Mediaboss Marketing

TRENTON A state grand jury on Monday indicted 14 men and women fora incident last year that lefta New Jersey State Police detective seriously wounded at a mobile homepark in Salem County.

The New Jersey Attorney Generals Office announced first-degree attempted murder and second-degree aggravated assault chargesagainst Najzeir Naz Hutchings, 22; Kareen Kai Warner, 20; and Tremaine Hadden, 28.

More: Bridgeton man accused of shooting State Police detective in Pittsgrove

More: Vineland boosting COVID vaccine effort amid 'waning' clinic attendance

Hutchings, Warner, and Hadden, all Bridgeton residents, all face other charges as well. They are in jail pending trial.

An indictment, like the preceding arrest charge, is an allegation a crime was committed and not a proof of guilt. The next step would be arraignment hearings for the defendants, who would be tried in Salem County if their cases reach that stage.

Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewalpraised state police Detective Richard Hershey for courageously responding to a dangerous situation.

I promised at the outset of this investigation to bring all of those responsible to justice, Grewal said. As I said at the time, we wont tolerate mob violence and we certainly wont tolerate an attempt to murder a police officer.

The detectivereportedly was hit in one leg but was able to fire his weapon during the April 25, 2020 incident. Hisfirearm use remains the subject of a separate investigation, a requirement under a N.J. Attorney Generals Office directive.

According to the Attorney Generals Office, the incident started with a hostile mob of 15 people, traveling in five cars, arriving at Harding Woods. The group allegedly had two handguns with them, at least, and officials claim the group intended to attack and inflict damage on a resident and her home.

Hershey already was present to investigate areported home invasion, in which a woman was beaten and robbed.

According to Mondays statement, members of the group got out of their vehicles and confronted Hershey. He reportedly identified himself and issued commands in an effort to control the intruders.

Hershey then reportedly was taken under fire, with Hutchings and Warner allegedly shooting from one vehicle and Hadden allegedly from another vehicle. The detective fired back, and the group fled.

The brazen ambush attack of Detective Richard Hershey was a violent assault that put the lives of innocent bystanders in jeopardy, NJSP Superintendent Patrick J. Callahan stated. Detective Hershey stood his ground under a barrage of gunfire and his actions undoubtedly prevented this assault from becoming a mass casualty incident.

The grand jury returned a range of charges, with not all defendants facing the same charges.

In addition, Bridgeton resident Imari Lazu, 23, pleaded guilty Monday morning to conspiracy to commit witness tampering/second degree. Under the plea agreement, the state will recommend that she be sentenced to three years in state prison.

The shooting investigation was conducted by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, Division of Criminal Justice, and New Jersey State Police, specifically itsMajor Crime Unit South, Troop A Criminal Investigation Office, Crime Scene Investigation Unit and Cold Case Unit of the New Jersey State Police.

New Jersey State Police Fugitive and TEAMS units made the arrests. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

First-degree attempted murder carries a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison, with a period of parole ineligibility equal to 85 percent of the sentence imposed,and a fine of up to $200,000.

Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $150,000.

Possession of a weapon as a convicted felon carries a mandatory minimum term of fiveyears without parole.

Unlawful possession of a weapon carries a mandatory term of parole ineligibility equal to one-third to one-half of the sentence imposed or three and a half years, whichever is greater.

Third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to fiveyears in prison and a fine of up to $15,000, while fourth-degree crimes carry a sentence of up to eighteen months in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey more than 30 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer forThe Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times.

Have a tip? Reach out at (856) 563-5252 or jsmith@thedailyjournal.com or follow me on Twitter, @jpsmith-dj. Help support local journalism with a subscription.

Continued here:
Grand jury indicts 14 in mobile home shootout, NJSP detective wounded in incident - The Daily Journal

Police have cordoned off a residential street in Heckmondwike as a murder investigation has been launched.

Indus Close in the town has been sealed off by West Yorkshire Police with multiple police cars, officers and a blue police tent at the scene.

Crime Scene Investigation officers and Forensic Collision investigation are also on the scene.

READ MORE: Urgent plea from police after people post about tragic Halifax bus crash online but don't come forward

A blue police tent can be seen at the end of Indus Close with multiple officers close to it and officers guarding the cordon.

West Yorkshire Police have confirmed that a murder investigation has been launched.

Follow our live blog below for all of the latest updates and information from the scene.

Download the YorkshireLive app to customise the news that matters to you and get the latest updates first.

