Saturday, May 19, 2012
The three-alarm fire destroyed much of the home; no injuries were reported.
A three-alarm fire that began in the kitchen area of a home on Barchester Way in Westfield was extinguished after three hours of work by several Union County Fire Departments on Saturday. According to neighbors, the fire began in the kitchen microwave around 1:30 p.m. Two boys, ages 14 and nine, were home at the time but ran out of the house to safety. "When we first arrived we had confirmation that two children were lost inside," said Westfield Fire Chief Robert Buccino. "We began as a search and rescue operation, but once we learned the children were out and safe we switched to suppression. The fire began in the kitchen area and moved laterally across the top of the house." The fire required three ladders and six pumpers, according to …
One winds up on the train tracks, another on a front lawn.
Each week, Patch takes a peek at some of the surprising, shocking and occasionally silly police-related incidents reported throughout New Jersey for "OMGs from NJ PDs." On the Wrong Track: Contrary to popular belief, there is no "wrong side of the tracks." Well, not unless you count the top side. A driver who made a wrong turn wound up on the train tracks paralleling Route 17, leading authorities to shut down New Jersey Transit traffic on the line, according to Hasbrouck Heights Police. It took police about an hour to remove the vehicle from the tracks. We're not sure how long it took onlookers to remove their palms from their faces. Not Quite a Smoking Gun, But Close: You think smoking's bad for you? It's even worse if you're trying to …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Alleged drug runner stopped for unsafe lane change.
Police say Zakiyyah Shakoor started crying after she was pulled over. The 37-year-old Wilboro resident is reported to have appeared nervous from the start of the late morning May 15 traffic stop. She reportedly broke into tears after officers was asked for her license and other motor vehicle papers. Reportedly, she told Springfield Police Officer Luis Brito that she was fresh from a fight with her boyfriend but then changed her story. Soon it became evident that this was a case of cracking under pressure. The officers reportedly found a pound and a half of heroin crammed inside a fast food restaurant paper bag in the car. The Union County Prosecutor's Office narcotics laboratory later determined the package had a street value of over $50,…
Monday, May 14, 2012
Unidentified woman reportedly offered candy; student followed guidelines and ran to parents.
Springfield schools report that a Sandmeier School student was approached by a stranger on school grounds this month. School officials say that the student followed school safety guidelines and avoided potential danger. According to a message from Sandmeier Principal Hillary Corburn, an unidentified woman spoke with the student on the Sandmeier school playground blacktop shortly after the school’s 3 p.m. dismissal on Wednesday, May 9. The woman reportedly offered the student a lollipop and asked for the child’s name. She was described as a thin, Caucasian female with blond hair with black streaks, wearing jeans, a blue shirt, a blue-green vest and open-toed shoes. In a note to parents, Corburn said the student behaved just as she was …
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Also, someone made off with a whole lot of cooking oil. Slick.
Each week, Patch takes a peek at some of the surprising, shocking, stunning and occasionally silly police-related incidents reported throughout New Jersey for "OMGs from NJ PDs." Big Wheels Keep on Turning: A runaway van veered into oncoming traffic on the White Horse Pike, crashed against a guard rail and nearly struck a small gathering of people at the edge of Newton Lake in Camden County (our title for this section would have worked better if it was a river onto which the van was almost rollin'). Amazingly, no one was hurt, but police say an intoxicated driver may have been asleep at the wheel. At Least it Wasn't a Cow: Scotch Plains Police say a horse escaped from Watchung Stables. After a brief chase, he was cornered by Scotch Plains …
Friday, May 11, 2012
No life threatening injuries in single vehicle accident.
A dump truck carrying landfill en route to Pennsylvania overturned late this morning on a ramp off of Rte. 24 near the intersection of I-78. The driver sustained minor injuries in the accident. He was taken to the hospital by the Springfield First Aid Squad* and is believed to be in stable condition. Springfield Deputy Fire Chief Carlo Palumbo said that the truck rolled over when its load shifted as the truck took a turn on the ramp. Palumbo said that it was likely that the momentum forced the landfill material to one side of the vehicle, causing the truck to tip over. The accident occurred shortly after 11:30 a.m. While the ramp was closed off as emergency services up-righted the vehicle, the impact on drivers was minimal due to light …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Readers are reminded that an arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt. Only a court of law can make that decision.
Summit Police have arrested Ronald A. Perry, II, 18, of Summit and an unnamed teen from Irvington in the alleged robbery of a pair of teens on Union Place on May 4th. Police are still searching for a third suspect in the robbery. Here are the details of a Summit Police press release sent out this afternoon: At approximately 11:15 p.m. on May 4th, the Summit Police Department took a report from a 15-year- old male who stated that he and his friend, also a 15-year-old male, had both been the victims of a strong-arm robbery earlier that evening. He stated that he and his friend were walking on Union Place in the vicinity of Starbucks when they were approached by three males who blocked their path and demanded their cell phones and wallets…
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Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Union County recognizes Mental Health Awareness Month by creating Crisis Intervention Teams to handle calls involving mentally challenged people.
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Wednesday, May 9
The following article was provided by the Union County Prosecutor's Office. On a recent day in Scotch Plains, it looked like a wrestling match or a judo class was underway at the John H. Stamler Police Academy. In fact, it was the latest in law-enforcement training. Union County law-enforcement and mental-health professionals have joined forces to implement Crisis Intervention Team training. Known as CIT, this 40-hour joint training teaches police and mental health workers to respond to mental health calls using verbal de-escalation skills and less than lethal force. Initiated by Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow, Union County has held four CIT classes since March 2011 with two more planned for June and October. Class size is limited to …
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
A bear first spotted on Chestnut Street yesterday reappeared this morning in a tree behind town hall.
Town hall employees in Union had a special visitor as they arrived to work this morning: an 18-month-old, 187-pound male black bear had climbed a tree behind the building and settled in. The bear was previously spotted by a resident on Chestnut Street yesterday, but when police arrived, the bear had disappeared. (Though initial reports stated the bear was sighted near Connecticut Farms Church Nursery School, police told Patch yesterday that the bear was actually in a resident's yard and not near the school.) But today the bear came out of hiding once again, spotted by employees around 8:30 a.m. Police kept an eye on the bear while waiting for a bear rescue team, according to Union Township Media Technician Natalie DaSilva. "There are only …
Eight members join force in largest ever increase for volunteer emergency response group.
This year, the Springfield Auxiliary Police unit has grown more than it ever has in its history. At the latest township committee meeting, Springfield officials swore in five new members: Seneta Whiting, Cheryl Becker, William Epstein, Gladys Salas and Antoni Nacci. In addition, former Auxiliary officer Wally Schultz returned after a leave of absence. The new members trained with the Essex County Sheriff’s office, completing an Auxiliary Police Training Program. Two other new recruits, Sara Abraham and Gina Corrcione, are training with the Union County Police Academy and will join the unit in the summer. The eight person addition is the largest increase in the auxiliary police’s 40-plus year history. Starting in June, the new auxiliary …
bill
4:25 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Great Job Officer Brito!! more ›