Williams helps Raptor women defeat William Paterson, 65-56

CAMDEN, N.J. (Jan. 25, 2020) – Senior guard

Fatimah Williams

scored 23 points for her third straight game over 20 points as she sparked the Rutgers University-Camden women’s basketball team over William Paterson University, 65-56, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game here Saturday afternoon.

The victory snaps a three-game losing streak and lifts the Scarlet Raptors to 10-8 overall and 3-8 in the NJAC. Paterson, which now leads the all-time series, 54-14, falls to 8-10 overall and 6-5 in conference play.

The two teams battled to a 33-33 halftime score after Rutgers-Camden fell into a 17-8 hole just 6:05 into the game. The Scarlet Raptors broke a 37-37 tie early in the third quarter on a jumper by Williams to take the lead for good, 39-37, but the score remained tight for most of the remainder of the contest.

When Paterson freshman guard Madison Dulude hit a pair of foul shots with 1:38 remaining, Rutgers-Camden held a slim 58-56 lead. Williams collected four foul shots down the stretch, junior guard

Shane Holmes

added two and freshman guard/forward

Jalissa Pitts

notched one as the Scarlet Raptors closed out the game at the foul line.

Rutgers-Camden finished the night 14-for-20 at the charity stripe (70.0 percent), while shooting 24-for-57 (42.1) from the floor. Paterson went 12-for-19 from the line (63.2) and 19-for-46 (41.3) from the floor. Although the Pioneers had a 42-26 advantage off the boards, Rutgers-Camden also forced them to make 29 turnovers, compared to the Raptors’ 16.

With her 10th 20-plus scoring effort of the season, Williams raised her team-leading scoring average to an even 20.0 points per game. She also hiked her career output to 1,092 points, 13th on the program’s all-time list. She should pass jump into 11th place next week, needing only 26 points to pass both Nelly Cruz (1,113 points from 1988-91) and Tara Harris (1,117 from 1984-88), who are 12th and 11th, respectively, on the career list.

Williams added a team-high six rebounds, tied Holmes with a team-high four assists and notched a game-high six steals. Holmes finished with 12 points to go along with her four assists.

The Raptors also received big contributions from freshman center

Kayla Newton

(eight points, four rebounds), sophomore forward

Breanna Ettrick

(seven points, freshman guard/forward

Jalissa Pitts

(six points, four rebounds, three steals) and sophomore guard/forward

Tamara Johnson

(six points, four steals).

Senior guard Alisa Giordano led the Pioneers with 15 points on 5-for-12 shooting from three-point range. Dulude and junior guard Brianna Brooks both added 13 points. Freshman guard Yakira Rosa had a game-high five assists and junior forward Vianca Soriano hauled down eight rebounds to lead all players.

The Scarlet Raptors return to NJAC action Wednesday with an 8 p.m. game at Stockton University.

Early run lifts Paterson past Rutgers-Camden men

CAMDEN CITY, N.J. (Jan. 25, 2020) – The William Paterson University men’s basketball team went on a 14-point run after Rutgers University-Camden scored the first three points of the game and the Pioneers went on to defeat the Scarlet Raptors, 79-52, in New Jersey Athletic Conference action here Saturday.

Paterson evens its record at 9-9 overall and improves to 5-6 in the NJAC with its sixth straight win in the all-time series against Rutgers-Camden. The Pioneers lead that series, 63-7.

The Scarlet Raptors fall to 6-11 overall and 3-8 in conference play.

Raptor junior guard

Arian Azemi

buried a three-pointer to get the scoring started, but the Pioneers rattled off the next 14 points, taking the lead for good at 4-3 on a jumper by senior guard Anthony Uribe. Uribe scored six points and junior guard Domenic Mignone added four during the opening run.

Rutgers-Camden managed to slice its deficit to eight points on two occasions (21-13 and 26-18) in the first half before Paterson established a 38-25 halftime lead. The Pioneers led by as many as 28 points (72-44) in the second half.

