Millville, NJ Neighborhood Crime Watch

more gun play at 5th and Mulberry

2012-02-06T21:23:00.000-05:00

9PM Monday night,and more shootings at 5th and Mulberry. I will post more info as it comes in.

Attempted Robbery

2012-02-03T14:26:00.002-05:00

Heard there was an attempted robbery a few nights ago on North 5th street of a Dominos pizza driver. In an awesome turn of events, the pizza delivery person was able to grab a chainsaw from the back of his vehicle to defend himself, which caused the suspects to think twice and quickly retreat! Good to see the driver was not harmed simply trying to earn a few dollars.

A message from Adotp-a-Block

2012-02-03T13:52:00.001-05:00

Good afternoon friends,

Under the leadership of the Greater Millville Ministerial Association, the Adopt a Block Program truly made a difference in our neighborhoods last year. We collected several tons of trash and had an obvious presence in the community every third Saturday morning. After taking a short break, we’ll be back on the job starting Saturday, February 18^th and you’re invited to join us. We’ll meet at 10 AM at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 3^rd and Mulberry Streets to pick up our gear and then go out to spruce up our City. After an hour or so, we’ll return to St. Paul’s for refreshments and to share our experiences.

We do this not only to pick up trash but to engage our neighbors and invite them to participate. While we’re concentrated in Center City, any block in any neighborhood can be adopted, by any group, including within our Arts District. An individual can join with any group they want.

We also do this because it’s fun. You get a cool t-shirt and you get to hang out with cool people. And on a serious note, we know that we have significant challenges in our City. This is one of many approaches that we know works.

So we hope that you’ll join us on the 18^th. In the meantime, please print and post our flyer in your business, school or church. If the weather is bad, we’ll renew our program on March 17th. If you have any questions, please call me or Pastor Elizabeth Nees at 856-825-3008.

Thanks, Ed

Edward C. Einhaus
Project Implementation Coordinator
Center City - The Heart of Millville Program
c/o AHOME Inc.
400 E. Main St.

Police Command Vehicle

2012-02-01T11:27:00.000-05:00

Several years ago the MPD acquired a Police Command Vehicle. Now, the wisdom of outlaying that amount of money has been questioned - but to allay the worst fears, this was not paid for with property tax dollars; it was acquired through a grant that had a limited scope. Anyway, coulda-woulda-shoulda- we have the vehicle now.

The question I am posing is this, "Where in the hell is it?" Okay, I know where it is. It is usally housed in a space at the Millville Rescue Squad, in space paid for by Office of Emergency Management funds. OEM headquarters are pretty much mandated to receive such funds, and ours is at the MRS. At least, that is how things stood last time I had any conversation about it, I don't know if anything has changed in the interim.

Anyway, this rant has a purpose. The PCM is doing nobody any good parked in a garage. With stepped up patrols throughout the neighborhoods, why not use it as a mobile police office? Park it in front of the known drug house on the 500 block of Mulberry Street for a month, and have the beat and bike cops use it as an office.

Park it on the 200 block of Vine Street for a month so that the plethora of hookers that hang out around the church and nursery school 24/7 will be forced to move their base of operations.

And, to really mix things up, strategically place some undercover operations in the likely areas where the dealers, pimps and whore will relocate.

Just an idea...

Another Millville Homicide

2012-02-01T11:20:00.000-05:00

Last night we had the second shooting related death in five months.

City police continue to investigate the shooting death of a man at the Delsea Village Apartment complex Tuesday night.
Police have yet to release the identity of the slain man, and Delsea Village residents wouldn't discuss what happened last night.

There is one thing of which we are fairly certain, none of these incidents involve innocent bystanders. There is an entire underground culture that is swiftly overtaking the city. There is no easy answer, especially when you are stuck dealing with the aftermath of such atrocities as Delsea Gardens, a government project foisted on us by narrow-minded, short-sighted individuals who sold the soul of our city back in the 1970's.

Police Chief Tom Haas assures me that there is a plan, and the MPD is doing all that it can within the legal restraints to combat the gangs that are behind this reign of terror. This infestation, that is fed by Cumberland County's idiocy in accepting 35% or more of the state's inmates and then allowing them to remain here upon their release rather than busing them back to the county where they were sentenced, has to be curtailed before we can see any real improvement in the neighborhoods.

I know we have quite a few people that follow this blog, I encourage anyone that has serious ideas or input to please comment.

Breaking News

2012-01-31T20:48:00.001-05:00

Approximately 45 minutes ago, www.NJ.com is reporting a gunshot victim and ambulances needed (as well as a medical examiner which is not good) on South 2nd Street at Delsea Village Apartments. No other information available as of yet.

Adopt-A-Block 2012 schedule

2012-01-26T14:47:00.003-05:00

February is just about here and that means Adopt-a-Block will be kicking off very shortly!

Please, mark your calendars for this years clean-ups.

Date/Time: 3rd Saturday of each month @ 10:00am

Place: St. Paul's Lutheran Church

Corner of 3rd & Mulberry

Millville, NJ
Event: Clean-up of Millville City Blocks

Saturday, February 18
Saturday, March 17

Saturday, April 21
Saturday, May 19

Saturday, June 16
Saturday, July 21

Saturday, August 18
Saturday, September 15

Saturday, October 20
Saturday, November 17

These clean-ups will be held at 10:00am at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church with food and drinks for everyone who participates following the clean-up.

Hope to see everyone at the clean-up!

Also, don't forget to "Like" us on Facebook or "Follow us" on Twitter (you can do so with the links below):

Follow Us on Twitter

Join Us on Facebook

Thanks,

--
Adopt-A-Block

Follow Us on Twitter

Join Us on Facebook

Center City Crime Watch holds first meeting

2012-01-24T23:25:00.000-05:00

Center City Crime Watch of Millville held the first official meeting tonight.

The Center City Crime Watch of Millville held its first meeting Tuesday evening on the 100 block of 4th Street to a small group with big plans.
Mary Messeck, the leader of the initiative, was involved in the city’s crime watch involving the Third Ward and Millville Gardens during the 1990s and hopes to bring back the awareness and put the attention on the center city.
Her newsletter will soon be available at Bogarts Bookstore, as per her networking with the shop’s owner, and available at all city commission meetings.

I had other obligations tonight and was unable to attend this meeting. However, we did endorse the meeting and Mary at the recent CiPAC (Citizen-Police Advisory Council) meeting last week. If you are not already subscribed, we encourage you to add Center City Crime Watch of Millville to your Facebook account.

Also, we ensure privacy and confidentiality to anyone that would submit tips via this website.

Millville gets another police dog

2012-01-24T13:05:00.000-05:00

Millville just added a fourth police dog to the force!

Imagine a police force with every patrol officer assigned a K9 partner.
Police Chief Thomas Haas does.
“A lot of people, where they don’t respect police, they do respect the dog,” Haas said. “Also, a dog’s nose is a lot more sensitive for drugs.”
Realistically, Haas said, six K9s might be the most the police department can expect. And that goal got closer last week with the delivery of its fourth working dog, a male Belgian Malinois who now answers to the name “Treu.”

Haas used drug forfeiture money to purchase the dog - police dogs do not come cheap. I guess you can call that a unique form of justice - karma, if you will. You operate a 24-hour drugstore on our streets, your money goes to purchasepolice dogs!

825-UGLY

2012-01-19T11:10:00.000-05:00

It is an easy number to remember. USE IT! 825-UGLY is a hotline that allows any Millville resident to call in a code violation anonymously. It is a recording, you don't even have to leave your name.

We discussed the 825-UGLY number last night at the Citizen-Police Advisory Council (CiPAC) meeting. besides getting word out to residents to call 825-UGLY when you see he illegal dumping of TV Sets on the curb, or slumlords allowing trash to sit on the curb four and five days before scheduled trash pick-up, we are urging the use of the number to report the locations of sneakers hanging from telephone wires.

The issue was addressed as a question from Sgt. Cramner to Mayor Shannon - what action can be taken to remove the shoes hanging from telephone wires?

As most of our readers already understand, shoes hanging from power lines are signs that there is a drug dealer in that vicinity. On Sassafras Street, the drug dealers hang out at 412 Sassafras, and often at 409 Sassafras. Also, the brand of sneaker will often be a clue to the gang that has claimed their turf.

Mayor Shannon said the city maintenance yard does have a bucket truck. He will be coordinating with the police department to remove the shoes from cable or telephone lines. The city cannot risk playing near the electrical lines due to safety issues - so possibly we need to coordinate an effort to force Atlantic City Electric into taking care of any shoes on power lines.

The police will note the shoes during the course of their daily routines, but we also are encouraging citizens to call the locations in. It takes 15-seconds, and it sends a message to the drug dealers that we are claiming our streets back.

Gunfire hits man, more shots fired this week

2012-01-19T10:27:00.000-05:00

A 21-year old city man was hit in the leg this week as more gunfire erupted in center City, Millville.

A 21-year-old city man was shot in the leg Friday, and his East Vine Street residence was hit by several bullets four days later, police said.Bullets struck another home in that neighborhood on Sunday, police said.

I spoke at length with Chief Haas last night, and the MPD is taking corrective action. Changes are being made, and the department is using creative techniques to combat the current resurgence of gang activity. The chief agrees that this is all gang related. You can rest assured that none of the targeted houses or so-called victims are innocent bystanders. That doesn't make the situation any less dangerous.

Thanks to vocal anti-government groups such as Millville First, the police department is working with a less than optimal staffing level. However, creative solutions are putting more cops on the street when and where needed. The Chief also assures me that the Sheriff's Department is assisting with the deployment of Sheriff deputies working in town.

He also wants to get the word out to ask people to call in tips. 825-7010, and hit "0" to talk to dispatch - leave tips and call in immediately when you witness anything that warrants closer scrutiny from the police department. of course, if it is an actual emergency or life-threatening situation, call 911.

Interesting possibility

2012-01-17T21:39:00.003-05:00

As seen at www.homenewstribune.com New Brunswick NJ is forming an all volunteer auxilliary police force. Having grown up in New Brunswick, I am familiar with the area and think this will be a valuable asset not only to that community, but perhaps something Millville should pursue also.

I also lived in Toms River for several years. Toms River had an active auxiliary force while I was a resident. They assisted in things from maintaining a presence at large public events, to traffic control at accident and fire scenes, to providing additional patrols in township vehicles on weekends or busy holidays such as Halloween/Mischief night. They would also do ride alongs with full time officers frequently to learn and share information about happenings in the community.

I believe Millville could benefit from such a volunteer force. Younger adults who may aspire to get full-time positions in law enforcement can begin to build a resume and learn basic functions of community service. The local community college criminal justice program may be a great place to recruit volunteers. Retirees can find joy in volunteering in their community, and almost anybody who cares about their community may have an avenue to get involved if they choose.

By utilizing a group of auxiliary volunteers, the town would have extra eyes and ears at a minimal cost on the streets to interact with the community and bring concerns back to city officials. These same volunteers would also be trained and able to handle tasks such as traffic control and/or community policing to free up full time officers to concentrate more on serious crimes and issues affecting the city.

Report of a shot fired

2012-01-11T19:51:00.002-05:00

In the News this afternoon:

A police officer on patrol Wednesday in Center City reported hearing a gunshot at about 11:20 p.m. in the area of North 4th Street. Investigation did not turn up any information.

Millville Police promise to protect your identity

2012-01-08T10:52:00.000-05:00

The News of Cumberland County published a helpful article today. Millvilel police will not leak your identity if you call in a violent crime. I have said this many times, and it is good to see it in print.

...it is pertinent that the witness be kept anonymous.
“It depends on the crime, but in the situation of random shootings, they can remain anonymous completely,” Haas said.
Just in the past two weeks, Millville has experienced four reported shooting incidents, as well as a stabbing on Thursday.
“In the situation of the shootings, the identity of the witness is not needed in court,” Haas said. “If someone is being shot at, or sees someone shooting a gun, they need to tell us.
“There again, if they want to handle it themselves and not speak up, that doesn’t help us.”

