For the benefit of our readers, New Brunswick Today will be consistently updating a list of incidents and occurrences in the city, including emergencies, reported crimes, police investigations, and other public safety developments, including grand jury indictments and significant criminal cases.

The following information is based on various records obtained from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, and Middlesex County as well as additional information gathered by New Brunswick Today. We have selected the most newsworthy or interesting incidents, and shared what we think is important. Accused or indicted individuals are considered innocent until proven guilty by the NJ court system.

UPDATE: This article has been expanded and updated as of September 23.

Sunday, September 1, 2019

At about 12:16am, Rutgers University Police Department (RUPD) “cleared” a party at the fraternity house located at 52 College Avenue after receiving a noise complaint.

At about 12:20am, one person was arrested by New Brunswick Police Department (NBPD) after they responded to a noise complaint at 110 Huntington Street.

At about 12:33am, RUPD responded to Mine Street, where they investigated a simple assault and attempt to cause significant bodily injury. The victim, a Rutgers man, was reportedly unconscious in front of 31 Mine. A crime alert issued two days later said the victim was “approached by a female perpetrator who physically assaulted him and then fled the area in an unknown direction.” He was transported to a local hospital by ambulance. The perpetrator was described in the crime alert as “a slightly overweight, white female with blonde hair, in her early twenties, wearing gray yoga pants and a white tank top.”

At about 12:52am, five NBPD officers responded to the Corona Bar at 253 French Street after a caller stated that a person was “knocked out” by a security guard, specifically telling a dispatcher “that security knocked a guy out in the bar and left him on the floor in front of someone singing.”

At about 1:20am, a report was made of a dumpster fire in the area of Gatling Court and Sample Road on New Brunswick Housing Authority property. Engine 1 arrived at 1:28am and confirmed it was a “working fire.” Engine 5 was put on standby but was not needed. They had the fire under control by 1:32am and the fire was out by 1:43am.

At about 1:43am, police responded to Hope Manor Drive after a “caller stated that he heard 15-20 people talking about fighting or shooting.”

At about 2:02am, New Brunswick police received a call from a man who said he had been “punched in the face for no reason” outside the Golden Rail Pub at 66 Easton Avenue. Seven NBPD officers responded to the scene and ten minutes later, police reportedly made an arrest.

At about 2:35am, an Uber driver called in a report of “5 males fighting in the street” and NBPD responded to the corner of French and Oxford.

At about 4:20am, a NBPD unit crossed over into Somerset County assist Franklin Township Police Department officers who requested a unit with Narcan, the opiate overdose reversal drug, to 650 Franklin Boulevard.

At about 9:08am, NBPD pulled over a vehicle near 237 Baldwin Street and arrested the driver after discovering he had an active $550 warrant out of Hillsborough.

At about 10:19am, NBPD responded to 182 Suydam Street where they found a man who was reportedly assaulted, fell, and was bleeding from the mouth.

At about 1:12pm, NBPD responded to 98 Paul Robeson Boulevard where a caller had reported “landlord dumped all her belongings on the back porch.”

At about 2:29pm, NBPD responded to 113 Seaman Street for a disorderly person call, where they arrested someone.

At about 2:33pm, NBPD responded to a domestic disturbance.

At about 6:09pm, NBPD arrested someone after responding to the New Brunswick Parking Authority’s “Gateway” Parking Garage at 7 Wall Street where a woman reported a black male who was wearing all white exposed himself to her in an elevator. About 20 minutes later, police officers arrested a man in connection with the case.

At about 8:34pm, five NBPD officers including Detective Michael Negvesky and Sgt. Maurice Finney responded to an assault at 375 George Street, the address of the Popeye’s restaurant. The Identification Bureau was also called to the scene.

At about 8:54pm, the NBPD’s Identification Bureau was called on again, this time to the scene of a burglary reported at 135 Lee Avenue, where a woman had reported she left the house at 5pm and returned to find “all her drawers were open and everything is on the floor.”