Mignone scored a game-high 21 points to pace four Pioneers in double figures. Uribe finished with 12 points, junior forward Malcolm McLeod notched 11 and senior forward Sean Smith added 10.

McLeod just missed a double-double, hauling down nine rebounds as WPU dominated the boards, 52-19. Uribe added four assists and three steals.

Senior center

Isaac Destin

notched 17 points and six rebounds to lead the Scarlet Raptors in both categories. Azemi added 11 points, five rebounds, four assists and a game-high five steals.

Sophomore guard

Keysean Simmonds

and freshman forward

Dylan Trow

both collected nine points for Rutgers-Camden.

The Pioneers shot 34-for-63 (54.0 percent) from the floor, while the Scarlet Raptors were 15-for-53 (28.3). Paterson had 24 turnovers, while Rutgers-Camden had 15.

Rutgers-Camden jumps right back into action on Sunday when it plays a road game at Division I Princeton University, beginning at 12 p.m.

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.

400 Teddy Bears Donated for Children in Traumatic Events

Members of the Brothers in Blue Motorcycle Club dropped off 400 donated Teddy Bears to the Camden County Police Departments as part of the club’s nationwide “Freddie’s Teddies” program. The bears are reserved for police interactions with children during traumatic events and are intended to provide comfort in times of stress.

“We are extremely grateful to the Brothers in Blue for their compassion and generosity,” said Chief Joseph Wysocki. “These bears will be kept in police vehicles and always on hand to comfort a child. We are working to ensure that even during traumatic incidents, interactions with our officers are seen are meaningful and positive.”

“Freddie’s Teddies” is a stuffed animal drive conducted in the memory of Jennifer L. \”Freddie\” Meadows, a teddy bear lover who was killed in an unsolved hit-and-run in 2017. To date, Brothers in Blue MC has collected over 16,000 stuffed animals, most of which are donated to police, fire, and rescue departments to comfort children during traumatic situations.

ee Photos

Pet of the Week: Toby

I\’m a super lovable little guy who loves people. I\’m a little spoiled here – I have a favorite blanket, and I get tucked in most nights! But I\’d truly love to go to my forever home. I\’m really not interested in toys at this time, but people, oh yeah. I\’m just looking for a family to hang out with and maybe some day I\’ll find a toy that strikes my fancy. I\’m good with other dogs and hope to make new friends someday. I\’m learning how to walk nicely on a leash and should be good at it in no time flat. I would enjoy a fenced yard so I can run around if the mood strikes me. I should be fine children of around six years old and older only because I might accidentally knock a toddler down while exercising. With a little training, I\’ll be fine. Please come see me at

Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center

– I won\’t disappoint!

Anderson Diaz, 22, of Camden City, Charged with Murder

CAMDEN CITY, NJ –On January 23, 2020, Anderson Diaz, 22, of Camden, was charged with Murder, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, and Certain Persons Not to Have a Weapon for the murder of Michael Edwards, according to Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer and

Camden Police Chief Joseph Wysocki.

At approximately 12:54 a.m. on January 11, 2020, Camden County Police responded to a ShotSpotter activation and reports of a possible shooting near the 500 block of Pfeiffer Street in Camden. When officers arrived, they located the victim, Michael Edwards, lying unresponsive on the 400 block of Pfeiffer Street, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was taken to Cooper University Hospital, where he died a short time later.

Anderson Diaz is currently being held in the Camden County Jail on an unrelated matter pending a pretrial detention hearing.

All persons charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Released Friday, January 24, 2020.

Cherry Hill Man Charged with Pos. of Child Porn

CHERRY HILL NJ –Robert Hammond, 68, of Cherry Hill, was charged with one count of Possession of Child Pornography according to Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer and Cherry Hill Police Chief William Monaghan.

On January 24, 2020, detectives from the High-Tech Crimes Unit (HTCU) of the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office and Members of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Cherry Hill Office executed a search warrant for Robert Hammond’s residence on the 500 block of Murray Avenue in Cherry Hill. An onsite preview of digital media devices found in the home resulted in Hammond being charged. Numerous digital devices were taken to the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office’s HTCU forensic lab to be further analyzed.

