Galloway Police Assist in Disrupting Gun and Drugs Trafficking Supply Chain

ATLANTIC COUNTY— A 2-month joint investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Gangs, Guns, and Narcotics Unit, the Pleasantville Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Jersey State Police, and the Galloway Township Police Department, with the assistance of additional Federal, State, County, and Municipal law enforcement agencies, culminated this week in the arrests of 16 persons involved in the trafficking of illegal drugs and firearms in the Pleasantville and Egg Harbor City areas, and in disrupting a gun trafficking supply chain originating in southern U. S. states and ending in Atlantic County, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner announced today.

Beginning at 4:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 30, 2017, Detectives of the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, the Pleasantville Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Jersey State Police, and the Galloway Township Police Department, with assistance from U. S. Homeland Security Investigations, U. S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office, and the Egg Harbor City, Mullica Township, Atlantic City, and Egg Harbor Township Police Departments—armed with arrest and search warrants—arrested 16 individuals and executed 5 search warrants in the Egg Harbor City area, deploying Atlantic County Regional SWAT, Atlantic City Police SWAT, and FBI SWAT units in the search warrant executions.

EHT Man Indicted on Murder, Attempted Murder Charges of Pleasantville Couple

MAYS LANDING – An Egg Harbor Township man was indicted this week for the murder of a man and the attempted murder of a woman, in the December 2015 attack of both victims inside their Pleasantville home, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton announced.

In response to a 9-1-1 call, Pleasantville Police officers and emergency medical personnel responded on Wednesday, December 23, 2015 at 9:23 p.m. to a home on the 100 block of Greenfield Avenue, Pleasantville, for a report that two residents of the home had been discovered inside incapacitated—both bleeding and suffering from significant physical trauma.

The victims were identified as Jahlil Hunter, a 30-year-old male, and Ebony Harris, a 22- year-old female, both of the Greenfield Avenue, Pleasantville address. They were transported to the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center—City Division for treatment of life-threatening injuries. Harris was later transferred to Cooper Hospital in Camden, NJ.

Police Investigate Death of EHC Man in Pleasantville Shooting

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

Pleasantville Police responded last yesterday, Saturday, September 10, 2016, at 5:12 p.m. to the intersection of Linden Avenue and Merion Avenue, Pleasantville, a 9-1-1 call reporting gunshots. EMS and AtlantiCare paramedics also responded to the scene.

Pleasantville Man Dies of Gunshot Wound to Head

PLEASANTVILLE – A Pleasantville man is dead, found last night in Pleasantville, the apparent victim of a shooting, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced.

Pleasantville Police responded last night, July 14, 2016, at 11:23 p.m. to Vola Lane, Pleasantville, for multiple 9-1-1 calls. EMS and AtlantiCare paramedics also responded to the scene.

Upon arrival, police found Mark Smith, 19, of Pleasantville, on the ground, bleeding from a head wound. Smith was transported by emergency medical responders to the AtlantiCare Medical Center—City Campus, where he was pronounced dead by Dr. Ali at 12:15 a.m., July 15, 2016. Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit detectives also responded to the scene and to the hospital.

Atlantic City Man Dies of Gunshot Wound; Homicide Investigation

PLEASANVTILLE – An Atlantic City man was found early this morning in Pleasantville, the victim of a shooting, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced.

Pleasantville Police responded on Sunday, October 25, 2015 at 2:50 a.m., to Tremont Avenue between Broad and Main Streets, for a 9-1-1 call. Upon arrival, police found the body of Sultan Veney, 36, of Atlantic City. Veney was pronounced dead at the scene by personnel of the Southern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office.

Pleasantville Man Dies of Multiple Gunshot Wounds; Police Investigating

Pleasantville – The Prosecutor’s Office and Pleasantville Police Department are investigating the shooting of a man yesterday evening, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced.

In response to 9-1-1 calls involving shots fired, Pleasantville Police responded yesterday, October 21, 2015 at 11:49 p.m., to the 100 block of Adams Avenue, in the City of Pleasantville. Upon arrival, police found a man, inside a residence, the victim of multiple gunshot wounds.

Emergency medical responders transported the victim to AlantiCare Medical Center— City Campus Trauma Center, where he was subsequently pronounced dead.

Male Juvenile Found Dead in Pleasantville Field; Police Seek Information

PLEASANVTILLE – A Pleasantville man was found in an open field Friday afternoon, dead of gunshot wounds, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced.

