Lakewood Man Indicted For 100 MPH Crash That Killed 82-Year-Old: Ocean County Prosecutor
An Ocean County man was indicted by a grand jury on Wednesday, May 21, for vehicular homicide after driving more than 100 mph in a crash that killed an 82-year-old man in 2024, authorities said.
On Sunday, May 3, 2024, at 9 a.m. Lakewood police responded to the crash at the intersection of County Line Road and Laurelwood, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.
Aryeh Bakst, 20, was driving a 2023 Tesla west on County Line Road when his car hit a 2013 Toyota Corolla driven by 82-year-old Jules Brotsky, a Lakewood resident in the intersection, Billhimer said.
Bakst, a Lakewood reside…
Infant Dies After Struck By Car Driven By Mother In Jackson Township: Prosecutor
A 10-month old infant was fatally struck by a vehicle driven by his mother in Jackson Township on Saturday, May 17, authorities said.
Wendy Castillo-Torres, a 30-year-old Lakehurst resident, was driving without a license when she struck her son with her car, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.
At 6:15 p.m., Castillo-Torres was cleaning motor vehicles in a friend's garage in Jackson, Billhimer said. The infant was positioned in a bouncer seat between two vehicles, Billhimer said.
After cleaning the cars, Castillo-Torres entered one of the vehicles to move it, but instead of plac…
Ocean County Trio Shot Into Toms River Residence: Prosecutor
Three Ocean County residents were indicted by a grand jury for attempted murder on Thursday, May 8, after they shot into a residence in Toms River in January, authorities said.
On Monday, Jan. 13, at 1:55 a.m., Toms River police responded to Justice Court after three men shot into a residence occupied by an adult and two children, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.
The three men were later identified as Lyjhahn Cromartie, a 19-year-old Lakehurst resident, Shazir Vallade, a 20-year-old Lakewood resident and Javir Askew-Mayweather, a 21-year-old Manchester resident, Billhimer sai…
90 Burglaries, 230 Charges: Serial NJ Burglar Busted, Brick Police Say
A Berkeley Township man has been arrested and hit with more than 200 charges after committing more than 90 burglaries in Monmouth and Ocean counties, authorities said.
Between December 2024 and January 2025, officers investigated 40 burglaries committed at the CubeSmart storage facility off Route 70, Brick Township police said. The suspect, later identified as Craig Orler, cut through a fence and used bolt cutters to access the storage unit, police said.
Items stolen included an ATV, a motorcycle, car parts, a car engine and various personal items, police said.
Orler was selling the items …
Isolated Tornado Possible, Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued For 14 NJ Counties
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for 14 counties in New Jersey, with storms expected to bring wind gusts up to 60 MPH, the National Weather Service said on Saturday, May 3.
The watch remains in effect until 11 p.m. for Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Salem, Somerset, and Warren counties, according to the NWS Storm Prediction Center.
Forecasters say the main threat is damaging winds, especially in areas north and west of the I-95 corridor. Showers and isolated thunderstorms will move in later today and co…
17-Year-Old Helped Set Pallets Ablaze Sparking Jones Road Wildfire: Prosecutor
A 17-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the massive wildfire that burned through Ocean County last week, authorities announced.
The teen, whose name was not released because of his age, was taken into custody on Wednesday, May 1, and charged with aggravated arson, arson, and hindering apprehension, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said on Friday, May 2.
Joseph Kling, 19, of Waretown, was previously arrested and charged with aggravated arson and arson for setting wooden pallets on fire and leaving before it was out, Billhimer said.
Kling was taken into custod…
