Andre Higgs is accused of attacking Latrena May on March 25, 2015 and then killing her on May 1

NEWARK -- At 10:22 p.m. on March 25, 2015, Latrena May called 911 to report that Andre Higgs, the father of her four-year-old daughter, had attacked May at her city home in front of the child.

In a shaky voice, May told the dispatcher Higgs left the home after he had "put his hands around my neck and he choked me in front of my daughter."

Less than two months later, Higgs is accused of fatally shooting May during an argument outside the Tremont Avenue home on May 1 while their daughter was inside the residence.

A recording of the 911 call was played Friday during a hearing on a motion by Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Justin Edwab to present evidence about the earlier alleged domestic dispute at Higgs's trial on murder and related charges in May's killing.

The hearing is scheduled to continue on April 15 before Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler.

In the murder case, authorities have said Higgs and May were arguing on the porch of her home when May flagged down a police office patrolling the area. Higgs then shot her three times and the officer shot Higgs, authorities said.

After he was shot, Higgs went into the house with the weapon before he was apprehended, authorities said. A 27-year-old teacher at Pride Academy Charter School in East Orange, May was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

Higgs, 43, of Watchung, was later released on $1 million bail. But after he was charged with causing a drunken crash on Christmas in Middlesex County, Wigler imposed a more stringent bail requirement in the murder case and Higgs was returned to the Essex County Correctional Facility in January.

Latrena MayFile photo 

During Friday's hearing, East Orange Detective Steven Plumer testified about what May told him when he and his partner were dispatched to her home on March 25 in response to her 911 call.

Plumer said May told him Higgs choked her on a couch in the living room and on the kitchen floor while her daughter was present. Plumer recalled seeing bruises on May's neck area.

According to Plumer, May said the altercation stemmed from Higgs's allegations that she was "sleeping with other men."

"She was almost in hysterics, very disheveled," said Plumer, referring to May. "Her face was puffy, her eyes were watery."

May also said Higgs "was gonna come back and kill her," Plumer said.

But on cross-examination, Higgs's attorney, Thomas Ashley, challenged Plumer's credibility by noting how Plumer's testimony was based on his own recollections and that he did not file a police report that documents his encounter with May. Other police officers later filed reports about the incident, Plumer said.

Ashley also pointed out how Plumer or other police officers did not take photos of May's alleged bruises.

"Did you document anything?" Ashley asked Plumer.

"Me personally?" Plumer replied.

"Yes," Ashley said.

"No, I did not," Plumer said.

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

Several students gathered on the steps of the Essex County Hall of Records in Newark Friday in protest of Dr. Gale Gibson's removal and the role they allege county officials played in it. Watch video

NEWARK -- While speculation mounts as to the exact reasons behind the suspension of Essex County College president Dr. Gale Gibson, several students and their supporters are calling for transparency.

"We need to know what the charges are," said Deborah Salters, a Newark resident who serves as student representative on the college Board of Trustees.

On Friday, Salters and several others gathered on the steps of the Essex County Hall of Records in Newark in protest of Gibson's removal and the role they allege county officials played in it.

http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2016/03/essex_county_college_president_suspended_amid_fina.html

"The suspension was approved with same secrecy that the board has been operating with for years," Salters said, adding that she did not receive prior notification of the March 28 closed-door meeting where the board discussed Gibson's status.

Details of the apparent financial probe preceded Gibson's suspension remain shrouded in secrecy.

Rashidah Hasan, the college's general counsel and vice president for human resources, was also suspended as part of the investigation, school officials have confirmed.

Gibson will continue to earn her about $295,000 annual salary during her suspension.

Salters and other protesters on Friday accused county officials, including Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, of unduly influencing the board's decision. 

In a statement released to NJ Advance Media, DiVincenzo said he backed the trustees' decision to suspend Gibson, but denied he had any influence in the matter.

"At this time, the board believes that suspending Dr. Gibson from her duties as President is in the best interest of the students and will help protect the integrity of the institution," he said. "It is the board's decision, which I support and respect."

Essex County College President Dr. Gale Gibson, shown here at the school's 2013 graduation ceremony. (Courtesy of Essex County College) Vernal Coleman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

Rumors of political jockeying also accompanied Gibson's rise to president. In 2013, the board chose her to replace Edythe Abdullah, who was pressured to step down after three years on the job. 

DiVincenzo openly backed former county administrator Joyce Harley to succeed her, though the board ultimately chose Gibson, citing her doctoral degree as the deciding factor.

Harley was promoted from the school's executive director of administrative services to a vice president of administration and finance - a cabinet position that carries a salary of about $190,000 per year.

To ECC senior Tarrick Tucker, the opacity of Gibson's suspension reveals a need for students to have a more meaningful role in disciplinary process.

Tuition and fees paid by students make up 62 percent of the college's annual revenue, he said. "What we want is for the students to have a voice in the process, and for that process to be separate from politics."

The college's executive committee Thursday appointed A. Zachary Yamba acting president during the suspension of President Gale Gibson. Yamba is a past president of the school, who served in the role for three decades until his retirement in 2010, the school said.

"Dr. Yamba will provide the necessary leadership to ensure the college continues to operate at the highest levels during this time," the school said in a statement.