Shots Fired

2012-01-07T16:40:00.002-05:00

At around 8am today (Saturday), there were reports of shots fired again in the area of 5th and Mulberry Streets.

Perhaps authorities can try something different to combat the problem. Maybe utilize some sort of portable surveillance camera that can be set up in target/hot areas such as 5th and Mulberry lately, where there is an obvious recurring problem and need for quick action. The item can be mounted on a telephone pole, or some other discreet location to provide video footage, and aid the police in identifying actors.

I would even suggest parking the police department's large command center vehicle right in front of the alleged problem house/s with one officer posted inside, and allow other officers to congregate there for report writing, or a hot cup of coffee during their shift. The pressure would (albeit temporarily) hurt the drug business and illegal activity currently drawn to the area, and send a message to the thugs that the police and honest citizens run the community, not them.

Perhaps a saturation of the neighborhood for petty items would be in order as well: Double parked vehicles, speeding, loud car stereos, J-walking, Loitering, bicycles at night without proper lighting, open containers etc... These smaller offenses will allow the police contact with more people, which adds pressure to the criminal element, and will also keep those who come into the area looking for drugs or to commit crimes from freely doing so, since they may fear being picked up for warrants, possession, or ticketed etc...

Heroin Bust at 3rd & Oak

2012-01-06T21:36:00.000-05:00

Sheriff Deputies busted a local man for dealing drugs out of his home. Even worse, he had young children in the house.

On Wednesday, Detective Sgt. Nick Moore and detective Chris Carella were driving through Millville when they obtained some information that a man was at the intersection of 3rd and Oak Streets with some drugs.

They spotted 25-year-old Saul Thompson, who ran into his apartment.
It was to no avail because the officers were able to enter and discovered heroin, marijuana, a digital scale and over $1,000 cash.

K-9 Loki with his officer Curtis Shaffer sniffed out the heroin.

Thompson was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana, resisting arrest by flight, possession of drug paraphernalia, obstruction of justice and endangering the welfare of a child.

Man stabbed Thursday Night on 2nd Street

2012-01-06T15:28:00.000-05:00

The Atlantic City Press reports:

A Millville man was stabbed four times late Thursday night, police said in a news release.
Latif Ali, 51, of Millville, told police that he was walking around Second and Broad streets when he was approached by two men wearing hooded sweatshirts. The men asked Ali for change and Ali said he was then stabbed by one of the men.

Stabbing

2012-01-06T15:25:00.002-05:00

There was a stabbing last night of a male subject. He was found with multiple stab wounds near his apartment on Riverside Drive, but reports say he may have been approached by two males in hoodies near 2nd and Broad Street and stabbed there. He then reportedly walked home and collapsed near his front door.

Seems odd a person would get stabbed and walk across town without stopping in one of many area businesses along the route to summon assistance, however this is what information is available so far.

Mayor speaks out about crime

2012-01-06T10:34:00.000-05:00

Mayor Tim Shannon spoke out at his annual State of the City address about the current crime wave.

Public safety is the top priority for city government in 2012 and a “very aggressive” policing plan is on the way to stop incidents like the spree of firearm use over the last few weeks in the Center City, Mayor Tim Shannon said Thursday.“I think what we need to do is we need to take a look at some of the mandatory jail time for non-violent crime, have that maybe looked at and rescinded, and save some of that space in jail for these violent crime offenders and gun offenders,” Shannon said. “Folks in the neighborhood need to step up and help our police. They need to be the eyes and the ears.”

It is a crying shame that the commissioner of Public Safety, Dave Vanaman, is doing absolutely nothing. He has no ideas to combat the crime. He just sits there on his high horse and says, we are doing something but I am not going to tell you what we are doing. Meanwhile, nothing is being done.

I have some questions, Why haven't the State Police been called in to assist? When Camden has a problem they are there quick enough. Why hasn't the incompetent sheriff Bob Austino offered to have Sheriff Deputies assist on patrols. When Mike Barruzza was sheriff, he was quick to offer assistance. It seems that the only thing Austino wants to do is patrol in Bridgeton for his friend and party compatriot Al Kelly.

As commissioner of Public Safety, Dave Vanaman needs to step up to the plate, and actually take control of his department rather than trying to figure out new ways to be witty and snide at city commission meetings.

A moment of silence for Marco

2012-01-04T08:17:00.000-05:00

One of Millville PD's retired K-9's passed.

Detective Lt. Les Watson reported the passing of Marco, a Belgium Malinois, on Tuesday.
“Imported from Holland, retired police K9 Marco. . . joined the Millville police department in 2001 and was assigned to officer Terrance Fawcett, as his K9 handler,” said Watson.

He also noted that Marco had an extensive education in law enforcement.

“K9 Marco graduated from the NJ Police Canine Association Academy in 2001 where he obtained his certification in patrol work. Later that year, K9 Marco graduated the NJ State Police Canine Academy and was certified in narcotic work.”

Watson said Marco worked for six years, and then retired in 2007 to live with Fawcett and his family.

“K9 Marco is credited with countless criminal apprehensions and narcotic seizures during his career,” concluded Watson.

2012-01-04T08:15:00.000-05:00

The News of Cumberland County has a write-up of the recent spate of shootings in Millville.

An ice cream shop and an intersection that was already the scene of three shootings in two days were peppered with bullets over the weekend in two separate shooting incidents.

No one was injured, but police still asked for the public’s assistance in finding those responsible.

The worrisome thing here is the fact that one shooting happened in broad daylight, at a busy area, and nobody saw anything.

Detective Sgt. Harrold Duffield said police were dispatched to the 500 block of North 2nd Street for a report of gunshots at 1:45 p.m. Saturday. “Police for there and attempted speaking to people in the area, but they did not receive any pertinent information.”

Obviously when witnesses refuse to cooperate with law enforcement, their hands are tied. They need a few people to step forward, and to stop being cowards. It is a shame that these same people will whine about the crime, and complain about the shootings, but their mouths are zipped and they treat our cops as the enemy.

Duffield asked for the public’s assistance in stopping the shootings, and said the police department had noticed the amount of crimes taking place in the area.

“I’m just asking that anyone with information regarding these shootings or others please contact the police at (856) 825-7010.”

Gunshots at 2nd and Broad Sts

2012-01-03T08:55:00.000-05:00

The Arts District extends to the corner of 3rd and Broad, on paper. However, greedy landlords and slumlords continue to rent their sleazy, filthy units to the criminal element. Second Street has many Victorian houses with wonderful architectural details, and many decent owners as witnessed by the intersection of Mulberry and 2nd Sts.

However, slumlords have all but devastated the 500 block of 2nd St., by recklessly renting to occupants that deal drugs in broad daylight and refusing to maintain clean and safe properties.The mini market owners refuse to discourage loitering on their property, and are slow to clean up debris on the sidewalks or parking lot adjacent to their store.

So is it any surprise that gunshots are frequently heard in this area? It was a big surprise to see that the Daily Journal actually reported on a recent incident. Most reports of gunfire in Millville never make the newspaper, as they are becoming more and more commonplace.

Shots were fired near a busy Center City intersection, police said Monday.
No one was injured when shots rang out around 2 p.m. Saturday near North 2nd and East Broad streets, according to Lt. Ed Zadroga.
Police found two bullet holes in an exterior wall of D&S Custard, which is at the intersection.

Nice - gunfire in the middle of the day on New Year's Eve, at a busy intersection. There is a bank and a supermarket on the adjacent corner, Millville Queen Diner down the street. It is only a matter of time before innocent people are seriously injured.

Daily Journal reports on Sunday's gun violence

2012-01-03T08:36:00.000-05:00

The Press of Atlantic City has completely ignored the recent eruption of shootings at 5th and Mulberry Streets in Millville. The News of Cumberland County ran an article paying lip service to the incident last week. Today, The Daily Journal ran their second article dealing with the situation.

An apartment house at North 5th and East Mulberry streets was hit when several gunshots were fired at it Sunday, marking the fourth time in five days police responded to reported gunfire near the intersection.

A drug turf war has been escalating ever since one slumlord rented an apartment to Bridgeton drug dealers. That is the word I hear from neighborhood residents familiar with the parties involved. The DJ fails to mention that the house that was the target of the gunfire is home to participants in the drug activity according to eyewitnesses. They are fearful of speaking up because, well, the bad guys all carry guns and they don't.

Witnesses reported hearing between 12 and 14 gunshots, followed by a pause, and then more shots.Police recovered bullet casings from .40-caliber and .380-caliber handguns, Zadroga said.

An eyewitness told me that a vehicle came around the block and began blasting away at the house. A male began running down the block, chased by the car, shots still being fired in his direction, and he cut down an alley to escape.

The house on the other side of the alley is owner-occupied, and wonderfully restored. It is a shame that home-owners that take pride in their properties are held hostage but out of town slumlords and careless landlords that rent to anybody that comes to them with a Section-8 voucher.

Stop the "No Snitch" Mentality

2012-01-02T13:36:00.000-05:00

I hear people in the neighborhood commiserating about the shootings, the breaking and entering, the vandalism to vehicles prevalent and seeming on the rise. Many of them know who the culprits are, but when I ask them if they made a report to the police department, they hem and haw and make excuses.

The News of Cumberland County has run a few articles recently on the "no snitching" culture.

“It is the responsibility of all members of society to be witnesses if they see a crime. It’s a civic duty, and it’s necessary because if we don’t do that then we wind up where we are right now,” said Bridgeton police chief Mark Ott.

What he means by “. . .where we are right now,” is in the midst of a string of shootings that go unsolved because people, both criminals and regular citizens, will not speak to the police.

Of course with that civic duty of the residents comes an expectation that law enforcement will do its utmost to protect our privacy.

The fear that prevents people from reporting criminal activity is that of retribution. If you have small children at home, you fear for their safety. If you have a newer vehicle, you fear the property damage, the slashed tires and broken windows that all too often go unreported in the local papers. You fear that your house will be robbed when you are at work.

The fact is, the police can be everywhere, all the time. Criminals know this. The fact is that the Cumberland County Courts and the State of New Jersey will continue to refuse to treat violent offenders harshly, and the jails are a revolving door for repeat offenders. Our so-called justice system has no teeth, and the few churches and youth programs making an effort to pull even a few at-risk kids off the streets are undergoing concerted attacks to have their funding slashed by tax-reform groups. These same tax-reform watchdogs are advocating that police officers be laid-off, and that law enforcement funding be significantly reduced.

We are in the middle of a Catch-22. The only way that we can change the course is to stay the course. Make the difficult decisions and choose to be the voice of sanity for your neighborhood. You cannot change the block around the corner, but together, we can make a difference one block at a time.

Join us today

2012-01-02T13:11:00.000-05:00

It seems that the Millville neighborhoods are bringing the New year in with a BANG! Criminal activity is erupting throughout the Center City neighborhoods as well as the 3rd Ward. I am hearing reports from South Millville of renewed drug dealing activity on 4th Street and environs.

Gunshots are once again a fact of daily life. And of course, when the police arrive, in good old Sgt Schultz style, everybody "saw nothing". It is time for concerned citizens to make a concerted effort to fight back.

I urge you to click on the "Join this Site" button on the right, and to contribute. I will be putting more effort in updating the site on a regular basis.

The goal for this year is to point out the addresses of nuisance properties, and post the names and addresses of the absentee landlords that own these houses. When you witness nuisance activity of any nature, call the Millville Police Department Dispatcher (856-825-3111) and give them the address of the problem house. If the address shows up enough times, the owners will be required to stand in front of the City Commission and pay fines.

If you know of illegal rental properties, contact Commissioner Dale Finch at City Hall (856-825-7000) and provide him with the information. The landlords will receive a stiff fine, and the house will get a mandatory health and safety inspection. It is time to make the absentee landlords that have allowed their criminal tenants to destroy our neighborhoods.

If we get enough subscribers to the website, our next step will be to organize neighborhood watches on your block. You have to be willing to take responsibility for your block, nobody else is going to do it for you.

More absentee landlord properties involved in the gun violence

2012-01-02T10:17:00.000-05:00

Last night I reported on the gun violence that is escalating near 5th and Mulberry Streets. State Police, the Sheriff's CSI unit and Millville Police were all on the scene for the better part of the night, and Mulberry Street was block with crime scene tape from 5th Street to midway down the block.

