Cape May County Breaking News

Heritage Fire

2009-12-03T17:24:00Z

Upper robbery 2

2009-07-27T18:54:00Z

Upper Township bank robbery

2009-07-27T18:41:00Z

Middle Township Police charge Sipko

2009-07-24T20:23:17Z

On July 13, 2009, Middle Township Police responded to the Simpson Motel for the report of damage to one of their Rio Grande units. Housekeeping discovered that furniture had been broken, graffiti was written/burned on walls and ceiling, a sink was left overflowing and the underside of a sofa bed had been set on fire.
Several of the written comments were racial and anti-semetic in nature. Investigation led to charges
Being drawn up against 21 year old Matthew A. Sipko of Philadelphia (Pa). On July 23, 2009 a warrant was issued against Mr. Sipko charging him with 2nd degree Bias Intimidation, 3rd degree Arson, and 3rd degree Criminal Mischief. Bail was set at $30.000.00 full cash by the honorable JSC Birchmeier.
The arrest of Mr. Sipko is pending.
Primary officers are Ptl. Michelle Greenwaldt and DFC Allan McClure.

PHOTOS: Two-car collision at Stone Harbor Boulevard

2009-07-24T17:07:00Z

State Police, community mourn the passing of state trooper

2009-03-18T17:45:34Z

By NANCY RUMP
Staff Writer

WOODBINE - A trooper remembered as a devoted friend and an extraordinary member of the New Jersey State Police is being mourned this week in the greater South Jersey area.

Sgt. Dwight Payne, 40, passed away suddenly Sunday afternoon at Shore Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. He was a Cape May Court House resident.

Payne served the State Police most recently as a valued member of the Woodbine station. He was a patrol supervisor and the station’s media coordinator. The latter duties were initiated by the sergeant himself after proposing to State Police headquarters in Trenton that an official media liaison be established for the barracks.

Sgt. Stephen Jones recalled the memo received at the State Police public information office where Payne suggested creating the position and enthusiastically wrote he would volunteer for the duty.

“He really wanted to do it,” said Jones. “He wrote that he had unofficially performed in a similar capacity at the Bass River station before transferring to Woodbine and developed a good rapport with a number of reporters and members of the media.”

The assignment was green-lighted by headquarters and Payne quickly began disseminating press releases for his media colleagues on newsworthy events. He also made himself readily available to field questions and often emphasized to reporters that he could be quoted directly in stories, sometimes adding with a chuckle that he knew it was better journalism to attribute a quote to a person rather than an entity like, “police said.”

In addition to assisting the media, Payne also served as the community liaison to the three Cape May County towns patrolled by the Woodbine barracks. He was a regular attendee at municipal meetings in Upper and Dennis townships and the Woodbine borough.

He provided reports on the station’s activity in each area and often peppered his presentations with humor and anecdotes.

In Upper Township, committee members would extend an invitation and open the floor to Payne to speak at the top of each meeting. He would always begin by addressing Mayor Rich Palombo as “your honor,” the township solicitor as “counselor” and others in attendance as “esteemed members of the committee and the public.”

During one of Payne’s reports, Palombo interjected and amusingly noted that during a particular week many speeding tickets were issued on a Wednesday.

“Are you telling me it’s a bad idea to speed in this township on a Wednesday?” Palombo joked.

“When I’m working it is,” Payne quipped back.

The exchange made the room erupt in laughter, one of the many occasions officials remember as Payne “stealing the show” when he took the floor.

Payne was a 14-year veteran of the State Police, beginning his career in April 1995 when he became a trooper. He was a member of the 115th class. His previous assignments included Bridgeton, Port Norris, Bellmawr, the Atlantic City Expressway, tactical patrol unit, field operations in West Trenton headquarters and the Bass River station on the Garden State Parkway. He began working in Woodbine in May of last year.

“Dwight had extraordinary energy and devotion related to anything State Police,” said Colonel Rick Fuentes, superintendent. “We are as proud of him as he was of ‘The Outfit,’ and we miss him greatly.”