Though it is unclear how long the suspensions will last, an attorney for the board said Thursday Yamba will receive no more than $15,000 in compensation for 90 days in the acting position.

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

The Mazzellas, all former New Jersey residents, were slain in what law enforcement has said is the result of a feud with a neighbor, Jonathan Frederick Sander.

WAKE FOREST, N.C. - In the end, they were just doing what all families do.

"They were being together and living life together," said Pastor Mike Fry, delivering the eulogy for Elaine, Sandy and Stephenie Mazzella, who were all shot to death March 25 in Wake Forest, N.C.

The Mazzellas, all former New Jersey residents, were slain in what law enforcement has said is the result of a feud with a neighbor, Jonathan Frederick Sander.

Sander, 52, is jailed on three counts of first-degree murder.

More than 150 mourners gathered Friday for a service in the Richland Creek Community Church, where Elaine Mazzella, 76, has worshipped with her husband, Salvatore, 78, for the past seven years.

Three caskets were at the head of the church under framed photos of each victim. The women's caskets were white. Sandy's was brown.

Photos of the family members at various stages in their lives played on a loop with gentle music before the service began.

"The love they had for family was incredible," Fry said, adding that Elaine wanted to spend all her time with family.

"Sal knows he's a blessed man," Fry said. "Elaine loved people and clearly loved life. Sal said that she would not even allow him to kill a fly. And even if it was picking figs from the tree in the yard, she wanted to spend all her time with Sal."

Stephenie, who was originally from Chicago but grew up in Jefferson Township, liked to play the flute and was involved in the marching band, the pastor said.

"She was bold and loved adventure and trying new things," he said.

Stephenie graduated from Felician College in Bergen County and Bloomfield College. She worked for a time as a nurse in Clara Maas before moving to the Poconos and then to North Carolina. At the time of her death, she was a nurse in the intensive care unit of WakeMed hospital.

Salvatore Mazzella gave an emotional speech, telling the mourners how much he loved his wife and son. And he told them he thought of Stephenie as his daughter.

"She called me 'Pop,'" he said.

During his remarks, Sal Mazzella referred to the alleged killer as "the evil one," and as the caskets were removed from the church, repeated outside: "The evil one did this, took my wife and family from me."

Winn Crenshaw, ministry director, said during the service that Sandy Mazzella was a successful businessman.

"Sandy was rare because he was an entrepreneur," said Winn Crenshaw, ministry director. "It takes real courage to start something from scratch, to build something from nothing."

Sandy and Stephenie Mazzella leave behind two children, ages 14 and 10.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that money be donated to the Mazzella GoFundMe account or to the Richland Creek Messianic Fellowship, 3229 Burlington Mills Road, Wake Forest, N.C. 27587.

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

Judge Vicki A. Citrino on Friday upheld her ruling directing Montclair to reinstate a former township cop

NEWARK -- A Superior Court judge on Friday upheld her ruling ordering Montclair to reinstate a former township police officer who was fired in connection with an alleged domestic dispute.

Judge Vicki A. Citrino denied a motion by the township to reconsider her March 14 court order directing the municipality to reinstate Officer Joselito Nebiar with back pay. The judge also rejected a township motion to stay her court order while the municipality appeals the decision.

During a hearing on Friday, the judge said "the court did consider and appreciated the significance of all the evidence," according to an audio recording of the hearing.

But Nebiar's attorney, Patrick Toscano, consented to staying the order for a limited time period while Montclair pursues an "emergent application" with the Appellate Division to review the case.

If Citrino's ruling ultimately stands, however, Angelo Genova, an attorney representing the township, said during Friday's hearing that Montclair would have to pay about $350,000 in back pay to Nebiar.

The judge issued her court order as part of a lawsuit Nebiar filed against the township last year. Nebiar was suspended without pay in June 2013 and ultimately terminated in December 2014.

In addition to Nebiar's immediate reinstatement, Citrino ordered township officials to provide back pay starting from the date of his suspension.

The legal battle stems from an alleged domestic dispute between Nebiar and a woman on June 5, 2013 that led to aggravated assault and weapons charges against Nebiar, according to a March 7 opinion issued by Citrino.

The woman recanted her statements on June 6 and Nebiar was placed on unpaid suspension on June 7, the opinion states. On Sept. 27, 2013, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office notified Montclair that the grand jury decided to not indict Nebiar in connection with the incident, the opinion states.

Psychologist Daniel Schievella - who had evaluated Nebiar following an earlier alleged domestic dispute - conducted a second "fitness for duty examination" in October 2013 and ultimately determined he was unfit for duty and recommended his termination, the opinion states.

In January 2014, then-Montclair Police Chief David Sabagh filed disciplinary charges against Nebiar in connection with the alleged domestic dispute and a disciplinary hearing was held later that year, the opinion states.

Based in large part on Schievella's findings, the hearing officer in December 2014 recommended Nebiar's termination after finding him guilty of the charge of "incompetency or inefficiency," the opinion states.

Citrino said in her opinion that she found "not a scintilla of evidence" to support the township's disciplinary charges against Nebiar, and she was critical of Schievella's findings.

