Crime News

Township police are investigating two luring incidents that occurred in the last two weeks – the latest on Feb. 24 – involving Franklin Middle School students. Police said the students, a 13-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl, reported to the school’s Resource Officer that they were approached while walking home from school by a man driving a black pick-up truck …

A 31-year-old Bronx man faces child pornography charges after he allegedly asked an 8-year-old township girl to send him nude pictures of herself. Efrain A. Martinez was arrested in his Bronx home on Feb. 10, according to a press release from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office. On Jan. 21, according to the release, township police received a tip that the …

The father of the man police say shot a person Jan. 3 on Dewald Avenue turned himself in to authorities. Jason Lewis, 43, turned himself in to authorities at the Somerset County Jail, Somerville, on Feb. 10, according to a press release from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office. Lewis, of Somerset, had been wanted for hindering apprehension. Lewis’ son, Jaki …

An anonymous Facebook threat seen Feb. 5 against a Franklin High School administrator was deemed by investigators to not be credible, police and school district officials said. A school district official said the threat against the unidentified administrator was seen the evening of Feb. 5. Although police determined that the threat was not credible, there was an increased police presence …

A 9mm pistol was among the items stolen Jan. 27 from a Holland Drive home. Police said the burglar gained entry by cutting through a widow screen. The gun, an FMK G2, was valued at $500. Also stolen were assorted pieces of jewelry valued at $5,000, an Apple MacBook Pro valued at $1,000, a Michael Kors silver watch valued at …

A two-car collision on Easton Avenue on Feb. 1 apparently resulted in no major injuries, police said. Shortly after 10 a.m., a 2001 Honda Civic driven by Anderson Moronta, 25, of Somerset collided with a 2002 Honda Civic driven by Yaxanna Rivera, 19, of East Brunswick, while the two cars were on Easton Ave., near Oakland Avenue. Police said Rivera …

A New Brunswick man has pleaded guilty to drug-related charges stemming from a 2015 arrest in the township. Elvin Guzman-Rodriguez, a.k.a. Joel Matos-Santiago, 38, pleaded guilty to 1st Degree possession of five ounces or more of cocaine with intent to distribute and 2nd Degree eluding, according to a press release from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office. In exchange for his …

Police are searching for two armed men who they say forced a township man to withdraw money from a bank ATM before stealing his car. Police said the man, a Van Cleef Road resident, told them he’d arrived at his house at around 11 p.m. Jan. 16 when he was approached by two men armed with handguns. The men forced …

There were no injuries in a late-night fire Jan. 16 in a Hillcrest Avenue home, but it did chase out the home’s two residents. Police said that the fire was reported shortly before 11 p.m. and that when police arrived, they saw heavy smoke coming from the home. Firefighters from “numerous” township departments responded and were able to extinguish it …

The township Police Department has not yet finished its research into whether it would be feasible to equip officers with body worn cameras. Police Chief Lawrence Roberts has said he is taking a slow approach to the program, mainly to make sure it’s financially feasible, in light of the “back end” costs associated with such a program. The department was …