Sunday, April 29, 2012
Report: 3 NJ state police commanders reassigned
Eyewitness NewsTRENTON, N.J. (WABC) -- Three state police commanders have been reassigned as officials continue to probe allegations that a caravan of luxury sports cars received an unauthorized, high-speed police escort down the Garden State Parkway, according to a published report. Maj. Robert Catullo, the commander of the troop overseeing northern New Jersey, was among those reassigned late Friday, The Star-Ledger of Newark reported Sunday (http://bit.ly/IkIyAC), citing three unidentified people with knowledge of the moves. Also moved were Catullo's deputy commander, Capt. Michael Cerisano, and a region commander, Capt. Warren Moore.
It wasn't clear what role, if any, the transferred troopers might have played in the escorts or where they will now be stationed.
State Police Lt. Stephen Jones said 10 commanders were transferred overall Friday in "a re-alignment aimed at the Operations Branch." Jones said the transfers came in light of recent ongoing internal investigations, but did not say how many of the transfers related to the high-speed escorts. He also declined to identify the troopers involved.Two troopers were suspended without pay last Monday after news reports recounted witnesses who said they saw the caravan of a few dozen high-performance luxury cars speeding down the Garden State Parkway at 100 mph on March 30, escorted by two state police cars. A station commander also was reportedly reassigned Monday.
The 54-year-old Catullo, a 30-year veteran of the force, must retire by year's end because he will reach the state police's mandatory retirement age. The 53-year-old Cerisano has been a trooper for about 27 years while Moore, 51, has been a trooper for about 24 years.
Catullo is one of 16 majors in Fuentes' command staff, according to the state police website. The majors are overseen by four lieutenant colonels who report directly to Fuentes.
Catullo led Totowa-based Troop B, which covers 2,807 square miles and about 5 million people in northern Jersey. The job of commander there is one of the most powerful and coveted jobs within the state police and includes overseeing the Meadowlands Sports Complex.
The troop is also responsible for working closely with the U.S. Secret Service to escort and protect dignitaries, including presidents, cabinet members and military generals, according to the agency's website. _
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NJ officer dies from motorcycle crash injuries
Eyewitness NewsJERSEY CITY, N.J. (WABC) -- Authorities say a veteran police officer has died from injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident on the New Jersey Turnpike. Claude Racine was off-duty and wearing a helmet when the crash occurred late Wednesday on the turnpike's eastern spur in Jersey City.
But the 44-year-old Paramus resident suffered a serious head injury and later died at a hospital.
A female passenger was also thrown from the motorcycle and seriously injured.But her injuries are not considered life-threatening.
Authorities say Racine was eastbound on his 2006 Harley-Davidson when the accident occurred.
But it's still not clear what caused the crash.
Racine had served for more than 10 years with the Somerville Police Department.
Colleagues there said he was known for his humor, charity work and generosity.
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Saturday, April 28, 2012
Man stabbed to death in Guttenberg grocery store
Eyewitness NewsGUTTENBERG (WABC) -- Police are investigating a deadly stabbing in a Guttenberg grocery store owner in New Jersey Thursday. Police say 52-year-old Bahar Nesim, of North Bergen, was attacked and stabbed multiple timeS by two armed robbers. Nesim was rushed to Palisades Medical Center at 5 a.m. and pronounced dead 45 minutes later.
Two suspects have been taken into custody. Police say 40-year-old Jose Castaing and his girlfriend, 32-year-old Liz Velez, were arrested minutes after the attack.
It is unclear if Nesim was the owner of the store or an employee.Guttenberg police were flagged down by a civilian shortly after the incident.
Police say two knives were used in the attack.
It is also unclear how much money or what else was stolen.
The investigation is ongoing.
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Home invasion and robbery in North Haledon
Eyewitness NewsNORTH HALEDON, N.J. (WABC) -- Police are searching for the suspects in a chilling home invasion and robbery in North Haledon, New Jersey. It happened Thursday afternoon in a home on Saw Mill Road.
Police say the homeowner heard a knock on the door and when he responded, a man placed a gun to his head and forced him back into the home.
Two other men followed behind him, with all three armed with guns.Police say the homeowner was bound, gagged and hit.
After ransacking the home, the robbers left the homeowner tied up in the basement and took off on foot.
The Passaic County Sheriff's Department responded, but so far there have been no arrests.
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Deliveryman charged with taking inappropriate photo
Eyewitness NewsNEW BRUNSWICK (WABC) -- A bakery deliveryman has been arrested and charged with secretly taking an inappropriate photo of a 15-year-old girl while she was shopping in a city store, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce J. Kaplan and Anthony A. Caputo, director of the New Brunswick Police Department. Harold Williams of Eastampton was arrested and charged on April 20, 2012, with endangering the welfare of the child and invasion of privacy. Williams followed the 15-year-old girl into the store, held a cell phone under her skirt, and photographed her.
