Police here say a 19-year-old city man stabbed a Vineland teen during a dispute on North 3rd Street following a bottle-throwing incident early Sunday.
The 19-year-old East Oak Street resident also is accused of spitting at police and threatening to kill the officers and everyone involved in an altercation at 3rd and Oak streets.
Andrew T. Ridgeway was charged with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, terroristic threats, throwing bodily fluids at police, resisting arrest, hindering apprehension and disorderly conduct.
That section of Third Street has been referred to as a "war zone" by city commissioner Dale Finch. To his credit, Dale is on the streets every Monday evening, with Dottie's Walkers, targeting the worst neighborhoods to walk through.
Dale took me seriously when I suggested Millville adopt an ordinance similar to one adopted by Port Republic, requiring landlords to perform criminal background checks on all potential tenants. This will not be a cure-all, but it will be one more tool in our box.
Until then, we need citizens to take up the cause, to sit on your front porches a few hours at night, to keep your porch lights on, to join us on Dottie's Walk, to volunteer to become a Block Captain for the Neighborhood Watch. Become part of the solution, by doing nothing you ARE part of the problem.
No comments:
Post a Comment