Crime & Safety
Top Police, Fire Stories In Essex County: 2024 Yearly Roundup
A son beat his mother to death. Several fatal shootings, house fires and crashes took place. Missing people were found dead.
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Why were those sirens sounding in 2024? Take a look back at some of the year’s most-viewed police and fire stories in Essex County (click headline to read the article).
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A New Jersey man with a history of gambling and substance abuse killed his mother to inherit $9 million, Essex County prosecutors said.
Find out what's happening in Newarkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Edmundo Alfonso Morales Suárez was reported missing in Essex County. His mourners include U.S. Sen. George Helmy of New Jersey.
She had been missing for four days prior to the discovery of her body, authorities said.
2 Teens Shot Near Essex County School In Act Of 'Senseless Violence': UPDATE
A 17-year-old student is in critical condition and another teen is wounded after a shooting outside a school, authorities said.
Essex County Babysitter Convicted Of Manslaughter After Toddler Dies
ECPO: A woman told detectives that the injuries were caused by the victim: a 2-year-old child. Medical experts contradicted that claim.
Bloomfield Resident Fatally Shot, Found In NJ Supermarket: Police
A Bloomfield resident was found with gunshot wounds at a grocery store in Essex County, authorities say.
Cops Probe Fatal Shooting Near Basketball Court In Newark Park
Police found a man suffering from gunshot wounds in the park near a basketball court, authorities said.
2 Women Sexually Assaulted At Knifepoint In Essex County, Man Arrested
Both women were injured in the attacks, authorities said.
Retired Essex Cop Accidentally Shoots Himself In Cedar Grove: ECPO
Anthony Ambrose was treated for a non-life-threatening wound, authorities said. He served as a top cop in Essex County.
Frustrated Irvington Residents Hold Vigil After 2 Sex Assaults (VIDEO)
Community members are alleging that Irvington officials failed to inform them about a potential danger in their neighborhood.
No Charges For Cops After Suspect Shoots Himself In NJ Park: NJAG
Prosecutors have released video footage of the events surrounding the fatality.
Montclair Man ‘Ruthlessly Ordered Murders,’ Found Guilty: Feds
A Montclair resident committed crimes while running a "large-scale narcotics enterprise" in the Essex County area, prosecutors said.
Crash Left Essex County Cheerleader With Grim Injuries, Family Sues School
A student with a bright future was left in a coma after a hit-and-run. Here's why her family is suing the school district – and others.
Montclair Cop Is Recovering After Shooting, Woman Faces Charges
Prosecutors: A Montclair cop who was struck by gunfire has been released from the hospital, but the woman who shot him remains hospitalized.
Ex-Cop In The Oranges Severely Beat His Child, Found Guilty: ECPO
Prosecutors said staff at Cooperman Barnabas Hospital in Livingston discovered the abuse, which included 22 rib fractures, marks and scars.
NJ Mom Dies After July 4th Assault; Man Also Wounded 2 Kids: ECPO
An Essex County man has been accused of stabbing a mother and two young children in East Orange on the Independence Day holiday.
Woman Hospitalized After Knife Attack At Newark Airport: Police
A woman was slashed in the face during the assault, which took place at the Terminal A departures level of the airport, authorities said.
Carjacked Vehicle Crashes Into Essex County Bar, Pins 2 Pedestrians: Police
A car crashed into a bar, pinning two pedestrians against the building and bursting into flames. The driver fled the scene, police said.
One of the devices – used for capturing private data of customers – was found at a Nutley bank. It isn't the first the town has seen.
ATM Skimming Device Found At Essex County Bank Drive-Thru: Police
Another ATM "skimming device" was found at a bank drive-thru in Essex County, authorities say.
$1M Car Theft Ring Targeted Essex County Towns, Among Others: UCPO
Theft and possession of stolen cars took place in Irvington, Maplewood, Montclair and Newark, as well as other NJ towns, authorities said.
Relative Of Essex County Top Cop Accused Of Assaulting 2 Women: Report
A Roseland resident who serves in the Essex County Prosecutor's Office was arrested in Nutley. He is denying the charges, a report says.
NY Man Accused Of Shooting 2 Hotel Workers In Fairfield, NJ
Police charged a man with murder in connection with a double shooting that killed one and wounded another at a hotel in Essex County.
FIRES
Fatal Fire Kills 3 In West Orange; Town Mourns ‘Heartbreaking Loss’
The community is pulling together to raise funds for the family amid their devastating loss.
Fire Kills 2 Young Girls In Newark After Birthday Party: Prosecutors
Emergency responders found the girls lying unresponsive on the ground, with their bodies severely burned, authorities said.
A harrowing trip into a raging house fire was captured on video in Millburn.
Arson At Essex County Church; Man Accused Of Setting Fire, Police Say
A Verona man has been accused of starting a fire at a local church, authorities said.
46 Dogs Rescued From Fire At Business Complex In Essex County
Several businesses at the Fairfield complex took damage in the blaze, and a police officer suffered smoke inhalation, authorities said.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Several Victims Identified After Tragic Crash Kills 6 In Essex County
"May we honor each of their memory by remembering the joy they brought into our lives."
Theater Community Mourns For NJ Man Fatally Hit By Train
The Essex County resident died after a NJ Transit train hit him in South Orange. He was a "beloved friend and collaborator," his peers say.
‘Miracle’ Rescue In NJ After Child Collapses At Indoor Playground
Fairfield Police: "Performing CPR can be an emotional task, but having to do it on a child is something no one ever wants to do."
Child Dies After Dog Attack In Newark; Police Launch Investigation
A 18-month-old child died after a dog attacked her in Newark, authorities say.
One of the cars lost control after the crash and hit a bystander, pinning her against the wall of the school building, prosecutors said.
Mother Of 2 Killed By Car In Essex County; Family Asks For Help
The family of an Irvington woman needs help paying funeral expenses after she was fatally hit by a car in Maplewood.
Unlicensed Dentist Accused Of Sex Assault In Essex County: ECPO
A man who was practicing dentistry without a license in Essex County has been accused of sexually assaulting a patient, prosecutors said.
Another Crash At Hotspot In West Orange; Car Smashes Into Wall
A car crash recently took place on a section of road in West Orange that has seen repeated complaints from residents.
Fatal Motorcycle Crash Takes Place On Rt. 21 In Nutley: Police
Nutley police responded to Rt. 21 South after getting multiple 911 calls about a motorcycle crash.
Belleville Man Was Behind Wheel In Fatal NJ Crash: Prosecutors
Several open alcohol containers were found at the scene. One car was traveling about 90 mph at the time of the crash, authorities said.
Maplewood School Evacuated After Gas Main Break: Authorities
The gas main break also caused road closures in the area, Maplewood police said.
Hiker Falls Off Cliff At Mills Reservation In Montclair, Cedar Grove
Emergency responders successfully carried out a risky, "high-angle" rescue operation to retrieve the injured person, authorities said.
Several Victims Identified After Tragic Crash Kills 6 In Newark https://t.co/rlJL7w6PB6
— PatchEssexCountyNJ (@EK_Patch) December 17, 2024
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