Three men, were booked into the Ocean County Jail on October 21 on charges involving rioting with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault and unlawful weapons possession. One also has a federal immigration detainer.
OCEAN COUNTY, NJ — Three men were booked into the Ocean County Jail overnight on multiple criminal charges involving rioting, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful weapons possession.
Ocean County Department of Corrections records identify the three defendants as Irvin Gonzalez-Urbano, 21; David Velez, 20; and Abraham Franco-Mendez, 18.
All three face charges of rioting involving a firearm or other deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon resulting in bodily injury, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
Three defendants face multiple weapons and assault charges
According to county jail records, Gonzalez-Urbano faces seven charges, including receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession or use of drug paraphernalia.
Velez faces five charges, including theft by unlawful taking, in addition to the riot, assault and weapons offenses.
Franco-Mendez faces four charges involving rioting, aggravated assault and unlawful weapons possession.
The charges against all three include second-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, among the more serious offenses listed in the booking records.
Immigration detainer lodged against one defendant
County corrections records identify Gonzalez-Urbano and Franco-Mendez as Mexican citizens, while Velez is listed as a United States citizen.
An immigration detainer is recorded for Gonzalez-Urbano, indicating that federal immigration authorities have placed a hold request associated with his custody.
No immigration detainers are listed for Velez or Franco-Mendez.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s office has not made a statement regarding the arrests and at this time, the details of their arrrests were not made known by local law enforcement.
Douglas Cobb remains wanted in Bruce Gress’ killing, more than a month after a morning shooting outside the Route 37 convenience store.
TOMS RIVER, NJ — Four people charged with helping a murder suspect avoid capture have been released. The man accused of pulling the trigger still hasn’t been caught. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office is handling the investigation and it appear they’re no closer to bringing in Cobb than they were a month ago.
The search for Cobb, according to law enforcement, has expanded beyond Toms River and now includes the U.S. Marshals Service. Cobb had a local network that helped him evade arrest, and he’s now a fugitive from justice.
More than a month after Bruce Gress was shot outside a Wawa in Toms River, Douglas Cobb remains a fugitive. Gress, 42, was killed Sept. 18. Today, 33 days have passed since the shooting.
Early in the search, Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said, “Our focus now is to locate Douglas Cobb and bring him into custody.”
So far, that has not happened.
He later said investigators were “working round-the-clock to apprehend Cobb.”
Four hindering charges, four defendants out of custody
As Shore News Network previously reported, Ronald Hagan, 50, of Brick Township, was released under court supervision following an Oct. 7 detention hearing.
Cherice Nicholson, 46, of Howell, and Sylvester Green, 43, of Berkeley Township, had already been released following detention hearings. Jennifer Rizalvo, 48, of Lakewood, received a summons rather than being jailed.
All four were charged with hindering Cobb’s apprehension. Prosecutors allege they helped him avoid police, supplied false information or both.
Nicholson allegedly sheltered Cobb and drove him out of state toward the Delaware-Virginia area. Green, identified as Cobb’s brother, allegedly collected belongings from his home. Hagan’s release conditions included weekly reporting and no contact with his codefendants. shorenewsnetwork.com
A fatal shooting during the morning rush
Police responded around 7:20 a.m. to the Wawa at Route 37 and Garfield Avenue and found Gress shot in the head. He died at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
Cobb, 51, faces murder and weapons charges. The search has involved local and county investigators and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Authorities say he also uses the name Douglas Green and the nickname “Bootknock.” Anyone with information about his whereabouts can call the prosecutor’s Major Crime Unit at 732-929-2027 or Toms River police at 732-349-0150.
Democrats gained nearly 20 times as many registered voters as Republicans in September, while Socialist registrations also outpaced the GOP.
TOMS RIVER, NJ — New Jersey is on the brink of change, and it doesn’t look good for the Republican Party, as socialists registered more voters last month than America’s Grand Old Party. Outside of a few major GOP strongholds like Ocean County, the party is floundering and headed for possibly more federal election defeats in November.
New Jersey Republicans finished September behind not only the Democrats. Even the state’s Socialist registration category posted a larger monthly gain.
The GOP finished 4th in new voter registrations in September, trailing not only the Democrats and the Socialist Democrats, but also independents.