Payne was a proud alumnus of Rutgers University. He graduated in 1991 with a degree in political science. He regularly attended the Scarlet Knights’ football games and out of uniform could often be seen sporting a Rutgers hat and T-shirt in support of his alma mater. He also held a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision from Seton Hall University.

Because of his polished military bearing, Payne was chosen to represent the State Police as a member of the color guard, used at special ceremonies. He was also a member of the uniform committee and the New Jersey State Troopers’ Eagle Scout Association, as well as an Eagle Scout himself having achieved the Boy Scouts’ highest honor in 1986. In 2004, he appeared in uniform on the cover of Scouting magazine after participating in the New Jersey State Police Camporee.

Retired State Police Lt. Mike Parmenter, the former head of the employee relations unit, organized special details where the color guard was utilized and said Payne went above the call of duty, making himself available for each and every assignment where he was needed.

“He wanted to be at all of them,” Parmenter said. “If he worked a midnight shift before, he would go. He did what he felt was the respectful thing to do and the honorable thing to do. Often times, he was volunteering to go before I even had an opportunity to ask if he could. He was always on top of it. He had a great handle on showing respect.”

Payne represented the State Police well, he said, and was a friend to many, inside and outside of the organization.

“He was always there for so many people,” recalled Parmenter. “He liked to be of service any way he could and help people. He got along with everyone.”

Sgt. Jones echoed those sentiments.

“Everyone was Dwight’s friend and he let them all know that he cared about them in a very genuine way,” he said.

Payne’s colleagues said his most notable trait was the “gift of gab.” Jones said he had the ability to talk about anything.

“And for extended periods of time,” he laughed.

Parmenter said anyone that knew Payne would agree he was a “real talker.”

“Dwight was extremely talkative and knowledgeable about…well…everything,” he said. “He could contribute something to any conversation.”

The duo once took a road trip to Massachusetts and Parmenter said other troopers joked with him beforehand that, “Dwight will chew your ear off.”

“We talked about a lot of things on that trip,” said Parmenter. “It was a memorable experience. We attended a funeral as representatives of the State Police and he came with me afterwards to visit my grandmother.”

He said the two, dressed in uniform, were not immediately recognizable to the 99-year-old.

“Two troopers dressed in uniform caught her a little off guard,” Parmenter said. “She looked at me and didn’t know who I was. She didn’t have all her faculties about her at the time and I had to explain to her what was going on.

“Dwight was so kind to her. He was very compassionate,” he said. “He offered to take a picture of her and I, and I had the photo with me in my office until I retired.”

It was a shared family experience, Parmenter added, and a story he’s shared many times when talking about Payne’s kindness and generosity.

“I felt comfortable having him with me during that visit,” he said. “I don’t know if I was with another trooper I would’ve done the same thing.”

After the trip, Parmenter said Payne offered to get his hat dry cleaned.

“My original State Police hat,” he said. “Twenty-five years and I didn’t know you could even get your hat cleaned…but Dwight did.

“That was him,” he added. “Knew something about everything. He was definitely a character. When you met Dwight Payne, you didn’t forget him.”

Payne is the son of Ida M. (nee Smith) Payne and the late Henry Payne. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife Lynda K. (nee Lee) Payne, his mother Ida M. Payne, brother Major Demetrius H. (Dawn) Payne, sisters Deborah (Stanley) Harris and Thomasa Payne, sister and brother in laws Heather K. (Paul) Lee, Frank Kenneth Lee Jr. and David K. Lee, other relatives and friends.

Services will be held Thursday, March 19 at noon at the Calvary Hill Assembly of God, 535 Mullica Hill Road, in Glassboro. Interment will follow at the Cold Spring Presbyterian Cemetery, 780 Seashore Road, in Cold Spring. A repast is planned afterward at the Town Bank Fire Hall, 224 Town Bank Road, in North Cape May.

