Lumberton Elected Official Pleads Guilty to Child Abuse and DUI

Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw announced that a member of the Lumberton Township Committee who was charged last year with drunk driving and failing to protect her young child who was in the vehicle at the time of the incident was sentenced yesterday to three years of supervision under a diversionary program for first-time offenders known as Pretrial Intervention (PTI).

Under terms imposed by the Hon. Craig A. Ambrose, J.S.C, Gina LaPlaca, 46, must continue to provide proof of attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and abide by specific conditions of participation in the PTI program, such as compliance with any requirements imposed by the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency.

Those who fail to abide by the conditions can be terminated from the program and prosecuted on their criminal charges. For LaPlaca, that would be a fourth-degree Child Abuse charge, to which she pled guilty yesterday in Superior Court in Mount Holly.

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Coast Guard Interdicts Suspected Drug Smuggling Vessel

MIAMI – Coast Guard Cutter Richard Etheridge’s crew interdicted a suspected smuggling vessel, Saturday, at approximately 2:15 p.m., about 8 miles offshore of Miami.

During the boarding, the joint law enforcement crew found approximately 17 pounds of marijuana and 174 pounds of cocaine, later confirmed through laboratory testing, worth an estimated $1.3 million.

The two suspected smugglers were taken into custody for further investigation by Homeland Security Investigations.

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Overnight Incidents

The following information is preliminary and subject to change as the investigation continues. Updates will be provided as they become available.

The Philadelphia Police Department is currently investigating several overnight shooting incidents and a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred across the city.

On March 1, 2026, at approximately 1:51 a.m., officers from the 12th District responded to the area of 60th Street and Greenway Avenue for a report of a person with a gun. Upon arrival, officers located a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the left thigh. The victim was transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition. At this time, no arrests have been made, and a motive has not been determined. The investigation is ongoing with the Shooting Investigation Group.

Shooting and Double Stabbing Investigation

At approximately 3:45 p.m., police responded to the 3100 block of Jasper Street in the 24th District for reports of a shooting and stabbing involving three adult males.

All three individuals were found on the highway with injuries. Police transported Victim #1, a 26-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the stomach, to Temple Hospital. Victim #2, a 22-year-old male, was also transported to Temple Hospital with stab wounds to his stomach. A third victim, a 21-year-old male, walked into Episcopal Hospital with a stab wound to his torso and was later transferred to Temple Hospital by a medic unit.

At this time, all three victims are reported to be in stable condition. There is currently no known motive, and no arrests have been made. The incident remains under active investigation by the Shooting Investigation Group.

This information is preliminary and subject to change, and updates will be provided as they become available.

Wanted: Suspect for Assault in the 9th District [VIDEO]

Camden Diocese Reaches $180 Million Settlement with Abuse Survivors, More Than Doubling Previous Agreement

Thursday, February 19, 2026

The Diocese of Camden has agreed to pay $180 million to more than 300 survivors of clerical sexual abuse, marking one of the largest such settlements in New Jersey history and representing a significant expansion of compensation for victims who have waited years for justice. The agreement, announced Tuesday in a letter from Bishop Joseph A. Williams to diocesan clergy and faithful, more than doubles the $87.5 million settlement the diocese reached in 2022. The victim support fund will be financed through contributions from the diocese, its parishes, and insurance carriers following a protracted legal dispute. The settlement represents a breakthrough after years of contentious negotiations between the diocese, claimants’ attorneys, and insurance companies that had resisted earlier payment demands. The agreement must still receive approval from the bankruptcy court, as the Camden diocese has operated under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection since 2020.

A Long-Awaited Milestone

In his letter dated February 17, Bishop Williams acknowledged the profound significance of the moment for those who suffered abuse at the hands of clergy members. The bishop offered a direct apology to victims, calling their suffering the result of “grave sin and a devastating betrayal of the trust you placed in the Church that you loved.”

