Crime News

Although some categories did see increases, overall major crime in the township decreased by more than 4 percent from 2015 to 2016. According to “index crime” statistics gathered by the Franklin Township Police Department, the number of reported crimes in the Eight Villages decreased from 1,177 in 2015 to 1,123 in 2016, a drop of 4.6 percent. “Index crimes” are …

Police are asking for the public’s help in their investigation of the April 19 shooting of a New Brunswick man on Fuller Street. At about 3:35 p.m., township police responded to multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting gunshots being fired near Fuller Street, according to a press release from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office. Upon arrival, police found a 29-year-old New Brunswick …

Two township men were among 31 people rounded up by the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office in a three-day sweep of alleged deadbeat parents. Jesse Sutton, 57, and Charles Burney, 56, were among the men and women arrested in the roundup, which was carried out from April 4 to April 6. Sutton, who the Sheriff’s Office said was $69,338.28 in arrears …

A potential luring incident early in the morning of April 5 involving elementary school children was never reported to township police, although a message from the school district said the FTPD was immediately notified after it happened. Lt. Phil Rizzo, a police department spokesman, said that police did not learn of the incident until they contacted school district officials in …

Nearly $7,000 in electronics, clothing and medications was stolen April 1 from a car parked on Appleton Road. Police did not say whether the car, a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe, was locked at the time. Stolen was a Canon EOS7 camera with a accessories, valued at $3,600; an iPad Pro valued at $900; an iPad Air2 valued at $400; a pair …

MANVILLE – A borough man suspected of a number of burglaries is in critical condition after being shot by a Franklin Township police officer after allegedly breaking into the officer’s home here. Tyreek Cook, 19, was shot by the off-duty officer shortly after midnight on March 20 after Cook was confronted by the officer in the latter’s home, according to …

A 74-year-old township woman suffered possible life-threatening injuries and two other people were injured in a March 9 auto accident at the intersection of Arden Street and Girard Avenue. Police said Priscilla Roberson, 74, of Somerset, had to be “heavily extracted” from her 1993 Volvo after the early afternoon accident, which, police said, was apparently caused when Roberson drove through …

Four former employees of the New Brunswick Parking Authority – including a township man – will be placed on probation for stealing more than $500 from the authority in 2016. Karran Buchan, 19, of Somerset, was among the men who pleaded guilty to a count each of 3rd Degree Conspiracy to Commit Theft, according to a press release from the …

No one was injured in a fire March 2 that destroyed a Somerset Run home. The unidentified occupant of the home escaped and will be staying with family members, according to a press release from township police. Police arrived at the Windfall Lane home to find it fully engulfed in flames after receiving a 9-1-1 call about the fire at …

The 20-year-old township man wanted for a January Dewald Avenue shooting has surrendered, authorities said March 1. Jaki Hooks-Lewis turned himself in at 2 p.m. Feb. 28 while at his lawyer’s office in Newark, according to a press release from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office. Hooks-Lewis was charged with 2nd Degree Aggravated Assault after he allegedly shot a man outside …