The stray lead hit some of the residences in the area, although to my knowledge nobody was hit. YET.

There are three residential properties involved in an ongoing drug war over turf. I recently listed the name of the slumlord that owns 501 N. 5th Street, an anonymous owner from Lakewood NJ who enjoys their own quiet neighborhood as they profit from blight and urban decay. Hey, as long as they get that government section-8 check, what do they care?

Two other properties are also involved in this battle. 501-503 Mulberry Street, owned by Kenneth Williams, PO Box 1568, Millville, NJ 08332. The tenants of this property are only peripherally involved in the violence, but neighbors say confidentially that they have trashed the entire inside of the house to the point that it is not fit for occupancy.

The real troublemaker in the recent slate of gun violence is 505 Mulberry Street, another rental owned by Kevin Ragsdale, 426 N 6th St., Millville, NJ 08332.

The daily shooting spree began about a week ago, and has resulted in incidents every single night - allowing residents a reprieve only for New Years Eve night. So far there are no casualties other than the property values of home owners that live in houses that have been rendered almost valueless due to the inability of the City of Millville to put a stop to the violence.

City Commissioner Dave Vanaman insists that the citizens should not be allowed to defend themselves, and claims that it is the duty of the police department to protect the law-abiding citizens that are stuck in the war zone. But to date, he has been mum, refusing to comment to the media or public.

I know renters that are working families, scared for their children because the City of Millville has failed to take corrective action and put a stop to this gangland dispute.

First drive-by of the New Year

2012-01-01T21:15:00.002-05:00

5th and Mulberry, 9PM New year's Day and we have our first drive-by shooting of the New Year. I want to know what the hell our director of public safety is planning to do about this, is he waiting for an innocent bystander to be shot?

301 N 5th St LLC - SLUMLORDS

2011-12-31T09:25:00.000-05:00

Fifth and Mulberry Streets have become a hotbed of nuisance activity. Residents lives are in danger from stray bullets as gunfire is a regular, nightly occurrence in this area. It is only a matter of time before an innocent bystander is hit.

The Daily Journal reports that the source of some if this activity is 301 N 5th Street.

A street brawl and gunfire in a Center City neighborhood Friday morning led to the arrests of five men on unrelated charges.
It was the third time in three days police were called to the area of North 5th and Mulberry streets for reports of shots fired.
Bystanders to Friday’s fight directed officers to an apartment house at 301 North 5th Street to find some of the people involved in the incident, police said.

This property is a rat's nest of nuisance activity. The building is an eyesore, but unfortunate that is not a crime. But it is indicative of the contempt the owners hold of Millville residents and taxpayers. The owners are too cowardly to list the property under their own names, but hide behind an LLC. Their LLC is listed as the highly imaginative

501 N FIFTH ST, LLC.

133 Stratford Place

Lakewood, NJ 08701.

They relax in their quaint neighborhoods, collecting easy money while our neighborhoods turn into ghettos. I did a search on 133 Stratford Place, and discovered that it is owned by Avrohom and Judith Goldberg. Apparently this property consists of condominiums, so it is not clear of the Goldbergs are behind the 501 N Fifth St LLC or not. I will continue to dig.

5th and Mulberry Criminal Hot Spot

2011-12-31T08:36:00.000-05:00

Fifth and Mulberry Streets mark Millville's newest hot spot of criminal activity. While law abiding citizens are denied the right to carry a concealed weapon for self-defense, and Commissioner David Vanaman states that he opposes the right of citizens to defend themselves, guns carried by felons and criminals are a fact of life in Center City.

The same city intersection is now the scene of three shooting incidents in just over 36 hours after a resident called police Friday morning to report a gunshot, leading to five arrests.

Residents standing outside about an hour afterward were either mum or claimed nothing had happened at all.

It is no wonder that by-standers are keeping mum. Just ask Arnold Bell of the 3rd Ward.

Days after Arnold Bell complained that police are not doing enough to protect him from neighborhood teenagers who are attacking him and trying to burn down his house, city officials either said his protection was someone else’s responsibility, that enough was already being done, or were simply not available.

It was in regard's to Bell's situation, a man who has been harassed and threatened since speaking to authorities about a recent murder, that Vanaman claimed he had no right to defend himself in public,

Bell suggested that he should be allowed to carry a gun to defend himself, but Vanaman disagreed with this personally and said any changes to the law were out of his hands.

“That’s not even in our control. That would be the state’s responsibility. I don’t think it’s gotten anywhere near that state of things though,” he said.

“My personal feelings are, I don’t think there should be a general open carry law.”

Here are the facts - if the State of New Jersey is going to deny citizens the right to self-defense, then it is incumbent that every citizen receive 100% police protection, so that they are completely protected from the predatory criminal element that the court systems deem worthy of being allowed to roam free our streets. Dave Vanaman lives in a safe neighborhood, as do his followers. Of course he is going to claim that citizens do not have the right to protect their property of their lives, he is safe and secure in his house.

Mary Messick heading crime watch efforts

2011-12-28T09:09:00.000-05:00

Mary Messick from Center City Millville is heading the efforts to create a new crime watch.

Messeck is taking the bull-by-the-horns and distributing a newsletter each month that lists upcoming meetings within the city where residents can voice their support against violence and crime.
“It’s a newsletter, plain and simple,” Messeck said. “But it tells the facts.”
Facts like “(in) 2010, 65 percent of Millville’s crime was located in the Center City/3rd Ward area.”
But it’s not worth anything if people refuse to speak up, Messeck said.

Those interested in joining Millville’s neighborhood crime watch, or supporting Messeck’s initiatives, should contact her at (856) 982-7323, by email at maryhymer@aol.com or on Facebook by searching for “Mary Messeck.”

Millville resident denied the right to defend self and property

2011-12-28T09:02:00.000-05:00

With all of this talk in the county recently encouraging residents to "snitch", we have a situation where a resident is willing to talk, and now suffering retribution while law enforcement is ignoring his plight.

A city resident who called police with tips immediately after a teenager was murdered in October said that neighborhood teenagers are terrorizing him, and that the law enforcement agencies that so desperately ask for tips are doing little to stop them.

This resident even has photographs of the juveniles that are terrorizing, and that allegedly attempted arson. They are roaming free today.

It is no wonder that people are afraid to talk and report criminal activity.

Gunfire at 5th and Mulberry

2011-12-21T09:15:00.000-05:00

There were reports of gunfire at 5th and Mulberry Tuesday night, December 20. One person said they counted eight shots, after which the Millville Police descended en-masse on the area. I see nothing in the papers about this as of yet.

Jeff van Drew a friend of Slum Lords

2011-07-20T10:26:00.000-04:00

This is worrisome - and I have to wonder who paid Van Drew off? Jeff Van Drew wants to prohibit municipalities from inspecting apartment complexes for safety violations.

New Jersey is about to make its rental units less safe.
That will be the result of a bill approved recently by the state Senate and headed to the Assembly. The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May, Cumberland, would prohibit local municipalities from carrying out routine periodic inspections of apartment buildings.

If Van Drew had his way, the now demolished Millville Gardens would still be standing, as he defends the slumlord owners.

It was the inspections, along with police calls that led to a victory for Millville residents. But Van Drew wants to spit in your face, and allow other atrocities to go unchallenged - above the law.

Adopt-A-Block Neighborhood Cleanups

2011-07-12T11:19:00.002-04:00

Date/Time: Saturday, July 16 from 10:00am-12:00am

Place: St. Paul's Lutheran Church

Corner of 3rd & Mulberry

Millville, NJ
Event: Clean-up of Millville City Blocks

Mark your calendars for the third Saturday of every month!

Saturday, August 20
Saturday, September 17
Saturday, October 15
Saturday, November 19

These clean-ups will be held from 10:00am-12:00pm at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church with food and drinks for everyone who participates following the clean-up.

Good Website

2011-07-03T15:47:00.002-04:00

www.crimesolutions.gov a new site began by the deparment of justice. The site has areas where you can research all kinds of crime matters, ranging from prevention techniques, dealing with juveniles etc ... A useful resource!

Potential Gang Turf Battle?

2011-06-28T21:39:00.003-04:00

Several weeks ago I noticed graffiti on the side of the small neighborhood store located at 5th and Broad Streets. I wanted to comment on this graffiti but have had little time. The black spray painted graffiti contained the letters G and D, a pitchfork and an upside down #5, also with a pitchfork coming off it. The meaning of this all translated points to a gang known as Gangster Disciples marking their territory. This gang originally is Chicago based but well established nationwide in various areas. They fall under the Folk nation, and are represented by a pitchfork, 6 pointed star, the colors black and white among others. The upside down #5 with a pitchfork coming off it is to disrespect the People's nation, most likely the Bloods gang, which has a strong presence in Center City and represents under the #5 and color red as most people know.

What I found more interesting is this building again caught my eye a few weeks ago. It seems somebody came along and painted over the Gangster Disciple graffiti! Yep, now a #5 was upwards and I believe there was a 5 pointed star - The Bloods gang was answering the "disrespect" and reclaiming their turf.

Long story short - there are two rival gangs in Millville openly disrespecting each other and laying claim to criminal activity/drug trades etc... in the city. This will only lead to one sure bet as the summer months are upon us, and that is a big increase in street/gang violence. Hopefully law enforcement is keeping tabs on local graffiti and the known gang members. This post is to let the community know what is going on and to be more vigilant in keeping your own children safe while being aware of your neigbhorhoods.

Fortunately, the store owners finally removed and scrubbed off the graffiti a week or so ago, but the damage is already done on the street, because the people involved will surely act out against one another.

Stop it already with the "home invasion" nonsense

2011-06-08T19:10:00.000-04:00

A pet peeve with the editors of local newspapers is with the misleading attention-grabbing headlines. A common example, especially with the Daily Journal, is the use of the wards "Home Invasion" regarding the reporting of some recent incidents.

These words are are intended to generate apprehension and fear in the general public, and hence to sell more newspapers. This culture of fear is not healthy for the community or well-being of the neighborhoods. God knows we need all of the positive reinforcement and support we can get as citizen-groups, the city and churches work diligently and cooperate to stem the tide of blight that threatens our neighborhoods.

Yes, we do have a gang problem. Yes we do have a problem with nuisance activities such as prostitution and drugs plaguing our city. Our neighborhoods have a litter problem, and we cannot sleep at night due to nuisance activity that is not quite criminal.

However - we do NOT have a problem with innocent bystanders being shot in drive-by's. We don't have an epidemic of innocent people having their doors kicked in, and housed robbed at gunpoint by complete strangers.

The wanton use of the term "home invasion" by our local press creates visions of roving gangs preying upon the innocent. This is just not so. in every case of a "home invasion" that I have discussed with our law reinforcement, drugs were involved. Almost every incident involves a drug deal gone bad.

The shootings are either drug related, or gang related, or in some sad instances the results of domestic situations that should have been dealt with long ago.

I am a firm believer in confronting issues head-on. I don't advocate sticking our heads int he proverbial sands and pretending there are not crime issues. However, it is critical that we understand clearly the causes and factors.

For years our local law enforcement and even members of city commission denied we had a gang problem. If you refuse to admit a problem, you cannot begin to solve it. Only upon recognizing this plague have we begun taking action. And so it is with all areas of nuisance and criminal conduct. We must recognize, acknowledge and attack.

This of course, does not negate the responsibility of every citizen to take action to ensure their own security and the security of their households. With only 80 or so police in a city of 27.000 chances are law enforcement will arrive AFTER the fact. Your eyes are the most important, if we want to make headway.

Millville Curfew for Juveniles Changed

2011-06-08T18:53:00.000-04:00

The city commission approved a change in the city ordinance changing curfews from 10PM on school nights to 9PM. Here is the story in the Daily Journal.

The time change is the only change to the ordinance. Juveniles commuting to or from work, church, or school or social event are exempt.

This ordinance was proposed by members of CiPAC (Citizen-Police Advisory Council), and the Weed and Seed Steering Committee.

