Galloway Police Blotter January 15 - 21, 2017

Galloway Township Police responded to 922 calls for service during January 15, 2017 through January 21, 2017.

Additional statistics include: 4 Burglaries, 0 Car Burglaries, 20 Motor Vehicle Accidents, 120 Tickets issued, 3 Driving While Intoxicated, 24 Arrests, 13 Domestic Violence, 5 Fire Calls, 21 EMS Calls and 1 Juvenile calls.

Burglaries:

800 Block of Berrywood Ln.

300 Block of Oakbourne Ave.

200 Block of E. White Horse Pike.

Vail Ct.

Grand Jury Cleared AC Police Officers in 2016 Police-Involved Shooting

MAYS LANDING – An Atlantic County Grand Jury reviewed the evidence today of the September 2016 police-involved shooting death of a Camden man. The Grand Jury declined to bring criminal indictments against the involved Atlantic City police officer, Atlantic County Acting Prosecutor Diane M. Ruberton announced.

On Saturday, September 3, 2016, at 2:34 a.m., two uniformed Atlantic City police officers on patrol observed a robbery in progress being committed near the Caesars Atlantic City parking garage on Arkansas Avenue.

The officers observed a group of 6 males. As one Atlantic City police officer exited the vehicle the officer was shot and injured. The second police officer returned fire, hitting one suspect, who fled the scene. All other persons involved in the robbery also fled the scene in different directions. The suspect who had been shot was located approximately 11⁄2 blocks away, on Missouri and Pacific Avenues, collapsed and deceased.

8-Year Investigation Leads to Jury Conviction of Woman Murdering Boyfriend in 2006

MAYS LANDING — An Atlantic County woman was convicted today of murdering her boyfriend inside their Egg Harbor Township home in 2006, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton announced.

Yesterday afternoon, Thursday, January 19, 2017, concluding a 7-day trial, an Atlantic County jury found Eileen Leone, now 46, guilty of the 2006 murder of Darius Smith, 32- years-old, inside the Egg Harbor Township home that they shared with their 4-year-old child.

On June 29, 2006 at 9:27 p.m. Egg Harbor Township police responded to a 9-1-1 call made by Eileen Leone, then 35-years-old, from inside the couple’s home in the Heathercroft Condominium complex, EHT. Police found Smith in the living room, suffering from head injuries.

Galloway Police Blotter January 8 - 14, 2017

Galloway Township Police responded to 793 calls for service during January 8, 2017 through January 14, 2017.

Additional statistics include: 0 Burglaries, 1 Car Burglaries, 30 Motor Vehicle Accidents, 67 Tickets issued, 3 Driving While Intoxicated, 27 Arrests, 13 Domestic Violence, 6 Fire Calls, 21 EMS Calls and 0 Juvenile calls.

Vehicle Burglaries:  

700 Block of Osprey Ct.

Two Atlantic County Men Arrested Charged with Promoting Prostitution of Children; Other Crimes

MAYS LANDING – Two Atlantic County men were indicted this afternoon for promoting the prostitution of children and other crimes, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton announced.

A four-month investigation in 2015 by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force resulted in charges on December 16, 2015 against Seleem Reynolds, now 26, of the 200 block of N. South Carolina Avenue, Atlantic City, and Mikal Mitchell, now 30, of the 500 block of Shore Road, Somers Point.

Seleem Reynolds was charged with Promoting the Prostitution of a Child under the age of 18, 2 counts of Promoting Prostitution, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and Conspiracy. Mikal Mitchell was charged with 2 counts of Promoting the Prostitution of a Child under the age of 18, 2 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Terroristic Threats, and Conspiracy.

Galloway Police Blotter January 1 - 7, 2017

Galloway Township Police responded to 889 calls for service during January 1, 2017 through January 7, 2017.

Additional statistics include: 1 Burglaries, 1 Car Burglaries, 24 Motor Vehicle Accidents, 108 Tickets issued, 3 Driving While Intoxicated, 30 Arrests, 22 Domestic Violence, 4 Fire Calls, 17 EMS Calls and 2 Juvenile calls.