The investigation further showed that Williams, a deliveryman for The Classic Dessert Co. of Eastampton, regularly visited New Brunswick to deliver baked goods to restaurants in the city.
Williams retired in 2008 as a corrections officer at Mid-State Correctional Facility. He is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick in lieu of $75,000 bail.Williams was arrested after a security guard at the store on George Street in New Brunswick called police. Store officials held Williams until police arrived.
Police determined that the defendant may have committed other similar acts. Anyone with information is asked to call Investigator Andreea Capraru of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office at (732) 745-3600, or Detective Coleman of the New Brunswick Police Department at (732) 745-5222.
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Hamilton Township mayor accused of taking bribes
Eyewitness NewsHAMILTON TOWNSHIP -- The mayor of New Jersey's ninth largest town surrendered to the FBI on Thursday, the latest public figure to face charges stemming from a sting involving school contracts. Hamilton Township Mayor John Bencivengo, 58, faces a single charge of attempted extortion, the latest in a long line of New Jersey politicians to face corruption charges.
His lawyer said the mayor of Trenton's largest suburb is not guilty and does not intend to resign despite pressure from some activists.
Bencivengo, a Republican, appeared in court for about 10 minutes Thursday. He was not required to enter a plea and did not speak with reporters after his appearance.But his lawyer said that he would be cleared - and that video taken secretly by an unnamed federal informant would help the mayor's case.
"The thing is that it did not happen," said the lawyer, Jerome Ballarotto.
Federal prosecutors alleged Bencivengo took $12,400 in bribes from a cooperating witness between May and July 2011 in exchange for using his influence over a health insurance contact with the township's school district.
The mayor asked the cooperating witness for money to pay his taxes and living expenses, the U.S. attorney's office said. In return, Bencivengo agreed to speak to a school board member about voting to renew the health insurance brokerage contract, authorities said. Neither the insurance company nor the school board member has been identified in court filings.
"This is the most recent example of a public official charged by this office with extortion or bribery in connection with brokering insurance contracts for public schools. These lucrative service contracts should not be opportunities for public servants to betray their constituents by enriching themselves or their colleagues," U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said in a statement.
Bencivengo, who earns $98,000 a year, became mayor in 2008 and was sworn in to a second term in January.
The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Just two weeks ago, former Toms River schools superintendent Michael Ritacco pleaded guilty to public corruption and tax evasion. Ritacco admitted taking more than $1 million in bribes in a kickback scheme to inflate school insurance charges.
New Jersey politicians are no strangers to corruption charges. Between 2002 and 2008, more than 130 officials were convicted. The U.S. attorney's office said it has not compiled data for the period since then.
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Boating accident in Perth Amboy turns deadly
Eyewitness NewsPERTH AMBOY, N.J. (WABC) -- A boating accident off of Perth Amboy, New Jersey led to a dramatic rescue on the water Saturday. A hospital spokeswoman confirms to Eyewitness News that one person died in the crash last night.
After a boat capsized, a couple arrived on the scene in their boat, and helped pull five people from the water.
"It was shallow water and I had to maneuver the boat in the shallow water," said one of the rescuers, David Gross.Four victims were taken to Perth Amboy General Hospital.
One of the victims was unconscious when they were all taken to the hospital.
Their names have not been released.
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Family disputes police claim of elderly abuse
Eyewitness NewsWEST NEW YORK (WABC) -- A New Jersey woman is facing elderly abuse charges after police say she barricaded her mother-in-law inside her home in West New York last week, but the family diputes the claim and says they will fight the charges. Police say they were responding to a call of animal abuse after it was reported that there was a large number of cats residing in the basement of the home. When they arrived at the house, a neighbor directed them to a basement apartment, where they say the door was barricaded from the outside with a shovel.
Authorities removed the shovel and found 89-year-old Delphine Linden inside. They say she was upset and very disoriented.
As officers were talking to her and trying to determine her mental status, her daughter, 58-year-old Piedad Von-Der Linden, arrived. She reportedly said she left her mother-in-law at home for only two hours to go to church.Police called an ambulance after the mother-in-law was unable to answer basic questions and exhibited further altered mental status.
Authorities say Von-Der Linden became agitated and told cops they were harassing her. She was placed under arrest and charged with neglect of an elderly person.
Police say they could not determine how long Linden was barricaded in the basement, but that there was no other way out of the house besides the door that was blocked with the shovel.
The family, however, says police made terrible assumptions and are totally wrong in this case. Both Von-Der Linden and Linden say there were many ways out of the basekment, and that the shovel was there so the door wouldn't blow open, which would have allowed Linden's cat, Peppy, to run away. She also claims she was disoriented and confused because she became frazzled when police busted in.
Linden says she loves her daughter-in-law, and that she was never barricaded inside or abused.