At about 10:28pm, police and emergency services responded to 912 Somerset Street where a vehicle struck the building after apparently being involved in a 2-car crash. Both vehicles were towed away by Guaranteed Motors. Two black males in black t-shirts and du-rags “fled the scene.” Police attempted to notify the owner of the building, and the New Brunswick Fire Department declared there was no structural damage at 10:36pm.

At about 11:45pm, NBPD made a motor vehicle stop at the intersection of Sanford Street and Paul Robeson Boulevard, eventually making an arrest at 12:06am.

Monday, September 2, 2019

At about 12:03am, NBPD responded to an overdose reported at Excel Home Care Services on the third floor of a building at 99 Bayard Street in downtown, where they reportedly administered Narcan, the opiate overdose reversal drug.

At about 12:19am, NBPD arrested a person following a motor vehicle stop at Lee Avenue and Seaman Street.

At about 2:00am, several NBPD officers responded to the fifth floor of the parking deck located in one of the city’s tallest buildings, One Spring Street, after someone reported a man was sleeping in the garage.

At about 2:06am, NBPD followed a man across the border into North Brunswick after a caller said he had a baseball bat and using it to hit his window at 18 Georges Road in New Brunswick.

At about 2:17am, RUPD responded to Easton Avenue and Somerset Street, where a female pedestrian was struck by a vehicle and found unconscious. The suspect vehicle is described as a “black 4 door sedan [with] dark tints” that headed down Somerset before making a left turn onto George Street. The victim was hospitalized just a few blocks away at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.

At about 2:46am, NBPD officers were dispatched to D’Palace Bar at 181 Throop Avenue for a report that the bar was still open. New Brunswick bars are typically required to close at 2am every night except for New Year’s Eve.

At about 4:24am, someone reported a burglary of something from their vehicle in the parking lot of 10 Landing Lane Apartments, and eight NBPD officers responded, with some of them not clearing the scene until after 7am.

At 11:33am, NBPD responded to a landlord-tenant dispute. “Landlord told him he has to leave but he paid her… landlord removed fridge & stove because they are defective,” reads records from the incident..

At about 5:10pm, the Brunswick Filling Station at 217 French Street was reportedly robbed by two men with a firearm. Though NBPD investigated, it was a crime alert from RUPD the following day that alerted the community to this incident. The alert stated that an employee of the business “was approached by two male perpetrators, one of whom displayed a firearm, while the other removed cash from the register. The males then fled the area on Comstock Street towards Jersey Avenue. ” Though RUPD’s crime alert stated “the descriptions of the perpetrators are limited at this time,” records provided to New Brunswick Today state “#2 males… wearing all black covering face” and mention “2 handguns.”

At about 6:39pm, NBPD responded to a call reporting 5-8 were fighting in the area of 216 Baldwin Street. A disorderly person was arrested shortly thereafter near 101 Handy Street.

At 8:55pm, an adult was reported as a missing person at NBPD headquarters.

At about 7:25pm, a caller requested NBPD assistance with a disorderly person at 143 Throop Avenue. The caller stated they wanted police to “deport” the man and that the caller would be waiting on the street for police. About 20 minutes later, records show a “11-year-old caller said his mom is getting dragged out of the car.”

At about 7:30pm, NBPD responded to 14 Stratford Place where someone claimed to have been assaulted by a “short Puerto Rican with a gun.” The caller said he was hit in the face and bleeding, and that he did not know who the assailant was. He said he was on his way home from work with dinner for his family when the attack occurred. The suspect was described as white, wearing black pants and black sneakers, and left the crime scene headed towards Joyce Kilmer Park.

At about 9:42pm, NBPD responded to 20 Division Street, where a caller said a white man wearing a black shirt struck him and his friend.