Burglaries:

100 Block of Liberty Ct.                                                                                                                 

Vehicle Burglaries:  

100 Block of Sylvan Ave.

Greater Egg Harbor School Board Ordered to Pay Wrestling Coaches After Losing Arbitration Case

There seems to be no end in the continuing labor disputes between the Greater Egg Harbor Regional Education Association and the Greater Egg Harbor Board of Education.

On December 10^th, 2016, Arbitrator Robert Glasson issued an Arbitration Award sustaining the position of the Association that the Board and Administration again violated the terms of the collective bargaining agreement. 

The arbitrator ruled that the language in the contract was clear and unambiguous and that the Board had violated the contract by failing to compensate three assistant wrestling coaches as prescribed in the contract. The Board was ordered to pay three assistant wrestling coaches $764 each.

Atlantic City Man Charged with Murder Arrested in North Carolina

ATLANTIC CITY – The man charged with the murder of an Atlantic City woman in Atlantic City two weeks ago, was arrested last week in North Carolina, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton announced.

Joseph McCoy, 43, of 326 North Tennessee Avenue, Apartment 3, Atlantic City, charged two days after the murder and weapons possession charges, was arrested in Charlotte, North Carolina by officers of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department on Wednesday, January 4, 2017 without incident, and remains in custody pending extradition proceedings.

Atlantic City Police responded on Tuesday, December 20, 2016 at 4:22 a.m., to 326 North Tennessee Avenue, Apartment 3, Atlantic City, NJ, for a report that a woman had been found dead inside the home.

Atlantic City EMS, AtlanticCare paramedics, and detectives of the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit also responded.

Police Investigate Death of Atlantic City Man from Gunshot Wound

ATLANTIC CITY – Law enforcement is investigating the death of an Atlantic City man who was the victim of a shooting last week, and died in the hospital 3 days later, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton announced.

Atlantic City Police responded on Monday, January 2, 2017 at 6:01 p.m. to the 1400 block of Cedar Court, Atlantic City, for a ShotSpotter alert and the report of a man shot.

Atlantic City EMS personnel and AtlanticCare paramedics also responded to the scene.

Upon arrival, police found Justin Farmer, 29-years-old, of Atlantic City, suffering from a gunshot wound. Farmer was transported to the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center— City Division, in critical condition.

Police Investigate Shooting in Pleasantville; Atlantic City Man Apparent Victim

PLEASANTVILLE – Police are investigating the shooting death in Pleasantville of an Atlantic City man, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton announced.

Pleasantville Police responded on Tuesday, January 10, 2017, at 10:42 p.m. to the intersection of North Main Street and Leeds Avenue, Pleasantville, in response to a 9-1-1 call reporting shots fired.

Upon arrival, police found Ruben Reyes, 28, of Brigantine Boulevard, Atlantic City, the apparent victim of a shooting. Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit detectives also responded to the scene.

Atlantic City Man Indicted on Child Pornography and Sexual Conduct

MAYS LANDING – An Atlantic City man was indicted last week for causing a child to engage in pornography, and for engaging in sexual conduct with 7 additional children, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton announced.

A year-long investigation of the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Computer Crimes Unit resulted last week in a 12-count indictment of Sherman W. Miller, 49-years-old, of Oceanic Terrace, Atlantic City.

On Wednesday, January 4, 2017, an Atlantic County Grand Jury indicted Miller for:

Somers Point Police Officer Indicted on Nine Criminal Counts; Official Misconduct, Terroristic Threats, Aggravated Assault

MAYS LANDING – A Somers Point police officer was indicted yesterday on 9 criminal counts in connection with alleged acts of domestic violence against a female victim, and of witness tampering, committed in 2015 and 2016, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton announced.

Yesterday, Tuesday, January 10, 2017, an Atlantic County Grand Jury indicted Samuel E. Clerico, 49, of Carriage House Lane, Egg Harbor Township for:

On December 15, 2015, in Absecon:

• Official Misconduct, for “showing his police identification to obtain entry into the hotel room of the female victim, knowing that such act is unauthorized”—a 2nd degree crime,

On December 16, 2015, in Egg Harbor Township:

• Terroristic Threats, to a female victim—a 3rd degree crime, 
• Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, a “.40 caliber Glock 23 handgun”—a 2nd degree crime, 
• Aggravated Assault, for “knowingly under circumstances manifesting indifference to the value of human life, point[ing] a firearm at or in the direction of” the victim—a 4th degree crime, 
• Official Misconduct, for “discharging his duty weapon during an argument with” the victim—a 2nd degree crime,

