TOMS RIVER MAN CHARGED WITH NARCOTICS DISTRIBUTION

TOMS RIVER NJ–Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced today the culmination of a two month long cooperative multi-agency investigation into narcotics distribution in the Toms River area. An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’

s Office Narcotics Strike Force and the Toms River Township Police Special Enforcement Team revealed that a residence in Toms River was being utilized to store and distribute quan

tities of Cocaine and Marijuana. On Friday, November 21, 2019, detectives executed a no-knock search warrant at a residence in Toms River. The search of the residence revealed approximately 80 grams of Cocaine, 216 grams of Marijuana, 62 THC vape cartridges, $38,500 in cash and a high-end security system that could monitor the traffic in the surrounding area of the residence. Robert Aparicio was arrested and taken into custody.

Aparicio, age 34, of Toms River was charged with Possession of Cocaine with the Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(2); Possession of Marijuana with the Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(11); Possession of Cocaine in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C: 35-10a(1); Possession of Marijuana in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(3); Possession of a Quantity of MDMA Pills in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1); Maintain a Fortified Structure as a Distribution Facility in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C: 35-4.1c; Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C: 21-25a; and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:36-2. Aparicio is currently lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Prosecutor Billhimer would like to thank the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Toms River Township Police Department Special Enforcement Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, Toms River Emergency Services Unit and the Toms River Police Department K-9 Unit for their collaborative efforts in this arrest.

The public and the media are reminded that all defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Two Atlantic County Men Plead Guilty to Setting Man on Fire

MAYS LANDING – Two men pleaded guilty on Thursday to aggravated assault after setting a man on fire in March, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner announced.

Brandon Perez

Brandon Perez, 23, of Hammonton and David Sult, 24, of Mays Landing, both pleaded guilty to second degree aggravated assault in exchange for five years New Jersey State Prison subject to the No Early Release Act (85% period of parole ineligibility and three years parole supervision upon release).

David Sult

On the evening of March 15, 2019, Brandon Perez and David Sult were at Sult’s residence in Mays Landing hanging out with a group of other men. Raymond Mullen was asleep on a couch when Perez and Sult decided to play a “prank” on him. Perez sprayed lighter fluid on the back of Raymond’s clothing. Perez ignited it. Raymond suffered severe burns to his back. The men claimed Raymond had been burned accidentally by an electronic smoking device but the investigation revealed the fire had been set intentionally.

Township of Hamilton Police Det. Lawrence Fernan investigated the incident and ACPO Det. Danielle Kratky assisted with the prosecution.

The men are on pretrial release, pending sentencing. They were released after a detention hearing. Sentencing is scheduled for February 28, 2020.

***These charges are merely an accusation and not proof of guilt. In all criminal cases, a charged defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ***

***************************

Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County. (source press release)

Remembering Inky, the Thanksgiving Whale

MediaWize

November 28, 2019

Sheila Dean, co-director of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, holds a replica of a pygmy sperm whale like the one found in Longport on Thanksgiving Day 1994.

Submitted by STEVE JASIECKI

It was 1994 on Thanksgiving Day when a female pygmy sperm whale ended up stranded on a beach in Longport. Police and volunteers gave up their dinners to watch over the whale until the Marine Mammal Stranding Center arrived. The whale was in very poor condition and wouldn’t survive without immediate care. It was transported to the stranding center, a flurry of phone calls were made, and the Coast Guard agreed to airlift the dolphin-sized whale by helicopter to the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland.

When she arrived in Baltimore she was weak, dehydrated and in shock. There were no obvious signs of any sickness or injuries. She had poor muscle tone and seemed malnourished. Marine veterinarians could not figure out what was wrong and they didn’t expect her to live.

Because animals that arrive in her condition usually don’t survive, the Marine Animal Rescue coordinator had to decide if the expense of her care was warranted. Veterinarians would observe her for a few days to see if there would be any improvement. Like squid, pygmy sperm whales squirt out an inky substance to elude predators and confuse their prey. Her attendants decided to try to rehabilitate her and she was given the name “Inky.”

