UPDATE: Victim Identified In Route 36 Fatal Car Accident

The 27-year old from Matawan was a massage therapist at Hand & Stone Spa in Aberdeen.

Updated Nov. 21: The victim in Monday's fatal car accident on Route 36 was Ashley Rodrigues, 27, of Matawan, according to Hazlet Police. Rodrigues was born in Red Bank and lived in Keansburg for most of her life. She was employed by Hand & Stone Spa of Aberdeen.  Surviving are her mother, Toby Walsh; her father Robert Rodrigues; her sister and brother-in-law, Andrea and George Ciubinski; brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Kerri Rodrigues; brother, Justin Rodrigues and his companion Desirai Kuczynski; her beloved nephew, Justin Rodrigues, Jr.; her grandfather, John A. Rodrigues; her aunts, uncles, and cousins and her many friends. Visitation will be held on Friday, November 23, 2012, from 4 to 8 pm at John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, 115 …

•  10 Comments
• Photos (4)

Hazlet Police Blotter: Oct. 23 - Nov. 8

As Hurricane Sandy made landfall on Monday evening, Oct. 29 and police tried to help people in the havoc, some saw an opportunity to burglarize.

During Hurricane Sandy, Hazlet Police risked their own lives working patrol in cars at risk of being struck by falling tree limbs. During the storm, they worked double shifts monitoring long gas lines at stations like Quick Chek, Racestar and Exxon, blocked traffic from downed trees and power lines in the road, helped people out of flooded homes, controlled intersections, and chased out of town generator salesmen without permits from selling in in retail center parking lots.  And if that wasn't enough, here's what else that kept them busy. The following information was released by Hazlet Police on Nov. 12. An arrest does not indicate a conviction.  Tuesday, Oct. 30: Workers at the Exxon Station on Holmdel Road and Route 35 returned to work…

• Photos (2)

Hazlet Juvenile Accused of Making Threats Via Instagram

Police have forwarded the case to the Family Division of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

A Hazlet juvenile has been charged by Hazlet Police in a matter involving the use of Instagram, a photo-sharing and text program owned by Facebook. "The allegation is that the school had reported threats, terroristic threats, made by Instagram," said Det. Lt. Charles McBride. "We have investigated the matter. We charged the juvenile, and that's that." McBride said he could not comment further on a case involving a juvenile.  The case has been sent to the county prosecutor's office, for review by investigators in the family division. If that office finds the information by local police warrants that charge, a county investigator will pursue charges. The only ones informed of the outcome with be the school principal and any victims in the …

•  11 Comments
• Photos (1)

In West Keansburg, Report of a Brazen Slashing

Hazlet Police investigating report that a 39-year old man was slashed with a razor in his doorway by two men demanding his wallet.

Hazlet Police are investigating a Hazlet resident's report that he was slashed across the chest by two men who came up onto his porch and demanded his wallet.  Det. Lt. Charles McBride said that a 39-year old resident of Brown Avenue was smoking a cigarette on his raised porch on Sunday night, around 7 p.m. when two men walking by asked him for a cigarette.  The homeowner said he didn't have any. The two men replied they saw a pack on the chair on the porch, and they walked up onto the porch to confront him. The homeowner then turned to go inside his house to check on his daughter, with the men still standing on the porch. "He then opens the door and tells them to 'Get out of here,'" said McBride, per the victim's report.  "One says, 'Give…

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Hazlet Police Blotter: Sept 29, Oct. 11-21

Police say a drunk driver hit four cars on Lynn Boulevard.

The following information was released by Hazlet Police on Oct. 23. An arrest is not a conviction.  Sept. 29: An off-duty officer said he witnessed Gerald Klunek, 47, of Tall Oaks Drive in Hazlet sideswipe a car on Lynn Boulevard near Middle Road around 8:15 p.m. When Ptl. Richard Jaeger showed his badge and instructed the driver to stop, Klunek continued on at low speed, sideswiping two more vehicles and hitting the last one head-on. Klunek's blood alcohol content was .18, according to police. He was arrested by Ptl. Thomas Enright who charged him with driving under the influence, as well as two counts of failure to report an accident because police say he attempted to flee the scene. Oct. 11: A laptop was reported stolen sometime in the …

• Photos (1)

Hazlet Police Blotter: Sept. 14 - Oct. 5

Two residential burglaries are reported to police. One on Poole Ave, and the other on Seventh Street.

The following information was released by Hazlet Police on Oct. 11. An arrest is not a conviction.  Sept. 22: Jonathan English, 54, of Highland Avenue in Hazlet was charged with attempting to steal a fleece jumpsuit and shampoo valued at $86.08 from K Mart. He allegedly attempted to leave the store without paying. He was charged with shoplifting and released pending a court date.  Sept. 24: John Baccarella, 49 of Bayonne was charged with shoplifting at Home Depot. He allegedly took two different drills, valued at $600, and walked out the door. He was released pending a court date.   Sept. 27: Travis Sickles, 39, of Union Beach was charged for shoplifting when he allegedly attempted to return extension cords and a power car charger valued …

• Photos (1)

Detective Accuses Hazlet Officials of Racial Bias

Federal lawsuit names mayor, administrator, police chief among others

Hazlet Police Arrest Motorists With Driving Under the Influence

Three out of four September arrests occurred during daylight hours.

The following information was released by the Hazlet Police Dept on Sept. 21. An arrest is not a conviction.  Sept. 2: Richard Raymont, 40, of Old Bridge was charged by Hazlet Police with driving under the influence of drugs at 2:30 p.m. Sgt. Scott Mura arrested Raymont on Middle Road, and charged him with possession of heroin, possession of a controlled dangerous substance without proof of a prescription, and driving a car under the influence of narcotics. His car was impounded because his passenger, Edwin Smith, 40, of Keansburg was also arrested and charged by Ptl. Joseph Forgione for unlawful possession of prescription pills, hindering apprehension, and obstruction of the law.  Sept. 2: Maria Chavez, 31, of Keyport was charged with …

• Photos (1)

Two New Rookies Join the Hazlet Police Dept.

Edward Schmidt and Joseph Fabian, both of Hazlet, are now in training.

Two new patrolmen have joined the Hazlet Police Department, bringing the township force up to 36. Edward Schmidt, 23, is a Hazlet native and a graduate of Red Bank Regional and John Jay College of Criminal Justice, as well as the former vice president of the West Keansburg Fire Company.  Joseph Fabian, 24, has lived in Hazlet since the sixth grade. He graduated from Raritan High School and Jersey City University, where he majored in national security. He is a volunteer coach of the Hazlet Pop Warner Hawks and on the board of trustees of the Hazlet-based RAINE foundation.  The new recruits began in-house training on August 7 and will attend the Cape May County Police Academy. They will be paid $41,606 as academy enrollees, said Hazlet …

• Photos (1)