Camden City Drug Dealer Indicted for Causing Death of Customer

Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced that a Camden drug dealer has been indicted for causing the death of a customer to whom he sold fentanyl-laced cocaine last year.

Marquese Smith, 22, of Baird Boulevard, was indicted on one count of Strict Liability for Drug-Induced Death (First Degree). The indictment was returned January 14 and signed by Prosecutor Coffina. An arraignment will be scheduled soon in Superior Court.

The investigation began in June 2019 when officers from the Maple Shade Police Department responded to the Ryan Run West Apartment Complex and discovered the body of 33-year-old Kristi Ventura, who had fatally overdosed.

The Burlington County Medical Examiner’s Office concluded the cause of death was cocaine and fentanyl toxicity.

The investigation determined that the drugs used by the victim had been purchased from Smith, who has been lodged in the Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly since his arrest in October.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Jeremy Lackey. The investigation was conducted by the Maple Shade Police Department and the BCPO Gang, Gun and Narcotics Task Force.

This is the second drug-induced death indictment the BCPO has announced this week.

Terrance D. Walker, 37, of Pemberton Township, was indicted January 9 on charges of Strict Liability for Drug-Induced Death (First Degree), Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (Third Degree), two counts of Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (Third Degree) and two counts of Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute (Third Degree).

Walker was charged in October with causing the death of a 21-year-old Pemberton Township woman by supplying the fentanyl-laced heroin that led to her fatal overdose in May 2019.

An indictment is an accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.

NJAC-leading Rowan women outlast Rutgers-Camden

CAMDEN CITY, N.J. (Jan. 22, 2020) – The Rutgers University-Camden women’s basketball team gave New Jersey Athletic Conference leader Rowan University all it could handle here Wednesday night before the Profs escaped with a 65-61 victory in NJAC action.

Rowan, which was effectively ranked No. 26 nationally this week when it received 11 votes toward the WBCA NCAA Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll this week, improved to 15-2 overall and 9-1 in the NJAC. The Profs have won three straight games and 12 of their last 13.

Rutgers-Camden fell to 9-8 overall and 2-8 in the NJAC with its third straight loss.

Rowan has won four straight games against Rutgers-Camden and leads the all-time series, 56-17.

Wednesday’s game wasn’t anything close to the 82-60 loss the Raptors suffered at Rowan on Nov. 26, as neither team held more than a seven-point lead, the game was tied five times and featured seven lead changes. Rutgers-Camden held a 24-19 lead after one quarter before Rowan bounced back to take a 39-38 advantage into halftime. The Profs were led by 14 first-half points from freshman guard Nicole Mallard, while Rutgers-Camden senior guard

Fatimah Williams

had 15 points at the break.

The lead changed hands four times early in the third quarter, with Rowan finally taking the lead for good, 44-43, on a jumper by junior guard Alexis Kriley midway through the period. The Profs, however, weren’t able to pull away and led by only 51-48 entering the fourth quarter.

Rowan built its fourth-quarter lead to seven points on four occasions, including 61-54 with 4:07 remaining in the game, but Rutgers-Camden whittled that margin deficit down to 61-60 with 1:02 remaining. That comeback was sparked by three straight field goals from Williams.

Mallard made it a 63-60 game with 20 seconds remaining after hitting a pair of foul shots, but a free throw by sophomore forward

Breanna Ettrick

cut the gap to 63-61 in the final seconds. Kriley finally iced Rowan’s win with a pair of foul shots at the finish.

Rowan finished with 19 points from Mallard, while Kriley joined junior guard Paige Caldwell and freshman guard Savanna Holt with eight points apiece. Sophomore center Jazlyn Duverglas had nine rebounds for the Profs, including eight in the second half. Rowan held a 53-35 advantage off the boards.

Williams finished with a game-high 25 points, hiking her career scoring output to 1,069. Sophomore guard/forward

Tamara Johnson

added 14 points and tied freshman guard/forward

Jalissa Pitts

with a team-high eight rebounds.

Williams also added five steals for game-high honors. Junior guard

Shane Holmes

tied Rowan freshman guard/forward Eliana Santana with a game-high three assists apiece.