It is not intended to harass individuals, but rather to give police one more tool in curtailing nuisance activities now that summer is upon us.

We had unanimous support from city hall and from law enforcement. Apparently the only vocal opposition has come from an anti-government group of grumpy old men that hate anything and everything that would make Millville better and increase the quality of life. I can't understand why one of their prominent members, bob Tesoroni, would blame police for the nuisance problems in the neighborhoods.

With a police force of 80 people more or less in a city of 27,000 we need, and law enforcement needs every tool possible to fight this cancer that was wrought and perpetrated on the city by members of that very same group with their urgent support of low-income housing projects in the 70's, and with their continued "investment" in rentals in the city, as opposed to supporting home-ownership.

At the same city commission meeting, commissioner Jim Quinn urged support for a resolution requiring police presence at city commission meetings after members of this very same group became disorderly and refused to abide by the rules of order. Their antics necessitated the premature closure of the commission meeting.

Quinn cited a recent example of a gun-toting person shooting up congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords as reason. I will note that there are some people that I truly believe are unstable carrying concealed weapons in Millville. This is a common sense move on the commission's part.

Info?

2011-05-19T15:36:00.002-04:00

On Wednesday afternoon several black SUV's with flashing lights and at least one Millville Police Car were seen heading east on Main Street toward Wade Blvd. Raid or investigation someplace?

Home invasion and shooting

2011-05-02T12:10:00.000-04:00

In today's Daily Journal:

A 24-year-old Millville man was shot Sunday during an early morning home invasion, according to police.

Officers were called to the 300 block of West Foundry Street at 4:40 a.m. for the break-in. Witnesses told police two masked men, armed with guns, entered the house.

The 24-year-old resident, awakened by the intruders, walked out of a bedroom to investigate who was in the house and was shot once by one of the gunmen, police said.

There is scuttlebutt about Millville becoming unsafe, about "all these shootings" etc. First of all, except for this incident and the jury's still out, the shootings and attacks are the element exacting revenge on the element.

However, this incident should be a lesson for all. First of all, secure your house even when you are in it. Lock the doors, secure windows even if you have them cracked for ventilation on a warm night. Get a pet dog - a barking dog is the BEST defense you can get for the money, plus they make good friends. And finally, if you hear a noise in your house, the first thing to do is contact the local constabulary. If you hear someone in your house and you know it is not you, then be smart.

gUNSHOTS

2011-04-30T16:36:00.000-04:00

I neglected to post this the other day. On April 28, 11:15 PM I heard a volley of gunfire from my back deck. It had to have been within a 3 block radius of 4th and Sassafras, judging from the loudness. There was a "crack", a second pause, and then "crack, crack, crack, crack" and maybe a sixth - all within two seconds. It was as if somebody emptied a clip of a semi-automatic - probably .32 caliber or lesser, judging from the sound.

Assault on High Street

2011-04-25T10:16:00.000-04:00

There is an article in the Daily Journal today, albeit with incorrect information that is easily checked, and so once again leads me to doubt the veracity of their reporting.

A 38-year-old Center City woman suffered abdominal lacerations in an assault at High and Mulberry streets. Lt. Edward Zadroga said the woman was flown from Millville Airport to a hospital.

The incident happened at about 11:45 p.m. Friday. After the victim was assaulted, she made her way to the China Wok restaurant at Main and South High streets to seek help, Zadroga said.

There is no restaurant called the China Wok at Main and High Sts. There IS a China Wok at High and Mulberry.

Now that I think back, I remember seeing emergency lights at that location Friday evening around 12:20 PM on my way home from work. I just assumed it was another bar fight at Bojos.

The Press and the News have no coverage, as far as I can see. As to the identity of the victim - my first instinct is to think, at that location at that time of night, it is a local prostitute or druggie. From the scant information we have available, the attack didn't occur on High Street, but elsewhere. That section of 2nd St., a block away, is a well known area for prostitutes. until the Millville Police start stings that target the johns, not the whores, and publicizing their identities, this activity will continue unabated.

Rumor

2011-04-23T15:01:00.002-04:00

There is a rumor about a rape/murder in the vicinity of Sharp St on Fri PM/Early Sat AM - anyone hear anything? Nothing in the papers online yet.

A tool to get rid of nuisance properties

2011-04-21T12:58:00.000-04:00

Pinky Kravitz has an interesting piece in today's Atlantic City Press. He references a New Jersey state statute that allows municipalities to adopt ordinances citywide that allow for radical action against slumlords and abandoned properties.

New Jersey has an Abandoned Property Rehabilitation Act. Six months ago, Atlantic City approved an ordinance implementing the state law that allows municipalities to take possession of a property even in the absence of tax delinquency on the basis of a finding by a public officer that the property is in need of rehabilitation. The public officer must also prove the property owner has not taken action to rehabilitate the property in six months.

The act applies to all properties - residential and commercial - and may be enacted throughout the entire municipality.

This is something that the City of Millville needs to seriously consider. Center City is full of abandoned properties that the slumlord owners have walked away from. The banks, usually from Texas or elsewhere, are content to leave the properties boarded up, yards littered with debris.

These properties absolutely detract the neighborhood, and cause surrounding property values to plummet even more, if that is possible.

We have slumlords such as Dennis Ingraldi of Vineland, with rental properties that are just plain ugly, with tenants that deal drugs ans participate in other nuisance activity.

It is far past the time that Millville uses these laws for the benefit of the city overall. Take these abandoned properties, and sell them to homeowners that have the ability to repair them, and who have the resolve to live in the neighborhoods and participate in true efforts of rejuvenation.

Adopt a Block

2011-04-17T18:20:00.001-04:00

Anyone that knows me, or has read enough of my rants knows that in addition to being an advocate for stricter code enforcement and harsh punishment for violent (and potentially violent) criminals, I am an ardent voice for stronger neighborhoods.

Walking with Little Dottie on Dottie's walks for several years, and participating in the twice annual neighborhood cleanups, I have always wished that somehow the works would pay off in cleaner streets.

I advocated an adopt-a-block program for Millville, especially Center City. I have discussed this at length with commissioner Dale Finch, and more recently with Ed Einhaus of AHOME. I asked how do we get the residents involved, and the local churches, and other groups.

It all came together this past Saturday. The Greater Millville Ministerial Association has a new member, Paster Elizabeth Nees of St. Paul's Lutheran on 3rd and Mulberry. This is her first church as a pastor, she hales from Wisconsin. When she came to Millville, she insisted on living in the community that her church serves. She located in Center City.

Elizabeth began attending local meetings, the CCNG, CiPAC, Weed and Seed, looking for ways to get involved.

Thanks to Ed and Dale, Elizabeth took this idea and ran with it. she presented it to the GMMA, and has taken the lead on creating an extensive network of churches and community groups in the One Block at a Time initiative.

The various churches adopted a block, and showed up en masse on Saturday to do a major cleanup. About 250 people showed up, wearing Adopt a Block tee-shirts.I only wish that I didn't have to work that day.

From all reports, local neighborhood residents saw what was happening and joined in - which is the main thrust of the program.

What does this have to do with crime? When residents care about their neighborhood enough to maintain it, it sends a message to the criminal element that we care about our street. They will tend to migrate to other areas where they will be less conspicuous. It does work, and the concept is to clean up Millville, one block at a time.

More on the recent shooting

2011-04-08T12:56:00.000-04:00

Bridgeton News has a story with two eyewitness accounts of the idiocy that occurred in Millville yesterday.

On Thursday, two Third Street residents who witnessed the shooting and its aftermath related what they had seen Wednesday night.
Both wished to remain anonymous because they were concerned for their safety in the neighborhood.
The woman who witnessed the shooting from the third floor of her home said she had been falling asleep when she heard yelling outside.
"I looked out of the window and there were 8 to 10 people gathered in a group. They were all yelling at one another, and then I heard gunshots.

It comes down to idiots shooting idiots - probably juveniles that have been coddled by the court system, or young adults (I use the term adult in the very loosest sense) that have been coddled by the system and now have learned to work the revolving door to their own benefit.

Inside scoop on shooting on 4th St

2011-04-08T09:26:00.000-04:00

The following was in this morning's Ben Column:

Off The Record:
Wednesday night in Millville, shots went off at 222 S. 4th Street.
One guy was hit in the face, with a report of two shooters.
Black males, one in a red hoodie, one in a black hoodie.
Police and EMS responded to South 4th Street.
At the same time, a 911 call came in for a gunshot victim to the face in the first block of McNeal Street.
A female caller reported her brother had been shot.
Police responded to McNeal Street and the squad was down the block staging.
It turned out that the caller on McNeal was the sister of the guy who got shot on 4th Street and was trying to call that in.
Meanwhile, back at the original shooting scene, the man who was shot got in a private vehicle and was taken to Regional Medical Center.
About 20 minutes later, shots rang out in the first block of West Green Street.
Multiple 911 calls reported it. There were reports on the radio about a woman screaming for help, and a man carrying a woman into a house on Dock Street.
Both were unfounded.
Police arrived and found a window had been shot out on Green Street, and bullet holes in the house. No one was injured.
Keep an eye on this one.
The Bloods in town are getting edgy.
One of the younger street lieutenants lives near me, and he’s been getting a bit flighty.
Good luck with the story.
I’ll be holding the 3rd Warzone down.
— the tipster

222 S. 4th St is owned by David Augustine, 7120 English Creek Rd, Egg Harbor Twp, NJ. Davide and Brianne Keller won eight rental units in Millville. See below. It'll be interesting to check out the police calls to these properties.

	Block	Lot	Qual	Location	Owner
More Info	107	18		222 FULTON ST	AUGUSTINE, DAVID & BRIANNE
More Info	426	17		103 5TH ST N	AUGUSTINE, DAVID & BRIANNE KELLER-
More Info	471	18		220 5TH ST S	AUGUSTINE, DAVID & BRIANNE KELLER-
More Info	474	20		222 4TH ST S	AUGUSTINE, DAVID & BRIANNE KELLER-
More Info	112	3		223 FULTON ST	AUGUSTINE, DAVID & BRIANNE KELLER-
More Info	112	2		225-227 FULTON ST	AUGUSTINE, DAVID & BRIANNE KELLER-
More Info	412	23		204 2ND ST N	AUGUSTINE, DAVID P & BRIANNE
More Info	107	17		220 FULTON ST	AUGUSTINE, DAVID P & BRIANNE

Shooting at 3rd and Oak - the scoop

2011-04-05T15:47:00.000-04:00

Here is the scoop on the shooting at 3rd and Oak Sts.

According to police, Thompson said he and Cook were walking on 3rd Street near Oak Street when they were shot. Several rounds were recovered from the scene, police said.
Police said that "no suspects could be identified at this time."

The AC Press and The News of Cumberland County are the only two papers to have the story, so far today.

Shooting at 3rd and Oak?

2011-04-05T09:48:00.000-04:00

I heard there was a shooting at 3rd and Oak last night, three people injured. It is rumor so far, and nothing in the papers. Updates will be forthcoming.

Arrest after armed robbery in Millville

2011-03-23T16:44:00.000-04:00

The Atlantic City Press has the details on an arrest in center City, Millville this morning.

An hours-long standoff between authorities and a robbery suspect ended peacefully Wednesday morning when the suspect surrendered to State Police.

Authorities said the incident began after Carl A. Cundiff, 28, of the 500 block of North Second Street, allegedly shot at a man he tried to rob near the Save-a-Lot market parking lot on High Street around 1:35 a.m.

The property, yet another slum rental in Millville, is 502 N 2nd Street. It is owned, of course, by absentee landlords. It is owned by ALEX GEORGE & ANITA B HAMBLETON,1211 1/2 MCKENNANS CHURCH RD., WILMINGTON DE 19808. The Hambletons own four rentals in Millville.

I am glad that they rented this unit to such a fine upstanding citizen!

Spring is here

2011-03-17T09:43:00.000-04:00

The warmer weather brings out the fools. A shooting on 3rd Street this week injured a bystander.

Gunshots rang out Tuesday night in a residential neighborhood a couple blocks from the city's downtown, leaving a woman injured, apparently from shattered glass, police said.