In asking Citrino to reconsider her ruling, the township's attorneys have argued Nebiar was properly terminated based on the examination performed by Schievella.

Saying "the quality of the evidence is so overwhelmingly supportive of our position," Genova on Friday stressed that Schievella's findings were based on a pattern of behavior from Nebiar that involved multiple domestic disputes.

But Citrino reiterated her criticism of Schievella's work, saying she was "most perturbed" by how he did not interview Nebiar's treating psychologist or the woman who had made the allegations regarding the June 5, 2013 incident. The judge also criticized Schievella for accepting those allegations as the truth.

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

City police have captured a 29-year-old man wanted in connection with a March 24 shooting.

NEWARK -- City police have captured a 29-year-old man wanted in connection with a March 24 shooting. 

Lyonel Finlea, 29, was apprehended near Stratford Place and Clinton Avenue on March 25, said Detective Hubert Henderson in a released statement.

According to investigators, Finlea discharged a firearm in a March incident near the intersection of Irvine Turner Boulevard and Avon Avenue. Police responding to screams for help arrived at the scene and heard the shot as it was discharged, Henderson said.

http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2016/04/essex_county_college_student_protest.html

No one appeared to be injured by the shooting, Henderson said.

Investigators later identified Finlea as the alleged shooter, and were granted a warrant for his arrest.

Following his arrest, Finlea was transferred into custody at the Essex County Correctional Facility on $135,000 bail.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing

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

The event sought to address the gender and race disparity in the computer science field. Watch video

NEWARK -- About 100 teens attended a Saturday morning event in Newark, which sought to get black girls to embrace coding and computer science, no matter what profession they plan to enter.

Initially, the young women shouted out different terms when asked who they think of as a "computer scientist."

"White!" "Boy!" "Asian!"

But the speakers squashed the idea that black girls can't be in that group.

In Newark, Michelle Obama declares Black Girls Rock!

"If you're feeling uncomfortable, if you're feeling like you don't belong in your classes, that actually means that you have a more creative approach and a different perspective," said speaker Lisa Gelobter, the U.S. Department of Education's chief digital officer, who grew up in a low-income home.

This was the thrust of the event: that diverse employees, including black women, are needed to make products better.

Also, the girls were told, computer science is not just for software engineers, since technology has transformed every single field, including singing and acting.

The international nonprofit organization Black Girls Rock! teamed up with Google to offer the tech conference, which took place in the New Jersey Performing Arts Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

It was the first-ever Girls Rock Tech! Summit.

This is how to change the game: @djbeverlybond, @#blackgirlsrock, and @madewithcode join forces for the... https://t.co/hwGSjZlXvl

-- BLACK GIRLS ROCK! (@BLACKGIRLSROCK) April 2, 2016

Beverly Bond, Black Girls Rock! founder, said she hopes her new organization Girls Rock Tech! will become its own free-standing organization, outside of the Black Girls Rock! umbrella.

Newark was chosen because the Black Girls Rock! award show, which honored Rihanna and Shonda Rhimes, was in NJPAC Friday night and has been held in NJPAC the past few years, she said. 

"This is actually like a 'coming out' for Girls Rock Tech," she said. "This is to be a more well-rounded STEM initiative... so the girls aren't walking around thinking they need to take a coding class and they don't need to do anything else."

A five-member speaker panel featured several high-profile speakers, including three with their PhDs.

There were also three women who work for the federal government, including Gelobter; Knotakie Ford, a senior policy advisor of the White House Office on Science and Technology Policy; and Assistant Director at White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans Lauren Mims, who encouraged every girl to create her own app.

The panel moderator was Jamika Burge, director of assessment technology products and research at UCLA and Howard University.

Another speaker was Quincy Brown, an American Association for the Advancement of Science science and technology policy fellow at the National Science Foundation.

The summit also featured a coding workshop, where young teen girls used a computer program to make a custom design for a reusable water bottle.

Former Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star Tatyana Ali attended the event as well.

This amazing morning @BLACKGIRLSROCK w Google's @madewithcode have brought 100 girls together to talk about #STEM pic.twitter.com/7uhMHUMp4P

-- Tatyana Ali (@TatyanaAli) April 2, 2016

getting my code on with @kelly.trillz @t.dizzle__ @blackgirlscode @blackgirlsrock @madewithcode @officialafamed

A photo posted by Tatyana Ali (@tatyanaali) on Apr 2, 2016 at 9:04am PDT

To illustrate the importance of black women in tech, Brown told the girls that when she researched why automatic faucets were not easily working for her, she learned the sensors were trained to pick up lighter-colored hands.

"Had someone been in the room when that was created, tested, that looked like me, they would have said 'we've got a problem,'" she said.

Even someone who aspires to become "famous," Brown noted, should know how to optimize their website to get on the first page of Google.

"Coding is the new literacy, and we believes black women and girls should be at the forefront of innovation," said Valeisha Butterfield Jones, head of Google's Black Community Engagement, in a statement. "It is in that spirit that we partner with Black Girls Rock!"

"I like coding because it kind of gave me an opportunity how to use art in it and try to figure out science," said event attendee Lauren Jackson, a 13-year-old from Brooklyn, who started exploring coding two years ago. "I try to use design, and learn how make things like blogs and video games."