Robert Hammond was transported to the Cherry Hill Police Department, where he was processed and released pending further court proceedings.

The Cherry Hill Police Department, Cherry Hill Police Department Tactical Response Team and a New Jersey State Police Electronic Storage Detection K9 assisted the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office HTCU Detectives and HSI-Cherry Hill in this investigation.

The investigation is ongoing.

All persons charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Tyler Dralle, 22, and Kwamere Benjamin, 19, Convicted of Murder and Other Crimes

CAMDEN CITY NJ (January 24, 2020)–On January 23, 2020, a jury convicted Tyler Dralle, 22, and Kwamere Benjamin, 19, of Felony Murder, Murder, Armed Robbery, Armed Burglary, Conspiracy to Commit Burglary, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in connection with the murder of Deanna Scordo. Assistant Prosecutor Peter Gallagher represented the State at trial.

Officers initially responded to a blueberry farm located at the 700 block of Bairdmore Avenue, in Winslow Township, shortly before 4:00 am on June 25, 2017, after receiving a 911 call from the victim’s father, stating that intruders had broken into his home and shot his daughter. On arrival, officers found Deanna Scordo lying on the floor of her bedroom. She had been shot three times and was pronounced deceased shortly thereafter. Detectives determined that the intruders had forced entry to the Scordo residence and, during the course of the home invasion, had stolen currency and property.

The extensive investigation was led by Sergeant Christopher Sarson and Detective Matthew Barber of the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office and Detective Nick Arnold and Detective Darren Dogostino of the Winslow Township Police Department and included numerous witness interviews and the forensic examination of physical evidence. As a result, detectives were able to determine that Kwamere Benjamin and Tyler Dralle had committed the home invasion after conspiring to do so. Both defendants were charged felony murder and arrested in connection with the home invasion and shooting of Deanna Scordo.

The trial for both defendants commenced the week of November 17, 2019, and culminated with guilty verdicts on all counts for both defendants on January 23, 2020.

Sentencing hearings for Tyler Dralle and Kwamere Benjamin are scheduled for February 28, 2020, before the Honorable Frederick J. Schuck. Both men face up to life in prison.

Released Friday, January 24, 2020.

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.

TONIGHT : Route 42 northbound Exit 1B ramp to I-295 northbound to be closed and detoured

Closures necessary for guiderail repairs and drainage inspection

(Trenton)

– New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced the overnight closure and detour of Route 42 northbound Exit 1B to I-295 northbound tonight for construction barrier repairs and a drainage culvert inspection.

Beginning at 9 p.m. tonight, Friday, January 24 until 8 a.m. tomorrow, Saturday, January 25, NJDOT contractor, Conti Enterprises, Inc., is scheduled to close and detour Route 42 northbound Exit 1B to I-295 northbound to allow crews to repair construction barrier and inspect a drainage culvert. The following signed detour will be in place overnight:

Route 42 northbound Exit 1B ramp to I-295 northbound detour:

Motorists traveling on Route 42 northbound will be directed to continue onto I-76 westbound

Take I-76 westbound to Exit 2/I-676 northbound

Take I-676 northbound to Exit 1/Collings Road

Turn right onto Collings Road

Turn left onto I-676 southbound which becomes I-76 eastbound

Take I-76 eastbound to Exit 1B/I-295 northbound

The work is part of the $900 million Direct Connection project that will provide a seamless route for I-295 motorists traveling through the interchange of I-295, I-76, and Route 42. The Direct Connection project has been divided into four separate construction contracts, with completion of the fourth and final contract expected in the fall of 2024. NJDOT\’s project website provides

construction activity schedules and updates

Variable message signs are being utilized throughout the project limits to provide advance notification to motorists of traffic pattern changes associated with Direct Connection.

The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT\’s traffic information website

www.511nj.org

for real-time travel information and for NJDOT news follow us on Twitter

@NJDOT_info

or on the

NJDOT Facebook page