Rowan shot 21-for-58 (36.2 percent) from the floor while Rutgers-Camden went 20-for-59 (33.9).

The Scarlet Raptors return to NJAC action Saturday when they host William Paterson University in a 3 p.m. NJAC game.

Petrik leads balanced attack as Raptors edge Rowan men

CAMDEN CITY, N.J. (Jan. 22, 2020) – Rutgers University-Camden sophomore forward

Jake Petrik

spent his freshman year playing basketball at Rowan University.

The transfer student came back to haunt his old team here Wednesday, scoring a career-high 24 points to lead the Scarlet Raptors to a wild 90-87 victory over the Profs in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game.

Rutgers-Camden improves to 6-10 overall and 3-7 in NJAC play, posting its second conference win in three outings while snapping an eight-game losing streak against Rowan. It was the Raptors’ first win over the Profs since Dec. 2, 2015 when they won a 71-70 game in Camden.

Rowan falls to 8-9 overall and 4-6 in the NJAC, snapping its two-game winning streak. The Profs lead the all-time series against Rutgers-Camden, 97-33.

Petrik had plenty of help as senior forward

Isaac Destin

poured in 23 points, while junior guard

Arian Azemi

collected a double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds, while tying for game-high honors with five assists. The Scarlet Raptors also had a career-high 17 points from sophomore guard

Keysean Simmonds.

Petrik’s former career high was 14 points against Rosemont on Nov. 10, while Simmonds’ old high was 12 against Arcadia on Nov. 9.

Rowan jumped out to a big start, leading 14-5 only three minutes into the game. After Rutgers-Camden sliced the deficit to three points on three occasions – the last coming at 21-18 – the Profs went on a five-point run to grab a 26-18 advantage.

The Scarlet Raptors finally came back to tie the game, 28-28, on a jumper by junior guard

Victor Nyanway,

but Rowan followed with a 13-2 run to take its first of two 11-point leads (41-30 and 43-32). Behind seven points from Destin and five from Petrik, the Raptors sliced the gap to 45-44 before Rowan took a 46-44 lead into halftime.

Rutgers-Camden finally took its first lead of the game at 54-52, four minutes into the second half, on a layup by Azemi. That was the first of 17 second-half lead changes, while the score also was tied on nine occasions. Rutgers-Camden finally took the lead for good, 88-86, on a layup by Azemi with 1:03 remaining.

In the final seconds, freshman forward

Dylan Trow

grabbed a huge rebound off a missed Rowan foul shot with the Raptors clinging to an 88-87 lead. Trow was fouled and scored his lone point of the game with a clutch foul shot, making it an 89-87 game. His second foul shot was rebounded by Destin, who was fouled and sunk two free throws for the final margin. Rowan missed a three-pointer with five seconds remaining and another trey at the buzzer.

The Profs placed five players in the scoring column, led by 22 points from senior guard Maliq Sanders. Senior forward Austin Kearney notched 15 points and nine rebounds, while senior forward Diante Bah and senior guard Jerry Price both added 12 points. Junior guard Matt Green had 10 points and tied Azemi with a game-high five assists.

Rutgers-Camden shot 32-for-77 (41.6 percent) from the floor and 15-for-21 (71.4) from the foul line. Rowan was 30-for-68 (44.1) from the floor and 19-for-27 (70.4) from the line.

The two teams combined for 19 treys, including 11 by Rutgers-Camden. Five of those came from Petrik, who went 7-for-16 overall from the floor, including 5-for-11 from three-point range. He was 5-for-6 from the foul line.

Rutgers-Camden hosts William Paterson University in a 1 p.m. NJAC game Saturday.

Thief Who Stole Pickups From Used Car Dealerships In Gloucester City Arrested: Admits Guilt

William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews.net

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (January 22, 2020)–The thief that stole vehicles from C.W. Clarke Auto and Gormley\’s Auto in Gloucester City has been arrested according to

Agent Alex McVeigh spokesperson for the Camden County Prosecutors Office.