Family and friends will be received at the church Thursday from 9 a.m. until noon.

Condolences and written tributes may be sent via the Edwards and Son Funeral Home website at edwardsandsonfuneralhome.com

Nancy Rump can be e-mailed at nrump@catamaranmedia.com or you can comment on this story by calling 624-8900, ext. 248.

Ocean Drive Bridge over Middle Thorofare To Close For Repairs

2009-03-18T15:12:19Z

The following was sent from the county AT 11;30 P.M. LAST NIGHT

The Ocean Drive (County Road No. 621) Bridge over Middle Thorofare, locally referred to as the “Two-Mile Bridge”, between Cape May City and Wildwood Crest in Lower Township will be closed to all vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle traffic for ten days starting Wednesday, March 18^th for repairs. The detour route for northbound traffic to Diamond Beach consists of Garden State Parkway or Route US 9 North to Route NJ 47 to New Jersey Avenue to Rambler Avenue to Pacific Avenue. For southbound traffic the detour is reversed. Orange construction signs will be posted indicating the detour route.

The work requiring the bridge to be closed to vehicular traffic consists of temporarily supporting the toe end of the movable span; removing deteriorated concrete about the area where the movable span girder seats; reconstructing the movable span girder seating area; installing new steel plates atop the existing tooth joint; and reconstructing a 5-foot portion of the deck to create a smooth transition over the tooth joint.

The bridge will close at approximately 7 a.m. on March 18^th and is scheduled to re-open by the end of Friday, March 27^th, weather permitting. Concrete barriers and other traffic control devices will be placed at the ends of the bridge to prevent anyone from accessing the bridge. The bridge will open on-demand for marine vessels.

This work is part of an overall construction contract to address some of the priority repairs identified in the biennial bridge evaluation survey reports for four bridges along Ocean Drive owned by the Cape May County Bridge Commission. Additional work at this bridge and the other three bridges in the contract does not require closure of the bridges. All work under this contract at the Middle Thorofare Bridge is slated to be completed by Memorial Day weekend.

The $1,719,636 construction contract was awarded to Allied Painting, Inc. of Franklinville, NJ. PB Americas, Inc. of Princeton in conjunction with the Cape May County Engineer’s Office designed the repair program and PB Americas, Inc. is performing the construction inspection.

For additional information call 609-465-1035.

Police seek missing Ocean City man

2009-03-16T19:11:23Z

OCEAN CITY - Cape May County Prosecutor Robert L. Taylor and Ocean City Police Chief Chad Callahan announced the on-going investigation of the March 11 disappearance of 21-year-old John Weisbecker of Ocean City.

Weisbecker is described as a white male with brown hair, brown mustache, last seen wearing a black t-shirt with “SEEDLESS” across the front, dark jeans, and brown “ES” brand sneakers. Weisbecker has numerous tattoos on his torso and both arms.

Weisbecker was reported missing by family members on March 12. He was last seen by members of his immediate family during the morning hours of March 11. Attempts to contact Weisbecker have been unsuccessful and information gained from family and friends have not provided any information on Weisbecker’s whereabouts.

The Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit and the Ocean City Police Department continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Weisbecker’s disappearance.

Taylor and Callahan have released the photograph of John Weisbecker, seen below. The photograph was taken on December 24, 2008 and depicts Weisbecker with a full beard. At the time of his disappearance, Weisbecker had only a mustache.

Police encourage anyone who may have contact with Weisbecker to contact the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit at 465-1135, the Ocean City Police Department at 399-9111, or Cape May County Crime Stoppers at 465-2800.