Years of Legal Battles

According to a statement from Lowenstein Sandler, the law firm representing plaintiffs in the case, the new agreement supplements rather than replaces the earlier settlement, bringing total compensation to victims to more than a quarter-billion dollars.

For the more than 300 survivors involved in this case, the settlement offers financial recognition of their suffering, though many advocates note that no amount of money can truly compensate for the trauma of childhood sexual abuse and its lifelong consequences.

Context and Implications

The agreement also reflects the ongoing financial and moral reckoning facing the Catholic Church as it continues to confront the legacy of clergy sexual abuse scandals that have spanned decades.

For more information, visit: https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2026/02/diocese-of-camden-nj-reaches-180-million-abuse-settlement

Essex County Man Arrested for Attempting to Engage in Sexual Conduct with Minor

Camden County, NJ – An Essex County man has been arrested and charged for attempting to engage in sexual conduct with an underage girl whom he met online, reported Camden County Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay.

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Arrest Made in July 2025 Shooting Death of 19-Year-Old in Germantown

Philadelphia Police announced Tuesday that an arrest has been made in the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old that occurred last summer in the city’s Germantown neighborhood.

Tayvone Bibbs was taken into custody on Feb. 17 by the Fugitive Task Force in connection with the July 3, 2025 murder of Michael Allen. Bibbs was extradited from a correctional facility in Montgomery County to Philadelphia to face formal charges.

The incident began in the early morning hours of July 3, 2025. At approximately 5:31 a.m., Philadelphia police officers responded to a “person with a gun” call on the 200 block of East Rittenhouse Street. Upon arrival, police discovered Allen on the highway suffering from a gunshot wound to the face.

Emergency medical personnel arrived shortly thereafter and pronounced Allen dead at the scene at 5:47 a.m.

Investigators have not yet released a motive for the shooting.

Bibbs’ capture marks a significant turn in the seven-month investigation led by the Homicide Unit.

A booking photograph of the suspect is not currently available.

Following a Stabbing, West Deptford Man Charged with Attempted Murder

Woodbury, NJ 9FEBRUARY 13, 20260– Randall D. Bilger, 61, of West Deptford, was arrested and charged with first-degree attempted murder and third-degree unlawful possession of a weapon following a stabbing that left one adult injured, Gloucester County Prosecutor Andrew B. Johns announced.

According to documents filed in this case:

West Deptford responded Friday morning after a witness called 911 to report Bilger was bleeding and holding a knife. The witness had gone to the residence to check on the victim, an adult female. They told officers that after finding the front door locked, they went to the back door, where Bilger answered, holding a knife and covered in blood, and said “It’s not a good time.”

When police arrived, Bilger came to the front door but ignored orders to exit the house.

Officer then entered the home, arrested Bilger, and found the victim suffering from multiple stab wounds.

The victim reported that Bilger had stabbed them in the shoulder hours earlier and again in the abdomen shortly before the witness knocked on the door. The victim was transported to a hospital for treatment.

The maximum terms of incarceration are 20 years for the attempted murder charge and 5 years for the weapons charge.

Prosecutor Johns also thanked the West Deptford Police Department and the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit for their assistance in the investigation.

The charges contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Wanted: Suspect for Robbery in the 15th District

NEDD is attempting to identify the suspect pictured above in reference to a robbery which occurred on February 5, 2026 at approximately 5:28am. The victim was waiting for the bus on the 6900 block of Torresdale Ave when an unknown black male approached her. The offender pulled the strap of her purse causing the complainant to fall to the ground and then dragged her for a short distance. The offender fled on foot on the 4600 block of Disston St. Taken was the victim’s blue purse containing cash, Samsung Galaxy 9 cell, keys, and ID.

Suspect Description: Black male, 30-40years old, 6’0, 210lbs, full beard, blue/green, stripped shirt, blue jeans and boots.
To view this video and more, visit The Philadelphia Police YouTube Channel or https://phillypolice.com/news