WebProsecutor Robertson stated that on Sunday, May 16, 2021, at approximately 3:58 a.m., Franklin Township Police officers were dispatched to the area of Elizabeth Street in Under both state law and the Directive, when the entire investigation is complete, the case will be presented to a grand jury, typically consisting of 16 to 23 citizens, to make the ultimate decision regarding whether criminal charges will be filed. FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, NJ (Somerset County) Somerset County authorities are investigating a shooting that left two people injured Saturday night in Franklin Township, according to Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson. Franklin Township police responded to multiple 911 calls reporting a shooting victim in the parking lot of the PSE &G location around 7 a.m. Wednesday, the department said. The shooting will be investigated by the attorney general's office, which is standard policy when an officer fires his weapon. I cover breaking news at night in the Philadelphia region. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). She was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment, Robertson said. Born and raised in Northwest NJ, Jay has a degree in Communications and has had a life-long interest in local radio and various styles of music. The New Jersey Attorney Generals Office said it is investigating after a local police officer reportedly shot a person Monday afternoon in Atlantic County. "Preliminary investigation has revealed that the shooting was an isolated incident and Mr. Heller was the intended target," the Franklin Township Police Department said in a statement. A former employee, Officers pursued the cruiser and the chase soon ended in another area of Buena Vista, where an "encounter" between Jackel and police ensued, according to the attorney general's office. Russell Heller was fatally shot outside utility company PSE&G's Somerset Central Division Headquarters in Franklin Township, where he was the senior distribution supervisor, officials said. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. "This event is tragic and disturbing, and we are offering support to our employees as they process this," PSE&G said in a statement. The shooting reportedly occurred in Buena Vista Township in Atlantic County and involved a police officer from nearby Franklin Township in Gloucester County. Deadline is February 3rd and classes are limited! Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters. Phil Murphy tweeted. Your email address will not be published. Children will learn food and kitchen safety, food preparation, proper food storage and exposure to a variety of cooking methods. Prior to todays release, investigators provided the recordings to the decedents representative and relatives for their review. Are the police officers in the Franklin Police Department being trained to de-escalate altercations by using peaceful conflict resolution strategies? WebOn Nov. 2 at around 8:40 p.m., numerous 911 calls reported a shooting at a barbershop on Hamilton Street in the Somerset Section of FranklinTownship. Detectives from Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit responded to the scene along with detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department to investigate. WebIts unknown if the two shootings are related, authorities said. At present due to the COVID-19 pandemic, regular grand juries are not sitting and hearing cases. As Mr. Jackel neared the officers, Sgt. ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Staff Photographer. WebShooting reported at PSE&G's headquarters in Franklin Township - CBS New York. A spokesperson for the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office referred questions to the state Attorney Generals Office, which handles investigations of shootings involving police officers in New Jersey. Authorities say 51-year-old Russell To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. Have a news tip? The shooting reportedly occurred in Buena Vista Township in Atlantic County and involved a police officer from nearby Franklin Township in Gloucester County. Police did not provide an update on their condition. Smith was taken to the Somerset County Jail where he will remain pending a detention hearing in this matter. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, NJ A Marine Corps reservist awaiting trial for the shooting death of a man in a Franklin Township bar parking lot will remain in jail, judges ruled. Investigators have determined that the shooting was not connected with Heller's "elected office or political affiliation," Deputy Chief Frank Roman Jr. with the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement Thursday. We are very shaken by this.". Further details on the encounter were not disclosed, but authorities said it ended when a Franklin officer shot and killed the man. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters. Required fields are marked *. The victim also sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound from the same incident on Fuller Street and Franklin Boulevard, Robertson said. You will need to come into police headquarters and file a walk in or late report. Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. The New Jersey Attorney Generals Office said it is investigating after a local police officer reportedly shot a person Monday afternoon in Atlantic County. More than three complaints are unacceptable. New Jersey Congressman Tom Kean said he was "shocked and saddened by the tragic murder" of Heller. The shooting happened overnight in Voorhees Township, NJ. WebFRANKLIN, NJ Authorities are investigating a shooting where 27 shell casings were found in Franklin on Wednesday night. Hospitality Opportunities in Food Services, Housekeeping And Others! A 911 call reported gunshots being fired around 11 p.m. in the area of Baier Avenue and Phillips Road, according to Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson. Franklin Township Detectives looked at the damage on the car and confirmed it was caused by a gunshot. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. There were no reported injuries but police found 27 shell casings in the area, said Robertson. Investigators are trying to figure out a motive for the shooting and it is undetermined if the man or car were the intended targets, said Robertson. He subsequently returned to the scene, entered an unoccupied marked police vehicle, and drove away. Heller, 51, was also a councilman in Milford, a small borough in Hunterdon County. by NJOAG Communications | Apr 27, 2021 | Office of Public Integrity and Accountability | Press Release |. Sometimes officers may need to make corrections before the report is approved. The fatal incident remains under investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA). The mission of the Franklin Township Police Department is to protect and enhance the quality of life via a Community Policing Operational Philosophy, through a partnership with the community, and to promote a safe and secure environment, free from crime and the fear of crime, for all who live, work or visit our community. Before they are terminated? Ware has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree robbery, and second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Detectives also traveled to Augusta, Georgia where they found Ware on Dec. 30 at 7:50 a.m. at a home. (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Subscribe to Receive JJC Proposed Rules Email Notifications, STATE OF NEW JERSEY | DEPARTMENT OF LAW & PUBLIC SAFETY, Feedback form for NJRC Inquiries/Feedback and Account Wagering, Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, https://www.nj.gov/oag/excellence/docs/2019-4_Independent_Prosecutor_Directive.pdf, Attorney Generals Office Investigating Fatal Police-Involved Shooting in Paterson, AGs Office Identifies Decedent from Clara Barton Rest Stop Incident on Feb. 28, 2023, AG Platkin and Colonel Callahan Announce Arrest in Shooting of New Jersey State Trooper in Paterson, Grand Jury Declines to File Charges in Police-Involved Shooting that Killed Pennsylvania Man on November 7, 2021, Egg Harbor Charter School Leaders Indicted by Grand Jury After Allegedly Steering $115K Contract to School Founders Side Business. Russell Heller is shown in this undated photo. Copyright 2023 WPVI-TV. David Jernegen remains under investigation. Are the officers in the Franklin Police Department required to report each time they threaten to or use force on civilians? Dwumfour -- the mother of a 12-year-old daughter and leader of her church -- was elected into office in 2021 and worked as a business analyst and part-time emergency medical technician. The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office along with Franklin Township Police are continuing to investigate the homicide. Smith has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree robbery, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon. Dwumfour sustained multiple gunshot wounds in her SUV and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. Links & Is there an early intervention system enforced to correct officers who use excessive force? Separately, the Independent Prosecutor Directive, which was issued by Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal in December 2019, outlines a 10-step process for conducting these investigations. The shooting by Franklin Township Police Sgt. Investigators determined that a former PSE&G employee -- identified as Gary Curtis, 58, of Washington, New Jersey -- allegedly approached Heller in the parking lot and shot him while he was outside his vehicle, police said. Curtis was tracked to a parking lot in Bridgewater Township, New Jersey, within an hour of the shooting, according to police. Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com. "He was so full of life, it's just unbelievable that he's gone. Following an investigation, Smith was arrested on Dec. 22 at about 1:25 p.m. in a shopping area in Clark. BUENA VISTA, New Jersey (WPVI) -- The New Jersey Attorney General's Office has identified the man who was shot and killed by police after allegedly stealing an officer's cruiser on Monday. -- The Associated Press contributed to this report. Download here. Carrier Clinic, WEBINAR: Learn About Wills, Living Trusts and Nursing Home Asset Protection, Protect Your Home from Ticks with Yard Guard from Viking Pest, Now Hiring Front Counter Sales/Business Development, Hillsborough Area Adoptable Pets Of The Week: Miley, Dolly & More, Homeschool Athletes Now Allowed To Play Ball In Hillsborough, 'Miracle' Superstorm Sandy Baby Celebrates 10th Birthday In Montgomery, Latin Roots Mixed With Italian Flair Form Unique Hillsborough Pizzeria, Father, Son Duo Expand Milk Delivery Service Into Hillsborough, $4,600 Raised By Hillsborough Girl For Charity In Teacher's Honor, Young Bald Eagle Takes First Flight At Duke Farms. Responding officers found a car turned on its side with three people trapped inside. Hackettstown, NJ 07840 Anyone with information is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office at 908-231-7100 or the Is there a clear and enforced use-of-force continuum that details what weapons and force are acceptable in a wide variety of civilian-police interactions? After a Franklin Township police officer left his police vehicle, one of the drivers involved in the accident entered that police vehicle and drove away.