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

These are the highest wind gusts reported across New Jersey, county by county, as of Sunday afternoon.

Large trees have been knocked down, outdoor patio furniture has been toppled, and garbage cans have been blowing around neighborhoods like small toys Sunday morning as powerful wind gusts have been whipping all across New Jersey.

How strong are those winds?

As of 11 a.m., the two windiest spots in the Garden State were Bass River State Forest in Burlington and Ocean counties, which recorded a gust as high as 74 mph, and East Windsor in Mercer County, which had a gust of 71 mph, according to preliminary wind speeds reported by the National Weather Service and the New Jersey Weather & Climate Network at Rutgers University.

Strong winds knock out power to thousands

Powerful gusts were also reported in Port Norris in Cape May County (67 mph), Beach Haven in Ocean County (64 mph), Berkeley Township in Ocean County (60 mph), South Jersey Regional Airport in Burlington County (60 mph), Sea Girt in Monmouth County (58 mph) and Wantage in Sussex County (58 mph).

A high wind warning remains active for Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties until 2 p.m. Sunday, and a wind advisory remains in effect for the rest of the Garden State through 4 p.m.

The weather service said winds should gradually get calmer as the afternoon progresses, but some areas of the state could still get hit with frequent gusts of 25 to 40 mph in the early afternoon.

Brush fire risk and light snow

The weather service has issued an alert for an elevated risk of brush fires or wildfires in Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris and Somerset counties throughout the day on Sunday because of the gusty winds and dry air over the region.

Earlier this morning, some sections of the state were hit with brief thunderstorms, and some had bursts of light snow. The biggest snowfall totals reported by the weather service were 2.7 inches in Highland Lakes, Sussex County, 2.4 inches in West Milford, Passaic County, and 1.1 inches in High Point, Sussex County.

A trace of snow was reported at Newark airport, and 0.1 to 0.3 inches of snow were reported in Tenafly, Vernon, Wantage and Holland Township.

WIND GUSTS ACROSS NEW JERSEY

Here's a look at the top wind speeds reported in each county as of noon on Sunday:

Atlantic County
Mullica Twp.: 55 mph
Wading River: 55 mph 
New Gretna: 50 mph
Hammonton: 48 mph
Atlantic City Marina: 42 mph
Egg Harbor Twp.: 37 mph

Bergen County
Teterboro Airport: 49 mph
Lyndhurst: 46 mph
Allendale: 43 mph
Wood-Ridge: 41 mph

Burlington County
Bass River State Forest: 74 mph
Jobstown (Springfield): 60 mph 
South Jersey Airport: 60 mph
Wrightstown: 51 mph
Silas Little: 49 mph
Red Lion: 47 mph
Tabernacle: 47 mph

Camden County
Cherry Hill: 28 mph
Sicklerville: 28 mph

Cape May County
Port Norris: 67 mph
West Cape May: 52 mph
Dennis Twp.: 47 mph 
Woodbine: 47 mph
Cape May Court House: 40 mph

Cumberland County
Millville: 54 mph
Upper Deerfield: 49 mph
Greenwich: 46 mph
Bivalve: 43 mph

Essex County
Newark Liberty Airport: 55 mph
Livingston: 45 mph

Gloucester County
Logan Twp.: 55 mph
Piney Hollow: 46 mph
Sewell: 42 mph
South Harrison: 42 mph
Clayton: 39 mph

Hudson County
Bayonne: 51 mph
Jersey City: 48 mph

Hunterdon County
Frenchtown: 45 mph
Pittstown: 45 mph
Kingwood: 43 mph
Glen Gardner: 42 mph

Mercer County
East Windsor: 71 mph
Hamilton: 49 mph
Hopewell: 46 mph

Middlesex County
South Brunswick: 52 mph
New Brunswick: 29 mph

Monmouth County
Sea Girt: 58 mph
Cream Ridge: 54 mph
Oceanport: 51 mph
Long Branch: 45 mph
Howell: 37 mph
Wall Twp.: 34 mph
Holmdel: 31 mph

Morris County
Parsippany: 44 mph
Chatham Twp.: 42 mph

Ocean County
Beach Haven: 64 mph
New Gretna: 63 mph
Berkeley Twp.: 60 mph
Harvey Cedars: 56 mph
Point Pleasant: 51 mph
Seaside Heights: 45 mph
West Creek: 39 mph
Toms River: 26 mph

Passaic County
Passaic: 46 mph

Salem County
Woodstown: 47 mph

Somerset County
Bridgewater: 58 mph
Somerset Airport: 55 mph
Basking Ridge: 50 mph
Hillsborough: 46 mph
Skillman: 46 mph
Millington: 40 mph

Sussex County
Wantage: 58 mph
High Point Monument: 53 mph
High Point: 38 mph

Union County
Linden Airport: 54 mph
Hillside: 48 mph

Warren County
Allamuchy: 44 mph
Alpha: 43 mph
Stewartsville: 43 mph
Mansfield: 37 mph
Pequest: 35 mph
Hope: 33 mph
Hackettstown: 28 mph

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Oshane Thompson, 25, is being held on $25,000 bond

Oshane Thompson (Essex County Correctional Facility)

FAIRFIELD - A New York City man was arrested Saturday after leading officers on a high-speed chase down Route 46, authorities said. 