Man threatening police with knives gets two cans of mace

2009-03-11T22:36:00Z

LOWER TOWNSHIP -- On Tuesday evening, at approximately 8:50 pm, while on duty, Det. Chris Lambert of the Lower Township Police Department received a call on his cell phone from a subject threatening to kill him.
Lambert believed he recognized the voice as that of Rodney Frazier, 59, of Breakwater Place in the North Cape May Section of Lower Township.
Frazier is well known to the Lower Township Police Department with an extensive criminal history, according to police.
Lambert arrested Frazier in November of 2008 on charges of possession of heroin with intent to distribute.
Lambert then called the number back and spoke with Frazier’s brother. He stated that he believed that Frazier was in his bedroom. Lambert advised the brother that he was enroute to his residence to check on his welfare and the status of Frazier.
At that time, Det. 1st Class Mel Hedum, Lambert and Patrol Officer Brian McEwing responded to Frazier’s residence. After exiting their vehicles, the officers observed Frazier walking towards them from the backyard yelling, “I’m going to kill you! Shoot me, Shoot me!” with his hands behind his back.
The officers drew their duty weapons and demanded to see Frazier’s hands.
Frazier then produced two large fillet type knives, one in each hand, while continuing to advance on the officers constantly yelling that he was going to kill them, according to police.
The officers had to back up several times as Frazier advanced on them, while they continually ordered Frazier to drop the weapons.
The officers then discharged two full cans of pepper mace which eventually caused Frazier to throw the knives in the direction of the officers.
Frazier still continued to resist arrest and had to be forcibly brought to the ground and handcuffed.

Years later, charges filed in sex assault

2009-03-10T17:42:00Z

LOWER TOWNSHIP – Polices ay DNA samples have led them to a Nevada State Prison and a suspect for a sexual assault that took place at the Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area in the summer of 2000.
Local officers flew to Nevada to extradite the suspect, who is now in the Cape May County jail, according to police.
Dylan Thomas Ravel, 33, formerly of Cape May County, was serving time for robbery and kidnapping, according to police. Lower Township Det. Ed Dougherty and Det. Edward Musick from the county prosecutor’s office flew to Nevada to bring him back.
The case was reopened because of DNA samples recovered after the rape, which took place July 3, 2000. According to Police Chief Edward Donohue, the charges came after additional investigation by Det. Joseph Boyle. Police say they were looking at Ravel for a second rape that took place in October of that year in a remote area off New England Road in the wildlife management area, but was released when the victim would not testify against him, according to a release sent out this week.
Forensic information, including DNA, was taken after the July assault and sent to a state database, which has genetic samples from 180,000 offenders, police say. It was also sent to a national database.
In 2004, Ravel and his wife were arrested in Nevada and pleaded guilty in connection to the robbery of an elderly man, police said.
While he was serving time, a DNA sample was taken. Boyle and the Lower Township department were notified in 2006 of a possible DNA match. It was Boyle who filed the previous charges against Ravel in 2008.
On March 6, Ravel was charged with second degree sexual assault, and was delivered to county jail at about 2 a.m.
Lower Township has used DNA to make arrests in previous burglary cases, Donohue said. He credited the state and national DNA databases as an effective tool in cold case investigation.

Man calls police, gets arrested

2009-03-06T17:15:00Z

RIO GRANDE—A Rio Grande man was arrested after he had called the police to remove two women from his hotel room, Friday, March 6.
At approximately 2 a.m., Michael Williams, 29, called Middle Township police dispatch to request the removal of two unwanted female subjects, from their Rio Grande motel room. When the officers arrived they learned that before they arrived, Williams had reached down the shirt of one of the females and removed approximately $200 in cash, while groping her.
Williams was arrested and charged with aggravated sexual contact and robbery.
Antonio Ennals, 31, of Rio Grande, who also was present during the investigation, was arrested on an outstanding bench warrant. Ennals was placed in the county jail in lieu of bail.
Williams was also placed in jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail on related charges.