Over the next several days, Inky remained lethargic. She ate very little and didn’t gain any weight. A series of tests including blood work and X-rays were performed but didn’t yield any results. Finally, after three weeks, an endoscopy was performed to see if she had any ulcers or foreign materials in her stomach.

The endoscopy didn’t find any ulcers but it did find something else — a mylar balloon, a trash bag and other types of plastic that blocked her digestive tract. Once the items were removed she was able to eat again. Although she started to gain weight, she was still weak from the stranding. She was sluggish and had difficulty swimming.

Like trainers in a gym, aquarium volunteers and staff members would help her exercise. They swam with her in the rehabilitation pool, coaxing her to swim harder, build muscle and gain strength. The goal was to get her strong enough to return her to the ocean.

It took a while, but Inky improved and she started to become more active. Her strength came back and after a while the staff felt that she was ready.

Preparations were made for Inky to be released back to her environment. When the time came, it was a sad but exciting day for all the technicians and volunteers who nursed her back to health. They said their goodbyes as Inky was loaded onto a Navy cargo plane that would fly her to Florida. After landing, she was taken to Marine Land where she needed to spend four more weeks in an outdoor pool to get adjusted to the outside environment.

It had been six months since she was found on the beach and after months of medical attention and rehabilitation, Inky was ready to be set free.

The final leg of her journey to the ocean came when she was loaded onto a NOAA research ship that would release her into the ocean. Inky was fitted with a tracking device and released into the middle of the Gulf Stream where she would be able to find her favorite food, squid. The ship stayed with her to make sure she would be OK while the crew monitored her behavior with the tracking device. She was swimming, making deep dives and feeding well and the crew felt confident that she would survive.

Not long before, Inky was stranded on a beach, starving because of human garbage in her stomach and she was expected to die. Hundreds of people were involved in bringing this helpless whale back to health. After traveling thousands of miles by trucks, helicopter, airplane and finally by ship, this small pygmy whale received a second chance at life.

Inky truly is a Thanksgiving Whale.

Steve Jasiecki is chairman of Sustainable Margate.

source https://somerspoint.com

Lower Township Police Arrest Four Suspects on Robbery Charges

Villas NJ (Nov. 29, 2019)— On Monday, November 25, 2019, at approximately 4:30 P.M., officers from the Lower Township Police Department responded to a call in the Villas section of the Township for a subject reporting he was assaulted and then robbed at gunpoint. Upon arrival, officers found the victim with injuries to his face. The victim told officers that he went to a residence in the

first block of East Atlantic Avenue to conduct a drug transaction when a juvenile male struck him in the face. Investigation revealed that an adult male, Louis Garcia, 18, of North Cape May, then pointed a handgun at the victim and told him to empty his pockets.

The victim was treated by Lower Township Rescue and transported to Cape Regional Medical Center for further evaluation and medical treatment.

During the investigation, Detectives from The Lower Township Police Department, The Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office and the Cape May County SWAT Team executed a search warrant at the home on East Atlantic Avenue. During the search of the home, an adult male, Jonathan Halas, 19, of Cape May and a male juvenile were taken into custody. A short time later, additional suspects, Louis Garcia and a second male juvenile were located at a separate house, also in the first block of East Atlantic Avenue, where they were also taken into custody.

The four suspects were charged with Robbery, Title 2C:15-1a (1); Aggravated Assault, Title 2C:12-1b (1); Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Title 2C:39-5b; Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Title 2C:39-4a; and Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, Title 2C:5-2. The adults were then lodged at the Cape May County Correctional Center and both juveniles were placed in a juvenile security facility.