More here:
Recap as murder investigation launched on Indus Close in Heckmondwike as man killed in hit and run - Yorkshire Live

Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced that 14 defendants were indicted today by a state grand jury in connection with the shooting of a New Jersey State Trooper last year in Pittsgrove.

Najzeir Naz Hutchings 22, Kareen Kai Warner, 20, and Tremaine Hadden, 28, all of Bridgeton, N.J., were each indicted today on charges including, among others, AttemptedMurder (1stDegree) and Aggravated Assault (2ndDegree). Eleven other defendants were indicted on various charges.

The indictment stems from an investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) and New Jersey State Police into the shooting of State Police Detective Richard Hershey. It is alleged that the defendants were part of a five-car caravan that went to the Harding Woods mobile home park in Pittsgrove, Salem County, on the evening of Saturday, April 25, 2020, intending to attack and injure a resident there and damage her home. Members of the caravan were armed with at leasttwo handguns, one knife, and one bottle, and Hutchings, Warner, and Hadden allegedly fired upon Detective Hershey. Detective Hershey was struck by one bullet during this encounter.

Detective Hershey discharged his weapon during the incident, and his use of force is the subject of a separate investigation under Directive 2019-4, the Independent Prosecutor Directive, issued by Attorney General Grewal in 2019.

Detective Hershey was courageously responding to a dangerous situation in the midst of the COVID pandemic when he was shot in an ambush, said Attorney General Grewal. I promised at the outset of this investigation to bring all of those responsible to justice. As I said at the time, we wont tolerate mob violence and we certainly wont tolerate an attempt to murder a police officer.

This indictment is an important step in our efforts to hold all responsible who took part in this violent incident in which Detective Hershey was shot, said Executive Director Thomas Eicher of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. I commend all of the detectives and attorneys who conducted this investigation and presented this indictment to the state grand jury.

The brazen ambush attack of Detective Richard Hershey was a violent assault that put the lives of innocent bystanders in jeopardy. Detective Hershey stood his ground under a barrage of gunfire and his actions undoubtedly prevented this assault from becoming a mass casualty incident, said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. We never relented in our pursuit to hold these individuals accountable for their cowardly actions. These indictments send a clear message that attempted murder of a police officer will be met with swift justice.

Hutchings, Warner, Hadden and Colby Opperman, 19, of Bridgeton, N.J., are charged in the indictment with Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (2nddegree), and Hutchings, Hadden,and Warner are charged with Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose (2nddegree).

Ashley Acevedo-Diaz 23, of Bridgeton, N.J., is charged with Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose (3rdDegree) and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (4thDegree). Melissa Romero 23, of Bridgeton, N.J., is charged with Conspiracy to Unlawfully Possess a Weapon (2ndDegree).

Hutchings, Warner, Hadden, Opperman, Acevedo-Diaz, Romero, Shakeem Waters, 32, of Bridgeton, N.J., Noel Lazu, 21, ofBridgeton, N.J., Thomas Nieves, 31, of Bridgeton, N.J., Markese Rogers, 26, of Pittsgrove, N.J., Chayana Diaz, 23, of Bridgeton, N.J., Rovell Mcarthur, 27, of Vineland, N.J., Aisha Mcarthur, 26, of Vineland, N.J., and Jenislen Quiles, 21, of Bridgeton,N.J., are charged in the indictment with Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault (2ndDegree) and Riot (3rdDegree). Hadden faces an additional charge of Possession of a Weapon by a Convicted Felon (2ndDegree).

Imari Lazu, 23, of Bridgeton, N.J., who was charged previously in this incident, pleaded guilty this morning to Conspiracy to Commit Witness Tampering (2ndDegree). Under the plea agreement, the state will recommend that she be sentenced to three years in state prison.

Hutchings, Warner, and Hadden allegedly opened fire on Detective Hershey at approximately 10:40 p.m. Saturday, April 25, 2020 at the Harding Woods mobile home park on Harding Highway in Pittsgrove. At the time, Detective Hershey was investigating a home invasion that took place at the mobile home park several hours earlier in which a woman was beaten and robbed.

While Detective Hershey was conducting the investigation, a hostile mob of 15 people linked to the assailants in the home invasion arrived in a caravan of five vehicles. Some members of the caravan exited their vehicles and confronted Detective Hershey, who identified himself as a law enforcement officer and issued commands in an effort to control the intruders. Hutchings and Warner allegedly fired at Detective Hershey from one vehicle, and Hadden allegedly fired at him from another vehicle.