Oshane Thompson, 25, of Queens Village, N.Y. was stopped around 6:14 p.m. after a Fairfield officers watched him make an illegal U-turn, according to Police Chief Anthony Manna.

As of the officer approached the car on foot, however, Thompson took off in his 2013 Nissan Altima, and continued speeding down the busy road with multiple officers giving chase, Manna said.

Thompson was forced to slow down due to traffic near Route 46's intersection with Two Bridges. Rather than stop, however, he allegedly took the car over a curb and into the rear parking lot of a PNC bank.

During the escape, however, the car's right front tire had blown out, and Thompson took off on foot, Manna said. After a brief chase, he was finally apprehended by three officers near the intersection of Passaic Avenue and Little Falls Road.

Manna said Thompson continued to resist officers during his arrest, and left two with minor scrapes and cuts after the encounter.

Man accused of making fake distress calls was Fairfield firefighter

After being taken into custody, police found a small amount of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and 15 Visa and Mastercard gift cards on Thompson and in his car, according to Manna. It is unclear whether the cards may have been stolen, but officers also discovered an active warrant for credit card related offenses out of Lycoming County, Pa.

He was charged with eluding police, resisting arrest, obstruction of justice, possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. As of Sunday, he was being held at the Essex County Jail on $25,000 bond, according to county sheriff's records.

Ramon McCray, 34, was allegedly caught stealing $110 worth of merchandise from an Ephrata Township Walmart

Ramon McCray (Ephrata Police)

EPHRATA TOWNSHIP, PA. - A sex offender wanted by New Jersey authorities was captured after allegedly being caught shoplifting at a Pennsylvania Walmart Saturday.

According to police in Ephrata, Pa., 34-year-old Ramon McCray and 49-year-old Carol Wilson were caught attempting to leave the store with $110 in merchandise without paying.

The two Lancaster, Pa. residents were taken into custody, and police discovered that McCray was wanted by Essex County police for failing to register as a sex offender.

A search of New Jersey judicial records shows McCray was convicted of theft by unlawful taking in 2000, but the details of his sex offender status were unclear.

He remains held in Pennsylvania as he awaits extradition back to New Jersey, according to police.

All of the animals had been matched with foster homes as of Sunday afternoon

MONTCLAIR - Dozens of animals had to be rescued from a fire at the Montclair Animal Shelter early Sunday morning, according to officials.

The shelter confirmed the two-alarm blaze on its Facebook page, asking for help finding foster commitments for the roughly 70 cats and dogs. By early afternoon, it said it had matched each of the animals with an owner willing to take them in.

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The shelter's North Willow Street building was severely damaged in the blaze. Volunteers told CBS New York that they were already on hand to walk the animals when they noticed the flames, enabling them to get all of them out safely.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

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

Thousands of dogs and cats are in need of adoption in northern and central New Jersey.

Here is this week's collection of some of the thousands of dogs and cats in need of adoption in northern and central New Jersey.

If a nonprofit rescue group or animal shelter in any of the following counties wishes to participate in this weekly gallery on nj.com, please contact Greg Hatala at ghatala@starledger.com or call 973-836-4922:

* Bergen County

* Burlington County

* Essex County

* Hudson County

* Hunterdon County

* Mercer County

* Middlesex County

* Monmouth County

* Morris County

* Ocean County

* Passaic County

* Somerset County

* Sussex County

* Union County

* Warren County

More pets in need of adoption can be seen here and here.

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

Clarence Williams is serving a 25-year state prison sentence for the 2011 incident in West Orange

Clarence WilliamsNew Jersey Department of Corrections 

NEWARK -- A state appellate panel on Friday upheld the conviction of a man for carjacking another man in 2011 and dragging him nearly 50 yards into oncoming traffic as the victim clung to the speeding vehicle.

Clarence Williams, 44, formerly of Newark, argued in his appeal that a judge improperly allowed testimony at his 2013 trial from the victim, who identified Williams as the assailant.

But the appeals court rejected that argument, saying the victim's identification was "sufficiently reliable," according to the appellate decision.

"Like the trial judge, we are satisfied after reviewing the totality of the circumstances that defendant failed to demonstrate a 'substantial likelihood of irreparable misidentification,'" the decision states.

Following his conviction on a carjacking charge, Williams was sentenced to 25 years in state prison. He will be eligible for parole in January 2033.

The incident occurred on June 24, 2011 at an Exxon gas station in West Orange, authorities said. As the victim was putting air into the rear, driver's side tire of his Infiniti G-35, Williams jumped into the driver's seat and started driving away from the victim, the decision states.

When Williams spun the car around and started driving in the victim's direction, the victim stuck his hand in the driver's side window and held onto the car, the decision states. As Williams increased his speed, the victim grabbed his face in order to take control of the car, the decision states.

The victim estimated the vehicle was traveling at 80 mph while his right leg was in the air and his left leg dragged on the ground, the decision states. In order to avoid being hit by another vehicle, the victim ultimately jumped off the car and roll to the side of the road, authorities said.

