Councilman Bob Marchese urged the council to ban recreational pot sales while allowing for medicinal trade. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Mixed in among discussions of yard sales and tree removals at the Fair Haven council’s semimonthly meeting Monday night were two issues of concern statewide and beyond: marijuana and guns.
Councilmen Bob Marchese, center, and Jon Peters, with Business Administrator Theresa Casagrande in foreground, at Monday night’s meeting. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
Fair Haven officials mulled joining other towns in Monmouth and Ocean counties in opposing the legalization of recreational marijuana Monday night.
But the discussion was left unfinished, as council members differed over what specifically they would oppose of Governor Phil Murphy’s plans for legalization, and what they would find acceptable.
The obituary of a former Red Bank man who died of a drug overdose last week includes some unusually frank talk about his addiction.
“A beautiful life cut short way too soon, Carter Armour Stone, passed away on September 26th from a drug overdose,” begins the obit, published Wednesday at app.com. “He was 32 years old.”
The cache of recovered narcotics included more than 500 “decks” of heroin and seven bags of pot. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank’s police dog found a load of illegal drugs discarded by a fleeing suspect Wednesday night, Chief Darren McConnell tells redbankgreen.
The opening of the Seabrook House facility drew protesters last Thursday. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
Shrewsbury officials have notified representatives of a new addiction-counseling center that a key aspect of the operation appears to conflict with local zoning law, redbankgreen has learned.
Five days after Governor Chris Christie got into a shouting match with protesters at the opening of the Seabrook House outpatient facility on White Street, borough Attorney Martin Barger confirmed the nonprofit has been told by letter that its plan for group counseling sessions is not permitted in the zone.
Protesters attempted to shout down Governor Chris Christie at the opening of the Seabrook House facility. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
Governor Chris Christie clashed with protesters at the opening of an addiction-counseling center in Shrewsbury Thursday, taunting them as “ignorant” NIMBYs whose children would someday need the facility.
The new Seabrook House facility on White Street. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
Governor Chris Christie is scheduled to cut ribbon Thursday to open a Shrewsbury addiction-treatment center.
Eko, the department’s newest recruit, below, has been cleared by a veterinarian to begin training. He’ll join a K9 unit pioneered by Hunter, above, who’s partnered with Patrolman Stan Balmer. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
Some news from Red Bank police…
The department will soon be getting a second tracker dog, redbankgreen has learned.
And the RBPD plans to host a “Coffee with a Cop” event offering community members an opportunity to mingle with police and talk about their concerns in an informal setting over coffee.
A “heat map” showing the concentration of drug-overdose deaths in Monmouth County last year. (Map by Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
One-hundred-sixty-five people died of drug overdoses in Monmouth County last year, almost double the number just four years ago, the prosecutor’s office reported Tuesday.
Despite the widespread, often successful use of a fast-acting opiate antidote, the number of overdose victims continued to soar last year, rising 35 percent, the agency reported.
Red Bank police Chief Darren McConnell said the number of overdose cases in the borough over the last two years is “ridiculously higher” than he’d seen in the first three decades in law enforcement.
A drone photo of some 200 Red Bank Middle School students arranged in the shape of ribbon on the school’s lawn was a regional winner in last month’s national Red Ribbon contest, school vice principal James Pierson tells redbankgreen.
Police arrested a Fair Haven man on marijuana and aggravated assault charges after a traffic stop on Harding Road Sunday night, Chief Joseph McGovern said in a statement.
A Red Bank podiatrist has been temporarily barred from practicing over an allegation that he improperly prescribed highly addictive narcotics without legitimate medical purpose to 13 people, including one who “was later found dead in a hotel room at his son’s wedding,” according to an announcement by the New Jersey Attorney General’s office Monday.
Roughly 200 Red Bank Middle School students gathered on the school’s lawn recently to form a red ribbon in support of the national Red Ribbon contest, which touts the anti-drug message of “YOLO – You Only Live Once.”
The aerial photo, taken by volunteer firefighter Joe Holiday using a drone, has been entered into a contest in which the school is hoping to win $1,000 and an iPad. To vote for the photo, go here. (Photo by Joe Holiday. Click to enlarge)
Press release from Red Bank Police Department
Commonly prescribed painkillers and other prescription medications have been linked to the epidemic of drug use in communities throughout the United States — and this Saturday, October 22, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration will stage a coast-to-coast National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, during which the public will be encouraged to bring any unused or expired prescription medications to designated drop-off points for safe disposal.
Here in the Red Bank area, the borough Police Station at 90 Monmouth Street will be open between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to receive any dropped off materials (no needles will be accepted for this program). For additional information, go here or call (800)882-9539.
By JOHN T. WARD
Two Rumson teens were arrested on booze-related charges after police busted up a party Saturday night.