Democrats gained 2,745 registered voters, Republicans added 141, and Socialist registrations increased by 162, according to the New Jersey Division of Elections’ monthly reports. Comparing the September 1 and October 1 totals puts the Socialist gain 21 above the Republican increase.
The figures measure net changes in party registration during September.
Democrats widen their advantage
The Democratic increase widened the party’s statewide registration lead over Republicans by another 2,604 voters heading toward November’s election.
The October 1 report counted 2,572,254 Democrats and 1,686,614 Republicans in New Jersey, a difference of 885,640. Socialist registrations totaled 7,739.
Those Socialist registrations occupy a separate category from Democratic registrations in the state’s records.
Unaffiliated voters account for most of the growth
The largest increase belonged to voters registered without a party affiliation. Their ranks grew by 12,571, accounting for roughly 80% of the state’s overall registration increase.
New Jersey’s voter rolls grew by 15,706 overall, reaching 6,725,177.
Ocean County Republicans post a stronger month locally
The statewide comparison played out differently in Ocean County, where Republicans gained 110 registered voters during September, compared with 78 for Democrats and 13 in the Socialist category.
Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore credits his organization’s outreach efforts in communities across the county. Gilmore said his organization remains strong in the county, where the GOP leads all but one major town, Brick Township.
Leadership turnover at the state level and years of statewide losses to Democrats have contributed to leadership turmoil at the top of the party.
Monmouth County Republicans also finished ahead of Democrats locally, adding 63 registered voters to the Democrats’ 38.
These monthly figures reflect the balance of additions, removals and affiliation changes on the voter rolls. They measure registration changes ahead of the election; the ballots will determine whether those gains translate into votes.
A joint investigation led to a SWAT-assisted search of a Rio Grande home, where authorities seized methamphetamine and suspected drug distribution paraphernalia.
RIO GRANDE, NJ – A 53-year-old Rio Grande man is facing multiple drug charges after a joint narcotics investigation led authorities to search his home Wednesday, according to the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office. The operation involved local police, federal investigators and a regional SWAT team.
Joseph M. Quinn was arrested October 21 after investigators executed a court-authorized search warrant at his residence. Authorities reported finding less than half an ounce of methamphetamine along with items they described as paraphernalia associated with drug distribution.
Quinn was charged with three offenses, including third-degree drug distribution and possession of methamphetamine. He was processed and released on his own recognizance with a summons, pending future court proceedings.
SWAT Team Joins Raid at Rio Grande Residence
The investigation was conducted by the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office Gangs, Guns, and Narcotics Task Force, which announced the operation Wednesday.
According to Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland and Middle Township Police Chief Tracey Super, investigators concluded a joint investigation into suspected distribution of controlled dangerous substances in Rio Grande.
The same day, officers executed a search warrant at Quinn’s residence.
The operation involved the prosecutor’s task force, Homeland Security Investigations, the Middle Township Police Department and the Cape May County Regional SWAT Team.
During the search, investigators seized a quantity of methamphetamine weighing less than half an ounce, along with various items of suspected drug distribution paraphernalia.
The prosecutor’s office did not disclose the exact weight of the seized drugs, the street address of the property or the length of the investigation.
Authorities also did not announce the seizure of any firearms or identify additional defendants.
Three Drug Charges Filed Against Rio Grande Resident
Following the search, Quinn was charged with distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, a third-degree crime under New Jersey law.
He also faces a third-degree charge of possession of methamphetamine and a fourth-degree charge of possession with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia.
According to the prosecutor’s office, a conviction for a third-degree crime can carry a state prison sentence of three to five years, although the outcome of any case depends on the charges proved, applicable sentencing law and the defendant’s circumstances.
Quinn was not held in custody following processing. He was released on his own recognizance after receiving a summons complaint requiring him to appear in court.
No court date was included in Wednesday’s announcement.
The charges are accusations and have not been proven in court. Quinn is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Cape May County Prosecutor Calls for Continued Drug Enforcement
Prosecutor Sutherland said his office intends to continue coordinating with federal, state and municipal law enforcement agencies to investigate illegal drug distribution and unlawful firearm possession.
The joint operation in Rio Grande brought together several agencies with different investigative and tactical responsibilities, including federal Homeland Security Investigations personnel.
The prosecutor’s office encouraged Cape May County residents to report suspected criminal activity.