Address/Location

Lower Township Police Department

405 Breakwater Rd

Cape May, NJ 08204

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 609-886-1619

Coast Guard closes search for missing kite surfer near Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, N.J. (Nov. 29, 2019)-—The Coast Guard has closed the search for a missing kite surfer near Ocean City, New Jersey, after the missing individual called and reported themselves to be safe, Friday morning.

Coast Guard Station Atlantic City watchstanders received a call from 911, notifying them of a kite surfer reportedly wearing all black, seen drifting out to sea after falling off a kiteboard approximately 500-yards off Corson Inlet, at around 3:20 p.m., Thursday evening.

At approximately 10 p.m. this morning, the missing kite surfer contacted Sector Delaware Bay watchstanders to inform them that after his kite malfunctioned, he had cut it free and used the board to paddle ashore and return home.

Involved in the search were:

Air Station Atlantic City MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew

Station Atlantic City 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew

Station Cape May 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew

Ocean City Police Department members

New Jersey State Police helicopter aircrew

Coast Guard members searched an area covering approximately 550 square miles over a period of 16 hours.

\”This case highlights the effectiveness of the interagency search and rescue system,\” said Petty Officer 1st Class Alex Castonguay, a watchstander at the Sector Delaware Bay command center. \”Cases like this also illustrate the importance of labeling your kayaks, canoes, kite boards and other recreational marine vehicles, so that in the event they are lost, or you are missing, we can reach out to contact you or return it.\”

-USCG-

Coast Guard searches for missing kite surfer near Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, N.J.(Nov. 28, 2019)– —The Coast Guard is searching for a missing kite surfer near Ocean City, New Jersey, Thursday evening.

Coast Guard Station Atlantic City watchstanders received a call from 911, notifying them of a kite surfer, reportedly wearing all black, seen drifting out to sea after falling off a kiteboard approximately 500-yards off Corson Inlet, at around 3:20 p.m.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew from Air Station Atlantic City, a Station Atlantic City 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew, and a Station Cape May 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew to search for the missing person.

Anyone with additional information regarding this case can contact the Sector Delaware Bay command center at 215-271-4960.

How to Plan the Ultimate Solo Vacation

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(Nov. 28, 2019)–Sometimes life just gets to us, and that’s alright. Needing an escape is not a problem; it’s just a chance to treat yourself to a new routine. It’s healthy, it’s fun, and no, you don’t need to try to organize a trip with friends. If you find it’s difficult to get everyone to agree on dates, on destinations, on what to do or where to go – then go without them. Solo travel is very invigorating when you’re stressed, and can help you have the perfect trip that you’ve always wanted.

To ensure you get a full, rounded, enriching vacation, however, you’re going to want to follow these tips:

Choose a Destination with the Right Weather

There is always going to be great weather somewhere. If the temperature matters to you, then the temperature is going to dictate when and where you can go. If you need a sunny escape during winter, then heading south to

great destinations like Australia

is definitely the way to go. By choosing the weather first, you won’t be disappointed and instead can soak in the sun.

Read Local Guides Before You Go

The best way to learn about what there is to do is to read local guides written by local people. Try to stay away from big corporate travel sites, as their recommendations are going to be skewered. If you want a real, authentic, quality experience, then going where the locals go is your best bet. You can do this for nights out, for food and drink, and even for finding some hidden treasures in your destination that don’t get featured a million times on Instagram.

Be Aware of What is Available in Your Destination

Travel out of state, and the rules will be different. Travel out of the country, however, and you can enjoy a wholly unique experience that is simply not afforded to you back home. Head over to Australia for vacation, for example, and you’d be surprised to learn that brothels like Brisbane’s

cleosonnile.com.au

are exhilarating, legal, and safe. This keeps the experience safe and pleasurable for everyone.

Each country has its own set of rules, and knowing what you can (and cannot) do on vacation is a good way to make the most out of your trip and to ensure you don’t accidentally get in trouble.

Find Events and Book Tickets

Always check to see what events will be going on when you are in town. A great concert, a festival, your favorite comedian – there are so many opportunities at any given time. Going to an event will make your trip more unique and special.