Detective Hershey was struck in the upper leg and seriously wounded. He returned fire with his service weapon and the suspects fled the scene.

The case was presented to the state grand jury by Deputy Attorneys General Rachael Weeks and Abigail R. Holmes, under the supervision of Deputy Attorney General Debra Conrad, who is Deputy Chief of the OPIA Integrity Bureau, Director Carolyn Murray, and OPIA Executive Director Eicher.

The shooting investigation was conducted by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, Division of Criminal Justice, and New Jersey State Police, specifically the Major Crime Unit South, Troop A Criminal Investigation Office, Crime Scene Investigation Unit and Cold Case Unit of the New Jersey State Police. Arrests were made by the New Jersey State Police Fugitive and TEAMS Units. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

First-degree attempted murder carries a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison, with a period of parole ineligibility equal to 85 percent of the sentence imposed,and a fine of up to $200,000. Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $150,000. Possession of a weapon as a convicted felon carries a mandatory minimum term of fiveyears without parole. Unlawful possession of a weapon carries a mandatory term of parole ineligibility equal to one-third to one-half of the sentence imposed or 3 years, whichever is greater. Third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to fiveyears in prison and a fine of up to $15,000, while fourth-degree crimes carry a sentence of up to eighteen months in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

The indictment is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Defense Attorneys

For Hutchings: Jeffrey S. Hark, Esq.

For Warner: Joseph D. Lento, Esq.

For Hadden: Ronald B. Thompson, Esq.

For Opperman: David R. Banco, Esq.

For Waters: Robert C. Wolf, Esq.

For Acevedo-Diaz: Al Wheeler, Esq.

For Imari Lazu: Margeau J. Ney, Esq.

For Noel Lazu: Amanda H. Mazzoni, Esq.

For Romero: James Joseph Leonard, Esq.

For Nieves: Albert W. Allison, Esq.

For Rogers: Terry B. Stomel, Esq.

For Diaz: Matthew W. Portella, Esq.

For Rovell McArthur: Wayne Powell, Esq.

For Aisha McArthur: Justin Loughry, Esq.

For Quiles: John P. Morris, Esq.

(Visited 584 times, 186 visits today)

More here:
Fourteen Defendants Indicted In Connection With Shooting Of New Jersey State Trooper Last Year In Pittsgrove - InsiderNJ

Two people arrested in connection with an incident which saw an area of Midddlesbrough sealed off for two days have been released.

Detectives were searching in the Letitia Industrial Estate area on Wednesday and Cleveland Police confirmed two people were arrested.

A blue and white crime scene tent was put up on a grass verge on Ayresome Road while a cordon stretched along the road until Friday.

Read more:Police leave Ayresome crime scene - but cannot reveal any more details for 'operational reasons'

Land near the allotments was also taped off as officers carried out an investigation, not far from Newport Bridge.

On Thursday afternoon, three crime scene investigation vans remained at the scene.

To sign up for Teesside Live news updates, go here

Officers had extended their blue and white police cordon along the verge and grass appeared to have been cut back.

There were also evidence marks placed at various points along the side of the road.

On Monday, Cleveland Police confirmed the two people arrested in connection with the incident had been released pending further inquiries.

The spokeswoman added: "A police investigation is ongoing.

"We cannot comment further at this time for operational reasons."

Read the original here:
Update on two arrests after crime scene tent was erected near Middlesbrough allotments - Teesside Live

Police flooded a street before forcing their way inside a property minutes after a householder had left, witnesses have said.

Crime scene investigation teams remained at a property in Carmel Gardens in Norton this morning - hours after the raid.

One witness said Cleveland Police officers broke down the door of a bungalow to get inside early on Saturday.

READ MORE: Hit-and-run driver ploughs into man on footpath before driving off

They said: "Police came first and then the CSI came later. They have been there for ages."

Another said: "Police came early this morning. They broke the door down and have been taking photos and bringing out loads of evidence bags.

"There is a man who lives there and he left minutes before the police arrived."

Police cars remained outside the property in the cul-de-sac at lunchtime on Saturday with crime scene investigation officers also in attendance.

To sign up for Teesside Live news updates, go here

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: "Police are currently in the Carmel Gardens area. This is in connection with an on-going investigation."

Here is the original post:
Police descend on house in 'early morning' raid with CSI still at scene - Teesside Live