Annual Martin Luther King Service

2011-01-12T09:45:00.002-05:00

The Greater Millville Ministerial Association will be holding their 5^th Annual Martin Luther King Service on Monday, January 17^th, 2011. The event this year will be a recognition luncheon at 12Noon instead of the traditional evening service. The event will take place at Bethel AME Church located at 113 South 5^th Street in Millville.

The theme of this year is “Honoring the Dreamers” and will recognize members of the community who have continued to give back to the residents of Millville. Some of those being honored are: Kim Ayres – Millville City Planner; Ms. Jean Lewis; Ms. Hannah Wesley; Keith Walters – SHINE Program; Judy Kessler – Center City Neighborhood Group; Sam Herdman – Help & Hope Ministries Food Closet and Don Fauerbach – NJ Motorsports Park. The key note speaker will be Dr. Thomas Isekenegbe, President of Cumberland County College with participation from members of the Ministerial. Lunch will be immediately following the service for a nominal cost of $5.00 per person.

Police Raid

2010-11-22T15:45:00.002-05:00

Police raided a home this morning in the 300 block of McNeil Street. Hopefully they were able to shut down another base of criminal activity!

Police could be seen around noon gathered around a sewer cover in the street while sanitation workers pumped out the sewer system. Guessing the suspects tried to flush evidence down the drain when police arrived. Usually, finding hard evidence at the point a search warrant is executed is only a bonus anyway since the authorities have already built their case against the crooks. Why is it criminals always think they are doing something successfully different than the last idiot who got caught??? LOL

Gunpoint Robbery

2010-11-14T14:29:00.002-05:00

A woman was robbed at gunpoint by two male subjects late Friday night as she arrived home to her apartment in Cumberland Green. The punks then stole her car.

I believe the car was recovered a short distance away, and one of the men may have been captured by Police. Hopefully they will have many years to sit in a cell thinking about the few dollars they almost got away with!

Theft from AHome

2010-11-09T15:00:00.002-05:00

A Willy Mays Jr. was arrested by Millville Police this week for stealing copper piping recently installed at an AHome property located at 3rd and Broad Street. Fortunately the police were in the area and stopped Mays to question him about the copper tubing he was carrying.

Now that work has begun, hopefully residents near any AHome projects will be extra vigilant and call police immediately to report criminal activity, so efforts to improve the city are not thwarted by idiots with no concern for the community.

Gunfire in the 3rd Ward

2010-11-06T08:26:00.000-04:00

More incidents seem to be occurring in the 3rd Ward recently.

Police are investigating reports of shots fired early Friday, which apparently damaged two houses, but did not appear to wound anyone, officials said.

Officers responded to the call about gunfire near the intersection of Buck and Green streets at 3:43 a.m., according to a news release.

Bank Robbed Again

2010-11-05T20:59:00.002-04:00

The TD Bank on north 2nd street was robbed last night, the second time in only a few weeks!

As the holidays are approach, it appears crimes such as robbery and shoplifting are seeing a big surge in the area. Target, Shoprite and the Wal Mart all had shoplifting incidents almost simultaniously Thursday evening.

Wawa Robbed Again

2010-10-25T14:24:00.002-04:00

Looks like the Wawa store at Sharp and Main Street may have been robbed again during the overnight hours last night.

The suspect allegedly got away with a few hundred dollars and some cigarettes. Hardly enough to risk going to prison for a long time!

Hearts and Holly

2010-10-22T15:47:00.000-04:00

In volunteer as chair of the Center City Neighborhood Group, chairing the Citizen/Police Advisory Council (CiPAC), and siting on the Millville Weed and Seed Steering Committee, all in efforts to improve the quality of life in Center City. Concerned residents of the area are invited to attend these meetings. Together we can make a difference.

One of these groups that I was somehow dragged into was a steering committee under the auspices of AHOME. We have very big news, and I will fill you in on the back story after November 4.

If you are a Center City resident, you are invited to our Hearts and Holly celebration on November 4. This event is only an hour and a half, but we are packing quite a bit into that time.

We will have face painting, apple cider, prize give-aways (we have at least four IPods that will be given away as door-prizes) and a very important announcement that will directly benefit our neighborhood for the next three to five years.

So I urge you to join us November 4, from 2:20 to 4PM at the First United Methodist Church parking lot for this event. That is a Thursday afternoon (kids are off school that day). See our plans for the float for the Millville Holiday Parade. Volunteer. Or just come for the free stuff. Whatever your reason, we need you to get involved. And you will be the first to hear the news - and it is big!

Drive by Shooting

2010-10-22T14:44:00.003-04:00

There was a shooting incident around 11:30 this morning in the area of Mcneil and North Street, involving one or more vehicles. I don't believe any people were injured.

No other details are available just yet.

Bank Robbed

2010-10-16T16:37:00.002-04:00

NJ.com has reported the TDbank on north 2nd street (near Walgreens) may have been robbed last night at around closing time (8pm). So far, no known suspects have been caught.

Consolidation of Dispatch Services - some thoughts

2010-10-15T14:08:00.000-04:00

A while back I mentioned a move by the county to consolidate emergency dispatch services into a centralized location. My position is pretty clear - I am leery of such a move for several reasons:

I don't believe the savings will be as much as claimed
The move merely moves costs from city to county
The county is corrupt, and I doubt that politics will not play a role in this move
I am concerned with the level of service, delays, and inefficiency on the county level

However, I am dismayed that our commissioner of public safety, Dave Vanaman, has decided against this move without even hearing the other side of the story. I haven't heard both sides, and if my fears could be assuaged, I would definitely entertain supporting a move that would save taxpayers money.

Dave has adamantly refused to even attend any meeting to discuss such a proposal, or to listen to what others have to say. It troubles me when a man in charge of public safety is so pig-headed that he won't even participate in an open dialog.

However, this comes as little surprise, as Dave only does what his handlers from a special interest group tell him he is allowed to do.

Markese Childers arrested

2010-10-15T13:50:00.000-04:00

Millvilel police figured out the so-called victim was lying. They figured out quickly who the perp was. He was arrested in Vineland, and in what is almost utterly incomprehensible it appears he still had the suspected weapon.

A man wanted for allegedly shooting his baby and girlfriend earlier this week in Millville was arrested Thursday morning outside an apartment on Pear Street in Vineland.

Markese Childers, 27, was taken to the Cumberland County Jail and held on $750,000 bail. He was arrested by officers with the United States Marshals's New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Force, State Police and Millville Police Department.

Police said he faces weapons charges as well as charges of endangering the welfare of a child and two counts each of aggravated assault and endangering an injured victim.

It should be noted that this arrest was successful and that MPD had the assistance of the State Police and US Marshall's Service. The Millville Weed and Seed designation plays a key role with law enforcement in encouraging these sorts of cooperative efforts.

Weed and Seed allows these sorts of incidents that occur within the W&S area to be elevated to more than just a local investigation, bringing in federal law enforcement, and allowing for stricter sentencing.

Idiot shoots woman, child in Millville

2010-10-14T15:18:00.000-04:00

If you see this man, call the Millville Police IMMEDIATELY at 856-825-7010. DO NOT approach him, he is considered armed and dangerous.

Police said a warrant with $75,000 bail was issued for Markese Childers, 27, charging him with two counts apiece of aggravated assault and endangering an injured victim. Police also said he faces endangering the welfare of a child and several weapons charges.

I know I have seen him around town. The amazing thing is, actually not quite so amazing, he is a repeat offender.

Childers has a previous criminal record. He was in state prison from May 2006 to June 2007 on charges of burglary, heroin possession and driving with a suspended license, according to the state Department of Corrections website.

When are the courts going to figure out a way to seriously reprimand criminals and stop this revolving door madness that allows miscreants like this to get free meals and medical care, and then sets them loose on society to wreck more havoc.

The other perp in this case is the mother of the child. She is not a victim, even though she was shot. She lied to police to protect this idiot, even though he came close to killing her child. DYFS needs to be in that household immediately and to assess whether or not (my guess is not) this woman is fit to have custody of that child.

Another Idea for Neighborhood Pride

2010-09-29T10:08:00.000-04:00

One of the things that is quite apparent when one walks through Center City is that people just do not care. Dirty streets, slum rentals, broken dangerous sidewalks, ugly wooden fire escapes from attic that slumlords have converted to bedrooms to eke a few more dollar to sate their greed - these all scream that the people that live here, and those that are planning on retiring from the proceeds of others misery just do not care.

How can rental tenants take pride int heir neighborhood when the slumlord they rent from skirts the law by not registering the property? How can they have a sense of pride when their house is dilapidated? Being poor is not a crime.

For instance, I have neighbors that I will use as an example. The owner of their house has refused to register it with the city. With city cutbacks in manpower, nobody apparently is going after these landlords, and forcing them to bring their rentals up to code.

These tenants are neat, clean, and do their best to maintain their house. the landlord, on the other hand, had to be forced to repair a leaky roof, and even then did not do the job properly. The carpet in the house is worn through to the bare floor. The house needs to be painted, and it needs new windows. The windows do not even have screens, as required by code. I understand bedrooms do not have doors, as required.

The city needs to clamp down on landlords - to search out unregistered rentals and immediately come down on these scofflaws. The fine for not registering a rental needs to be punitive - $1,000 for the first offense seems like a good place to start.

They need to then be forced to bring the apartment up to code in 30 days, and if the apartment is uninhabitable, they need to be forced to pay for the relocation of their tenants into suitable units at the same rent.

Sidewalks are the responsibility of the landlord - make these landlords bring sidewalks up to code. If the paint on the aluminum siding is faded, it is time for a fresh coat of paint.

No more allowing attics to be converted into sleeping quarters, unless the landlord can do it with a sprinkler system. These ugly fire escapes have to go.

When the streets and the neighborhood like nice and presentable, landlords will only benefit by attracting a higher class of renters.

Center City Cleanup Day

2010-09-29T09:55:00.000-04:00

Center City Cleanup Day

Mark your calendars - Saturday October 16, 2010
8AM - 12 Noon

Place items on curbside for pick-up - appliances, old furniture, yard brush are accepted. There will also be dumpsters provides at the corner of N. 3rd and Vine Streets. Regular household trash is NOT accepted. Please, no paint cans or hazardous materials.

Center City Cleanup Day is sponsored by the City of Millville, the Center City Neighborhood Group, and Silver Run School. Center City Volunteers, and Silver Run Students and Staff clean up the litter in the streets. Afterward, we enjoy soda and pizza.

We request that concerned Center City residents volunteer to police the trash on their own streets.Clean Streets are as important as Safe Streets.

Ideas for a better neighborhood

2010-09-28T15:18:00.000-04:00

There is much more to a crime and nuisance free neighborhood than increasing police patrols and throwing people in jail - though law enforcement does play the key role.

But just as critical is a neighborhood's appearance. If the properties are well kept, if people care enough to pick up the litter in front of their homes and better yet, don't toss it in the street in the first place, a message is sent that the tenants and homeowners care about their neighborhood. A lot of the nuisance activity will move off that block. It may only move a block away, but the point is, it moves.

Another benefit is that rentals, necessary for a well-rounded community, will be able to attract a higher quality of tenant if the neighborhood is clean, and the house or apartment is neat, clean and respectable.

Adopt-a-Street
I am trying to garner support for several projects towards this end. One is an adopt-a-street program for Center City. I would like the churches in center city, and there are plenty of them, to step up to the plate and adopt a one-block section of street.

I have city commissioner Dale Finch's word that he will work with me on this project, and it appears that Ed Eihnaus of AHOME, coordinator of the Heart of Millville Project, will assume responsibility and a leadership role, also.

The idea is that we get a group of volunteers to attack a block. We have neighborhood children picking up the trash. We have adults with weed whackers and edgers cutting the grass along the sidewalks, edging the sidewalks, and removing the grass from between the sidewalk cracks and curbs.

Now we will give that section to the adopting group, the church of whatever, or a boyscout troop, or a social club - I don't care who. They will then pledge to walk that section at least once a week and clean, cut, edge - whatever they have to, to maintain it.

