Category: CAMDEN COUNTY

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

.

Pedestrian Killed Walking On Williamstown Road Crossing AC Expressway Bridge

WINSLOW TOWNSHIP NJ (January 23, 2020)–An adult male pedestrian was walking on Williamstown Road crossing the Atlantic City Expressway bridge,

when he was struck by an unknown vehicle.

The vehicle that struck the pedestrian fled the scene towards Monroe Township.

The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he passed away.

The accident occurred on 01/22/2020 at 10:34 Pm.

If anyone has any information about the accident, please contact Winslow Officer Rich Saunders, 609-567-0700 Ext. 1196 or Camden County Prosecutors Office Detective Rowand 856-225-8514.

The victim\’s name is being withheld until notification to his family.

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.

Legion Baseball registration open for 2020 season

Registration for the 2020 season of American Legion Baseball is open, along with the purchase of insurance. There is an overall decrease of 14 percent in insurance premiums from last season.

Register online at baseball.legion.org.

The early deadline for registration is May 15. Teams registered after May 15 will be subject to a $200 late fee through the final deadline of June 1. Please note that each American Legion department may set an earlier deadline for registration.

Registration fees for senior teams is $50 for national registration, $35 for administrative fees and either $200 for season personal accident or $130 for year-round coverage. General liability costs is $104.

Fees for junior teams is $25 for national registration, $35 for administrative fees and either $160 for season personal accident or $110 for year-round coverage. General liability costs is $71.

State fees, if applicable, will vary by state.

To learn more about your specific department’s state fees and deadlines, contact your

department chairmen

.

American Legion Baseball

American Legion Baseball enjoys a reputation as one of the most successful and tradition-rich amateur athletic leagues. Today, the program registers more than 5,400 teams in all 50 states, including Canada and Puerto Rico.

Learn more

source American Legion

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.

RELATED:

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.