The arrests followed a complaint to police at about 11 p.m. in which a caller reported a large party underway and multiple juveniles on the caller’s front lawn on Elm Place, said Detective Christopher Isherwood said.
Recent crime and arrest reports, unedited, as provided by the Middletown Township Police Department.
Brian Vanlenten, age 35, from West Front Street in Keyport, NJ, arrested on April 11, 2016 by Patrolman Daniel Benbrook on Contempt of Court warrants issued by the Middletown and Holmdel Municipal Courts. He was held on $2,018.00 bail.
Daniel Woods, age 27, from Ohio Avenue in Middletown, NJ, arrested on April 11, 2016 by Patrolman Eric Van Schaack for Simple Assault. He was released pending a court date.
An Eatontown man was arrested in Red Bank last week on charges of copper theft and drug possession, police said.
Joseph Pfeifer, 27, of Third Street, was arrested in the midst of stealing $7,800 worth of copper wiring in front of a home on South Pearl Street at about 10:30 a.m. last Tuesday, said Chief Darren McConnell.
Three towns on the Greater Red Bank Green plan to participate in “National PrescriptionDrug Take-Back Day” for safe disposal of unused and expired medications Saturday.
The police departments in Little Silver, Red Bank and Rumson will accept the products from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. More information can be found on the Drug Enforcement Agency’s website. (Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
A former Red Bank physician who once ran an illegal prescription painkiller ring was sentenced to six years in New Jersey state prison last week.
Middletown resident Kenneth Lewandowski, 53, who Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni once called “parasitic,” was sentenced Friday to six years in prison with a two-year period of parole ineligibility under a plea deal accepted by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Joseph W. Oxley.
Recent crime and arrest reports, unedited, as provided by the Middletown Township Police Department.
Vanessa Flores, age 21, from Kimberly Court in Red Bank, NJ, arrested on March 21, 2016 by Patrolman Julian Reis on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal Court. She was released after posting $250.00 bail.
Jesse Guerin, age 44, from Bergen Street in Middletown, NJ, arrested on March 21, 2016 by Patrolman Julian Reis for Terroristic Threats. He was released after posting $2,500.00 bail set by Judge James Berube.
Recent crime and arrest reports, unedited, as provided by the Middletown Township Police Department.
Valerie Waldman, age 35, from Berkeley Place in Eatontown, NJ, arrested on March 3, 2016 by Detective William Strohkirch for Theft. She was released on her own recognizance.
James Evernham, age 56, from Cherry Street in Belford, NJ, arrested on March 3, 2016 by Detective Keith Hirschbein on a Non-Support warrant issued by the Monmouth County Superior Court, Possession of a Hypodermic Syringe, Providing False Information to a Police Officer and on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Hazlet Municipal Court. He was held on $214,400.00 bail.
Crime and arrest reports, unedited, as provided by the Shrewsbury Police Department for the period of March 16 to March 23, 2016.
A report of Shoplifting was reported by a male in the area of Staples Plaza on 03/18/2016. Reporting party advised 2 male subjects came into his store and attempted to take unknown amount of liquor bottles. Ptl. Derek Myers investigated.
A report of Fraud was reported by a female at Police Headquarters on 03/18/2016. Reporting party advised an acquaintance of hers used her business address and information to open 2 credit cards. Sgt. Adam Cerminaro investigating.
Crime and arrest reports, unedited, as provided by the Shrewsbury Police Department for the period of March 11 to March 16, 2016.
A report of Criminal Mischief was reported by a male in the area of Allen St. on 03/11/2016. Reporting party advised an unknown subject(s) spray painted part of his property. Ptl. Daniel DeCristofaro investigating.
A report of Shoplifting was reported by a male in the area of Shrewsbury Plaza on 03/11/2016. Reporting party advised unknown subjects purposely took items without paying. Ptl. Angel Marrero investigated.
Recent crime and arrest reports, unedited, as provided by the Middletown Township Police Department.
Thomas Earls, age 55, from Chadwell Court in Neptune, NJ, arrested on February 23, 2016 by Detective William Strohkirch for Burglary and Theft. He was held on $5,000.00 bail set by Judge James Berube.
Stewart Roston, age 67, from Highway 36 in Middletown, NJ, arrested on February 23, 2016 by Patrolman John Soltysik on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Holmdel Municipal Court. He was released after posting $750.00 bail.
Recent crime and arrest reports, unedited, as provided by the Middletown Township Police Department.
John Wilczewski, age 25, from Thompson Avenue in Middletown, NJ, arrested on February 15, 2016 by Patrolman Ekne Montalvo for Simple Assault and on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Neptune Municipal Court. He was held on $327.00 bail.
Erin Sullivan, age 33, from Comanche Drive in Middletown, NJ, arrested on February 15, 2016 by Patrolman Nick Manochio on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal Court. She was held on $1,000.00 bail.