Idiot discharges handgun on High Street

2010-09-28T10:02:00.000-04:00

In an act of utter stupidity, a moron named Juan Xavier Maldonado shot his gun into the air several times on High Street after an argument.

A 20-year-old Millville man was arrested early Sunday on charges he repeatedly shot a revolver in the air outside a North High Street home following a confrontation.

Juan Xavier Maldonado, of the 1700 block of East Broad Street, was arrested Sunday and charged with simple assault, possession of weapons for unlawful purposes and unlawful possession of a handgun, police said.

A group of people was gathered at a home on the 300 block of North High Street home when one man, whose identity is unknown, was asked to leave around 3:45 a.m., according to a police report released Monday.

A North High Street home? This "home' had to have been an apartment above one of the stores. The nail salon maybe? The city need to take action, talk to the owner of the building, and ask him if his tenants were properly screened before he rented the apartment.

There is absolutely no excuse for this sort of activity in the middle of the arts district. And there is no excuse for landlords to rent to idiots, when there are many respectable people that would be happy to rent a space in the middle of the district.

100 N. 4th Street, another nuisance in the works

2010-09-28T09:55:00.000-04:00

100 N. 4th Street is fast becoming a nuisance. Slumlord Bernadette Joseph has allowed this property to not only become an eyesore, but it is now a hangout for thugs.Of course, Joseph lives at 1286 Roosevelt Blvd in Vineland, and could likely not care less about the deplorable condition.

The landlord has allowed gang graffiti to grace the side of this building. The city, as I understand, had to step in and issue a citation forcing the landlord to paint the building. They selected a mismatched color and painted only on side. Is this perhaps a show of contempt not only for Millville's code enforcement, but also for the neighborhood?

The yards of this building are usually littered with trash and debris, and drug dealers sit on the wall next to the parking lot, waiting for their customers.

Violence in center city

2010-09-28T09:50:00.000-04:00

A 16-year old from Cedar street stabbed a 21-year old from Brandriff Ave this weekend.

A 16-year-old boy stabbed a 21-year-old city man during a fight Sunday afternoon, police said.

Investigators said they believe the fight may have been drug-related.

Police were dispatched at 3:28 p.m. to 2nd and Oak streets for a fight in progress involving weapons.

Officers determined a 16-year-old Cedar Street resident stabbed Joshua Graham, of Brandriff Avenue, twice in the left side with a knife during the fight, according to a police report released Monday.

If they were hanging out at 2nd and Oak, it was almost definitely drug related. Oak Street is a war zone, and it is about time the city take seriously its responsibility to clean up this mess that is within its arts district. This sort of activity is unacceptable.

If we can't take the thugs off the street, we need to at the very least penalize the slumlords that rent to thugs, and allow nuisance activity to occur on their properties.

Acting chief acts!

2010-09-25T10:43:00.000-04:00

Tom Haas, Millville's acting police chief hit the ground running. I suspect we will see positive news in the papers in the coming weeks.

Lou Magazzu is rearing his ugly head once more, demanding a consolidation of county dispatch services. In his power grab to monopolize all county services, he could not care less about the negative impact such a move would have on Millville residents, or the cost this would impose on taxpayers.

Meanwhile, Millville Acting Police Chief Tom Haas came out strongly against the proposal. “It’s not a good idea,” he said.

Haas said his police dispatchers do a good job of filtering calls, reducing by about half the number of calls that actually require a response from a police officer. He also said the conversion to a countywide system could be too cost prohibitive.

Haas said individual departments would know their municipalities better than a countywide set up.

For instance, he said, some residents call in reports of shots being fired just to speed up police response time to a situation. Millville dispatchers have come to recognize those callers, and will send one car out instead of two or more, he said.

Haas hit the hot points, and these are the reasons that Millville's cops are against this, and the reason that community leaders oppose it.

First of all, the county dispatchers do not know Millville. This year a Millville resident called the county 9-11 to report a problem at 2nd st. and Vine St. when the dispatcher kindly informed them that those two roads do not intersect. The real problem is that Vine Street at that area is a county road, and these guys don't know that?

Next, the Millville Police Department just spent a fortune on updating the computer system. The county system is not able to be integrated with Millville's system, and the cost to make the two systems compatible is prohibitive. That cost would of course fall on Millville taxpayers, taking needed funds away from necessary police budgets.

And we finally come to the last aspect, which is most disturbing. The police dispatchers man the front desk at the police station. Remove these positions, and now we would have to take men off the street to work the desk during the daytime hours. At night, a decision would have to be made to lock the doors and leave the police department empty - endangering citizens that would go to the station after dark seeking assistance or protection.

The paper refers to Gloucester County, claiming that consolidation is more cost effective. The reporter doesn't analyze the numbers, however. Cumberland County is much larger than Gloucester; it has 164 more square miles. Gloucester's largest city in area is Glassboro, which is one-quarter the area of Millville, with about half the population. The demographics are completely different, and so comparisons are faulty.

The bulk of Gloucester County is made up of townships, many having their own, relatively small police force. Consolidating many smaller forces does indeed make sense - Millville has one of the largest police departments in the state. Vineland, too.

In all, there would be no real costs savings, and the inefficiency would likely cause dangerous delays in response time. Oh, and it should be noted that V-Comm, the company being paid an exorbitant fee by the county taxpayers is a democratic contributor.

The website, MagazzuWatch.com has long uncovered the pattern of contributors to the Camden County machine getting Cumberland County jobs. This is a way that companies avoid pay-to-play laws. In return, Camden democrats give that money as contributions to the Cumberland County machine.

10 free online tools

2010-09-22T09:45:00.000-04:00

Chris Jacobson runs a website geared towards attaining a criminal justice degree. I make no recommendation, good or bad, about that part of the site as I am not familiar with their credential or history.

However, he has an excellent guide with links to ten free online tools for tracking criminals in our neighborhoods.

The first link doesn't apply to Millville, but there are links to the national sex offender registry, the official neighborhood watch site, and more.

New Chief in town

2010-09-22T09:41:00.000-04:00

Tom Haas was appointed acting Chief upon the retirement of former chief Ed Grennon.

Grennon will be sorely missed. He made some major changes in the department, including giving it a publicly accessible face.

Haas comes with 30 years of experience, claims he loves his job, and we wish him the best.

Gunshots on 9th street?

2010-09-20T21:12:00.003-04:00

A few residents report having heard 10-15 gunshots along north 9th street several days ago, during the overnight hours.

Rumor is the police also found several shell casings in the area. Nothing confirmed yet, and fortunately no known damage.

Larry's Bar robbed at gunpoint

2010-09-16T22:01:00.000-04:00

An armed man robbed Larry's Bar at gunpoint Wednesday night, around 9:30pm.

A lone gunman robbed Larry’s Bar & Restaurant Wednesday night.

Three customers and four employees were inside the bar, located at 1115 S. 2nd St. (Route 47), when it was robbed at gunpoint at about 9:30 p.m., Millville Police Det. Lt. Les Watson said today.

The robber entered the bar dressed in all black clothing and armed with a gun, demanded money from the bartenders, and fled toward the rear of the bar, possibly toward South 3rd Street, after he was handed an undisclosed amount of cash.

Gunfire incidents solved

2010-09-07T09:10:00.000-04:00

I recently reported on gunfire in and around the arts district. We have posted articles about some wretched rental properties that are a large nuisance, as well as a danger to out-of-town visitors.

There is a slumlord from Galloway Twp. - we seem to have quite a few so-called "investors" from Galloway Twp.- that owns 511 N 2nd Street, an area that is one of Center City's larger nuisances.

A 21-year-old city man is facing weapon charges after he was arrested last week with a .32-caliber handgun authorities say was used in several recent instances of gunfire.

Police began probing the activities at 511 N. 2nd St. in late August after developing information its apartment No. 1 was at the center of several recent reports of gunfire, as well as drug-dealing and fights, Millville Police Det. Sgt. Jody Farabella said.

This area is inside Millville's Arts District, but scumbag slumlords could care less that their negligence, like a cancer, eats away at the positive changes the city has been implementing.

This particular slumlord is a coward, hiding behind an LLC so that he cannot be identified. The name of the owner is Future Unlimited Property Management. I would guess the "unlimited" in the business name refers to the nuisance activity perpetrated on this neighborhood.

A little digging revealed the owner's name. According to tax records, the owner is Winsel Lyles, 307 Longfellow Ct., Galloway Twp., NJ 08205. he also owns 513 N. 2nd St., another house that has been identified as a problem.

It is time that the City of Millville put teeth into their ordinances. The excessive Use of City Services ordinance is not used to its fullest extent, and these landlords and slum tenants MUST be fined. And it is well past time to begin revoking rental certificates from these repeat offenders.

Home Invasion on 6th Street

2010-09-07T08:57:00.000-04:00

There is a disturbing report of an armed home invasion in Center City.

Police here are investigating a home invasion-style burglary on North 6th Street Friday night in which two people were robbed at gunpoint of a total of $1,000.

The crime was reported to authorities at about 10:20 p.m.

Three people inside the 100-block home at the time told investigators they headed toward a bedroom to investigate a noise, Millville Police Det. Lt. Les Watson said Monday.

This story is a cautionary tale, warning everyone to be vigilant, not only on the streets but especially in the supposed safety of your home.

Doors should always be locked behind you. Windows that are accessible from the ground should never be open wide enough to allow a person to enter undetected.

Invest in motion detection outdoor lights, and leave outdoor lights on ti illuminate your yard.

Trim hedges back, and don't have any bushes close to windows to act as a shield. And, to, even though you are safe in your own house, why is there any need to keep $500 on your person? Have you ever heard of a bank account? A debit card keeps the cash readily available for almost all purchases, although our local drug dealers still don't have the capability for electronic transactions...

Gunshots in the Millville Arts District

2010-08-31T11:10:00.000-04:00

In today's police blotter, this disturbing news:

Police were dispatched to the 500 block of North 2nd Street Saturday afternoon on a report of gunfire, but found no evidence to support the report.

Two witnesses did report hearing gunshots, though. One claimed there were four to five gunshots, while the other reported hearing five or six.

Police recovered a purple and silver Schwinn mountain bike in the area that may have been connected to the gunfire.

Big time gangsta - got his Glock and a stolen Schwinn!

Millville Code Enforcement out in force

2010-08-30T11:25:00.000-04:00

The Atlantic City Press ran an article over the weekend about the efforts of Millville Code Enforcement to crack down on nuisance and derelict properties.

It has been more than a year since the city started cracking down on code violations in its oldest neighborhoods, and it doesn't plan on stopping anytime soon.

In a recent sweep, the city's inspection department, along with Revenue Allocation District personnel, split into teams and walked every block in the area between High and 10th streets, known as center city, looking for code violations and writing citations for every one they found.
In total, the city wrote 106 citations over two days - for everything from trash and loose debris in people's yards to serious structural issues with their homes - Public Works Director Dale Finch said.

In the upcoming weeks, they will do the same in the South Millville and Third Ward neighborhoods

"The inspectors are targeting specific neighborhoods," Finch said. "They're parking their cars and getting out and walking the neighborhood. They walked two days through center city.
"We're being aggressive in citing people that are not keeping up to code."

This effort is just one part of a multi-faceted attack to tack back our neighborhoods. Code enforcement personnel help to persuade landlords and tenants alike to keep their properties maintained. Sgt. Farabella targets criminal activity and weeds out the worst of the worst.

But the rest is up to the residents of the neighborhoods. We must be vigilant. We need to forge relationships with our neighbors, to look out for one another, and to report any and all suspicious activity to the police.

Call 825-3111 for Millville Police Dispatch. Give them an address and description of the nuisance or criminal activity. It is vital to do this EVERY time you witness nuisance activity. And you may politely refuse to provide your name and address to the police dispatcher, if asked. They will not push for the info, even though it remains confidential. the important thing is to make sure that you provide the street address of the nuisance, if you want to ensure that action is able to be taken to abate it.

Race fan robbed at gunpoint

2010-08-17T07:46:00.000-04:00

A Virginia man, here for the races at the NJMP was robbed at gun point in center city.

