man in downtown Newark last week, city public safety director Anthony Ambrose announced Wednesday.

Jahid Smith, 18, of Newark, was taken into custody by the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Narcotics Task Force at some point last weekend, said Sgt. Ronald Glover in a released statement.

Joshua Craig, 18, of Irvington was taken into custody by officers from the Newark Police Department on Monday, Glover said. Both Smith and Craig have been charged with aggravated assault, conspiracy and robbery in connection with the attack, he added.

On Tuesday, Newark police arrested a city man, Julio C. Pendola, 28, for his alleged role in the attack. Pendola now faces charges of conspiracy and robbery, Glover said.

http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2016/01/brutal_beating_caught_on_video_sparked_by_argument.html

Authorities have issued warrants for the arrest of two others in connection to the beating, Glover said. The suspects have been identified as Trevone Craig, 22, of Irvington resident and Corey S. Sabb, 21, of East Orange, he said.

The search for suspects began last week, after police interviewed the victim in the Jan. 10 attack, which occurred around 1 p.m. near Broad and Market streets, one of the busiest intersections downtown.

According to police reports, the 28-year-old victim, whose name is being withheld, told investigating officers the attack began as a confrontation over cigarettes.

The victim told police he was distributing promotional flier and free cigarettes near the corner when a group of men selling cigarettes nearby took issue.

Their confrontation led to a fight, during which several men began kicking and punching the victim, the reports said.

Footage of the beating, which surfaced last Sunday, show the victim growing increasingly bloody and unsteady as the attack moved from the sidewalk to the street and back again.

The attack carried on for several minutes, despite the presence of a mini-precinct less than a block away, the footage shows.

In the days following, Ambrose called the incident "unacceptable," telling NJ Advance Media he and police officials intend on implementing a comprehensive plan to "step up" presence of the city's metro police division, which patrols the areas in and around downtown.

Authorities will supplement the division with an increase in motorcycle and mounted police patrols, Ambrose said Wednesday. He also thanked the Newark Police Department and other cooperating agencies for their participation in the investigation.

"We are in the business of ensuring that those that live, work, eat and recreate in our city have a safe and enjoyable time," he said. "People need to feel safe and I intend to make that happen."

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


Newark man convicted of robbery, attacking victims with rifle

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Freddies Cresporios, 21, was found guilty of robbery, aggravated assault and related offenses in connection with two separate attacks in Newark in 2014

Freddies CresporiosFreddies Cresporios 

NEWARK -- A Newark man was convicted on Wednesday of robbery, aggravated assault and other charges related to two separate attacks in the city in 2014, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced.

After two hours of deliberations in the trial, jurors handed down a guilty verdict against Freddies Cresporios, 21, according to a news release from the prosecutor's office.

His sentencing is scheduled for March 7 before Superior Court Judge Richard Sules. Cresporios is facing up to 30 years in state prison, authorities said.

The first incident occurred on May 13, 2014 when Cresporios, armed with a firearm, robbed a man in the 600 block of 6th Avenue in Newark, authorities said. Cresporios stole cash, a cell phone, a backpack and keys from the victim, authorities said.

About 17 hours later, Cresporios attacked a woman and her son in the 100 block of Berkeley Avenue when he chased them down the street with a rifle, authorities said.

Cresporios was convicted of all eight counts in his indictment, including one count of first-degree robbery, one count of conspiracy to commit robbery, two counts of aggravated assault and four weapons offenses, authorities said.

"During the week of May 13, 2014 this defendant unleashed a wave of criminality within a two block radius that put families and ordinary residents in fear," Essex County Assistant Prosecutor David Feldman, who tried the case, said in the release.

"People, who were going about their daily lives where literally threatened by Cresporios with a rifle," Feldman added. "Thankfully, the jury reached a verdict that will remove him from society for many years."

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

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At least 1 dead in Turnpike accident

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Driver also sustained injuries in crash Wednesday Watch video

NEWARK -- A man was killed in a traffic accident on the New Jersey Turnpike Wednesday evening, a State Police spokesman said.

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The victim was a passenger in a Chevy Traverse S.U.V. that struck the toll plaza as the vehicle was heading onto I-78 near Interchange 14 around 7:15 p.m., said Trooper Reinaldo Cruz Jr. The driver had to be freed from the vehicle and was taken to University Hospital in Newark. Information on his condition was not immediately available.

Toll lanes were blocked in the area earlier Wednesday, the state Department of Transportation reported.

An investigation at the scene was ongoing as of about 10 p.m. Wednesday.

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

Glimpse of History: Classic cars on Main Street in Millburn

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Vehicles include a Volkswagen, a Chevy, a bus and a box truck.

MILLBURN -- A driver's-eye view of traffic in Millburn is shown in this 1960s photo.