Anyone with information can contact the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-465-1135. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through cmcpo.tips.
DC police are hunting suspects who allegedly used a green Hyundai Santa Fe with Virginia plates during a string of overnight gunpoint robberies.
WASHINGTON, DC – A group of armed robbery suspects struck three locations across Northeast DC early Tuesday morning, threatening victims with a gun before demanding their belongings, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. Investigators believe the same vehicle was used in all three incidents, which unfolded within approximately 90 minutes.
The suspects reportedly traveled in a green Hyundai Santa Fe bearing Virginia license plates, exiting the vehicle to confront victims at gunpoint. The robberies occurred near 5th and K streets, on Morse Street and along Elkington Place between 1:23 a.m. and 2:55 a.m. on October 20.
DC police have released a photograph of the vehicle and are asking residents to help identify those responsible. Authorities have not announced any arrests or disclosed how many individuals participated in the robberies.
Three Gunpoint Robberies Reported Across Northeast DC
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, the first robbery occurred around 1:23 a.m. at the intersection of 5th and K streets Northeast.
Investigators reported that the suspects exited a green Hyundai Santa Fe, displayed a firearm and demanded the victim’s property.
Approximately two minutes later, at 1:25 a.m., another armed robbery was reported in the 300 block of Morse Street Northeast.
The third incident occurred roughly 90 minutes later, at approximately 2:55 a.m., in the 1500 block of Elkington Place Northeast.
Police described the same method in each robbery: suspects exiting the Hyundai, brandishing a firearm and demanding property.
The department has not specified what was taken during the robberies or whether any of the victims suffered injuries.
Investigators documented the three cases under incident numbers 26150270, 26150267 and 26150285.
Green Hyundai Santa Fe With Virginia Plates Sought
The vehicle is a central focus of the investigation because police say it was used during each robbery.
The Metropolitan Police Department released a photograph of the suspected getaway vehicle, identifying it as a green Hyundai Santa Fe with Virginia registration.
Police have not publicly provided the license plate number or released detailed descriptions of the suspects.
The three locations span separate areas of Northeast DC, with the first two robberies reported just minutes apart near the NoMa and Union Market areas.
The third occurred farther east on Elkington Place.
Investigators have classified the incidents as a robbery pattern, indicating they are examining the cases together based on the reported similarities.
The police announcement did not specify how many suspects were inside the vehicle or whether the same firearm was involved in all three incidents.
DC Police Offer $10,000 Reward for Armed Robbery Tips
Detectives are seeking information from anyone who recognizes the green Hyundai Santa Fe or knows who may have been involved in the robberies.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Metropolitan Police Department at 202-727-9099 or text a tip to 50411.
Police advise residents not to approach or confront the suspects.
The department offers a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for a qualifying violent crime in the District.
A hospital IT director who never misses a chance to play the lottery while traveling scored a six-figure prize during a visit home.
NORTH BEACH, MD – An Alaska man who returned to Maryland to visit his parents turned a routine family trip into a $150,021 Powerball payday after buying a ticket at a Calvert County convenience store. The former Maryland resident was already on his way to another state for work when his parents encouraged him to check the ticket.
The winner, who now works as an IT director at a hospital in Alaska, purchased his Powerball ticket at Fastop, located at 8834 Chesapeake Avenue in North Beach. He had been visiting his parents in Baltimore when news reports about the growing Powerball jackpot caught his attention.
He claimed the $150,021 prize Monday, October 19, at Maryland Lottery headquarters in Baltimore. The unexpected windfall comes years after he and his wife left the East Coast for a quieter life in an Alaskan wilderness community.
Maryland Visit Leads to Six-Figure Powerball Win
According to the Maryland Lottery, the man has a longstanding habit of purchasing lottery tickets whenever he travels.
His work as a hospital IT director frequently takes him away from home, creating opportunities to play lottery games in different states.
During a recent trip to Maryland, he spent several days visiting his parents in Baltimore.
After watching news coverage about the increasing Powerball jackpot, he decided to buy a ticket.
The purchase took him to Fastop at 8834 Chesapeake Avenue in North Beach, a community along the Chesapeake Bay in Calvert County.
At the time, the ticket was simply another entry in a familiar travel tradition.
He had no idea it would soon be worth more than $150,000.