A Virginia man in town for a weekend race at the New Jersey Motorsports Park claims he was robbed at gunpoint on Saturday.

Martin Coberly, 19, Richmond, was following directions to the motorsports park when he stopped at a red light at the intersection of High and Broad streets.

While he was stopped, the Virginia man claimed to have been approached by a black male in his 40s, who demanded Coberly's wallet. The man had a black gun tucked away in his waist band.

Coberly gave up his wallet. The man took $33 from it and gave the wallet back before fleeing the scene.

Something just doesn't seem right with this story. If a person walks up to me with a gun, and I am in a vehicle, I am just going to run the red light and haul ass.

Was the guy with the gun a member of Track Racket?

Home invasion

2010-08-17T07:42:00.000-04:00

The News of Cumberland County reported this disturbing incident:

Two men - one described as being of Middle Eastern descent, the other white - stormed an Alex Drive home on Saturday, with one of them waving a gun, according to police.

Millville police who responded to the scene were greeted by the victim, who stated he was the only one home. He told police he was changing a tire when a Mitsubishi drove up and the two suspects exited the car.

The two men were yelling, and one had a gun. The victim began to run and the suspects chased after him.

Shotgun shooting at 2nd and Broad

2010-08-14T09:58:00.000-04:00

I heard talk about this story Thursday evening, and here is the report. There was a shooting on N. 2nd St., near Broad St.

Officers were dispatched to the area of North 2nd and Broad streets for reports of shots fired. Witnesses said they observed a man firing at a dark-colored vehicle. The driver fled, taking the car southbound on Route 47.
The gunman reportedly fled on foot in an unknown direction.
Police at the scene of the shooting were later greeted by the driver of the vehicle, who said he was stopped at the intersection of 2nd and Broad streets when his car was struck by gun fire.
According to police, the vehicle appeared to have been hit with a single shotgun blast.

At present it appears the driver was an "innocent victim". If so, this would be a peculiar turn, as almost all shootings involve parties that are known to each other.

Slumlords do nothing to help turn the tide

2010-08-11T12:19:00.000-04:00

Vineland Realtor Dennis Ingraldi owns 105 N. 4th Street, among other properties in Millville neighborhoods. his name constantly appears on nuisance lists. His property at 410 Broad Street is a hideous atrocity. he does absolutely nothing to enhance the street appearance of the slums he rents, and then he probably wonders why he can't get a higher class of renter.

For instance, renters at 401 Broad gutted the interior of the house, making it unfit for human habitation according to a health inspector. When he does get decent tenants, they are forced to live in unhealthy conditions, such as was the case with a house he had on S. 3rd street, where he allowed pigeons to inhabit the space above the drop ceiling. The extreme weight of the pigeon defecation finally caused the drop ceiling to collapse on the childrens bed beneath.

The current problem house is an all-night drug store at 105 S. 4th st. One afternoon last week I was driving down Pine St. when one of Millville's working girls propositioned me. As I turned the corner, I immediately called MPD dispatch.

The police arrived too late, as the girl had apparently found a John in the few minutes it took the cops to arrive. how do I know? I arrived home, and who do I see stepping out of a car at 6th and Sassafras, and heading down the street? You guessed.

And where did she go? You are GOOD! She went to the upstairs apartment at Ingraldi's slum tenement. This apartment has foot traffic all day and all night, and I am seeing a lot of new faces on the street since they opened the drug store a few weeks ago.

It has gotten so bad that I am now forced to bring the video camera out of storage and begin filming. I have worked five years to clean up this street, and now Ingraldi with his slum house is creating a dangerous situation, attracting drug addict who are now hanging out where little children play.

I would have more empathy if Ingraldi indicated even the smallest amount of interest in actually fixing up the properties he rents. I have to give credit where it is due, and even Paul Porreca Jr. rents out to mostly decent tenants, doesn't allow nuisance activity on his properties, and gives them a decent face-lift so that they are not the eyesore they could be. I wonder how Ingraldi would feel if one of these slums was located next to his house?

Teen pistol whipped in Millville

2010-08-03T10:53:00.000-04:00

In today's news:

A city teen was robbed at gunpoint then pistol-whipped on the 700 block of East Pine Street early Saturday.

The victim reported his cell phone stolen in the robbery, which was called into police at about 2 a.m.

One question. What was a teen doing walking the streets at 2AM? Why wasn't the 17 year old taken into custody and arrested for curfew violations? There is more to this story than can be told in the single paragraph the newspaper gave it.

Is Oakview the New Millville Gardens?

2010-07-29T10:33:00.000-04:00

Oakview, always known as Wade east to Millvillians, seems to be vying for position as the New Millville Gardens.

The other night there was gun play, with a group of miscreants shooting at each other. Fortunately nobody ever taught them how to handle a firearm.

No thanks to the management of Oakview (we can thank Paul Porreca for bringing us this atrocity as well as Delsea Gardens - he said these housing projects would be good for Millville), Millville Police were able to quickly make arrests.

Four people, including a juvenile, were arrested Tuesday as a result of a police investigation into a fight and two separate incidents of gunfire Monday night at Oakview Apartments.

Millville Police Det. Sgt. Carl Heger and Det. Bruce Cornish went to the East Broad Street apartment complex to investigate the incidents from the prior night.

There were no reported injuries and no victims could be located on Monday, but during their investigation two officers said they saw a man in the 200 block using a controlled dangerous substance and trying to conceal a handgun under his shirt in his waistband.

This piece of human excrement was in possession of a handgun stolen from Port Norris a year ago. He needs to be locked away for at least three years, but some namby-pamby judge, I am sure, will see fit to slap his wrists and set him loose on society once again.

What is it going to take before our courts decide to get tough on gun crime? I guarantee these same judges are the ones that are against law-abiding citizens legally possessing handguns. But as long as they continue to pamper thugs that show a total disregard for gun laws, law-abiding people will need firearms to defend themselves against the vermin that these judges thrust into our neighborhoods.

Loaded gun found in man's pocket

2010-07-07T09:25:00.000-04:00

Yet another miscreant hanging out on 2nd Street in Millville was found to have an illegal, loaded handgun.

An attempt to conceal a loaded gun only brought more suspicion when a Millville police officer realized that one of a large group of men was acting in a suspicious manner and refusing to make eye contact.

Ptl. Matthew Radcliff was investigating a prior incident when he found an unruly crowd on a front porch in the 600 block of South 2nd Street.

He said Joshua Castro, 18, of Casarow Drive, Vineland, was acting strangely and kept his hand in his pocket.

He also gave a false name when questioned.

The officer later found a fully loaded handgun in the man's pocket.

Castro was charged with obstruction, hindering, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, failure to deliver it to police, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a handgun.

Kudos to Patrolman Radcliffe for an excellent catch. Now we, as residents are screwed, because some idiot judge in the county will slap Castro on the wrist and put him back on the streets, rather than keep him behind bars where he belongs.

For too many years the intelligentsia have blamed law-abiding gun-owners for gun crime. It is these same people that refuse to punish criminals, and yet they fail to see the insanity caused by their own failed philosophy.

Law-abiding gun-owners are not the problem. In fact, crimes are deterred every year, most with no shot ever being fired, that never make it into the newspaper. New Jersey strives to make it more and more difficult for a working class person to acquire a legal gun, and does absolutely nothing to take the illegal guns off the street along with the criminals.

Back in the 90's a city in Virginia began a pilot program where law enforcement made a concerted sweep, locking up violent criminals, and making sure that they served full sentences. The result? Crime dropped significantly and measurably. After that, city after city adopted this method, and it worked.

Worried about overcrowding at the jails? Release the people there for traffic tickets - there are less expensive alternatives! Ditto for minor drug offenses such as possession of pot. Use ankle bracelets and house arrest as a deterrent. There are other options! Community service, such as cleaning the streets and sidewalks in their own neighborhood is one of my favorites. Have them clean up gang graffiti.

Make room in the jails for those that have shown a propensity towards violence. Possession of an illegal gun IS a propensity towards violence - otherwise the punks would not have them!

Crime and nuisance sweep in Millville

2010-07-05T09:08:00.000-04:00

Only one newspaper picked up this story today - Millville police narcotics unit, along with the Cumberland County Organized Crime Bureau hit the streets, targeting nuisance properties.

In this twist, the city is targeting the residents of the houses, mostly rental properties owned by slumlords. More than 20 arrests were made during the sweep, and one tenant was cited for maintaining a nuisance.

Police cited Shirley L. Palmer, 53, for maintaining a nuisance property at 513 N. 2nd St., the scene of numerous police responses since February, during Operation Quality of Life, Farabella said.

513 N. 2nd st. is owned by a slum operation called FUTURE UNLIMITED PROP MANAGEMENT of Galloway Twp. These slimeballs like to boast that their future is unlimited, with the unlimited cash flow they generate at the expense of our neighborhoods.

It appears that FUTURE UNLIMITED PROP MANAGEMENT is actually a front company for property owner Winsel Lyles, 307 Longfellow Ct, Galloway Twp, NJ. He (or the front company) also owns 511 N. 2nd St.

This slum property greets our out of town guests as they visit Millville for the Arts District, or the race track, or for any reason. It is not an area that any sane person would walk through alone at night. Time is long past due to target every landlord on this strip and insist that their properties be maintained, and that their tenants abide by the law.

During the sweep, the article maintains "Tenants and landlords alike were advised of the excessive number of police responses to problem residences, and made aware of the statute allowing police to cite them for maintaining nuisance properties."

This is a good start. Millville now needs to act on an ordinance that allows the city to revoke the rental certificates of the owners of nuisance properties, and to require these landlords to pay the full cost of immediately relocating any tenants that are now in their illegal rental unit. I would also like to see an ordinance that fines landlords $100 a day, for every day their unit is occupied without a valid rental certificate.

It is time to hit people like Winsel Lyles deep in their wallets, and force them to bring their so-called investments up to a reasonable standard. This is, after all, a quality of life issue. The tax payers of Millville should no longer be bearing the full brunt of the costs of code enforcement and police activity when it is landlords like Lyles and the lowlifes he chooses to rent to that are causing the problems.

901-903 E. Broad Street - all night drug store?

2010-07-04T11:39:00.000-04:00

901-903 E. Broad Street - all night drug store?

Is the slum apartment at 9th and Broad (sixteen units so that the slumlord can maximize their profits at the expense of the neighborhood) a new drug haven? If you don't recognize this address, it is because the slumlords have the address on the building as 523-525 N. 9th Street - and address that does not exist!

A concerned citizen has complained about the screen doors to the units being torn off by the tenants, so that drug dealers can easily hide in the hallways while waiting for their customers to drive up.

I have been told that AB Apartments LLC (I love how some slumlords refuse to use their real names, hiding behind bogus LLC's to protect themselves from liability) was informed of this problem before, and took care of it after the city notified them. once again, the doors are missing, but the irresponsible entities that own the complex either do not check up on the property, or they simply do not care.

The point is, if you decide to become a landlord, you have a RESPONSIBILITY to either visit your properties yourself on a regular basis, or have a property manager do so for you. by regular, I mean if you are not at the property at least once a week, you have neglected your duties to the neighborhood, and to whatever decent tenants you might mistakenly rent to.

Hopefully I am mistaken about the owners of this property, and they are taking proactive measures to evict ALL of the criminal element, and are taking measures to repair damage caused by the fact that they irresponsibly rented to derelict tenants.

Man stabbed in back on Dock

2010-06-24T19:03:00.000-04:00

An as of yet unidentified male was stabbed in the back on Dock Street around 11PM Wednesday night. He apparently had an altercation with people that he somehow can't describe - well, if you hang out in bad areas with people up to no good, they just might stab you in the back!

A 29-year-old city resident was flown to an Atlantic City trauma center after he was stabbed in his back on Dock Street late Wednesday night.

Police were dispatched to the 600 block of Dock Street on a report of stabbing at 10:56 p.m.

The victim, whom police did not identify, was unable to provide police with a statement about what happened or who had stabbed him.

Idiot robbed of $1800

2010-06-23T21:10:00.000-04:00

Some dimwit claims he was carrying $1800 cash when he was assaulted and robbed on N. 2nd Street Tuesday evening.