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Indictments were handed up in the following New Brunswick cases on September 3:

Felix DiazTerroristic Threats
Bridget M. MaddenAggravated Assault
Emilio Paz-CoreaEndangering Welfare of a Child
Poss. of a Weapon For Unlawful Purpose
Unlawful Possession of a Weapon
Alvin Knowles Eluding
Miguel Rodriguez-Urena
Josefina Santos
Jennifer Cruz-Santos
Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Deception
Theft by Deception
Attempted Theft by Deception

At some point in the day, Christopher Kuberiet was sworn in as Acting Middlesex County Prosecutor, bringing an end to Andrew Carey’s six years in office.

In the afternoon, Rutgers University issued a crime alert about the Mine Street assault on September 1 and the armed robbery on French Street the following day.

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

There was one controlled dangerous substance (CDS) indictment out of New Brunswick on September 4:

Jose Reyes
Rene Acevedo
Poss. of CDS
Poss. of CDS W/I to Distribute
Poss. of CDS W/I 1000 Feet of School Property
Financial Facilitation
Maintaining a Narcotic Nuisance

At 2:14pm, NBPD issued a Nixle alert with information about three buildings that would be open to the public as “cooling centers” due to the hot weather.

Thursday, September 5, 2019

There were two New Brunswick indictments on September 5:

Christian OrtizEndangering the Welfare of a Child
Aggravated Assault
Artis Hamilton, Jr.
Taina Monroe
Poss. of CDS
Poss. of CDS W/I to Distribute
Poss. of CDS w/I to Disribute W/I 500 Feet of Public Property
Financial Facilitation Criminal Activity
Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia w/I to Distribute
Tampering With Evidence

Additionally, an attempted murder indictment was handed up against Mohamed S. Fares on September 5 at the Middlesex County Courthouse. The case originated in Woodbridge and the other charges in the indictment were Aggravated Assault, Poss. of a Weapon for Unlawful Purposes, Unlawful Poss. of a Weapon, and Stalking.

Governor Phil Murphy was in New Brunswick on September 5, but he had “nothing to say” to New Brunswick Today when we asked about the vacant position of Middlesex County Prosecutor.

Friday, September 6, 2019

Two weapons cases out of New Brunswick were indicted on September 6:

Marcos Mayoral-AguilarPoss. of a Weapon for Unlawful Purpose
Aggravated Assault
Unlawful Poss. of a Weapon
Mark B. JanderUnlawful Poss. of a Handgun

Saturday, September 7, 2019

Nothing to report yet.

Sunday, September 8, 2019

Nothing to report yet.

Monday, September 9, 2019

Nothing to report yet.

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

There were four New Brunswick cases with indictments handed up on September 10, including two domestic violence cases, one with an attempted murder charge:

Max MendozaBurglary
Theft by Unlawful Taking
Ashley M. ChalfantAttempted Murder
Aggravated Assault
Aggravated Assault on DV Victim
Poss. of a Weapon for Unlawful Purposes
Unlawful Possession of a Weapon
Hindering Apprehension
Moises Coutino-MoralesAggravated Assault
Aggravated Assault on a DV Victim
Poss. of a Weapon for Unlawful Purpose
Unlawful Poss. of a Weapon
Terroristic Threats
Richie Gonzalez-GomezUnlawful Poss. of a Weapon

An additional attempted murder indictment was handed up against Amit S. Rai on September 10. The case originated in South Brunswick and the other charges were Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Assault on a DV Victim, Aggravated Assault on a DV Victim-Strangulation, Criminal Restraint, Hindering Apprehension, Obstructing Administration of Law, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and False Reports.

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Alejandro Martinez
Bartolo Martinez
Mauro Lopez-Gomez
Juana Lopez-Gomez
Poss. of CDS
Poss. of CDS W/I to Distribute
Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity
Conspiracy
Michael Policastro
Christopher Foster
Stephany Gonzalez
Thomas Monahan
Conspiracy
Witness Tampering
Hindering Apprehension of Another
Obstructing Administration of Law
Hindering Own Apprehension
False Swearing
Bribery
Robert Navedo
Dale Hayes
Conspiracy
Poss. of CDS
Poss. W/I to Distribute
Poss. W/I to Distribute on or Near School Property
Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity

Indicted individuals Michael Policastro and Thomas Monahan are both attorneys who do a lot of work at the Middlesex County Courthouse.