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Parents of triplets sue over deadly NJ bus crash
Eyewitness NewsCHESTERFIELD, N.J. (WABC) -- The parents of an 11-year-old southern New Jersey triplet killed in a school bus crash have sued the bus company and the owners of a dump truck that collided with the bus. The Courier-Post of Cherry Hill (http://delonline.us/I27zej) reported Saturday that the lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, also names both drivers as defendants. It was filed Thursday in state Superior Court.
The Feb. 16 accident in Chesterfield killed 11-year-old Isabelle Tezsla. Her triplet sisters and an 11-year-old boy were seriously injured in the crash, but all three have since been released from the hospital.
In their lawsuit, Anthony and Susan Tezsla claim the defendants' "negligence and recklessness" led to Isabelle's sisters witnessing her death. Anthony Tezsla, is a New Jersey state police sergeantAuthorities said Friday that toxicology tests showed bus driver John Tieman and dump-truck driver Michael Caporale were not under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs at the time of the Feb. 16 crash, which remains under investigation. Investigators have said Tieman pulled ahead of the roadway stop line to get a clear view - and never saw the truck coming.
Telephone calls placed to the two drivers rang unanswered Saturday.
Police have issued motor vehicle citations to both drivers and to Caporale's trucking company. But the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office has said it will await the National Transportation Safety Board's final report on the accident before it decides whether to file criminal charges.
Twenty-five elementary school students were on the bus when the collision occurred. Seventeen children were injured overall, though must only suffered bumps and bruises.
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Baby security breach closes Newark terminal
Newark Liberty International Airport
SAMANTHA HENRYNEWARK -- A terminal at Newark Liberty International Airport was shut down for over an hour Friday after officials discovered that a baby hadn't been properly screened, Transportation Security Administration officials said. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport, described the incident as a security breach that occurred at around 1:15 p.m. at a security checkpoint. Terminal C was evacuated and passengers had to go through security screening again.
TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said a mother and baby went through a metal detector when the machine sounded an alarm. The mother handed the child to the father, who had already been screened. The mother was cleared, but the baby hadn't been properly screened. The parents and baby left the checkpoint and headed to their gate, Farbstein said.
TSA officers searched for the family in the secure area of the terminal and notified Port Authority police as per protocol, but they emphasized that it was a low-risk situation, Farbstein said.A TSA official said they had explained the circumstances of the breach to the Port Authority police and recommended against evacuating the terminal since it was a low-risk situation.
Steve Coleman, a Port Authority spokesman, said that it took the TSA more than 30 minutes to notify police of the lapse and that officers "took immediate action to make sure the breach did not endanger passengers or our facility."
"We're not going to second-guess a real-time decision made by our police department to err on the side of caution and protect passenger safety," he said.
The terminal and checkpoint were closed from 1:30 p.m. to 2:50 p.m.
Passenger Jennifer Pallanich said she was on a Houston-bound flight scheduled to depart at about 2 p.m. and boarding had been completed, but because of the breach, the passengers had to evacuate and go through security screening again.
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Suspects sought in violent store robbery
He has 16 security cameras and 3 very scared but lucky employees. At 10:30 Monday morning, two young men wearing hooded sweatshirts under jackets walked in.
They pretended to buy a drink and then a man in black pulls out a silver semi automatic handgun and demands money from the female cashier.
"She drops. As soon as she sees the gun she just drops to the ground," Javier explained.Another employee puts his hands behind his back.
"He tells him to get down. He does, and then bam, he hits him," Javier said.
The gunman split his head open. Within minutes, it's all over. A puddle of blood on the floor and 3 workers who thought they were going to die.
Manny Santana was one of them.
"I mean you never think it's gonna happen," he said.
The pair of thugs got just 154 dollars, but what they took from Manny and the others cannot be measured.
"Get up every morning and go to work and they come in here to do that. It's not fair," he said.
"I just really want them to get caught cause the kid didn't have to get hit like that. And the girl, she went home and broke down. She has 3 kids," Javier said.
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Group beautifying Paterson, one storefront at at time
Eyewitness NewsPATERSON (WABC) -- A group of artists is beautifying downtown Paterson, New Jersey, one storefront at a time. The Ivanhoe Artists Mosaic is a volunteer group that is doing its best to beautify Paterson and give struggling artists a place to show off their talents.
Vacant storefronts dot the streets of Paterson like a checkerboard. With boarded up windows and signs begging for tenants, it's the kind of urban blight that Paterson has been fighting for years.
But the Ivanhoe Artists Mosaics believe some well-placed art can bring some hope."When you see are and something beautiful, it changes the way you think," the mosaic's Christine Conforti said. "An artist can do that, I think, with what they do. And that's why this is such a great opportunity for us, as artists, to not only get our work out there, but to change what's such an eyesore and a disappointment that is an empty storefront into something beautiful."