The Infiniti was found on June 29, 2011 in Newark, approximately two miles from Williams's home, authorities said. Williams's DNA was ultimately discovered on a cigarette and a soda bottle found in the car, authorities said.

The victim initially identified Williams as the attacker on June 28, 2011 when he saw Williams's photo on a bulletin board at the West Orange police station in connection with another incident, the decision states. In October 2011, the victim selected Williams's picture when detectives presented him with a photo array of potential suspects, the decision states.

In his appeal, Williams argued "the identification procedure the police used was impermissibly suggestive because it involved multiple viewings of defendant's photo, and the Critical Reach bulletin Vasquez saw in the police station contained a description of a crime that was similar to what Vasquez experienced," the decision states.

But the appellate panel agreed with the trial judge's conclusion that the victim's identification was reliable, in part because the victim provided police with an accurate description of Williams before viewing any photos and since detectives at the police station did not ask the victim to view the message on the bulletin board.

"Furthermore, the subsequent photo array was properly conducted," the decision states, adding that a detective told the victim "that the perpetrator's photo may or not be included in the array and did not instruct him which photo to select."

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

The government's motion argues that extra steps are needed to protect potential jurors from interference.

NEWARK -- Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to shield the identities of prospective jurors and to order increased security for them in the upcoming death penalty trial of an alleged Newark gang member. 

Prosecutors Friday made their request to U.S. District Judge Esther Salas, arguing that such measures would protect potential jurors while respecting the rights of Farad Roland, only the second person to face the death penalty under the federal court system in New Jersey. 

Roland, alleged to be a co-founder of the South Side Cartel, an arm of the Bloods street gang, faces the death penalty for  violations of the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act, including conspiring in murders, robberies, carjackings and drug deals.

At least one of those alleged murders involved another gang member who Roland feared would "snitch" on him, prosecutors say in their motion. Prosecutors allege Roland, 31, executed 19-year-old Fuquan Billings so that he would not report Roland's involvement in other alleged crimes to authorities, the motion says. 

"Such conduct aimed at interfering with the judicial process warrants an anonymous jury," the motion says. 

Family members or associates also could disrupt the trial process, it says, even with Roland imprisoned. 

"Any argument that he himself cannot facilitate jury tampering should be rejected and ignores the reality of prior gang cases in this district where such interference happened despite the defendant being incarcerated," it said. 

Michael K. Bachrach, one of Roland's lawyers, said Roland's defense team will file its response opposing the government's motion later this month. 

In its motion, the government asks that Salas protect the names, addresses and places of work of prospective jurors in the trial, scheduled to begin Dec. 5. Their identities would not only be shielded from the parties, but also their attorneys and the public, it says. 

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It also asks Salas to order that the jury be sequestered during lunch and recesses, and that they meet at an undisclosed location daily to be transported anonymously to the federal courthouse.

The filing also says that media attention in the case may raise apprehension among potential jurors, another reason, it argued, for an anonymous jury. 

Not knowing the identities of the jurors will not interfere with the defense team's ability to select and reject potential jurors, the filing says -- a claim supported by George Thomas, a professor of law at Rutgers School of Law-Newark. 

"The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to an impartial jury but as jury deliberations are secret, I don't see how anonymity in any way undermines objectivity," he said. 

The government's motion is not the only item before the court regarding the jury in Roland's case. 

Later Monday, lawyers for both sides will appear before Salas on a number of issues, including Roland's request for a jury pool consisting only of Essex County residents. The defense also will be seeking to bar the use of the death penalty, claiming it is unconstitutional. 

New Jersey abolished the death penalty in 2007. However, capital punishment was reinstated in the federal system in 1988. 

Tim Darragh may be reached at tdarragh@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @timdarragh. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Jerry Jordan, 65, was taken into custody on an active warrant in his hometown of New Brunswick

NEWARK - A second man has been arrested for an alleged plot to kill Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, police announced Monday.

Jerry Jordan, 65, was apprehended without incident in his hometown of New Brunswick on Friday morning, Newark police spokesman Capt. Derek Glenn said in a statement.

Jordan had been wanted since March 30, when Baraka's office received a call reporting two men had been overheard at Newark Penn Station discussing a plan to kill him. The caller was transferred to city police, and provided descriptions that matched Jordan and 56-year-old Kenneth Curry, according to Glenn.

Officers quickly corralled Curry, but Jordan fled the station and managed to elude authorities until Friday.

Glenn said Jordan is being held on an unspecified open warrant, but than an investigation into the alleged threat remains active and additional charges may be filed.

Baraka also faced threats to his life earlier this year, when he increased security on his personal police detail and around City Hall after finding a pair of menacing letters sent to his mother's home.

A Newark police is accused of using emergency lights on his vehicle to stop two drivers and question them, as if he were a police officer.

A Newark fire captain faces charges of impersonating a law enforcement officer and using his fire department vehicle to pull over motorists. (NJ Advance Media file photo)

ELIZABETH -- A Newark fire captain is facing charges that he pretended to be a police officer and pulled over two drivers.