Parents’ Reminder Reveals Winning Ticket During Business Trip
After visiting Maryland, the Alaska resident traveled to St. Louis for work.
His parents, however, had not forgotten about the Powerball ticket he purchased during his visit.
They encouraged him to use the Maryland Lottery app to check whether he had won anything.
When he scanned or checked the ticket through the app, he discovered a prize worth $150,021.
The amount was large enough to leave him stunned.
“Ecstatic with winning a year’s salary!” he said during his October 19 visit to Lottery headquarters.
The Lottery’s announcement did not specify the exact number combination or prize tier that produced the $150,021 payout.
For the traveling IT director, the result was a remarkable payoff from a ticket purchased during a brief visit to his home state.
Alaska Winner Plans Real Estate Investments With Powerball Money
The winner already has a long-term plan for his unexpected fortune.
Rather than focusing on a major vacation or luxury purchase, he told Maryland Lottery officials he intends to invest in real estate.
His goal is to build assets and strengthen his financial security for the years ahead.
The approach reflects the lifestyle changes he and his wife made several years ago when they left the fast-paced Eastern Seaboard for Alaska.
He accepted a position as an IT director at a hospital in one of the state’s more remote communities, trading the bustle of the East Coast for a quieter setting.
Despite living thousands of miles away, he continues to return to Maryland to visit relatives.
A routine stop for gas on the way home from work turned into a six-figure payday for a Hyattsville man.
LANHAM, MD – A Hyattsville carpenter who buys lottery tickets just once a month struck gold on his latest stop, turning a $10 scratch-off into a $100,000 payday. The Maryland man was on his way home from work when he stopped at a gas station, bought a High Voltage ticket and discovered he had won one of the game’s top prizes.
The winning ticket was purchased at Marathon Gas, located at 7600 Annapolis Road in Lanham. According to the Maryland Lottery, the carpenter was initially stunned by the result and struggled to believe his occasional lottery habit had produced a six-figure prize.
He claimed his winnings Friday, October 16, at Maryland Lottery headquarters in Baltimore. The October win comes just two months after High Voltage launched, with six of the game’s original eight $100,000 top prizes still unclaimed as of the Lottery’s October 20 announcement.
Maryland Carpenter Hits $100K Prize on His Monthly Lottery Stop
The Hyattsville man told Lottery officials that he generally plays Maryland Lottery games about once a month.
His October purchase happened during an ordinary commute home from work, when he stopped at Marathon Gas in Lanham and selected a $10 High Voltage scratch-off.
That single ticket carried one of the game’s $100,000 top prizes.
The carpenter initially had difficulty believing what he was seeing when he checked the ticket. Even after visiting Lottery headquarters to claim the money, he was still trying to process the size of his win.
Unlike frequent lottery players who purchase tickets throughout the week, his usual approach involves an occasional ticket rather than regular spending.
This time, the monthly purchase was enough to land a top-tier prize.
Winning Ticket Sold at Lanham Gas Station
The prize-winning ticket came from Marathon Gas at 7600 Annapolis Road, a convenience stop along a busy Prince George’s County corridor.
The retailer will receive a $1,000 bonus from the Maryland Lottery for selling the $100,000 winner.
High Voltage is a $10 scratch-off game that launched in August with eight $100,000 top prizes available.
Two of those top prizes had been claimed by the time of the October 20 announcement, leaving six still unclaimed.
The Maryland Lottery publishes information on its scratch-off games, including prize structures and remaining prizes.
The number of top prizes remaining does not establish the odds of winning on any individual ticket. Prize availability can change as additional tickets are sold and winning tickets are claimed.
Hyattsville Winner Has Simple Plans for Six-Figure Payday
The carpenter has no plans for extravagant purchases following his win.
He told Lottery officials that he intends to put the money into savings.
Outside of work, the Hyattsville resident enjoys fishing, but the announcement did not identify any major trips or purchases planned with the prize money.
For the carpenter, the biggest surprise was that a ticket purchased during a routine gas station stop could produce such a large return.
The win also marks another major scratch-off prize sold in Prince George’s County, with the Lanham retailer sharing in the celebration through its $1,000 bonus.
Ronnie Amarion Massey died at the scene after gunfire erupted along Connecticut Avenue in Northwest DC, leaving another victim hospitalized.