Keep Your Trip Simple

Overdoing your itinerary

is going to be the death of you. Yes, you’ll be fully in charge of what you do, where you go, and what you see, but you don’t want to rush from place to place. You need to take some time to enjoy yourself and soak in the experience and quiet your mind. Regardless of how fun and exciting your trip is, taking some moments to be still will help you relax and rejuvenate so that you can return home well-rested in the mind and spirit.

5 Things That Could Go Wrong During Your Next Trip to Vegas

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(Nov. 28, 2019)–It is not called Sin City for nothing. Las Vegas is a great place to go to for fun, gambling, entertainment and yes, some good, old fashioned debauchery. While the thrill-seekers paradise in the desert has become a lot more family-friendly over the last few decades, there is still plenty that can go wrong during a trip to Vegas. While the worst-case over-the-top scenario looks something like the movie

The Hangover

, there are plenty of other, more realistic things that can ruin your next Vegas vacation. Here are 5 things that could go wrong during your next trip to Vegas.

Get banned from a casino

Nothing will sour your trip to Sin City like getting tossed out of and banned from the casino. Aside from trying to cheat to win money (which we will discuss later), there are a few guaranteed ways to be asked to leave not so nicely by very large security guards.

Gambling News Magazine

has a pretty comprehensive list of the faux pas that will earn you a swift exit. These things include the number one reason, getting too intoxicated, as well as things like acting inappropriately at the tables, forgetting casino etiquette, or taking pictures on the casino floor.

Get caught cheating

There are a lot of ways to win in Vegas which also means there are a lot of ways to try to cheat to win. Getting caught by casino security or the “eye in the sky” trying to scam the casino is a surefire recipe to be ejected from the casino and not allowed back in here is what the casinos are looking for in the different table games to find cheaters.

Blackjack

– Card counting is the biggest way of cheating in blackjack. This is when players keep a running tally of what cards have come out and what cards have not. When the odds are against the player they bet less and when they are in their favor, they bet more. While not technically illegal, if you are accused of this you will get kicked out of the casino. The most famous example of card counting the

MIT Blackjack Team

in the mid-1990s who took the casinos for millions and inspired the book and movie, Bringing Down the House.

Roulette

–

In roulette, there are multiple ways to cheat and win big. All of which will get you a swift exit from the casino.

Gambler Daily Digest

lays out all the ways you can chest the spinning wheel. This includes everything from working with another player to using technology and modifying the wheel itself. There are even more technical ways included such as past posting and sector targeting.

Poker

– There are also multiple ways to cheat in poker including working with another player and the use of technology. While not in Vegas, there is currently a

major scandal

going on in the poker world that includes allegations of cheating by a player who plays in televised games in a casino in California.

Losing money

Everyone goes to Vegas in the hopes of winning big but, unfortunately, many players walk away with their wallets much lighter than when they started. One of the games people lose at the most is the slots. While it may feel like you are not losing big because you are only playing small bets, these can add up. While lots of people love the one-armed bandits, they can also be a money drench. If you want to play the slots anyway, you really need to learn how to give your chance the best odds to win.

Weekly Slots News

has a great guide on how to get better at slots and have a much better chance of winning that jackpot.

Getting married

Tons of people go to Las Vegas to get married every year. In fact, there are over 120,000 marriages performed in the city annually which translates to around 10,000 per month. While many people come to the desert specifically for this purpose, there are some who have no intention to do so but end up with a husband or wife anyways. Steve Lewis from

Online Casino Gems

says, “I have seen a lot of quickie weddings over the years. Everything from couples who have been engaged forever deciding spur of the moment to hit the chapel to couples who literally just met that night. It is one of the things you will ONLY see in Las Vegas.”

