Former Middletown Police Chief Joseph M. McCarthy Passes At Age 92

Former Middletown Police Chief Joseph M. McCarthy, 92, passed away on Monday.  McCarthy led the Middletown PD from 1960 until his retirement in 1990.

Township Clerk Heidi Brunt posted the following tribute to McCarthy on facebook: Read the rest of this entry »

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Middletown Porch Poacher Caught and Released

The Middletown Police department announced that they have arrested the women who was caught on video stealing a package from the porch of a Statesir Place home last week.

Lauren Miller, 51, of West Front Street in the Township was arrested this morning by Detectives Daniel Sullivan and Keith Hirschbein.  Miller was charged with three counts of theft, processed and released pending a court date.

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Cops interrupt burglary at Middletown’s red store

MIDDLETOWN – Authorities are investigating the attempted burglary of store that was interrupted early Thursday morning. Some time before 4:15 a.m. on Thursday, police responded to The Red Store on the corner of Navesink and Monmouth avenues in the Navesink section of the township for a possible burglary in progress. Officers arrived at the scene and… Read the rest of this entry »

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Middletown Police Seeks Public Support in Locating Driver Who Dragged and Robbed Gas Station Attendent

The Middletown Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the driver of white, 4 door Toyota Corolla LE (2000-2012) with tinted windows who robbed a gas station attendant and dragged him 35 feet before heading north on Route 36 in Belford on Saturday evening August 15.

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Hit and Run Driver Arrested

Toni Marletta
photo via facebook

Middletown Police have charged Toni Ann Marletta, 49 of the Leonardo section of the Township, in the hit and run motor vehicle crash that resulted in the death in Marissa Procopia, 15 of Atlantic Highlands.

Marletta was charged with Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident, Failing to Report a Motor Vehicle Accident, No Insurance, Unsafe Tires and Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident. She is being held on $150,000.00 bail with no 10% option set by Judge Honora O’Brien-Kilgallen of the Monmouth County Superior Court.

Marletta is not listed yet as an inmate on the Monmouth County Sheriff’s website, as of 1 p.m.

Charles Webster, spokesperson for the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, told MMM that Marletta was being held in Middletown where she was unable to post bail.  Webster said she in custody and being transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution.

Cynthia Scott, spokesperson for the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, told MMM that Marletta was booked into the Correctional Institution at about 1:30 p.m.

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Hit and Run Victim, 15, Is On Life Support

Marissa Procopio photo via facebook

Marissa Procopio, the 15 year old Atlantic Highlands girl who was struck by a hit and run driver in Middletown on Tuesday, is on life support at Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune.  Previous published reports said she had died of her injuries on Wednesday afternoon at 3:46.

An official of the Henry Hudson Regional High School District who asked not to be named for this story told MoreMonmouthMusings that Marissa’s family was informed by her doctor that there was no blood flowing to her brain and that there was no hope of recovery. The family has chosen to keep Marissa on a life sustaining ventilator for two days in order that family members can travel to say good-bye, according to the school official.  The official said that the high school principal visited Marissa at the hospital on Wednesday at 5:45 pm, two hours after the reported death.

Robert Cavanaugh, spokesperson for Jersey Shore Medical Center, declined to confirm Marissa’s condition, citing HIPAA regulations that the hospital’s policy against commenting on the condition of minors.   An telephone operator a Jersey Shore said that Marissa is patient in the Intensive Care Unit.

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Atlantic Highlands Girl, 15, Succumbs To Hit And Run Injuries

UPDATED: As of Thursday morning, Marissa is still on life support at Jersey Shore Medical Center

A 15 year old Atlantic Highlands girl who was struck by a hit and run driver Tuesday evening on Route 36 in the Leonardo section of Middletown died as a result of her injuries this afternoon, according to a report in The Two River Times.

Marissa Procopio was crossing the highway at the intersection of Ave D at approximately 8:25 pm when she was stuck by a light grey compact car traveling west.  The car fled the scene before police arrived.  Marissa was transported via Medivac helicopter to Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune.  She succumbed to her injuries at 3:46 this afternoon.

A review of videotape of provided by local business owner Michael D’Alessio resulted in the Middletown Police to announce that the vehicle which struck Marissa was driven by Toni Marletta, 49, of Leonardo.

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Middletown Stands With Law Enforcement

Township Committee Calls For Residents to Light Their Homes Blue

In response to the execution style murders of NYPD Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, the Middletown Township Committee has order that Town Hall be lit blue starting tonight through January 1st, 2015.

The Township Committee issued the following statement this morning:

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Middletown Oxy Ring Busted

Suspended Doctor Caught Selling Forged Scripts for $300-$400

The Middletown Police Department in conjunction with investigators from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the State Attorney General’s Division of Consumer Affairs broke up a prescription drug enterprise Thursday night following a month long investigation, according to a statement by Acting Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Dr. Kenneth Lewandowski

Dr. Kenneth Lewandowski, 51, of Tatum Dr , Middletown, was charged with six counts of third degree Conspiracy, six counts of third degree Forgery and the Unlawful Practice of Medicine, also a third degree crime.  He was held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution on $140,000 bail as set by Middletown Municipal Judge Richard Thompson.

Lewandowski’s medical license was temporarily suspended last April after he was arrested for DUI three times in the six weeks between February 14 and March 31.  His DUI arrests occurred in Middletown, Lakewood and Wall.  The Lakewood incident included an accident that resulted in injuries.  Lewandowski was charged with Assault by Auto in that case, according to the Order suspending his medical license.

Thomas Menendez, 50, of Geary Drive in Middletown is alleged to be Lewandowski’s partner in the criminal enterprise.  Menendez was charged with six counts of  third degree Conspiracy and six counts of third degree Forgery.  Judge Thompson set Menendez’s bail at $30,000.

Neither Lewandowski or Menendez are currently in the custody of the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, according to APP’s Data Universe.

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Middletown Has A New Police Chief

R. Craig Weber was sworn in as the 8th Chief to lead the Middletown Township Police Department over its 86 year history last evening before an overflow crowd at Town Hall.

Mayor Stephanie C. Murray administered the Oath of Office as Weber’s family stood beside him.

During his remarks, Weber acknowledged the support and friendship of his Deputy Chiefs and all the members of the department.  He welcomed the Chiefs of several area municipalities and law enforcement leaders from County, State and Federal law enforcement agencies.  Weber said that under his leadership there would be an increased level of cooperation with other agencies.

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