WASHINGTON, DC – A 22-year-old Virginia man was shot and killed along Connecticut Avenue in Northwest DC early Sunday morning, while a woman was wounded and a nearby business window was damaged by gunfire. DC police identified the man as Ronnie Amarion Massey of Fairfax, Virginia, as homicide detectives continued investigating the deadly shooting.
The violence unfolded around 2:52 a.m. Sunday, October 18, in the 1300 block of Connecticut Avenue Northwest, near Dupont Circle. Metropolitan Police Department officers responding to a shooting report found Massey unconscious and not breathing, along with an adult woman who was conscious and suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.
DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded to the scene and attempted lifesaving measures, but Massey was pronounced dead. The woman was transported to a local hospital with injuries police described as non-life-threatening.
Gunfire Kills Virginia Man Near Dupont Circle
According to the Metropolitan Police Department’s official homicide announcement, Second District officers arrived to find two people wounded by gunfire.
Massey was unresponsive when officers reached the scene. Emergency responders attempted to save his life, but he died before he could be transported to a hospital.
The injured woman survived and was taken for medical treatment. Police have not disclosed her age or identity, nor have investigators explained whether she and Massey knew each other.
Gunfire also struck a nearby business, damaging a window. The establishment was unoccupied at the time, and police reported no additional injuries to members of the public.
The shooting occurred along a section of Connecticut Avenue lined with restaurants, shops and nightlife establishments near Dupont Circle.
Investigators have not publicly established a motive or identified the person responsible for Massey’s death.
Another Shooting Reported Nearby Minutes Apart
The fatal shooting was one of two separate gunfire incidents reported along Connecticut Avenue early Sunday morning.
At approximately 2:55 a.m., Second District officers also responded to the 1700 block of Connecticut Avenue Northwest, where they found an adult man suffering from a gunshot wound.
That victim survived and was transported to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
In the separate investigation, police released surveillance images of two persons of interest and requested the public’s help identifying them.
According to DC News Now’s reporting on the nearby shooting, detectives believe the two incidents were not connected.
The distinction is significant because the shootings occurred only minutes apart on different blocks of the same major roadway.
The fatal shooting involving Massey remains a homicide investigation, while the incident in the 1700 block is being investigated separately.
Shore News Network previously reported on Massey’s death and the police response along Connecticut Avenue.
DC Police Offer $25,000 Reward in Homicide Investigation
The Metropolitan Police Department is asking anyone who witnessed the October 18 shooting or has information about the person responsible to contact investigators.
Police are offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for a homicide in the District.
Anyone with information can call 202-727-9099 or send a text message to the department’s tip line at 50411.
The department advises residents not to approach or confront anyone they believe may be involved in the case.
Police have not announced an arrest in Massey’s killing. His death is being investigated under Metropolitan Police Department case number 26149290.
For Massey’s family in Fairfax, the shooting left a 22-year-old dead following a violent encounter miles from home. Investigators are continuing to seek information about the circumstances surrounding his death and the person responsible.
Federal authorities say New Jersey operators defrauding the government for healthcare services could be next
NEWARK, NJ — A bill for care that never happened. A transportation charge for a ride never provided. Public money collected for services that existed only on paper.
Those are the practices Homeland Security Investigations is warning about as its New Jersey office publicly emphasizes its work against fraud involving taxpayer-funded programs. Now, HSI’s New Jersey office is warning fraudsters in the Garden State that they’re investigating here too.
On Tuesday, federal and state law enforcement—led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the FBI—conducted a sweeping crackdown, raiding over 100 social adult day care centers across New York City as part of a major Medicaid fraud and money-laundering investigation
More than 100 social adult day care and senior care providers across boroughs including Brooklyn (Borough Park, Sunset Park), Queens (Flushing), and Staten Island.
HSI warned that the operation is not over and New Jersey agents were actively involved in helping their New York City agents in both states.
HSI New York and the FBI worked alongside the New York State Department of Health, the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General, the AG’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, HHS-OIG, and local partners.
In an official statement posted Wednesday, HSI New Jersey said its agents are working with federal and other law enforcement partners to combat transnational fraud, specifically including health care fraud. That warning comes after a major operation nationwide that lead to multiple arrests.
“We are committed to ensuring the integrity of public programs that are funded by the American taxpayer,” the agency said.
The statement brought a New Jersey voice to a warning issued by HSI New York a day earlier: charging public programs for services never delivered is deliberate fraud.