The group was sprucing up a window on Ellison Street for an installation highlighting Paterson's history. Another painting of the Great Falls was done by artist Ian Grinyer, who is thrilled to have a venue for his work.
"It's good to start getting the art out there and inspiring people and finding a lot of artists in Paterson," he said. "There's a lot of unknown artists all around town that really love to draw and paint, but they've got no outlet for their talents."
And there has been a surprising benefit to the storefront art.
A store on Main Street had been vacant for a year. But just three weeks after an installation went in, a lease was signed. The broker is convinced that having art instead of empty space made all the difference.
If you are an artist who would like to showcase your work or a building owner who would like your space used for art, you can contact the Ivanhoe Artists Mosiac at IvanhoeArtists.org
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Report: 2 troopers gave caravan high-speed escort
Eyewitness NewsTRENTON, N.J. -- New Jersey authorities are probing reports that two state police troopers recently escorted a caravan of high-speed luxury sports cars that were traveling down the Garden State Parkway at speeds of more than 100 mph.
New Jersey authorities are probing reports that two state police troopers recently escorted a caravan of high-speed luxury sports cars that were traveling down the Garden State Parkway at speeds of more than 100 mph.
The Star-Ledger of Newark (http://bit.ly/I2ptDj), citing public complaints it obtained and interviews it conducted, reports that the high-speed escort occurred March 30 in the highway's southbound lanes.
Witnesses told the newspaper that the state police patrol cars - with emergency lights flashing - were driving in front of and behind the caravan. They saw dozens of cars overall, including Porsches, Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and all the vehicles' license plates were reportedly covered with tape.
The witnesses said many drivers struggled to get out of the caravan's way, including one who almost ended up in a ditch.Michael Drewniak, a spokesman for Gov. Chris Christie, told the newspaper that authorities will take swift action once the investigation is complete.
"This is a very serious and disturbing matter for a couple of reasons, but particularly in terms of the disregard for public safety by all those allegedly involved," Drewniak said Sunday.
Citing a source with knowledge of the trip, the newspaper said New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs was among those traveling in the caravan.
When asked to confirm the report, Jacobs' agent, Justin Schulman, told the newspaper: "Brandon was part of a group that went down to Atlantic City on March 30." Schulman otherwise declined to comment on the purpose of the trip or who else was involved.
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High-speed state trooper escort focus of meeting in New Jersey
The meeting comes as officials are investigating allegations that state troopers provided an unauthorized escort to a group of luxury sports car drivers at 100 mph down the Garden State Parkway last month.
"We consider that to be a serious violation of public safety issues," Attorney General Jefffrey Chiesa said.
A violation that will not be tolerated - that was the message today from the new jersey attorney general when he and the state police superintendant met with command staff."Anytime the public safety's put at risk, it's a concern. It's a concern. It's why the colonel and i acted as we did on Monday," he said.
On Monday, two troopers were suspended without pay for allegedly leading that speeding caravan of luxury sports cars down the Garden State Parkway last month.
The description of the recent caravan is strikingly similar to what's captured on the Parkway in 2010: ultra expensive cars, often weaving in and out of traffic, with the apparent permission of New Jersey State Troopers.
"There were some very dangerous maneuvers that were occurring at high speeds during the course if this escort and it's really fundamental to the investigation that is going on right now," Col. Rick Fuentes said.
While Colonel Fuentes acknowledges that the videotape shows other motorists on the roadway at the time had reason to be concerned for their safety, he insists the majority of trooper-led escorts are necessary and safe.
"What I've seen over the years is that they make tremendous sound decisions on the conduct of these escorts, which makes this escort all the more disturbing to me as well as to the general public," he said.
Sgt. First Class Nadir Nassry and Trooper Joseph Ventrella without pay. Nassry's lawyer has said the escort was appropriate but speeding might be an issue. Ventrella could not be reached for comment.
Meanwhile, an investigation into the other alleged high-speed police escort in 2010 is still pending.
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Black bear spotted near school in New Jersey
A black bear spotted roaming near a school in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey on Wednesday, April 25, 2012. (WABC Photo)
Eyewitness NewsBERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J. (WABC) -- A black bear spotted roaming near the Thomas P. Hughes School elementary school in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey caused some concern on Wednesday. The Board of Education Honeywell Alert system notified all parents about the bear, but it never posed an immediate threat. The bear moved away from the school before student dismissal.
Police said the bear eventually disappeared into a wooded area near Watchung Way around 4:30 p.m.
Township residents are encouraged to contact the Berkeley Heights Police Department, at 908-464-1111, whenever a bear is observed along a roadway or in a residential area.Most black bears, it should be noted, will continue on their way if left unbothered, officials said. In the highly unusual event that a bear shows aggressive tendencies and poses an immediate danger to persons or domesticated animals, then police officers are authorized to dispose of it.