A North 2nd Street man was arrested Tuesday night and charged as one of a half-dozen or so people who beat and robbed a Newfield man on the 200 block of East Oak Street earlier in the day.

The 29-year-old Newfield man, bleeding from his mouth, approached police on the 500 block of North 2nd Street at about 5:36 p.m. to report the daylight robbery.

He claimed about $1,800 was stolen from him as he was assaulted by six or seven assailants, including two he saw armed with handguns, Millville Police Det. Lt. Les Watson said today.

The so-called victim knew the nickname of one of the assailants. There appears to be more to this story than is being reported.

A word to the wise, never carry large wads of cash, and if you do have a large amount of cash, never mingle with a large group of known hoodlums.

Assault with a shovel

2010-06-22T16:41:00.000-04:00

A Vineland woman walking on 2nd St was hit in the head with a shovel by a bicyclist.

A Vineland woman was whacked in the head with a shovel by a bicyclist at 2nd and Pine streets around midnight Sunday into Monday, police said.

The 25-year-old victim was treated at South Jersey Healthcare-Regional Medical Center, in Vineland, where a cut to her head was closed with glue, according to Ptl. Vern Babka's report.

Vineland police reported the assault to city police at about 4:20 a.m. Monday.

First of all, and crime is crime regardless of the victim, what was this woman doing walking 2nd and Pine, a known are for drugs and prostitution, doing walking alone at midnight? She was a few miles from home.

Second, did anybody see the male on the bike with a shovel, and if so, did they think it strange?

If this woman was visiting a friend, and merely walking from her vehicle to her friend's house, then this is a disturbing crime against an innocent victim. The moral? Always be aware of your surroundings, especially at night. If you see a strange person approaching you, put distance and obstacles between you and them, and call 911 on your cell phone - it IS in your hand - if the person continues to try to approach you even after you make evasive moves. And most of all, don't be wandering in a known drug area after dark.

Thank you judge Benjamin Telsey for making Millville more dangerous

2010-06-19T08:49:00.000-04:00

In a slap in the face to law abiding citizens, judge Benjamin Telsey reduced the bail of gang-banger Andrew Ridgeway. If you remember, Ridgeway spat at police officers, assaulted police and rescue workers by getting his blood on them, resisted arrest, and was in possession of an illegal, stolen handgun.

This guy needs to be locked up for the safety of innocent bystanders that could possibly get hurt as a result of his inability to abide by the law. My heart goes out to the hard-working police officers put their lives, health and safety on the line to arrest scumbags like this, only to have a judge nullify their hard work.

Telsey acknowledged that record was a serious issue. He also cited a charge in 2009 of aggravated assault on a teacher and probation violations.

So, as a reward for violating probation, and having a long history of violence towards others, Telsey REWARDS this piece of human excrement by making it possible for him to be on the street next week, selling drugs. And we wonder why we are having new shootings and acts of violence on the streets on an almost daily basis?

Neighborhood Alert

2010-06-18T00:44:00.002-04:00

Residents living near Howard Street be advised:

As written in the Millville news this week: On June 10th a Mr. Leroy Ford of Laurel Lake was located hiding in a basement on Howard Street and arrested. The arrest ended an investigation that began with Mr. Ford driving a White Mercedes with ficticious license plates, getting in a high speed police chase in Alloway Twsp, and initially eluding capture.

Mr. Ford also has prior convictions for burglary (armed or causing injury), and for tampering with evidence, and has served State Prison time. An all around upstanding individual...

Here's what the paper didn't print: Both 408 and 417 Howard Street are rental properties housing trashy people. Rumor is these people are dealing in all kind of illicit activities, as well as causing general chaos in the neighborhood - disputes in the middle of the street, noise all hours of the day/night, criminal mischief, stealing, burglarizing, retaliation against neighbors who speak out, narcotics dealing, stolen vehicles - the list of "alleged" activities is long. Not stating anything as fact, however people are talking, and all the signs are there. I'm told there are already numerous police calls related to activity generating from these two homes.

Other people with ties to those living in the homes are currently in prison on similar charges, and many who frequent the homes are known drug addicts, dealers and thieves. Rumor is much of the stolen items from that end of town all the way out Cedar Street and toward Laurel Lake probably pass through these two houses.

Anyhow, on June 10th, when State Police arrived to arrest Mr. Ford on a tip he was at one house, he fled out the back door and hid in the basement of the other house across the street. A female at the second house then tried to protect Ford by telling police he was long gone, having escaped on a motorcycle. She eventually came clean and gave up Ford, only after consequnces she faced were made clear.

Some neighbors are already reporting activity at these two homes to authorities, however anyone living in the area should be aware of problems eminating from this group of individuals, and not hesitate to report suspicions so corrective action may be taken.

Are there felons in your neighborhood?

2010-06-15T09:55:00.000-04:00

Felonyspy.com is a great little site. Do You Know Your Neighbors? I mean, REALLY - Do you know your neighbors?

Just type in your address & your neighborhood map will pop up. Every place you see a red balloon or thumb tack is the home of a convicted felon.

Just hover your mouse over an icon & not only will the name come up, but also the crime they were convicted of.

Millville and Police closer to an agreement

2010-06-15T09:46:00.000-04:00

Mayor Tim Shannon called a press conference in a last ditch effort to save police jobs.

City officials officials have asked police to accept eight furlough days to prevent the layoffs of nine officers and a dispatcher.

The city can demand layoffs but cannot mandate layoffs of its public safety employees, Commissioner Dave Vanaman said. At City Hall, employees are taking a 10 percent pay cut across the board and also have changed to a state health care plan to save money.

The last thing we need at the present time is a decrease in manpower on the streets. It seems that the concessions the city is asking for are reasonable. The county leads the state with the highest unemployment rate, near 14%. About a dozen city employees have been laid off. The rest took a 10% pay cut.

It is unreasonable for the police to be demanding pay increases far in excess of the cost of living increases during this time of a major recession(they demanded 4.75% up to 5% increase per year for five years, ending in 2011 - that is a roughly 25% increase on a base salary).

The city offered 3.5%, which is generous during a time when many are losing jobs. It is time for true solidarity, for the police union to be looking out for ALL of the officers, and to make concessions. During the years of plenty, you got what you wanted. Now it is time to put public safety first.

The city's offer seems more than reasonable to the many people looking for work, and more than reasonable to the many in this county that have recently joined the ranks of the unemployed.

Chief Ed Grennon uses resources to train officers

2010-06-15T09:35:00.000-04:00

Millville Police Chief Ed Grennon used various resources other than local tax money to train more officers, making the MPD more self-sufficient.

Sgt. Harold "Junior" Duffield became a certified police cyclist instructor after he attended a week-long training course offered by the International Police Mountain Bike Association. The course consisted of both classroom and field training, including teaching methods, bicycle maintenance, day and night riding practices, and tactical procedures.

Duffield's certification will allow him to train city officers here, saving both time and money in the future.

Congrat's to Junior, we can't wait to see you on two wheels! The bike cops are one of the best ways to nip nuisance activity, as the bike cops can sneak up undetected, and catch the perps in the act.

Det. Lt. Les Watson, a 20-year veteran of the city police force, recently attended the Middle Atlantic-Great Lakes Organized Crime Law Enforcement Network's conference in Columbus, Ohio.

MAGLOCLEN, a federally funded program, is one of six regional law-enforcement information-sharing systems in the country. Its goal is to facilitate greater information-sharing among local, state and federal law-enforcement agencies.

Another worthwhile program, bringing Millville into the 21st century. In case you are not reading between the lines, the reference to "organized crime" no longer refers solely to "the Mafia". Street gangs such as the Bloods, Crips, MS13, Latin Kings are all highly organized, boasting an intricate communication web. Why do you think many Bloods are in the county now? Their organizations have spread the word that Cumberland County is "prime territory".

At least now, local law enforcement will be have a communication and information infrastructure at least as efficient as those of the street gangs.

Dottie's Walk

2010-06-15T09:27:00.000-04:00

Last night, Little Dottie joined us on the walk that bears her name. For well over twenty years, Dottie Wilkerson has taken to the streets on Monday evenings, joined by an entourage of concerned citizens and even elected officials.

Commissioner Dale Finch has been a regular for over two years now, missing only when he has obligations elsewhere. Commission and 3-time mayor Jim Quinn has been joining us regularly this year, and last night he was accompanied by Chuck Flickinger. City planning director Kim Ayres joined us, as did local resident and teacher Pam Corson.

Dottie is getting up there in age, but she walked a few block with us, which required quite an effort on her part. After dropping Dottie to her house, our group then continued, hitting the alleys of South Millville.

Dale was taking notes the entire time, ammo to give to Milt Truxton's group with orders to go out and cite properties that are out of compliance with city codes. The code enforcement officers will be out in force this week, with orders to leave their vehicles parked, and walk the streets.

This is a no-nonsense, common sense approach. It is one prong of many in the pitchfork that will make our neighborhoods clean and safe once more.

Isn't that nice

2010-06-11T12:33:00.000-04:00

The names of the vermin arrested in the recent drug bust at 410 N. 3rd street, a slum rental owned by Tammy McCoy of Mt. Laurel, were revealed. One of these fine upstanding citizens, Elgenun Parish, charged with possession of pot, crack, heroin and intent to distribute is no virgin to the court system.

This piece of human defecation was sentenced on February 19, 2010 to 18 months in prison for possession of a defaced weapon.

Now tell me what is wrong with this picture? This piece of crap was sentenced four months ago, and yet he is in Millville selling heroin in our neighborhoods.

What is even more disturbing is that judge Benjamin Telsey only sentenced a criminal that was caught with a stolen, illegal firearm to 18 months - a mere slap on the wrist, rather than the mandatory 3-5 years for illegal weapons possession. What is the judge waiting for, for this piece of crap to kill someone?

Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to arrest a person that had no problem being in possession of an illegal, stolen gun. Judge Telsey slapped the cops in the face with a joke of a prison sentence. And even that joke of a prison sentence apparently means nothing as he was walking the streets.

I hear talk about getting the illegal weapons off the streets - well the place to start is for judges to grow cojones, and get the criminals that use illegal weapons off the street.

I understand that Ms. McCoy was one of the attendees of Millville's landlord training. Apparently she learned nothing. Had she been paying attention, upon renewal of the lease to this slum rental she would have had the tenant sign a crime-free lease addendum. She would have been checking on her property weekly, and prohibited her tenants from associating with known felons. She would have begun eviction proceedings immediately after noticing nuisance activity on her property.

But she is swell, living in her condo in Mt. Laurel, where I am certain the condo association would never allow even a tenth of what goes on at 410 N. 3rd Street to occur.

The official article on yesterday's drug bust

2010-06-10T10:25:00.000-04:00

In today's Daily Journal - here is the official story that we broke as it was happening.

Five people were arrested on drug charges Wednesday on the 400 block of North 3rd Street -- in the same area as a gang-related shooting and stabbing earlier this week.

The house was a target in a long-term investigation involving narcotics and gangs, police Detective Sgt. Jody Farabella said Wednesday.

Kudos to the hard work of Farabella's team. They are always hard at work, and being undercover in a small town where everyone knows you is not easy.

Raid on N. 3rd St

2010-06-09T14:39:00.005-04:00

A little after 1pm today, Millville Police targeted 410 N. 3rd Street in a raid. At least four upstanding citizens were led away in handcuffs.

410 N. 3rd street is owned by Tammy McCoy, 120 Farnwood Rd., Mt. Laurel, NJ.

Tammy also owns 407 N. 5th St., 523 Columbia Ave., 18 W. Foundry St. and 27 W. Foundry St.

Tammy has been recognized in prior years for her disservice to the residents of Millville. In 2007, she was inducted into our hall of fame, for this address, due to the high number of nuisance calls for this property.

Apparently she has no intentions whatsoever of making amends. She will rent out to whatever scum she wants to, making a living at the expense of Millville residents while contributing to the destruction of our neighborhoods.

This house is a frequent source of nuisance activity in Center City.I wonder if Tammy would appreciate a slum rental like this in her neighborhood?