Seal rescued from Avalon beachfront Wednesday

2009-03-05T17:08:00Z

A harp seal beached itself in Avalon Wednesday afternoon March 4 and has been recovered by the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine.
Avalon police received notice that the seal was on the beach at 50th Street early Wednesday afternoon. An officer immediately responded and found the seal alive and well on the beach, about 30 yards away from the water’s edge.
The Marine Mammal Stranding Center was immediately contacted, and a field representative from the center arrived a short time later. The seal is believed to be a one year old, male harp seal. Harp seals are very common in the ocean waters along the New Jersey coastline.
The center reports that the seal showed no signs any sickness, physical disability or injury. The seal was transported to the center where it will be examined, and given some routine de-worming medication. The seal will likely be released back into the ocean after receiving routine medical treatment from the center.

Police bust big cocaine ring

2009-03-04T22:46:00Z

A Rio Grande man was arrested and charged with leading a narcotics trafficking network, county Prosecutor Robert Taylor announced Tuesday, March 3. Four others were also arrested, with one more arrest pending, in what officials say was the culmination of an extensive countywide narcotics investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office Gangs, Guns and Narcotics Task Force.
Javier Nunez, 35, is alleged to be the leader of the drug distribution network responsible for the distribution of over two kilograms of cocaine per month in the Middle and Lower regions of the county. The cocaine had a potential street value of $100,000 per kilogram.
The Wildwood Police Department and the Middle Police Department worked with the Drug Enforcement Administration as part of an undercover investigation. The undercover purchaser was able to buy about .5 kilograms from multiple targets, which led to Nunez’s arrest warrant, as well as the warrants for Elizabeth Carreras, of Rio Grande; Maria Carmen Nunez, of Wildwood; Rafeal Delgado, of Wildwood; Ricardo Reyes, of Villas; and Gabriel Mercado, of Villas.
During the early morning hours of March 3, members of the Cape May County SWAT Team, the county Prosecutor’s Office, DEA, county Sheriff’s Office Canine Unit and Wildwood, Middle Township and Lower Township police departments executed the arrest warrants and court authorized searches at each suspects’ home. Five of the six suspects have been arrested as of late Wednesday. Mercado was expected to surrender soon after. According to Taylor, as of Wednesday, March 4, at 4 p.m. he had not yet done so.
The search resulted in the seizure of $50,000 cash, a large unspecified quantity of cocaine, manufacturing and packaging equipment including scales, mixers and a hydraulic press and two vehicles belonging to Nunez.
According to the prosecutor’s office, in addition to the first degree charges of leading a drug trafficking network, Nunez was also charged with distribution of drugs, specifically cocaine over five ounces, and conspiracy to distribute drugs, specifically cocaine over five ounces. His bail was set at $500,000 cash.
Carreras, 32, was charged with endangering the welfare of children, drug possession, specifically cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute CDS, or a controlled dangerous substance, how police often refer to illegal drugs. Bail was set at $50,000 cash. Maria Carmen Nunez, 48, was charged with distribution of CDS, specifically cocaine over five ounces and her bail was set at $250,000 cash.
Delgado, also 48, was charged with distribution of CDS, specifically cocaine over five ounces and possession of CDS, specifically cocaine. His bail was set at $200,000 cash. Reyes, 23, was charged with distribution of CDS, specifically cocaine less than .5 ounce, possession of CDS, specifically cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute CDS. His bail was set at $75,000 cash. Mercado, 33, was charged with distribution of CDS, specifically cocaine less than .5 ounce, possession of CDS, specifically cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute CDS; and his bail was set at $75,000 cash.
According to the prosecutor, first-degree crimes can result in sentencing between 10 and 20 years in state prison. Second-degree crimes may be sentenced between five and 10 years, and between three and five years for a third degree crime.
The investigation is continuing into the scope of the network. Additional arrests and the seizure of numerous bank accounts estimated at tens of thousands of dollars and properties are pending.
Although the investigation will continue, Taylor commended what he described as the exceptional work of the Task Force and cooperating agencies. He indicated the Task Force will continue to target high level drug dealers and the seizure of their assets.