For more information about bears, please visit the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife's website, www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/bearinfo.htm , which offers many methods and suggestions on the topics of living within black bear areas, and how to react when encountering a bear.
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Twitter war between fake Tebow, Hoboken mayor
Web produced by Jennifer Matarese, Eyewitness NewsHOBOKEN, N.J. (WABC) -- Tim Tebow is having a hard time catching a break.
He's moving to Hoboken, but over the weekend a Twitter war heated up.
It involved a fake Twitter account and the mayor of Hoboken.
"Manning lives down there," a Hoboken resident said.Yes indeed, and Eyewitness News hears 2 Constitution Court is where Jets backup, single sensation Tim Tebow is dropping anchor.
It's a nice high rise, with a sparkling view of the marina and Manhattan.
"Yes, he'll be living in my town," said Joan Rafter, a Hoboken resident.
"I hear a couple of Red Bulls live in town," said Manny Fernandez, a Hoboken resident.
"It's very quiet here, that's why they move here," said Xiomara Buduan, a Hoboken business owner.
The Tebow talk has caused a Twitter tussle between Mayor Dawn Zimmer and someone calling themselves: "@HobokenTimTebow".
The Tebow Twitter handle tweeted "Tebowken time!" and "Would love to buy you some Gatorade one day and take you on a walk around town, maybe read the Bible?"
Mayor Zimmer Tweeted back, "I am referring this to authorities. Our newest resident to Hoboken is entitled to his privacy and respect."
The building manager came out said Tebow is not moving in she hasn't seen him.
So is he leasing or not? And will football fans like Manny come to care?
"No. I just hope Manning has another great season," the Giants fan said.
Jets, Giants, Tebow, Manning, Hoboken's welcome mat is out.
"I'm not a big football fan, but I think it's wonderful," a resident said.
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Traffic stop nets suspects with $783K hidden in car
FORT LEE -- Two men from New York face charges after a New Jersey state trooper found more than $783,000 in their vehicle during a traffic stop.
State police say the driver and passenger, Franklin Delacruz and Jose Carnillo, both 45, both from the Bronx, were travelling on I-95 recently when the SUV caught Trooper Steve Spitaleri's attention.
"Swerving in and out of lane, meaning changing lanes without using a signal, cutting back and forth between the left and center lane," said Spitaleri.
Trooper Eric Tapia came on the scene to translate, and found the mens' stories didn't add up."Where they were coming from, where they were going," said Tapia. "Also, issues with their relationship."
A K-9 unit picked up a scent of drugs, and the Ford Expedition was trucked to the State Police barracks.
In the back was a box.
It took police 25 minutes to crack it open, and it contained a cache of cash.
Delacruz and Carnillo have been charged with money laundering and conspiracy.
They're each held in the Bergen County Jail on $500,000 bail.
The money and the truck were confiscated.
Once the case goes to court, if it's found that the money is ill gotten gains, it will go into state and county accounts to fight crime.
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New Jersey cop accused of luring 12-year-old girl
by SAMANTHA HENRYWOODLAND PARK -- A New Jersey police officer sent a 12-year-old girl explicit photos of himself in uniform and tried to set up a sexual encounter with her, days after meeting the girl while assisting her family in an unrelated police matter, authorities said Wednesday.
Woodland Park Police Officer Steven Vigorito Jr. pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges ranging from attempted aggravated sexual assault to luring and enticing a child. He was being held on $250,000 bail following his arrest while on duty Tuesday night. A message left after-hours for the public defender who represented him at the arraignment was not returned.
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes said the girl's mother complained to the police department on Monday that the officer had made inappropriate comments to her daughter, had given her his private cellphone number and had asked her to text him. Woodlawn Park Police Chief Anthony Galietti said they immediately contacted the prosecutor's office, whose detectives posed as the girl and started exchanging texts with Vigorito.
The texts became increasingly explicit over the course of several days, prosecutors said. Vigorito eventually texted the girl photographs in which he was exposing himself while wearing his police uniform and arranged to meet her for a sexual encounter, prosecutors alleged.The girl was never in harm's way, and never exchanged texts with the officer, Valdes said.
"What is so disturbing about this, is the person who was to assist the family, ends up preying on the family," Valdes said.
The 39-year-old Vigorito has been with the police department for 12 years in Woodland Park, a small suburb about 15 miles from Manhattan. The town, known until a recent voter-approved name change as West Paterson, is a bucolic, leafy borough of neatly landscaped homes adjacent to Paterson, a grittier, more industrialized urban neighbor.
Vigorito, who is a married father of two, was arrested Tuesday night in the police station while on the night shift, according to Galietti, who said the patrolman was suspended without pay pending the outcome of the investigation.
The arrest of one of the 25 officers on the force has shaken the small department, Galietti said.
"It's very upsetting, when you have one of your own do something like this. It's very upsetting," he said. Galietti added that department officials had acted immediately upon receiving the family's complaint about the officer, and had no hesitation in alerting the prosecutor's office.
