Township Clerk Ann Marie McCarthy returned to her job March 9 after the Somerset County Prosecutor dropped insurance fraud charges against her. McCarthy was “not available for comment” the day she returned, said Deputy Township Clerk Msiba Holliman. Holliman was Acting Clerk in McCarthy’s absence. McCarthy was charged on Dec. 14, 2017 with 3rd Degree Insurance Fraud and 3rd Degree …
Read More »Discovery Of Bullet Prompts Franklin Middle School Lock Down
The discovery by a Franklin Middle School student of a bullet in the school gym March 6 led to a lock down and search by township police. No weapons or other ammunition was found in the search of school lockers and student backpacks, according to statements released by the school district. Students were cleared to leave about two hours hours …
Read More »FHS 17-Year-Old Arrested After Handgun Found In Backpack
Questions remain unanswered in the Feb. 23 arrest in Franklin High School of a 17-year-old township youth who was allegedly found with a loaded gun in school. According to a Feb. 27 press release from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, the youth was found to have a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun in his backpack. The youth – whose name was …
Read More »Township Man Charged With Possession Of Child Porn
A 70-year-old township man and retired math teacher has been released from Somerset County Jail following his Feb. 23 arrest on child pornography related charges. Kent Kollmer of Norris Road in Somerset was released through a court order, according to court documents. Kollmer taught math for nearly 40 years in New Brunswick High School, retiring in 2010, according to records …
Read More »Franklin High School Investigation Results In Increased Police Presence On Campus
Authorities are investigating information received by township police Feb. 23 which prompted an increased police presence at Franklin High School. The matter is the subject of an “ongoing juvenile investigation” by the FTPD and Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office detectives, SCPO spokesman Jack Bennett said in an email. “No additional information to be released at this time.” At about 1:50 p.m. …
Read More »Two Men Arrested, Third Sought In Green Brook Robbery That Spilled Into Township
Two men were arrested and a third is still at large in connection with a Jan. 27 incident that began with a robbery in Green Brook and ended with an attempted carjacking and an abandoned getaway vehicle in the township. Antwon Barksdale, 19, of Irvington, and Mario Cumberbatch, 32, of Brooklyn, N.Y. were arrested on various charges, including armed robbery, …
Read More »Updated: Franklin Park Man Who Fled Religious Persecution Arrested By ICE, Facing Deportation
Update 2: NJ Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said he has “serious concerns” regarding how ICE picked up Liem and Sanger, according to a press release. In a Jan. 25 letter to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, Grewal wrote that “the fact that ICE arrested two parents as they were driving away from their children’s school is deeply upsetting. I …
Read More »Family Cat Killed, House Heavily Damaged In Millstone Road Fire
One of two family cats was killed in an afternoon fire Jan. 22 that severely damaged a Millstone Road home. Police said that a 9-1-1 call reporting the fire was received at about 3:41 p.m., and that responding officers reported seeing heavy smoke coming from the house. Fire fighters from East Franklin and Community fore companies and Somerset Fire and …
Read More »Township Man Charged In Plainfield Resident’s Death
An early morning car accident Jan. 22 resulted in the death of one man, and the arrest of a 25-year-old Franklin resident. Suraj Gagneja, of Somerset, was charged with 2nd Degree Death by Auto, 4th Degree Assault by Auto, and Driving While Intoxicated in connection with the death of Antoine King Jr., 22, of Plainfield, according to a press release …
Read More »Family Displaced After Late-Night Fire
A late-night fire in a Burnham Street home displaced its residents, but did not result in any injuries. A 9-1-1 call reporting the fire was received by Franklin Township Police at about 10:15 p.m. on Jan. 19, according to an FTPD release. Police responding to the call saw heavy smoke coming from the home’s second story, according to the release. …
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