Residents' Safety Is 'Paramount': Upgraded Security Coming To Bonnie Brae After Carjacking

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Safety continues to be a concern among residents following the carjacking by a 15-year-old from Bonnie Brae School. Township Committee officials say concrete security enhancements are coming.

"Safety of all of our residents is paramount," said Mayor Jennifer Asay.

Resident Maria Sblendorio, who lives around the corner from the Delta Gas Station where the assault happened, spoke at the Tuesday night Committee meeting.

"I'm not okay with this and I'm asking what can the Township do and do right away and make me and my neighbors feel more safe," said Sblendorio.

The carjacking happened on Nov. 6 when a juvenile from Bonnie Brae tried to steal a vehicle after assaulting the driver (a Bernards Township adult male resident) and ended up running him over during the struggle, according to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald. Read More: 15-Year-Old Carjacker Assaults, Runs Over Driver In Basking Ridge: PD

Sblendorio pleaded with the Township Committee on Tuesday night for "action."

"480 kids ran away from the facility and we're wondering when this was going to happen. I am just wondering why it didn’t happen sooner and I have lived in this town for 25 years. I have no problem with Bonnie Brae, I will say it again, but I have a problem with the security," said Sblendorio.

The number of kids who went missing from the facility was previously reported in Patch. From September 2023 until Nov. 14, 2024, 49 teens were reported missing, according to data gathered by Patch.

That number is down from the previous year when 206 residents (who range in age from 14 to 20) went missing from January through Sept. 18, 2023. Read More: 206 Teens Go Missing From Bonnie Brae School So Far In 2023

In 2022, 115 residents went missing and 117 residents in 2021.

Committeeman and Liason to the Township Police Department Andrew McNally said he has been working with officials at Bonnie Brae to address this issue.

"It's something we take extremely, extremely seriously as does the police department. And as does Bonnie Brae as well," said McNally. "That school has a lot of success stories. It's been in business for 100 years and has done great work in reforming and helping and really transforming young men and their families."

Bonnie Brae is a private school/residential treatment center, at 3415 Valley Road in the Liberty Corner section of the township, that works with youth struggling with issues who were either court-ordered to be admitted or admitted by a parent or guardian looking to help them.

"All that being said security is of utmost concern of ours. And we are looking forward to very concrete actions," said McNally.

McNally alluded that security enhancements would be coming "in the near future."

Some of which will be at the dormitory level that you may not see. But it is a security matter," said McNally.

He said he would report back to the public once the actions that he, Committeewoman Janice Fields(co-liason to the police department), and the police department have been "demanding to be enacted at Bonnie Brae."

Additionally, the Township is looking to make changes at the state level as to how students are referred to Bonnie Brae which McNally believes will help the school achieve reform.

"That is the longer-term issue that may enhance security as well," said McNally. "We are looking forward to very concrete actions in the near future. And I will report on those as soon as I am able."

Committeeman Gary Bauman echoed McNally's comments adding that "every member of this Committee is tacitly aware of the situation and we are all focused as a team to bring whatever resources we can to bear to assist Janice and Andrew in their work they are doing in this regard."

"This has an impact on all of us in the community and it is a real focus for us. We’re all looking forward to solutions," said Bauman.

Fields assured the public that the Township Committee hears their pleas for safety.

"We hear you," said Fields. "Trust me we are all serious about this and we've told [Bonnie Brae] that and we together are a team and everyone is plugged in and we're working together with them."

"Our priority in this town is number one is safety and that's important to us," said Fields. "I just want you to know that we are working on it and we’re going to make sure something gets done and there is no ifs, ands, or buts about it. We are on this and we are taking care of this."

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