32 charged in major gang, drug bust after spike in shootings

FREEHOLD — Authorities have charged 32 people – including alleged members of the Long Branch-based “G-Shine” set of the Bloods street gang – a drug and racketeering bust following a spike in shootings in three Monmouth County towns. The nine-month investigation led to the arrests of 29 people on offenses including racketeering, drug distribution and weapons-related… Read the rest of this entry »

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Long Branch man sentenced to 50 years in prison for near-fatal shooting

FREEHOLD — A Long Branch man was sentenced Friday to 50 years in prison for attempting to kill a rival when he shot him 15 times in Red Bank three years ago. Sentenced to an extended term because of his criminal history, Anthony Sims, 28, will have to serve more than 42 years in prison before… Read the rest of this entry »

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Long Branch Man Gets 30 Years For Sexually Assaulting 7 Year Old Girl

Edgar Mejia, 55, of Long Branch, was sentenced to 30 years in New Jersey state prison for the 2014 sexual assault of a 7-year-old girl in Eatontown, according to a statement by Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Mejia was convicted by a Monmouth County Jury on November 16, 2016 of convicted of first degree Aggravated Sexual Assault and third degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child.  Judge David F. Bauman imposed the sentence on Thursday, April 20.  The charges were merged for sentencing.

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Police in standoff with man at Long Branch house

LONG BRANCH – A man has barricaded himself inside a house Wednesday morning in Long Branch, prompting a large police presence including members of the SWAT team. Police have blocked off a section of Ludlow Street. A woman who lives in the home said the man, who said he was homeless, showed up two days ago… Read the rest of this entry »

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Long Branch man targeted young girls on their way home from school, cops say

LONG BRANCH – A 27-year-old city man was charged with multiple offenses, including sexual assault, after he allegedly targeted at least three girls on their way home from school. On Tuesday afternoon three girls, ages 12-14, were approached by a man as they had either just exited their school buses or were walking home from school,… Read the rest of this entry »

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Deal Police Arrest 2 Long Branch Men On Gun and Drug Charges

Tyshon Kelly, 29,  and Jamire Williams, 25, both of Long Branch were arrested on Norwood Ave in Deal last night on weapons possession and drug possession charges following a traffic stop for a motor vehicle violation, according to an announcement by Sgt Brian Egan of the Deal PD.

Ptl Jeff Kless was on routine patrol in the vicinity of Norwood and Brighton Avenues when he pulled over a vehicle commit a motor vehicle offense. Kelly was a passenger in the vehicle driven by Williams.

An investigation conducted by Sgt Sharin, Sgt Egan, Ptl Vaccaro, Ptl Kerney, Ptl Lokerson, K-9 Atok, Ptl Mirrione and Ptl Kless, revealed the occupants of the vehicle were in possession of a loaded handgun and a controlled dangerous substance, marijuana. Kelly and Williams fled the scene and were apprehended following a brief foot pursuit, and with assistance of K-9 Ato k.  The vehicle was impounded.

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Long Branch joins post-Sandy high water mark program

LONG BRANCH – As Hurricane Sandy was closing in on the Jersey Shore, Darrell Wordelmann – the general manager of Rooney’s Oceanfront Restaurant – watched surveillance video footage of the Atlantic Ocean splashing increasingly closer to the popular upscale restaurant until the power to the cameras eventually went out. The restaurant, which is slightly elevated and… Read the rest of this entry »

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Long Branch Man Guilty Of Sexually Assaulting 7 Year Old Eatontown Girl

Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni

Edgar Mejia, 54, of Long Branch, was found guilty on Wednesday by a Monmouth County jury of sexually assaulting a seven year old Eatontown girl in 2014, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

Mejia faces possible incarceration of 30 years to life when Judge David F. Bauman imposes his sentence on March 17, 2017. Mejia has been in the custody of the Monmouth County Correctional Institution with bail set at $300,000 since his arrest on July 21, 2014.

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Reward raised to $30K for info in attack on Long Branch cop

LONG BRANCH – The reward for information in the attack on a Long Branch police officer in September has been increased to $30,000 after nearly two months without an arrest in the case. Long Branch resident Vin Gopal announced Monday that he would commit an additional $5,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction… Read the rest of this entry »

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Trick-or-treater struck by van in Long Branch

LONG BRANCH – A 14-year-old boy was hospitalized on Monday night after being struck by a vehicle while trick-or-treating, the Asbury Park Press reported. At approximately 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Long Branch police were called to the area of Morris and Chelsea avenues after a Ford work van struck a teenager who was out trick-or-treating, the… Read the rest of this entry »

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