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Sonia Castro, NJ Mom Who Endured Tragedy With Grace, Dies
Sonia Castro, a North Jersey mother and grandmother who spent her life putting family first while battling a rare genetic condition, died on Thursday, June 26, her family said.
Her death comes just six months after she lost her own mother to cancer, and nearly 12 years after the heartbreaking loss of her daughter, Kiara, in 2013, according to a GoFundMe campaign organized by her family.
“Sonia’s life was a powerful testament to strength and unwavering love,” writes Aida Castro, who launched the campaign to support Sonia’s surviving children and grandchildren.
She was the proud mother…
Mass Shooting: Paterson Man Dead, 4 Wounded In Newark, Prosecutor Says (Photos)
A Paterson man was killed and four others were injured in a mass shooting in Newark late Monday, June 23, authorities said.
At 11:40 p.m., Newark police responded to 367 6th Ave. and found five individuals struck by gunfire, a spokesperson for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said.
Brandyn Waters, 18, sustained a gunshot wound to the chest and was transported to University Hospital where he was pronounced dead, authorities said. Four men, 26, 24, and two 19-year-olds were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, authorities said.
The Essex County Prosecutor's Office Homicide Task Forc…
Clifton Man With Violent Past Threatens, Stalks Bergen Town's Rec Director: Police
A Clifton man with a violent criminal history was arrested after allegedly threatening a Bergen County recreation director, police said.
Ibrahem O. Elgebaly, 30, was taken into custody by Clifton police on Monday, June 16, on an active warrant out of East Rutherford, according to ERPD Capt. Jeff Yannacone.
Elgebaly is accused of sending threatening messages via Facebook, email, and phone to the East Rutherford Recreation Director, Yannacone said.
He was charged with terroristic threats, harassment, and stalking, and was taken to the Bergen County Jail, where he remains held.
According to …
5,000 Heroin Folds, Shotgun, Ammo Seized In Paterson Drug Raid: Sheriff
A Paterson man is facing 15 drug-related charges after authorities seized thousands of heroin doses, crack cocaine, prescription pills, and a shotgun during a bust at a suspected drug production site, officials said Friday, June 20.
On a court-authorized search of 396-398 East 18th Street, detectives with the Sheriff Office’s Bureau of Narcotics (BON) arrested Jason E. Sizer, 42, following a narcotics investigation, according to Passaic County Sheriff Thomas Adamo.
Sheriff’s detectives discovered a large quantity of illegal narcotics, including nearly 5,000 heroin folds, approximately …
Doctors Warned Him Not To Drive, He Did Anyway: Now He's Guilty In Deadly Paterson Crash
A Florida man who ran a stop sign and killed a pedestrian in Paterson in 2019 has been found guilty of reckless vehicular homicide, authorities announced.
Alvin W. Mootoo, 52, of Orlando, FL, was convicted by a jury on Monday, May 19, following a trial in Passaic County Superior Court, according to Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes.
The jury returned verdicts of guilty for Death by Auto / Reckless Vehicular Homicide and Assault by Auto, Valdes said.
According to trial evidence, the crash happened on Jan. 2, 2019, when Mootoo was driving a black Buick Encore at approximately 55 mi…
Street Takeovers Injure Two Cops In Newark, 5 Arrested: Police
Five people have been arrested for their role in two street takeovers that occurred in Newark last November and last month, authorities said.
On Sunday, November 24, at 1:02 a.m. police responded to Miller Street near McCarter Highway after receiving reports of erratic driving by multiple drivers, Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda Sr. said.
The suspects began to flee when police arrived, Miranda said. Wyatt Bowden, a 19-year-old Somerville resident, drove over the foot of a Newark police officer, Miranda said. A pursuit ensued and Bowden was taken into custody, Miranda said.
He…
Machine Gun Glock, Forged Checks, Fake IDs Found In BMW In Rochelle Park: Police
Four people were arrested in a routine traffic stop in Bergen County that led to a major bust involving a Glock modified into a machine gun, fraudulent checks, stolen identities, and pounds of drugs, police said.
On Friday, May 2, Rochelle Park Officer Chris Kiszka pulled over a 5 Series BMW on Rochelle Avenue for having a suspended New York registration, according to a release from the Rochelle Park Police Department, issued by Capt. James DePreta.
Inside the car were four people — all not wearing seatbelts, DePreta said. They were identified as Brandon Myers, 18, of Garfield (driver)…
Perth Amboy DWI Driver With 6 Prior Felonies In Deadly Valentine's Day Crash Learns Fate
A 44-year-old Perth Amboy man was sentenced to 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to striking two pedestrians in Nutley while driving drunk on Valentine's Day 2024, killing a man who was out with his girlfriend, authorities said.
Jocelyn Pietri was walking hand in hand with her boyfriend, Wiston Perlaza, a 22-year-old Paterson resident, on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, when they were struck by a vehicle driven by Dhkir Robinson, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens II said.
Robinson, who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter in February 2025, was driving 55 miles per hour on …
License Plate Reader Picks Up Warren Burglars' Getaway Car, 2 In Custody: Prosecutor
Two men have been arrested and charged after breaking into an occupied home in Somerset County officials said.
Jeremy Proleon-Carmen, 20, of Paterson, and Julio L. Ponce-Giannotti, 44, of Clifton, were taken into custody shortly after the burglary on Wednesday, April 30 in Warren Township, Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said.
Police were called around 10:07 a.m. for a burglary in progress on Briarwood Drive East, Warren Township, McDonald said. A caller reported that a man was entering the home through a basement window and also gave police a description of a getaway car.
Offi…
Paterson Council President, Campaign Team Stole, Forged Ballots To Win 2020 Election: NJ AG
A New Jersey city council president rigged the vote to keep his seat — and now he’s facing a fresh round of felony charges, state officials say.
Alex Mendez, the Paterson City Council President, is facing new election fraud charges alongside his wife and three others, including campaign workers, after allegedly stealing and forging ballots to win a municipal election in May 2020, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin announced Wednesday, April 30.
According to a 10-count superseding indictment, Mendez and his co-conspirators are accused of forging ballots and voter registrations and s…