On December 18, 2015, in Linwood: 

• Witness Tampering, for “unlawfully and knowingly harm[ing]” Somers Point Police Sergeant “Howard Dill ... with purpose to retaliate for or on account of service of another as a witness,”—a 2nd degree crime,

On September 19, 2016, in Egg Harbor Township:

• Aggravated Assault, for attempting to cause serious bodily injury against the female victim—a 2nd degree crime, 
• Aggravated Assault while having a dating relationship and/or being a household—a 3rd degree crime, and 
• Witness Tampering, by “knowingly attempt[ing] to induce or otherwise cause [the female victim] to recant her statement to police concerning the incident that occurred on or about December 16, 2015”—a 3rd degree crime. 

Galloway Police Blotter December 25 - 31, 2016

Galloway Township Police responded to 884 calls for service during December 25, 2016 through December 31, 2016.

Additional statistics include: 3 Burglaries, 0 Car Burglaries, 24 Motor Vehicle Accidents, 137 Tickets issued, 4 Driving While Intoxicated, 30 Arrests, 18 Domestic Violence, 9 Fire Calls, 22 EMS Calls and 1 Juvenile calls.

Burglaries:

400 Block of Apple Dr.

200 Block of Beanfield Pl.

200 Block of W. Todd Ave.

Pedestrian Struck and Killed in Galloway; Police Seek Information on Possible Second Vehicle Involved

On January 4, 2017 at 6:55 a.m., Galloway Township Police responded to a motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian at Jimmie Leeds Road and Ash Avenue. 

According to Police, a female pedestrian identified as Dorcas Frimpong, 52 of Atlantic City was attempting to cross the westbound lane of Jimmie Leeds Road when she was struck by a 2006 White Dodge Durango driven by Zeika Gomez, 39 of Galloway. 

Police stated the impact forced the pedestrian into the eastbound lane of Jimmie Leeds Road where she may have been struck by an unidentified dark colored pick-up truck, according to surveillance video, traveling east on Jimmie Leeds Road. The unidentified pick-up truck continued east and did not stop at the scene. 

Arizona Woman Charged with Stalking & Cyber Harassment of Hammonton Woman and Son; Extradited to NJ

MAYS LANDING – A 48-year-old woman was extradited from Arizona to New Jersey last week and arraigned yesterday in Superior Court for a 2015 indictment for the Stalking and Cyber Harassment of a Hammonton woman and her juvenile son, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton announced.

An investigation by the City of Hammonton Police Department led to charges against Christine Merlo-Kline, of the 6000 block of E. Knowles Way, Cave Creek, Arizona, issued by police on four separate occasions: November 5, 2014, December 17, 2014, May 5, 2015, and August 3, 2015.

On each date, Merlo-Kline was charged with Stalking and Cyber Harassment, the alleged crimes taking place “purposely and repeatedly” for nearly 3 years, between 2012 and 2015. 

Galloway Man Arrested in EHT for Vehicle Burglary

Andrew Watts

On Sunday, January 1, 2017, the Egg Harbor Township Police Department responded to a London Court Condos, in the Farmington section of the township, in reference to a vehicle burglary. 

Witnesses saw the suspect inside of a unlocked vehicle, gave a description and a direction the suspect was heading. Officers Christopher Berry and Paul Janetta located the suspect and took him into custody.

Arrested was Andrew Watts, 31 years of age from Galloway Township. He was charged with Burglary, Theft and Possession of drug paraphernalia. A warrant was authorized by Municipal Court Judge Nehmad and Watts was lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility.

Atlantic City Man Charged with Murder of Man Discovered in Trash Can

ATLANTIC CITY – An Atlantic City man has been charged with the murder of a man whose body was discovered this morning in Atlantic City, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton announced.

Atlantic City Police responded on Saturday, December 31, 2016 at 8:43 a.m., to the 1200 block of Adriatic Avenue, Atlantic City, for a report that a dead man’s body had been discovered in a trashcan. The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit responded to the scene.

The victim, identified as Ricky L. Ward, 52, of the 400 block of Delta Avenue, Atlantic City, was pronounced dead by medical personnel at the scene.