“NOT a paperwork mistake”
HSI New Jersey shared its message alongside an Oct. 20 statement from HSI New York addressing fraudulent billing for care, transportation and other services.
“Billing public programs for care, transportation or other services that were never provided is fraud, NOT a paperwork mistake,” the New York office wrote.
That warning centers on whether the service behind a claim actually happened. A provider collecting public money for nonexistent care is taking payment without delivering what the program was established to provide.
HSI New York said investigators are working to uncover schemes that “exploit neighborhoods & steal taxpayers’ hard-earned money.”
New Jersey office emphasizes health care investigations
For New Jersey, the statement explicitly identifies health care fraud as part of HSI’s continuing investigative work.
“HSI New Jersey, together with our federal and other law enforcement partners, are combating transnational fraud, including health care fraud, every day,” the office said.
The New Jersey and New York statements address the same underlying concern from different directions. New Jersey emphasized protecting public-program funding. New York identified a specific practice investigators pursue—billing for services never provided.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew says the driver accused of seriously injuring Middle Township Officer Austin Kapurelos has an active ICE detainer and should be transferred to federal authorities.
MIDDLE TOWNSHIP, NJ — Austin Kapurelos should be enjoying life with his new wife in their new home. Instead, the South Jersey police officer is recovering from surgery after a migrant drunk driver struck him during a traffic stop.
Now his father, a congressman and Middle Township’s mayor are demanding accountability—and cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew said in an Oct. 18 statement that ICE and local officials confirmed the accused driver was in the country illegally and had an active immigration detainer.
“If this man hadn’t been here illegally, Austin would be sitting on the couch with his wife in their new home right now, not lying in a hospital bed,” the officer’s father, Tony Kapurelos, said in the release.
A newlywed’s life interrupted by serious injuries
The family’s account puts a personal face on the crash that seriously injured the Middle Township patrolman Friday, Oct. 16.
“They just got married. They have their whole lives ahead of them, and instead of enjoying this time together, Austin is recovering from surgery, and we’re all praying he’ll be okay,” his father said.
Tony Kapurelos said his family believes in lawful immigration and wants to prevent another family from enduring the same ordeal.
“My family knows what it means to come to America the right way. We believe in this country and its laws,” he said. “What happened to Austin never should have happened, and I don’t want another family to have to go through this.”
Officer struck during Route 47 traffic stop
As Shore News Network previously reported, Kapurelos was conducting a traffic stop on Route 47 South, also known as Wildwood Boulevard, shortly after 10 p.m. when he was struck. shorenewsnetwork.com Emergency personnel treated him before taking him to AtlantiCare Medical Center, where police reported him in critical but stable condition Saturday.
Police identified the driver as Lucio Lopez-Perez, 36, of Erma. He remained at the scene and was taken into custody.
Lopez-Perez was charged with driving while intoxicated, assault by auto and violating a public health and safety law resulting in serious bodily injury, along with traffic offenses. Police said he was lodged in the Cape May County Correctional Center.
Van Drew calls for transfer to ICE
Van Drew said he knows Kapurelos and his family personally, describing them as hardworking South Jersey residents.
“Austin is a fine young man who proudly serves his community and his country, and now he is lying in a hospital bed with serious injuries after being hit by a drunk driver who was in this country illegally,” the congressman said.
Van Drew called on Cape May County Sheriff Nolan to cooperate with ICE and ensure the accused driver is transferred to federal authorities. He also criticized Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s support for taxpayer-funded immigration legal defense, arguing that the state’s priorities leave families bearing the consequences of failed policies.
“We cannot keep allowing preventable tragedies like this to happen to innocent people in New Jersey,” Van Drew said.
Mayor demands prosecution and immigration cooperation
Middle Township Mayor Christopher M. Leusner called for the charges to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of New Jersey law and for the immigration detainer to be honored after state proceedings.
“There should be no limitations on cooperation when it comes to keeping dangerous drivers off our roads,” Leusner said.
The mayor also urged state leaders to meet with law enforcement about changes to New Jersey’s immigration-cooperation rules.
“Ptl. Austin Kapurelos was doing his job, protecting the people of Middle Township, when he was struck and critically injured,” Leusner said. “Our entire community is praying for Austin, his wife, and his family.”
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