Pleasantville Police responded on Friday, August 7, 2015, to the 1100 block of Lincoln Avenue in Max Manning Park, for a report of a body found lying in the field. Upon arrival, police found the dead body of male juvenile from Pleasantville.

An autopsy performed the next morning by Southern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office Dr. Gerald Feigin determined that the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds, and that the manner of death was homicide.

Three Teenagers Killed After Car Collided with Commercial Bus in Pleasantville

ATLANTIC CITY – Three Atlantic County teenagers were killed when the car in which they were passengers collided with a commercial bus yesterday afternoon in Pleasantville, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced.

On Monday, May 26, at 1:49 p.m., police, fire, and emergency medical services from Pleasantville and surrounding municipalities responded to a crash involving a passenger vehicle and a New Jersey Transit bus on Franklin Boulevard, near the intersection of Old Turnpike Road.

Police Pursuit from Pleasantville to Atlantic City Results in Gunfire; Suspect Killed

ATLANTIC CITY – A police pursuit that began in Pleasantville ended this afternoon in Atlantic City with an exchange of gunfire between the suspect and police, and the death of the suspect, said Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit immediately responded to the scene to investigate the shooting.

Preliminary investigation has determined the following:

Grand Jury Determined Use of Deadly Force by Pleasantville Officers was Justified

James P. McClain

On April 22, 2013, at approximately 4:29 p.m., a 19-year-old resident of Pleasantville armed with a knife was shot and killed by uniformed Pleasantville officers during a confrontation on West Park Avenue in Pleasantville. Following the shooting, detectives from the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit conducted an investigation into the circumstances and events leading up to the shooting.

During the course of this investigation, Major Crimes detectives documented and measured the scene, interviewed all Pleasantville police officers on scene, including the officers who fired shots, as well as civilians known to have relevant information. In addition, all information gathered during the investigation was submitted to a nationally renowned expert in shooting scene reconstruction and the use of force in law enforcement for review and evaluation.

Today, the information gathered during the course of the investigation was presented to the Atlantic County Grand Jury pursuant to guidelines set out by the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General. After hearing the evidence, the grand jury determined that the officers’ use of deadly force was lawful and justified and declined to return criminal charges against the officers.

The investigation revealed that on April 22, 2013, at approximately 4:19 p.m., the 19-year-old male called the 911 line in Pleasantville and identified himself to the 911 operator. The male also stated that he wanted to kill someone and that the police better be prepared to shoot him. During the course of this short conversation, the male also stated that he was armed with a knife and gave his location.

Upon arrival at the scene, officers encountered the male, who was armed with a large kitchen knife and a rock. During the course of the confrontation, which followed and lasted between 6 to 7 minutes, the male repeatedly refused to drop the knife, repeatedly told the officers to kill him and repeatedly threatened to kill the officers.

The Pleasantville officers repeatedly tried to gain control of the male through non-lethal means, but these attempts were unsuccessful.

After a short period of time, the male adopted a more aggressive posture and demeanor and advanced upon the officers while brandishing the knife. The male came to within approximately 6 feet of the officers. Almost simultaneously, three of the officers on scene fired a total of 10 rounds at the male, 7 of which struck the male in the head, neck, chest, shoulder and abdomen. The male died at the scene.

It was the opinion of the independent expert that, under the totality of the circumstances, the officers’ versions of the shooting is supported by the evidence and that the officers’ use of deadly force was not only justified, but that the officers exercised great restraint in dealing with this subject and that the officers had no other reasonable course of action available to them at the time.

James P. McClain, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor

Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page.

People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.

Pleasantville Man in Critical Condition after Suffering from Multiple Gunshot Wounds

PLEASANTVILLE – A Pleasantville man was seriously wounded during a late night shooting yesterday, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced.

Monday, Aug. 12, at approximately 10 p.m., Pleasantville police responded to reports of shots fired in the area of the Marina Del Rey Apartment Complex located on the 100 block of Atlantic Avenue.

Upon arrival, police discovered Jimmy A. Blake, 26, of Pleasantville, suffering from multiple gunshots wounds in front of a nearby residence on Pacific Avenue.

Blake was transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus, with life- threatening injuries. He remains hospitalized and in critical condition.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Pleasantville Police Department are investigating this shooting. No arrests have been made at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to call Major Crimes at 609-909-7667 or the Pleasantville Police Department at 609-641-6100.

Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.