Anthony Graves, 47, was served with summonses last week charging him with fourth-degree impersonation of a law enforcement officer, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace Park announced in a statement Monday.

Park said that on Nov. 3, 2014 Graves stopped two motorists, one in Hillside and the other in Newark. One incident occurred in the afternoon and the other in the evening, the prosecutor said.

She said Graves, a 16-year member of the Newark Fire Department, used the emergency lights on his fire department vehicle to initiate the stops, and then he verbally questioned each of the drivers.

No summonses were issued and Graves did not attempt to make any arrests, Park said.

Law enforcement sources previously told NJ Advance Media that investigators were looking into the allegations that Graves misused his powers and pulled over vehicles.

To avoid any conflict of interest, the state Attorney General's Office transferred the Newark case from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office to the Union County prosecutor, authorities said.

The special investigations unit in the Union County Prosecutor's Office determined Graves was not acting in any official position when the motor vehicle stops occurred, Park said.

She said Graves was issued the summonses through his attorney.

The fourth-degree charges carry a maximum penalty upon conviction of 18 months incarcerations.

Last December, Graves filed suit against the Newark Fire Department, alleging he had been removed from active duty in retaliation for him raising concerns about "unqualified" department personnel.

Attempts to reach Graves on Monday seeking a comment were unsuccessful.

Anthony Tarantino, president of the Newark Fire Officers Union, said he had no immediate comment on the charges.

MORE UNION COUNTY NEWS

Tom Haydon may be reached at thaydon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Tom_HaydonSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Clubs collect nearly 2,000 books during book drive.

West Essex Middle School students Joe Matarazzo, Audrianna LoBasso, Isabelle Smith, Emma Gracen, Savannah Tomlin and teacher Deana Copeland sort books collected during the school's book drive.West Essex Regional Schools 

NORTH CALDWELL -- Members of the Builders Club and the Random Acts of Kindness Club at West Essex Middle School recently wrapped up a three-month book drive at the school.

The clubs decided to join forces to collect new and gently used books for children who can't afford to purchase books on their own.

The group collected nearly 2,000 books, which they donated to Grandma's Place, a Clifton shelter for homeless mothers and their children; Nicholas Murray Butler School No. 23 in Elizabeth; the Institute for Educational Achievement in New Milford; and Belmont Runyon Elementary School in Newark.

To submit school news send an email to essex@starledger.com.

A surveillance photo for the first time shows the face of the woman who sold drugs to the victim before the deal became a robbery and then a shooting, police say. Watch video

Authorities in Easton and eastern New Jersey continue to search of a man -- considered armed and dangerous and charged in a March 18 shooting in the city -- and the woman he was with early that morning, police Lt. Matthew Gerould reports.

Easton police released this surveillance photo on April 4, 2016, of a woman who sold drugs to a 38-year-old city man on March 18, 2016, in the 1200 block of Ferry Street before the man she was with, Lamont Baker, shot the victim, police say. (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com)

While information has come in every day since police released Lamont Baker's name and photo on Friday, he remains at large, Gerould said. People are asked if they know anything -- no matter how small -- about the 24-year-old former Easton resident to call the police tip line at 610-250-6635.

"We are currently searching for him," Gerould said. "We know he has associates in (Easton's) West Ward. But we believe he's hiding in the Newark area."

If anyone sees Baker, because he's considered dangerous, they should call 911 and not approach him, Gerould said.

"We believe he was still in the area after the shooting," Gerould said. "We believe he's since fled knowing law enforcement was close to identifying him."

The victim -- a 38-year-old Easton man who was buying crack cocaine from the unidentified woman -- is out of the hospital and "still recovering from very serious injury," Gerould said.

"The victim is giving limited cooperation" with the investigation, Gerould added.

Lamont Baker, 24, is being sought in a shooting March 18 in Easton's West Ward, city police report. (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com)

The drug deal turned into a robbery and that's when Baker shot the man, police said. The victim had crack cocaine hidden in his buttocks; the drugs were found during treatment after he drove to Easton Hospital, Gerould said.

Police on Friday said the woman is likely still with Baker. If anyone knows anything about her -- or recognizes her -- they should call the detectives bureau at 610-250-6780 or the tip line, Gerould said.

The black woman is about 25 years old, between 5 feet and 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighs 125-130 pounds and has long red and black hair, police said.

Police on Monday released a surveillance photo of her.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

The project may be scrapped to provide funding for a new Manhattan bus terminal or to replace Newark's monorail

NEWARK - A coalition of Newark, Elizabeth and Essex County leaders are calling for the Port Authority to commit to funding a $1.5 billion extension of its PATH train line, saying the project would provide the two cities with a sorely needed economic shot in the arm.

The letter signed by officials including Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, comes after analysts suggested plans for the extension could be scrapped in order to fund a new Manhattan bus terminal and to replace Newark's aging monorail.

Local officials have touted the project as a way to revitalize a long-struggling section of Newark's South Ward, where a new PATH station would be built. Plans for hotels have already begun advancing in the crime and poverty-ridden area along Frelinghuysen Avenue, left largely desolate when the Seth Boyden public housing complex was largely abandoned in 2011.