"When this came to light we went into it head-on. We didn't care if it was one of our own," he said. "I'm the father of five kids, and this is wrong. It's a very inappropriate situation. Unfortunately, he (Vigorito) had a badge at the time."
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New Jersey politicians urge toll hikes suspension
DAVID PORTERNEW JERSEY -- A group of New Jersey congressmen called Thursday for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to suspend a second round of toll hikes scheduled for later this year until the agency can demonstrate that its finances are in order. The letter sent to Authority chairman David Samson came on the day of the agency's annual meeting, in which it received passing marks for efficiency and ethics from two internal reviews.
The developments highlighted the continuing tension between the bi-state authority and New Jersey's Democratic politicians. Those tensions surfaced publicly last week when Sen. Frank Lautenberg and Port Authority deputy executive director William Baroni engaged in a heated exchange during a Senate subcommittee hearing on toll hikes.
Lautenberg signed Thursday's letter along with Reps. William Pascrell, Albio Sires and Steve Rothman. The letter was released after the end of the Port Authority's annual meeting, and Samson declined to comment late Thursday afternoon.Tolls were raised by 50 percent for cash customers last fall in the first of five scheduled annual hikes. The increases were initially said to have been instituted to help pay for the redevelopment of the former World Trade Center site, but in subsequent court filings the agency said the additional money would be used for bridges, bus terminals and other transportation buildings.
Gov. Chris Christie and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who appoint commissioners to the Port Authority board, asked for an outside audit as part of the agreement to raise tolls, and the first phase of the audit released in January called the Port Authority "a challenged and dysfunctional organization" and cited a lack of leadership and cost controls, the letter pointed out.
"However, future toll hikes were not dependent on the Port Authority addressing any of the deficiencies identified in the audit," the letter continued.
In summaries presented at Thursday's meeting, the Port Authority's audit committee concluded that "there is a reasonable basis for the Board to have a high level of confidence in the professional and ethical conduct of Port Authority personnel"; and a governance and ethics committee reported that it is "confident that the Board and its Committees are operating in an efficient and independent manner and that the Executive Director is effectively managing the operations of the Port Authority."
Board Vice Chairman Scott Rechler noted that the internal audit focused specifically on operational controls and systems, while the independent audit released in January took a more all-encompassing approach in looking at the entire agency.
In other matters, the board directed the Port Authority to create, as soon as possible, a stand-alone security department that will centralize all safety and security functions across the agency's different departments. Baroni and executive director Patrick Foye will conduct a nationwide search to select a chief security officer to head the new department.
Foye on Thursday announced an agreement with The Durst Organization to build a state-of-the-art broadcasting facility atop One World Trade Center.
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Christie to Brooklyn-bound Nets: 'We don't want you'
DAVID PORTERNEWARK, N.J. -- As the Nets prepared to say goodbye to New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie bid the Brooklyn-bound NBA team good riddance. The typically blunt Christie said he would shed no tears over the departure of the Nets, who played their final home game of the season Monday night against the Philadelphia 76ers as they prepare to move to New York next season.
"My message to them is, goodbye," Christie said at an afternoon news conference at Newark Beth Israel Hospital where he signed a bill to promote organ and tissue donation. "You don't want to stay, we don't want you."
The Nets have played the last two of their 35 years in New Jersey in Newark at the Prudential Center Arena, the high-tech home built by the city of Newark and the NHL's New Jersey Devils in 2007.The Nets' owners in the 1990s had sought to move the team to Newark from the Meadowlands but couldn't work out financing a new arena. They eventually sold the franchise in 2004 to real estate developer Bruce Ratner, whose plan all along was to move the team to Brooklyn, and the Nets wound up in Newark as they waited for the Barclays Center in Brooklyn to be completed.
Christie scoffed at the team's decision to choose New York over New Jersey.
"That's one of the most beautiful arenas in America they have a chance to play in, it's in one of the country's most vibrant cities, and they want to leave here and go to Brooklyn?" he asked. "Good riddance, see you later. I think there'll be some other NBA team who may be looking to relocate and they might look at that arena and the fan base in the New Jersey and New York area and say, 'This is an opportunity to increase our fan base and try something different.'" Nets coach Avery Johnson was more charitable when asked if he sympathized with fans who had been following the team for years.
"I do in a lot of ways because you have some fans who have really been here, supporting the Nets," he said before the game. "You had fans who were here through the 12-win season, losing twice in the finals and that's really rough. It's tough getting there, but it's tough when you lose in the finals. I have been a part of a team that lost in the finals, but they continued to come back."
Told of Christie's comments, Johnson said: "Well again, everyone has an opinion. We're moving on. Hopefully, we'll move on and be successful."
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Associated Press writer Tom Canavan contributed to this story.
