Former Asbury Park Housing Director Indicted

Mark W. Homes

Mark W. Holmes, 54, of Lawrence Township, was indicted by a Monmouth County Grand Jury on 39 counts of Official Misconduct, 2 counts of Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card and one count of Theft by Deception, according to a announcement by Acting Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Holmes is the former Executive Director of the Asbury Park Housing Authority and a former mayor and councilman in Lawrence Township.

He was arrested on Fraud and Theft charges in July of 2013.  He remains free on the $70,000 bail that was set at that time by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Francis J. Vernoia, who was recently elevated to the Appellate Division.

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One dead, one critical in Asbury Park shooting

Jamal Small

Jamar Small, 24, was gunned down and killed on the 1000 block of Summerfield Avenue in Asbury Park on Sunday, according to a statement by Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni. Another male shooting victim whose name was not released by Gramiccioni remains in critical condition at an undisclosed local hospital.

Small was a recent graduate of Texas Southern University and the quarterback of the school’s football team.

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Cops nab ‘career burglar’ who stole $1M from affluent homes in Monmouth County

HOLMDEL — A Neptune man, who has a lengthy record with law enforcement, was charged Thursday in connection with a string of residential burglaries that netted $1 million in stolen items. Thomas “Tommy” Earls of Neptune Township was charged with burglary, theft, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief, shoplifting and unlawful taking means of conveyance after a… Read the rest of this entry »

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Firefighters battle blaze in bedroom of Middletown house

MIDDLETOWN — About 60 firefighters from four different fire stations responded Saturday to a fire in a two-story home on Route 36. The fire, first reported at 11:41 a.m., was contained to a second-floor bedroom and was declared under control by 12 p.m., said Dennis W. Fowler, a spokesman for the Middletown Fire Department. No one… Read the rest of this entry »

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Freehold Bomb Threat Was Domestic Terrorism Hoax

Monmouth County authorities arrested Jessee Carroll, 22, of Middletown on Friday and charged him with making bomb threats at the AMC theater complex at Freehold Raceway Mall on Monday December 14 and again on Friday the 18th.

Carroll is being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution on $200,000 bail with no 10% option as set by Superior Court Judge Honora O’Brien Kilgallen.  Should he make bail, Carroll is ordered not to return to the scene of the crime or any other movie theaters.

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Second false alarm this week at AMC Theater at Freehold Raceway Mall

FREEHOLD – For the second time in less than a week a bomb threat was made at the AMC Theater complex at the Freehold Raceway Mall, and again authorities have sounded an “all clear” after no explosives were discovered inside this afternoon, announced Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

A series of notes were discovered inside the men’s room of the theater around 11:30 a.m. Friday containing threats to the theater. The theater was evacuated and no credible threat or explosives were discovered on scene. The theater was reopened about two hours and 15 minutes later.

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A Very RAINEy Christmas

Slideshow photos by Tamara Woolley and Art Gallagher

Giving has been the gift for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of RAINE Foundation volunteer over the last three weeks as they gave their time and effort to ensure over 400 families and an estimated 2600 children from throughout Monmouth County have Christmas gifts this holiday season.

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Off-duty N.J. cop stops road-rage attack, police say

Sgt. Frank Passantino

WALL TOWNSHIP — An off-duty police officer from Long Branch intervened when he spotted one man threatening another with a baseball bat Friday, Det. Lt. Pete Lokerson of Wall police said. Two drivers came to a stop at a traffic light at Rt. 138 and New Bedford Road and left their vehicles, one of whom, 45-year-old… Read the rest of this entry »

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Police Recruits Graduate, Embark on a Career in Law Enforcement

Sheriff Shaun Golden salutes a new policewoman

Sheriff Shaun Golden is pleased to announce the graduation of 68 newly sworn in law enforcement officers from the Monmouth County Police Academy.  On Dec. 17 recruits from the 89^th Basic Course for Police Officers received their police training commission certifications during a ceremony at Neptune High School’s Performing Arts Center.

“By successfully completing this training, these fine men and women have demonstrated their commitment to law enforcement,” said Sheriff Shaun Golden.  “That is a great privilege, since there is no higher responsibility, than maintaining public safety. I’m proud of their accomplishments and commend all for a job well done.”

The Basic Course for Police Officers is a 20 week program with 780 hours of training. The class is run through the Monmouth County Police Academy and upon completion the officers are well trained and well prepared to serve their respective law enforcement agencies.

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The Force Awakens in Atlantic Highlands

If you’re like me… you have to see the movie but don’t like crowded malls, head over to our sponsor, Atlantic Cinemas, on 1st Ave. in Atlantic Highlands where Star Wars: The Force Awakens is playing, starting Friday afternoon.

Showtimes this weekend are Fri: 4:00, 7:00, 9:45;

Sat: 1:15, 4:00, 7:00, 9:45 and Sun: 1:15, 4:00, 7:00.

3D: Fri: 6:30, 9:15; Sat:1:00, 3:45, 6:30, 9:15; Sun: 1:00, 4:15, 7:00

See the trailer below the fold:

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