"The project will transform the Dayton/Seth Boyden community, creating economic growth, jobs, new housing and an improved quality of life," the letter reads.

Poll: Should PATH extension to Newark Airport be on the chopping block?

In addition to the economic benefits, the group also touted the project's potential appeal for travelers by providing non-stop train service to Newark Liberty International Airport from Manhattan and Newark Penn Station.

The entire Newark City Council, Democratic state senators Ronald Rice, Teresa Ruiz and Richard Codey and Assembly members L. Grace Spencer and Cleopatra Tucker also signed the letter.

Recent conversation from the Port Authority represents only the latest threat to the long-awaited extension, currently scheduled to break ground in 2018.

In September, Bergen County state senators Loretta Weinberg, Paul Sarlo and Robert Gordon called for the spending on the project to be frozen until investigators determine whether it had been influenced by United Airlines officials.

The airline's CEO resigned last year after it was revealed he had authorized flights from Newark to a small airport close to a South Carolina vacation home owned by David Samson, the agency's chairman at the time, which some believe may have been an attempt to curry favor for pet projects and other considerations.

Weinberg has expressed public support for the extension's funding to be used for the new Port Authority Bus Terminal or the proposed Gateway trans-Hudson rail tunnel, both of which would better serve residents in her district.

The PATH extension and bus terminal are among 11 projects in the Port Authority's capital plan. The bi-state agency's board is schedule to meet later this month to discuss recommendations for a revised plan.

Baraka, DiVincenzo and the rest of their coalition, however, said they believed the potential benefits to both Newark and Elizabeth should be enough to keep the PATH project on track.

"There is no good reason for delay or elimination of this critical addition to the region's transportation and economic infrastructure," it said.

'The Walking Dead' co-creator Robert Kirkman is hoping a federal judge will side with him in hopes to stop a Garden State restaurant based on the popular AMC series

"The Walking Dead" co-creator Robert Kirkman wants a federal judge to side with him in a copyright infringement suit filed against four people who had plans to open a "Walking Dead"-themed restaurant in New Jersey, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 

A request for summary judgment was filed Friday with the U.S. District Court in Newark against the four defendants. Kirkman's initial complaint  -- citing multiple instances of trademark infringement and asserting that the defendants aimed to exploit the zombie show's brand on such items as T-shirts, mugs, lipstick and drinking glasses -- was filed last December. 

According to the summary judgment request, defendants Phillip Theodorou, Steven Theodorou, Anna Theodorou and Mohamed Elkady have sought eleven separate "Walking Dead" trademark applications from the United States Patent and Trademark Office since December 2013, including two applications made since Kirkman's complaint was filed.

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According to the December complaint, the Theodorous all live together in Ewing and Elkady lives in Southhampton, Pa. A fifth defendant, Jeffrey Heller, of Riverside, was named in the original complaint, but Kirkman has since dismissed all claims against him.

Details for "The Walking Dead" eatery are scant, but according to the filings, the defendants were planning to open a zombie-themed "health food" restaurant, which would "sell custom food items" based on "The Walking Dead." The restaurant was expected to be sited in or near Princeton, "on or around U.S. Route 206."

The brief also states that the defendants have previously filed applications to register "Make America Great Again," Donald Trump's trademarked slogan, as well as "No Sleep Till Brooklyn," the title of a popular Beastie Boys song by The Beastie Boys. According to the brief, Theodorou owns a screen-printing company called We Print the World. 

Kirkman created the comic series in 2003, revolving around survivors during the zombie apocalypse. AMC premiered the drama in 2010. A prequel series, "Fear the Walking Dead" premiered last summer on AMC. 

On Sunday, "The Walking Dead" ended its sixth season with the first appearance of the long-awaited villain Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), the merciless leader of The Saviors who uses a barbed-wire baseball to beat his victims.

Anthony Venutolo may be reached at avenutolo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @AnthonyVenutolo and Google+. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Capt. Anthony Buono and former officer Dino D'Elia allegedly sold names, addresses and other information on 900 people

NEWARK - A city police captain and a former city officer were indicted Monday for their alleged roles in a data theft scheme, authorities said.

A grand jury found sufficient evidence against Capt. Anthony Buono, 60, and ex-officer Dino D'Elia, 49, to hand up a true bill on charges of official misconduct, conspiracy and computer theft, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray said in a statement.

Both men were initially charged in June, after authorities alleged they skimmed names, addresses and other information on about 900 people from a private database used by police to investigate insurance fraud, and sold it to third parties for $100 each.

Newark fire captain pretended to be cop, pulled people over, prosecutor says

Buono initially used his status as a captain to gain access to the database, and then allowed D'Elia to use it as part of his private investigation business, according to prosecutors.

The indictment announced Monday alleges that the two participated in the scheme between August 2012 and the date they were charged.

Buono, of Millstone, and D'Elia, of Nutley, could face a mandatory five years behind bars if convicted under the state's official misconduct statute. The conspiracy and computer theft counts also carry between 5 to 10 years in prison.

Both men are free on bail, though Buono, a more than 25-year veteran officer, remains suspended without his $93,847 annual salary.

Last year, Buono's attorney said his client maintained his innocence and intended to fight the charges at trial.