Crime News

UPDATE 2: The township Office of Fire Prevention has determined that the cause of the fire was not suspicious, according to a message from township police. But, because of the extensive damage to the building, “the actual cause of the fire could not be determined.” UPDATE: Two firefighters were injured fighting a blaze Mach 6 at an Easton Avenue office …

Two families were displaced March 5 after a fire in a Dewald Avenue apartment building. There were no injuries in the fire, which was discovered by township police at about 2:14 p.m., according to a press release from the police department. The patrol officers saw a black plume of smoke coming from the area of Hamilton Street and Dewald Avenue …

A 20-year-old township man has been indicted for the October, 2014 murder of a New Brunswick youth. Dequan S. Rogers of Alcorne Street was indicted Feb. 26 for the Oct. 13, 2014 murder of Joell Burton, 17, of New Brunswick, according to a press release from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office. Rogers is charged with 1st Degree murder, 2nd Degree possession of …

A 22-year-old township man was among two men charged Feb. 24 in connection with the apparent drug-related death of a 17-year-old girl. Andrew A. Lindo of Somerset and William A. King, 22, of Edison, were charged with 3rd Degree endangering the welfare of a child, 3rd Degree hindering apprehension and 4th Degree tampering with physical evidence, police said. Lindo and King …

A township employee was fired Feb. 23 as a result of his refusal to take a breath test following a weekend accident with a township plow. Police said that Raymond T. Genovese, 36, of Somerset, a public works employee at the time, was charged with driving while intoxicated and several other motor vehicle offenses Feb. 21 after being involved in an accident …

Township police say they have solved about 20 cases of criminal mischief occurring over the past several months with the apprehension of three people on Feb. 19. Stephen Weingart, 20, of Skillman and Tony Fresolone, 19, of Kendall Park were charged with criminal mischief after they allegedly damaged a mailbox on Old Georgetown Road, police said. A 17-year-old South Brunswick resident …

  A 32-year-old township man has been charged by Middlesex County authorities with the Valentine’s Day murder of a Perth Amboy resident. Jahmmel Chephas of Franklin Park was charged by the Middlesex County Proseuctor’s Office with murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and illegal possession of a weapon in connection with the early morning shooting of Richard Pryce, 31, …

One person was seriously injured Feb. 10 in a head-on crash on Franklin Boulevard that shut part of the road down for two hours during the afternoon commute. Police said that Ryan J. Shaughnessy, no age or hometown given, was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick after the accident, which occurred at about 4:28 p.m. Shaughnessy …

A Somerset man already serving a jail sentence for sexual abuse of children in Pennsylvania faces additional charges after police allegedly found in his home nearly 500 surreptitiously recorded video clips of children using a bathroom and shower at a rental cabin. Kenneth Dale Schiff, 51, is currently in state prison in Camp Hill, Pa. on charges of sexual abuse of children …

A 23-year-old Somerset man was arrested Jan. 28 on drug and weapons charges after a joint investigation by township police and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office. Police said Kenneth James of Lenox Place was found with $1,200 worth of marijuana, $300 worth of Ecstasy and $400 worth of methamphetamines as well as a Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 caliber revolver loaded with …