Vehicles traveling on Main Street at the Mechanic Street intersection include a Volkswagen, a Chevy, a bus and a box truck.

If you would like to share a photo that provides a glimpse of history in your community, please call 973-836-4922 or send an email to essex@starledger.com. And, check out more glimpses of history in our online galleries Thursdays on nj.com.

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

Vintage photos of streets and roads in N.J.

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One thing is for certain; if you can drive in New Jersey, you can drive anywhere.

I never thought the day would come when I would have my picture taken at a traffic light.

And, as one might guess, the picture was not one I smiled for.

It was not all that long ago when drivers and their vehicles were potential subjects of a portrait taken by the infamous red light cameras that sprang up all over the state. For the moment, cameras have been turned off, but we don't know if the lenses will be dusted off and these cameras will be used again "down the road."

As I ponder this topic, I consider the things that have changed since I first climbed into a vehicle as a licensed New Jersey driver.

When I first got my license, for example, a driver couldn't make a right turn on red. While states in the west had allowed RTOR for many years, the eastern part of the country only came around to the concept in the late 1970s after the first of two gas crises. It was seen as a fuel-saving measure; one of the few places that it's still prohibited is New York City.

burlington 2a george murphy.jpg 

Having trouble seeing the traffic light because of sun glare? It wasn't all that long ago when it was nearly impossible to miss a traffic light. Why? Because in days gone by, traffic lights stood smack-dab in the middle of intersections. Even when I was a child riding with my parents, I pondered the sensibility of mounting a traffic signal on a massive concrete block in the middle of the street.

And prior to that, think of the brave police who had to direct traffic by hand while standing in the middle of that motorized maelstrom.

imagessignal.jpgThe hand signals I see have less digits showing 

Perhaps you remember taking the driving test and answering questions about hand signals for turns. There was a time, of course, when cars didn't have turn signals and people practiced automotive semaphore to navigate - which I, as a precocious lad and then a stick shift driver, wondered as to how it should be done if one hand was signaling and the other was shifting; who was steering?

Nowadays, most motorcyclists have turn signals. It's still included in testing these days, under the premise of "if your turn signals aren't working." Tell that to the people whose turn signals are working and who still don't bother to use them.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

It would be unfair to not point out that the recent work on the New Jersey Turnpike, adding more lanes between exits 8A and 6, has been a godsend to Garden State travelers. Good on you, Department of Transportation; but there are still sections of the roadway, as well as Route 287, that can aggravate even the most passive driver.

One thing is for certain - if you can drive in New Jersey, you can drive anywhere. From the close quarters of the Garden State Parkway (what are there, eight lanes in some sections of the GSP?) to the jughandles we navigate to the narrow stretches of roads in rural areas of the state.

Here's a gallery of vintage scenes from streets and roads around New Jersey.

Can't get enough? Here's a link to last year's gallery.

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

Newark settles suit by ex-cop accused of stealing from suspects

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Lawrence Furlow was never convicted despite being tried twice for the alleged thefts

Screen Shot 2016-01-20 at 5.24.36 PM.pngLawrence Furlow (Newark Police)

NEWARK - The city has agreed to settle a lawsuit by a former officer who lost his job after being accused of shaking down criminals for money, drug and guns.

The City Council on Wednesday approved a $150,000 settlement for Lawrence Furlow and his defense attorney Thomas Ashley. The settlement will be paid through a city insurance trust fund.

Furlow and Ashley filed suit against the city in May 2013 seeking reimbursement nearly $1 million in legal fees incurred during Furlow's two trials for conspiracy, theft and official misconduct, both of which ended in hung juries.

The charges had stemmed from separate internal investigations, including one in which he and another officer were accused of approaching two suspects at gunpoint and demanding they hand over cell phones, cash, and weapons. The two later allegedly kept about $200 of the money they had confiscated.

Newark to hire attorney to oversee police internal affairs

In statements to investigators, Furlow admitted taking the cash for personal use, and said he had received money on several occasions in the past from other officers who had seized cash during the course of arrests.

He was eventually fired, though he later claimed at trial that he had been coerced into the confessions by confidantes who told him it was "the only way to keep him out of prison", according to court documents.

The second of his cases ended in a hung jury in 2012, and authorities declined to pursue the charges a third time.

During lawsuit proceedings, Newark had argued that Furlow had acted unlawfully during the course of his duties as an officer, regardless of the lack of any conviction. Essex County Superior Court Judge Thomas R. Vena rejected the argument in March, however, and ordered the case to proceed toward trial.

Alan Zegas, Furlow and Ashley's Chatham-based attorney, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Furlow is not the only Newark officer to be accused of illegal stealing cash and other goods from suspects. In a scathing report released in July 2014, the U.S. Department of Justice cited a pattern of theft by officers as being among a host of problems prompting it to order a number of reforms for the police department.

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

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