One of the thefts occurred January 2, 2020 after 7PM at CW Clarke\’s Auto, located on US Route 130 south near the Gloucester City/Brooklawn border and the other was a week or so before at Gormley\’s Auto, US Route 130 and Klemm Avenue, also in Gloucester City.

There was a Haddon Township gas station robbed at Route 130 and Nicholson Road shortly after the truck was stolen from Clarke\’s. Police have not confirmed a connection between the theft and the robbery according to

Fox29.

The suspect, Vincent Kerlin was arrested in Brooklawn on January 15, 2020.

Kerlin is scheduled to appear in Camden County Superior Court on Thursday, January 23.

The judge will determine whether Kerlin will be remanded to Camden County Jail pending further court proceedings

or whether he will be released to conditions.

Kerlin was released on his own recognizance as there is no monetary bail in the State of New Jersey as a result of the Criminal Justice Reform Act, which became effective January 1, 2017.

His detention hearing is scheduled for Thursday, January 23, 2020.

He was charged out of Gloucester City with one count of Burglary, one count of Theft by Unlawful Taking, and one count of Criminal Mischief.

According to the Complaint and Probable Cause statement the defendant confessed in a taped statement to stealing the vehicles from C.W. Clarke and Gormley\’s.

Thief Strikes Local Car Dealerships

Alumna Makes $250,000 Gift to Establish Endowment for Childhood Studies

By Tom McLaughlin

Rutgers University–Camden

will continue to be a global leader at the forefront of research and initiatives focused on improving the lives, opportunities, and understanding of children, thanks to a $250,000 gift from alumna Nancy Shuman to establish the Nancy Seagrave Shuman Endowment for Childhood Studies.

Shuman, a 1968 graduate of the Rutgers–Camden

College of Arts and Sciences

(CCAS) with a bachelor’s degree in medical technology, established the fund to ensure that various initiatives within Rutgers–Camden’s

Department of Childhood Studies

will receive ongoing support in perpetuity.

“The well-being of children is deeply important to me,” says the Allentown, Pa., resident. “I hope that my gift provides increased momentum for the Department of Childhood Studies and related programs at Rutgers–Camden to help make a difference in the lives of children in the Camden community, the Greater Delaware Valley region, and beyond.”

Howard Marchitello, dean of the

Faculty of Arts and Sciences

at Rutgers–Camden, praises Shuman for her continued support of Rutgers–Camden’s Department of Childhood Studies and its students. He notes that, because of her generosity, the students’ work will, in turn, be dedicated to ensuring the general well-being of students in Camden City and the greater South Jersey region.

“This act of generosity will reach countless beneficiaries for many years to come,” says Marchitello. “The College of Arts and Sciences is deeply moved by Ms. Shuman’s support and faith in our faculty and students, and in the vision of our Department of Childhood Studies.”

After earning a state scholarship, Shuman was drawn to Rutgers–Camden for the medical technology degree that it offered at that time. She remembers that she was among only three students in the inaugural cohort of the major and the intensive coursework was largely the same as for pre-medicine.

After completing three years of the four-year degree, she served a 12-month internship at the former West Jersey Hospital in Voorhees.

Upon graduating from Rutgers–Camden, Shuman continued working as a medical technologist in the blood bank at West Jersey Hospital.

She and her husband, Clyde, later settled in Allentown, where he and a partner founded Precision Medical, a global leader in respiratory devices.

Shuman has been a generous benefactor to Rutgers–Camden over the years, previously contributing to the CCAS Dean’s Endowed Scholarship Fund and the Center for Children and Childhood Studies Gift Fund.

Rutgers–Camden’s Department of Childhood Studies focuses on putting the issues, concepts, and debates that surround the study of children and childhoods at the center of its research and teaching missions.

Nancy and Clyde Shuman

Through a multidisciplinary approach, childhood studies aims both to theorize and historicize the figure of the child and to situate the study of children and childhoods within contemporary cultural and global contexts.

The curriculum in the department spans several disciplines in scope and purpose, and provides students with a strong background in both humanistic and social science perspectives on children and their representations. This approach prepares students for careers in many areas, including academics, public policy, social services, youth programming, and education.