Thursday, September 12, 2019

There were three indictments in cases out of New Brunswick on September 12:

Divine DavisAggravated Assault
Burglary
Robbery
Jamil WalkerUnlawful Poss. of a Handgun
Poss. of a Firearm for an Unlawful Purpose
Attempted Murder
Jamil WalkerCertain Persons Not to Have Weapons

New Brunswick Today has confirmed that Jamil Walker, a Baldwin Street resident who goes by the names “Flatline” or “J.R.,” was hit with two separate indictments related to a May 11 shooting at the intersection of Somerset and Division. The complaint-warrant was signed by NBPD Detective Erika DiMarcello on July 1. According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause, Walker had been released from prison by the NJ Parole Board, but was still on parole at the time of he shooting. He was taken into custody on May 23 after attempting to flee from parole officers.

Also indicted on September 12 was Claudia Morgan, a high school senior in Edison who was charged with assault by auto after a May 30 incident where she allegedly pinned Township police officer Andrew Roy between two vehicles trying to flee J.P. Stevens High School after getting in a fight. The indictment includes charges of Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, Assault by Auto, Eluding, Aggravated Assault-Causing Bodily Injury-Fleeing Law Enforcement, Unlawful Poss. of a Weapon, Poss. of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, and Resisting Arrest.

At 1pm, a number of New Brunswick Fire Department officials were awarded promotions by Mayor James Cahill.

At about 8:30pm, reporters from New Brunswick Today responded to a crime scene on Lee Avenue between Suydam and Seaman, where NBPD officers and detectives were apparently investigating a shots fired call. It did not appear anyone was injured.

Friday, September 13, 2019

A single indictment originated out of New Brunswick on September 13:

Kourtney HoffmanEndangering Welfare of Child

Saturday, September 14

Nothing to report yet.

Sunday, September 15

At about 10:40am, NJTransit bus #6165 collided with NBPD unit #913 at the intersection of Suydam Street and Livingston Avenue. Reporter Carlos Ramirez broadcast live from the scene, and indicated there did not appear to be any injuries.

At about 6:06pm, NBPD issued a Nixle alert seeking the public’s help locating a missing 17-year-old girl who was last seen two days prior in the area of the New Brunswick Apartments, located at 33 Paul Robeson Boulevard. At 7:05pm, NBPD issued an update stating that the missing person had been located.

Monday, September 16

Nothing to report yet.

Tuesday, September 17

At about 11:01pm, RUPD officers responded to the On The Border restaurant on Route 1 and arrested someone, charging them with possessing marijuana.

Wednesday, September 18

Two indictments originated out of New Brunswick on September 18:

Ramon Bueno-FerminCriminal Trespassing
Hinder Own Apprehension
Harassment
Jerrard MillardPoss. of CDS
Poss. W/I to Distribute W/I to 500 Feet of Public Property
Poss. W/I to Distribute on or Near School Property
Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity

Thursday, September 19

Nothing to report yet.

Friday, September 20

Two indictments originated out of New Brunswick on September 20:

Efrain CastroEndangering the Welfare of a Child
Anny VelardeAttempt to Obtain CDS by Fraud
False Impersonation

Unless otherwise noted, all incidents are being reported here for the first time. In some cases, this may be the only place the information is available to the public.

This article will continue to be updated as new information becomes available and as cases resolve. Please contact us if you know of something that you think belongs here, or if you think something that appears above is inaccurate or does not belong here.

Editor at New Brunswick Today | 732-993-9697 | editor@newbrunswicktoday.com | Website

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.