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Clifton, NJ cop seen on tape slapping teenager
The video shows 15-year-old Alex Cruz going at it with a Clifton police officer in a video plastered all over YouTube.
First he's pushed to the ground, but he gets up and runs at the officer and appears to slap him across the face and an all out altercation breaks out.
"He pushed me and hit me and the other cop came and choked me," said Cruz.Alex has a cut under his eye and a court ordered electronic monitor around his ankle.
Telling his story Exclusively to Eyewitness News, he says he was just trying to break up a fight between his girlfriend and another girl when the officers showed up.
"He said I hit him before everything happened and I didn't," adds Cruz.
Clifton police have seen the video and are investigating but so far standing by the officer's use of force.
"Whatever force is reasonable in overcoming the force the suspect is using against the officer," said Det. Robert Bracken.
And what's more, police say once they finally got him cuffed, his attitude didn't get any better.
"Upon arrival at headquarters he continued his belligerent aggressive behavior toward officers... He began spitting on the floors of the police department," adds Cruz.
Even though Alex says he did nothing wrong, he would do something different next time.
"I could have let them do what whatever," he adds.
No one involved says the officer didn't hit Alex, the question is, was he justified in doing so.
Alex will face his charges in juvenile court. The Internal Affairs investigation continues, but the officer remains on active duty.
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Cemetery turns to solar power to cut costs
EAST HANOVER (WABC) -- There are 108 acres of land at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Some of that land is lined with headstones. Some of it is lined with solar panels.
A thousand panels, or 236 kilowatts worth of power, is enough for 30 homes or about half of one very large mausoleum, which is exactly why this cemetery needs the panels.
Heating, cooling and lighting costs a lot of money, so when the Archdiocese of Newark started using solar panels on some of its schools, it seems like a good idea to use panels at its cemetery.
The archdiocese doesn't actually own the panels. Instead it's entered a power purchase agreement with Borrego Solar, which allows the diocese to buy solar power at a much lower rate than what the local power company JCP and L charges. Ironically, it has a substation across the street from the cemetery.The savings with solar are about 23-thousand dollars annually for the cemetery. It is certainly a first for a cemetery and it may even be a blessing.
Gate of Heaven is located at 225 Ridgedale Avenue in East Hanover, New Jersey.
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Spring nor'easter dumps rain, snow on East Coast
Eyewitness NewsNEW JERSEY (WABC) -- The big cleanup is under way after a nasty nor'easter that dumped several inches of rain across the Tri-State area. Schools in western Pennsylvania are closing in the face of the unusual late-April snow storm, which is chugging through the Northeast, threatening to bring high winds and up to a foot of snow in some places.
The slow-moving coastal storm delivered much much-needed rain to the parched region over the weekend, from Virginia to New England, but now the rain is turning into snow for some in Pennsylvania and upstate New York.
The nor'easter has dumped up to six inches of snow on New York's eastern Lake Ontario region, and the Buffalo area could get 5 to 9 inches.Districts in Pennsylvania's Allegheny Mountains began announcing school closures Sunday night. As much as 7 inches of snow was expected in some areas.
Flood watches were in effect in the New York City area and in New Jersey, but they were canceled by early Monday.
Officials say the rain should go a long way toward alleviating drought conditions, which have helped spark several major brush fires in recent weeks.
In New Jersey, a large tarp covering construction at St. Peter's College in Jersey City came loose in the weather overnight.
Construction workers were called to take down the tarp, which was covering a construction project at the college.
Montgomery Street was closed between Kennedy Boulevard and Bergen Avenue as workers responded to take down the tarp.
Localized flooding continued on Jersey City roads, including at County Road and Manhattan Avenue.
Earlier, several drivers had to be rescued when cars got stuck in raising waters on Merseles Street, under the New Jersey Turnpike extension.
The cars were towed and no drivers were injured.
There are unofficial rain totals of little more than 2 and a half inches in Howell, 2 inches in Trenton and more than an inch and three-quarters in Mount Holly.
Utility crews are dealing with scattered power outages, with about 317 customers affected statewide.
A total of 2.87 inches of rain was recorded in Central Park, but no major flooding was reported in the area.
Parts of the Saw Mill River Parkway in Westchester County were closed because of flooding.---
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Father 'wires' son to capture teachers making fun of him
Eyewitness NewsCHERRY HILL, New Jersey (WABC) -- A disturbing story from a New Jersey School where a dad, concerned about how his young autistic son was being treated, sent the child to school wearing a wire.
The boy came home with a shocking tape, full of abusive comments from teachers.
Stuart Chaifetz did what any other parent would do if they found out their child was being mistreated.
"When i heard what they had done to him - my life just shattered," said Chaifetz.He posted a video on YouTube after discovering the very same people who were suppose to be caring for and protecting his son at a Cherry Hill school, were doing just the opposite.