Rutgers–Camden launched the nation’s first Ph.D. program in childhood studies in 2007. The program provides an advanced theoretical and methodological study of children and childhood. It prepares scholars capable of innovative research in this interdisciplinary field, as well as policy leaders with new perspectives in child-related social practice.

Camden County College and Rutgers University–Camden Form new Premier Partnership

(Gloucester Township, NJ) – Camden County College and Rutgers University–Camden have formed a new Premier Partnership that aligns the two schools to provide the residents of Camden County and South Jersey a unique opportunity to earn both a Camden County College associate degree and Rutgers baccalaureate degree on the Blackwood and Rutgers–Camden campuses.

“This innovative partnership makes higher education more affordable for Camden County College graduates by providing a direct, cohesive route to a Rutgers–Camden bachelor’s degree on our Blackwood campus for under $30,000,” said Camden County College President Donald A. Borden. “We are building upon the proven relationship between the two schools to provide students with greater access to a range of educational opportunities.”

This Premier Partnership will feature dual admission to Rutgers–Camden and Camden County College, seamless transfer of all associate-level credits and joint student advisement by dedicated Rutgers and Camden County College staff.

“We want every South Jersey family to have access to the lifetime of opportunity offered by a world-class Rutgers–Camden degree, and our Premier Partnership with Camden County College does exactly that,” said Rutgers University–Camden Chancellor Phoebe A. Haddon. “Students who enroll in Camden County College become part of the Rutgers–Camden community, and we are committed to working with those students to support their success.”

Camden County College graduates enrolling in Rutgers–Camden degree-granting programs offered on CCC’s Blackwood campus will receive an exclusive third-year guaranteed scholarship. The Rutgers–Camden baccalaureate pathways for the Premier Partnership include Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees in Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Liberal Studies, Political Science and Psychology.

In addition, Camden County College students will be eligible to receive Rutgers–Camden identification cards and Rutgers email accounts, along with being granted access to the university’s student organizations, library and fitness center. Rutgers–Camden also will waive their application fee. Students will also have access to a dedicated Premier Partnership lounge and a dedicated Rutgers counselor on the Camden County College campus.

“This agreement brings the most recognized community college in the region together with one of the most respected universities in the country to benefit local students,” said Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. “This opens new doors for students that may not have considered the possibility that a Rutgers degree was in their reach.”

Applications will be accepted beginning in spring of 2020, with full implementation of the Premier Partnership anticipated for the fall 2020 academic semester.

CONNECT 2020

Take the Connect 2020 Biking and Walking Survey

Help Improve Biking and Walking in Collingswood and Haddon Township

Collingswood and Haddon Township are working on a Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. The goal is to develop a bicycle and pedestrian network that helps to further connect the two communities, with a specific focus on travel to the Haddon Avenue corridor.

The plan will identify strategies and improvements that will help to create a safe and comfortable multimodal network between Collingswood and Haddon Township that balances the needs of everyone – pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit riders, people with disabilities, seniors and children. It will maximize multimodal connections for visitors, commuters and residents to assets including NJ Transit bus connections, the PATCO Speedline, The Camden County Spine Trail, various public park trails, the Camden Greenway and the Circuit Trails of Greater Philadelphia. The project team is hosting two public meetings to kick off the project and also is soliciting public feedback from visitors and residents via a survey and interactive mapping exercise.

Go to

connect2020sj.com

to take the survey and for detailed project information

Camden County Freedom Medal Ceremony Jan. 22

Camden County residents will be honored for their selfless contributions to improving their community at the 2020 Camden County Freedom Medal Ceremony on

January 22nd

. The award, created by the Freeholder Board in 2001, is presented to civic leaders who demonstrate the ideals and actions that reflect the principles of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Every year since 2001, the Camden County Freedom Medal has been presented to honor extraordinary Camden County citizens who have generously contributed their time and effort to better their community while espousing the ideals indicative of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” said Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. “These exemplary citizens have demonstrated significant contributions in the area of community service. They serve as a model to us all.”