Donahue, Conrad to run for Assembly

2009-03-04T22:44:00Z

Cape May County Republicans endorsed the Assembly ticket of Michael John Donohue and Frank Conrad March 4.
Donohue, of Dennis Township, won Cape May County in the 2007 Assembly election. Conrad, a two- term member of the Upper Township governing body, is making his first run for state office.
“The quest to take back the 1st District and restore fiscal sanity to state government starts right here, today, in Cape May County,” Donohue said. “I’m excited to be running with Frank Conrad. We are all experienced small businessmen raising children in South Jersey who know the incredible, negative forces that flow out of Trenton.
“Together, Frank Conrad and I will fight to return New Jersey to the conservative principles that made this country great: Small government, low taxes and personal economic initiative,” Donohue said. “We will fight to end the Council On Affordable Housing and the DEP as we know them and replace them with rational, job-friendly agencies. The people of New Jersey have had it with Jon Corzine and his friends in Trenton and are demanding change. Well, change is coming.”
“The problem with New Jersey is not a lack of tax revenue,” Conrad said. “The problem is a lack of leadership. We must elect people who are willing to make the difficult decisions to restore New Jersey’s economy so that we may create a bright future for ourselves and our children. I am looking forward to running with Mike Donohue and to joining the fight to take back South Jersey.”

Officer charged with DWI

2009-03-02T21:16:00Z

Lower Township Police filed charges against one of their own Saturday, after a hit-and-run accident at about 1:40 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28.
Douglas Whitten, 44, of Lower Township, a 14-year veteran of the department, faces charges of driving while intoxicated, leaving the scene of an accident and failure to report an accident, according to police. He was also suspended from duty by Chief Edward Donohue.
“I am very disappointed at the position that this officer has place himself in, given the fact that he has served this department and our community well for the last 14 years,” Donohue said. “However, in addition to municipal court proceedings, the officer will also face major disciplinary action as a result of this egregious off-duty conduct.”
In the early hours of Saturday, police received a call about a New Jersey Transit bus struck by a gray Dodge pickup.
The bus driver told police that the bus was heading west on Townbank Road approaching Bayshore Road in North Cape May when the pickup swerved into the westbound lane and sideswiped the rear of the bus.
There was little damage to the bus, which was driven from the scene, but the truck’s front end was badly damaged. At the time of the accident, there were two passengers on the bus, in addition to the driver.
Officers began to search the surrounding area for the vehicle. At about 5:30 a.m., Sgt. John Chew found scrape marks in the street on Crawford Road. He followed the marks to a residence, where he found a badly damaged pickup matching the description. Police found that the truck was registered to Whitten. At 6 a.m., he was questioned at his house, and later taken to the police department, where a breath test was administered.
Once it was determined that a police officer was involved, Donohue made contact with the county prosecutor’s office, according to police.

Seal beaches in Diamond Beach

2009-02-27T19:21:00Z

A harbor seal that came up on the beach Friday, Feb. 27, was not injured, but was probably just tired, marine mammal rescuers said.
Frank Nave of Wildwood Crest was walking on the beach when he spotted the animal on the beach by The Grand. He called the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, who then called Tony Cavalier.
The chief of the North Wildwood Beach Patrol had taken a course in marine mammals, along with Doug Ford, and are often called to check out seal strandings. Cavalier said on Friday they took photos of the animal, a young harbor seal that was about 20 pounds, which were sent to the stranding center. There, experts determined that the seal was not injured, and should be allowed to return to the water on its own when it is ready.
“They just come up to rest,” Cavalier said. “They get tired sometimes. I guess they take a break.”
Experts say seals have become more common in the area in recent years. Cavalier said he gets calls for strandings throughout Five Mile Island, and that he has had five others this winter, more than in previous years.
Although most people see seals as extremely cute, Cavalier said people and dogs should stay away, as much for their own good as for the seal.
“Don’t go near it,” he said. When they were taking pictures, the seal snapped at them, he said. “They are very dangerous animals. Their teeth are very sharp.”