Being burned by the elements

If you were not already aware, Las Vegas is right in the middle of the Mojave Desert. It is one of the things that makes the city so unique but also what can make outdoor conditions very dangerous. Inside all the hotels and casinos, you will find a perfectly air-conditioned atmosphere. However, when you venture outside, there could be potentially dangerous conditions to deal with. A desert climate is known for very hot days and cold nights. Depending on the season, temperatures during the day can soar into the 100s. At night, they can drop to near freezing at times.

Make sure you are prepared for whatever the elements will bring if you decide to venture out of the temperature-controlled casinos. If you are lounging by the pool or going on a day hike, you will need to wear plenty of sunscreen to protect you from burns. Nothing can ruin a Vegas trip faster than second-degree sunburn. If you are going out to explore the natural surroundings and will be out past sundown, make sure you have warm clothing available to put on.

Conclusion

Yes, there is a lot that can go wrong during your next Vegas trip but do not let that scare you away. For most, Las Vegas is an amazing time with unforgettable experiences that will last a lifetime. If you follow the rules, don’t try to cheat, respect the desert, set yourself a budget and stay away from unplanned wedding ceremonies, you will have an amazing time that will keep you coming back to Vegas again and again.

350 Coast Guard Recruits to Enjoy Thanksgiving with South Jersey Families

CAPE MAY, N.J. (Nov. 27, 2019)– U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May and the American Red Cross will place more than 350 Coast Guard recruits with South Jersey families for Thanksgiving as part of Operation Fireside,

Thursday.

Operation Fireside has placed recruits with South Jersey families during the holiday season since 1981. It allows recruits to celebrate the holiday with a host family while they’re separated from their loved ones during the rigorous basic training program.

Operation Fireside has been coordinated annually by the American Red Cross Southern Shore Chapter in Cape May Court House, N.J., since the program started more than three decades ago. The Red Cross solicits and tracks volunteers and host families, while Training Center Cape May pairs each recruit with a family on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The families and the recruits will meet at Training Center Cape May’s Flores Gymnasium before departing the training center. While the recruits are off base, they will be allowed to eat as much as they want, call home, and relax before beginning training again the next day.

Training Center Cape May is the Coast Guard’s only enlisted basic training program, and more than 80 percent of the service’s workforce receives basic instruction here to become Coast Guardsmen. The recruits are trained in everything from fire arm

Drug Raid in Cape May County Nets Meth and Heroin

Cape May Court House, New Jersey (Nov. 27, 2019)–– Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland, and Lower Township Police Chief William Mastriana announce the arrest of Jennifer R. Pagano, a 48 year old resident of Seagrove Avenue in

Lower Township, N.J. on drug possession and distribution charges.

On November 8, 2019, detectives from the Cape May County Prosecutors Office Gangs, Gun’s and Narcotics Task Force and the Lower Township Police Department concluded a two month long investigation into the distribution of illegal narcotics by Pagano in Cape May County.

On November 8, 2019, the Cape May County Regional SWAT Team executed a Court authorized search warrant in the 600 block of Seagrove Avenue in Lower Township. As a result of this search warrant, distribution amounts of suspected heroin and methamphetamine were seized from Pagano’s residence along with drug paraphernalia.

Pagano was charged with possession of heroin, a crime of the third degree; possession of methamphetamine, a crime of the third degree; distribution of heroin, a crime of the third degree; distribution of methamphetamine, a crime of the third degree; and possession with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia, a crime of the fourth degree. Pagano was processed and released with summonses pending Court proceedings. *

Prosecutor Sutherland stated that his office will continue to work hand in hand with the local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to target anyone selling illegal controlled dangerous substances. Prosecutor Sutherland continues to urge the citizens of Cape May County to report any information regarding illegal drug activity and or any criminal activity within the community and that this information can be reported anonymously through the Cape May County Sheriffs Tip Line at cmcsheriff.net and click on anonymous tip, or through the Cape May County Crime Stoppers at 609-465-2800, or the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-465-1135.

* Any charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless she is proven guilty.