The ceremony will take place at the Collingswood Ballroom, located at 315 White Horse Pike, Collingswood, NJ. The reception will start at

5:30 PM

and dinner will be served at

6 PM

with the award ceremony immediately following. Tickets are available for $40 each. Please RSVP your attendance by clicking here or by calling or emailing Scott Petrozza at (856) 216-8217 or

Scott.Petrozza@camdencounty.com

2020 Freedom Medal Nominees:

Vedra Della Chandler

Leona Davis

Chief Harry Earle

Marc Goldstein

Bishop Anthony J. Harley

Abe Karetny

Mary Anne McFarland

Michael Mignogna

Ian Dublin Mosley

Orlando Pettigrew

Rubab Sameer Sarfraz

Dominic Vesper

Dr. Jubril Oyeyemi & The Cherry Hill Free Clinic Team, MLK Congressional Award

Click here

to read bios for each nominee.

Camden County Prosecutors Office to Observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Monday, January 20, 2020, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office will observe Dr. Martin Luther King Day. This year marks the 25

anniversary of the day of service that celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy. The observance of this holiday encourages Americans to help improve their communities and uphold the ideals that all humans are equal, regardless of race, religion or background, and should be judged by the content of their character. We urge our fellow citizens to participate in this day of service in honor of Dr. King.

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Second-quarter run lifts NJCU past Rutgers-Camden women

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (Jan. 18, 2020) – The New Jersey City University women’s basketball team scored the final 13 points of the first half and 19 straight points over the second and third quarters combined as it went on to defeat Rutgers University-Camden, 67-57, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game here Saturday afternoon.

With their third straight win, the Gothic Knights improve to 6-8 overall and 4-5 in the NJAC. It marked the first time since January, 2002 that NJCU has won three straight conference games.

Rutgers-Camden fell to 9-6 overall and 2-7 in the NJAC with its second straight loss.

—

NJCU has won its last two games against Rutgers-Camden, dating back to last season, after the Scarlet Raptors had won seven straight in the series. Rutgers-Camden leads the all-time series, 39-26.

The Gothic Knights got off to a quick 5-0 start and led, 12-2, before the Scarlet Raptors cut the gap to 17-12 at the end of the quarter. Senior guard

Fatimah Williams

scored 10 of those points for Rutgers-Camden.

The Raptors continued their surge by scoring the first five points of the second quarter – all by sophomore guard/forward

Tamara Johnson,

including a layup 1:29 into the quarter that tied the game at 17-17. Those were the last points the Raptors scored until two minutes into the third quarter. NJCU ran off the last 13 points of the first half, to take a 30-17 halftime lead, and followed with the first six of the third quarter to make it a 36-17 game and a 10:39 scoring drought for the Scarlet Raptors.

The Gothic Knights built a 39-19 lead before the Raptors whittled the margin to as close as eight points (56-48) with 2:43 remaining in the game. They also cut the gap to eight points (62-54) with 26 second remaining.

Senior guard Hannah Johnson led NJCU with 23 points, aided by 9-for-12 shooting from the floor, including 3-for-5 from three-point range. Junior forward Ayanna Lewis had a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds, while adding six blocked shots.

Freshman forward Sarah Edmond collected 13 points for the Gothic Knights, junior guard Alexandria Sams had eight assists, and six steals.

Williams notched her third double-double of the season for Rutgers-Camden, collecting 23 points to tie for game-high honors. She also had a game-high 13 rebounds, tying her career high set on Jan. 13 against the University of Valley Forge. Her 23 points raised her career total to 1,044, moving her into 13th place on the program’s all-time list. She passed Andrea Fogel (1986-89), who had 1,037 points.

Tamara Johnson collected 15 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals. Freshman forward/center

Kayla Newton

and freshman guard/forward

Jalissa Pitts

both added six rebounds, while scoring nine and eight points, respectively.

NJCU shot 25-for-57 (43.9 percent) from the floor and Rutgers-Camden shot 20-for-62 (32.3). The Raptors held a 42-38 edge off the boards, but also made 27 turnovers, while NJCU had 24.

The Scarlet Raptors return to NJAC action Wednesday when they host Rowan University at 6 p.m.