LINK: WATCH THE YOUTUBE VIDEO
His 10-year-old son Akian is autistic, and started classes in September.
Shortly after teachers began sending notes home to Stuart saying his son was being violent in class.
"I didn't understand it because he is such a gentle person, it was only happening at school," his father adds.
Stuart had several meetings with the school but still had no answers.
So he took a drastic step, wired his son up with this recording device.
He couldn't believe what he was hearing, remember his little boy is in the very same room where one staff begins by talking about heavy drinking the night before.
"You know what i was doing this morning? Heaving. Oh my god, so bad. The wine won," you could hear on the tape.
Things then take an ugly turn, Stuart says, the women turn on his son, berating him for talking to himself.
"Who are you talking to? Nobody? Knock it off," you hear.
And when Akian cries, "Go ahead and scream because guess what, you're going to get nothing until your mouth is shut. Shut your mouth."
After more tears you can hear someone call Akian a bastard.
The school district says it carried out a "Thorough and rigorous investigation. Responded swiftly and appropriately and that the individuals who are heard on the recording raising their voices and Inappropriately addressing children no longer work in the district..."
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Brandon Jacobs in high-speed caravan, report says
Ohm YoungmisukNEW YORK -- New Jersey State Police are investigating complaints that two state troopers escorted a high-speed caravan of luxury sports cars, reportedly including former New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs, to Atlantic City last month. The alleged incident occurred March 30. Witnesses who emailed the state Turnpike Authority to report the incident said they saw two state police cruisers escorting the speeding cars, one in front and one in back.
According to Turnpike Authority spokesman Tom Feeney, one witness said he saw flashing lights in his rear-view mirror and had to speed up to get over to the right and out of the way. Once there, he said, the cars "raced by" at speeds upward of 100 mph. Their license plates allegedly were taped over.
Another witness said he saw the cars weaving in and out of traffic at high speed."We will not tolerate any conduct by a member of the State Police that puts the public in jeopardy, as this unauthorized caravan had the potential to do," Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa said. "We are thoroughly investigating this incident, and those responsible will face serious discipline."
The state attorney general's office announced Monday night that Sgt. 1st Class Nadir Nassry and Trooper Joseph Ventrella have been suspended without pay as the alleged escort is investigated. Nassry has been with the state police for 25 years and Ventrella for six years.
Nassry's attorney, Charles Sciarra, said in a statement emailed Monday evening that his client had been scheduled for an interview about the incident earlier in the day but was suspended before the interview took place. He implied that the attorney general's office was swayed by news coverage that started with The Star-Ledger of Newark's first reporting the alleged incident on Sunday.
"We hope that the powers that be will take a breath, exhale and engage in a fair investigative process with which we will continue to cooperate," Sciarra said. "Either way, we will not permit Sgt. Nassry to be sacrificed to satisfy a public-relations agenda."
It wasn't immediately known if Ventrella had an attorney.
Sciarra added that the incident had been blown out of proportion and that charitable organizations "routinely ask and receive escorts from the State Police to and from the various charitable functions they attend with their exotic vehicles." It was not immediately clear whether the March 30 trip was connected to a charitable event.
Jacobs was part of the caravan, The Newark Star-Ledger reported, citing a source with knowledge of the trip. In an email to ESPNNewYork.com, Justin Schulman, Jacobs' agent, said the running back was part of a group that did drive to Atlantic City on that same day. But he said he's not sure if Jacobs was in the caravan cited in the complaints.
"Brandon was part of a group that went to Atlantic City that day but isn't aware of the details regarding the police escort," Schulman said.
When asked about the incident at an unrelated news conference, Gov. Chris Christie, at one time the state's top federal prosecutor, called it "a dumb thing to do" and said he was confident leaving the investigation in the hands of Chiesa and police auperintendent Col. Rick Fuentes.
"I hated it when politicians behind podiums would lecture law enforcement people about what to do in law enforcement," he said. "So far be it from me to be a hypocrite on this one. I trust the attorney general, he's a smart guy, and I trust superintendent Fuentes."
Jacobs agreed to terms with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency on March 28, two days before the investigated trip. The running back was released by the Giants on March 9, when both sides couldn't come to terms on a restructured deal.
In a profile published on Rides magazine's website in October, Jacobs talked about his car collection and said he drives with the Driving Force Club.
"We probably do, like, 100 miles. Sometimes we'll end up on an airstrip and do some racing, but other than that, we always cool," Jacobs said of his involvement with the club, according to Rides.
According to Rides, Jacobs said at the time he was upgrading the turbochargers on his Nissan GT-R, with the expectation it would put out more than 700 horsepower when the work was done.
But Jacobs also told the magazine he knows his limits.
"I wanna go straight," he said, according to the report. "I'm not really in the business of doin' Dale [Earnhardt] Jr. or Bobby Labonte or any of them guys. They can keep that."
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