Armed Burger King burglar still at large

2009-02-26T16:55:00Z

RIO GRANDE—Police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred at a local Burger King restaurant on Thursday, Feb. 26. Middle Township Police responded to a 911 call from the store at about 5:23 a.m. The assistant manager of the store said that when she arrived to open the store, she was approached from behind by an unknown male suspect. She described the man as having a stocky build and taller than 5’7”. He was dressed in all black with a black ski mask and gloves.
The suspect forced the victim into the store by holding what seemed to be a gun to the back of her head, although the victim reports not seeing the gun. The suspect then forced the victim to open the safe and place ash into a bag.
After receiving the cash, approximately $1,200, the suspect fled on foot.
A search of the area was conducted with the assistance of the Cape May County Sheriff’s K9 Unit. The suspect remains at large and unidentified at this time. This case is under investigation by Cpl Francis Fiore and Detective Bob Shepherd. Anyone with information regarding the above incident should contact Middle Twp Police Major Crimes Unit at 465-8700.

UPDATE: Missing Whitesboro youth found

2009-02-25T19:05:00Z

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE—Police have found juvenile runaway, Michael Dickerson, 16, of Whitesboro. According to Detective Robert Shepherd of the Middle Township Police Department, Michael was located on Goshen Road just after 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 25, after one of the school resource officers had put out several calls for his whereabouts. He was not with the other juvenile runaway, Devonnte Thomas, of Clermont, as suspected. Shepherd said that police were in the midst of locating Devonnte at the time he and this reporter spoke (2:18 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25).
Michael had left his Lena Street residence on Tuesday, Feb. 17 sometime in the evening. Prior to his disappearance, Michael was arrested in Lower Township, where he was brought to the Police Department after resisting arrest. There, his mother picked him up and brought him home. After his mother went to sleep, Michael left the residence. It is believed that he may be traveling with another

Police searching for missing 16-year-old

2009-02-25T18:36:00Z

MIDDLE TOWNSHIP—Police are looking assistance in locating a juvenile runaway, Michael Dickerson, 16, of Whitesboro. Michael left his Lena Street residence on Tuesday, Feb. 17 sometime in the evening. Prior to his disappearance, Michael was arrested in Lower Township, where he was brought to the Police Department after resisting arrest. There, his mother picked him up and brought him home. After his mother went to sleep, Michael left the residence. It is believed that he may be traveling with another juvenile runaway Devonnte Thomas, of Clermont.
It is reported that Michael is wearing the same jacket that is in the attached photograph. Police describe the juvenile as 5’6”, 140 pounds, brown eyes, black hair and a dark complexion. Anyone with any information regarding Michael's whereabouts is asked to please contact the Middle Township Police Department at 465-8700.

Beauty queen and her mother arrested in local counterfeit scam

2009-02-25T15:55:00Z

NORTH WILDWOOD—A former Miss North Wildwood winner and her mother were arrested in connection with a counterfeit money scam, Friday, Feb. 20. The 2007 crown-holder Ashley Fuhrmeister, 21, and her mother Kelly A. Nowacky, 44, allegedly used counterfeit $50 bills for purchases at the local Wawa convenience store during the month of January.
Captain Robert Caruso, Public Information Officer for the North Wildwood Police Department, said that the employees at the Wawa recognized Fuhrmeister and her mother and reported the two to the police. They were arrested and charged with possession of forgery devices, forgery and conspiracy to commit forgery. The investigation led detectives to John Laughlin, of Belleplain, who was also arrested and charged with forgery and conspiracy to commit forgery.
The investigation was led by the North Wildwood Police Department in conjunction with the United States Secret Service. Further investigation revealed that Fuhrmeister and her mother passed counterfeit money at another area store in Wildwood. Nowacky and Laughlin were both sent to county jail in lieu of $15,000 bail. Fuhrmeister was released on her own recognizance.

Fuhrmeister bearing her crown during a local parade in 2007.