Cops bust alleged heroin ring operating near Asbury Park

FREEHOLD — Monmouth County authorities say they busted a drug ring that moved 7,500 bags of heroin a week through the Asbury Park area. “Operation High Life,” as the four-month investigation was dubbed, culminated with the arrest this week of seven of nine suspects and the seizure of more than 10,000 bags of heroin that were… Read the rest of this entry »

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Ex-Monmouth County prosecutor charged with drunken driving

EAST WINDSOR – Former Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis Valentin is due in court next week to face drunken driving charges from a December arrest in East Windsor, authorities said Friday. Valentin, 49, who currently works as an attorney in the civil rights division of the Attorney General’s Office, is scheduled to appear in East Windsor Municipal… Read the rest of this entry »

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Asbury Park man indicted for firing at cop in shooting that injured 8 year old girl

FREEHOLD – A Monmouth County grand jury has indicted a 20-year-old Asbury Park man on six counts, including attempted murder, after he allegedly exchanged gunfire with a police officer in November. At approximately 7:15 p.m. on Nov. 4, an Asbury Park police officer attempted to conduct a field stop of Dante Allen, 20, of Asbury Park,… Read the rest of this entry »

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10K BAGS OF HEROIN SEIZED IN KEYPORT PARKING LOT

FREEHOLD – Investigators seized 10,000 bags of heroin with an estimated street value of as much as $100,000, as part of an undercover operation that culminated in the arrests of two New York City women, announced Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Vikky V. Morel, 26, and Niudis Vazquez-Moncion, 34, both of the Bronx in New York City, were arrested Tuesday afternoon when they delivered the large quantity of heroin to undercover detectives in the parking lot of a supermarket on Route 36 in Keyport. Both women are charged with third degree Possession of Heroin and first degree Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute and are being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold Township, in lieu of bail. Morel is being held on $325,000 bail, with no option to post 10 percent, and a required bail source hearing.  Vazquez-Moncion is being held on $250,000 bail, with no option to post 10 percent, and a required bail source hearing.  A bail source hearing is conducted at the request of the prosecutor or judge as a means to ensure that the funds used by a defendant to post bail were not acquired as a result of criminal or unlawful conduct.

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Prosecutor seeks additional victims of Middletown con man

Christopher D. Biello. photo via facebook

The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office is concerned that a Middletown con man may have fleeced far more people than they already have identified.

Christopher D. Biello, 43, of Coe Place in the Port Monmouth section of the township, was arrested last week and charged with 14 crimes including Theft by Deception, Impersonation, Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card, Forgery and Falsifying Records following a year-long investigation.

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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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SHERIFF’S OFFICE PARTNERS WITH JEWISH LEADERS TO ADDRESS SECURITY NEEDS

Sheriff Shaun Golden

Freehold– Sheriff Shaun Golden, Acting Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni and a FBI special agent met with members of The Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey at the Sheriff’s Public Safety Center on Tuesday to share information on active shooters response and faith based security.

“It’s vital that all of our residents be aware of contemporary situations involving harmful activities by individuals or groups that may target segments of our population,” said Golden. “That’s why it’s important religious leaders learn about issues such as active shooter scenarios to help ensure the safety of their organizations. I’m proud to have hosted this event for our partners of the Jewish community.”

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Expected Pot Delivery Turns Into Armed Robbery In Atlantic Highlands

Two Atlantic Highlands residents were surprised on Thursday when the the guys they ordered marijuana from pulled a gun and pepper spray, robbed them of $265 and fled the scene.

The victims, who were not named in Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni’s press release, called the Atlantic Highlands Police Department.   The Sea Bright Police Department spotted the robber’s vehicle on Ocean Avenue a short while later and followed the perps into Rumson. The Atlantic Highlands PD arrested the men in Rumson.

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Woman critical after being shot during large fight at party, authorities say

NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP — A Neptune Township woman was shot during a large fight that broke out at a party in town Friday night, authorities said. The woman, who was not identified, was in critical condition after being rushed to the hospital following the fight at the party at the VFW hall on Route 33, said Charlie… Read the rest of this entry »

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Pedophile Gets 12 years

Kevin Motyka. photo via facebook

Kevin Motyka, 24, of Howell Township, was sentenced to 12 years in state prison for sexually assaulting a toddler and electronically recording the act, according to a statement by Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Motyka must serve 85% of his sentence before being eligible for parole.   He will be subject to the provision of Megan’s Law, Parole Supervision for life and is banned from having unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 18, pursuant to the sentence imposed by Judge Anthony J. Mellaci, Jr.

A tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led to the arrest of Motyka in February of 2014.

A Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Computer Crimes Unit investigation revealed Motyka sexually assaulted a 2-year-old boy between May and December 2012, and created photographs and video recordings of the attacks. The defendant also distributed child pornography of images that did not include his young victim.

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