UNDER ARREST: Five men attack man with baseball bat

Staff graphic/Joe Moore

Five men looking for revenge over a vandalized vehicle attacked another man with a baseball bat, police said.

The five suspects were arrested and charged with burglary, aggravated assault, criminal mischief, weapons offenses and conspiracy to commit burglary, police said Tuesday.

On Jan. 12, police responded to a residence in the 400 block of West Walnut Road for a burglary and assault complaint.

The 25-year-old victim told police that several men he did not know forced their way into his apartment and attacked him. One of the men hit the victim several times in the body with a baseball bat, police said.

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Arrests made in bowling alley fire

The Loyle family reacts to the arson arrests on Wednesday. Staff photo/Cody Glenn

By TIM ZATZARINY Jr.
The Daily Journal

A rival businessman orchestrated a conspiracy to burn down Loyle Lanes, destroying the city's only bowling alley just a month shy of its 50th anniversary, police said.

Philadelphia resident Steven Henry Smink, the operator of Pike Lanes Family Fun Center on Landis Avenue in Deerfield, was arrested Tuesday along with 21-year-old Felix Antonio Manzano and a 17-year-old boy in connection with the Jan. 11 blaze.

All three were arrested in Philadelphia, where they live, and were charged with arson for hire, two counts of aggravated arson and conspiracy to commit arson.
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Questions loom of Loyle Lanes blaze

Submitted photo/John W. Carr

In the aftermath of a devastating fire that destroyed the city's only and well-loved bowling alley, the owners of Loyles Lanes decided to rebuild within 24 hours of the first flame.

But it could take weeks, even months, for investigators to determine what caused the fire that was deemed the city's largest in years.

Arson investigators were at the scene Tuesday, combing the charred rubble from Monday's early-morining fire for any clues.

Keep reading to learn more about the investigation process.
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Man assaulted EMT, police say

A city man was arrested for assaulting an emergency medical technician less than an hour after he was the victim of an attack, police said.

Clestino Morales, 24, of Axtell Avenue had called police to report he was assaulted by three unknown males on the 300 block of Axtell Avenue at 1 a.m. Friday.

Police called the Vineland Emergency Medical Service, which transported Morales to South Jersey Healthcare Regional Medical Center.

During the ride in the ambulance, Morales began fighting with medical personnel and kicked one of the EMTs in the face, police said.

At the hospital, police charged Morales with aggravated assault.

Two pit bulls costing city $16,000

Submitted photo

The Cumberland County SPCA is holding two pit bulls it seized from a Vineland home, but it's costing the city thousands to keep these animals that were once deemed dangerous. Excerpts of DJ Staffer Deborah Marko's story is below. Read the whole story

here.

The shelter bill over the past two years for holding several pit bulls impounded from a Vineland home has surpassed $16,500. And the case surrounding their seizure still could be months away from a resolution.

Staff photo/Deborah Marko

City officials on April 23 seized the latest batch of dogs from the Pats Lane residence, deeming them "potentially dangerous" after receiving more than 30 complaints about the dogs running loose and chasing neighbors, according the Cumberland County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

One of those dogs, Sniper Jr., was put down after biting the face of a 10-year boy who visited the house, authorities said.

The fate of the remaining five pit bulls remains in limbo while charges against the dog owner, John Jayne III, and his brother Robert Conner wind their way through the court system.

All the parties involved, seemingly at odds otherwise, agree the dogs can't remain indefinitely at the SPCA shelter in Vineland.

Bev Greco, executive director of the Cumberland County SPCA, calls it inhumane.

Mayor Robert Romano says the city can't afford to foot the mounting bill.

Jayne says he misses his dogs and wants them back home.

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And then there were two: City sign loses more letters

Staff photo/Craig Matthews

The city’s new sign has lost six of its letters in less than a week.

First, it was an orange E, purple N and green N that went missing. Now, only the first and last letters in the city’s name remain — a blue V and a purple D — with the slogan, “a taste of culture and tradition, with the flavor of fun.”

Vineland Downtown Improvement District officials unveiled the sign on the southern side of Landis Avenue between the boulevards on Sept. 3.

“It will obviously be replaced,” Todd Noon, VDID executive director, said. “It’s a sad day when people continue to vandalize a sign that’s already been vandalized.”

See The Daily Journal online and in print for more on this story.

UNDER ARREST: Man robs bank, crashes getaway car

Vineland police aided state police Thursday morning after a 37-year-old Mays Landing man robbed Susquehanna Bank branch at Landis Avenue and Union Road, located just over the county line in Buena Vista Township.

At about 9:45 a.m., Aaron Johnson entered the bank branch, demanded money and fled in a silver car, state police said. The bank was closed after the incident.

State police K-9 personnel tracked Johnson through woods he fled into after crashing his car, according to a statement from state police Lt. Joseph Shanahan of the Buena Vista barracks. Johnson hit a lamppost at the corner of Landis Avenue and on Lailli Court, a small neighborhood road about 100 yards west of the bank.

State police and Vineland police secured the bank, blocked traffic and set up a search perimeter. A state police chopper also circled the area.

Johnson was in custody by 11 a.m. but the search continued for a possible second suspect, State Police Detective Brian Polite said. Shanahan said state police were unable to verify if a second suspect was involved, but the investigation is ongoing.

Tiffany Giacomelli, who lives nearby, said she saw a new silver car hit a lamppost on the corner of Laielli Court and Landis Avenue.

"I heard squealing brakes, and then I heard him hit the lamppost," she said. "He squealed really quickly in reverse and went like 80 down the street."

Read more of the story by DJ Staff Writers Kristi Funderburk and Joseph P. Smith.

UNDER ARREST: Former VHS swim coach charged with drunken driving

A local man charged with drunken driving Tuesday told police the charge won't stick because "money talks," according to a police report Wednesday.

John A. Casadia III will be arraigned Monday morning in Vineland Municipal Court.

He is charged with drunken driving, careless driving and reckless driving.

Casadia, 45, of the 1000 block of East Wheat Road, was found to have a blood alcohol percentage of 0.18 -- more than twice the legal limit of .08 percent -- after his arrest at 9:31 a.m. Tuesday, police said.

Police said Casadia, a former Vineland assistant swim coach under his father, John Casadia Jr., became aggressive and talkative while waiting to be released to his father.

According to the report, Casadia stated, "I beat my last DWI and I am going to beat this one. Money talks."

Read more on the story here.

Under Arrest: Five charged with kidnapping teens

Police charged five people, two of which were juveniles, this week with kidnapping and other crimes for allegedly abducting a brother and sister and driving them to a location where they were beaten, police said.

"It wasn't a random incident," Vineland police Lt. David Cardana told DJ Staff Writer Tim Zatzariny Jr. "One of the suspects was acquainted with the victims, and it may have been some type of retaliation."

The alleged victims are a brother and sister, ages 14 and 16, Cardana said.

Police said the incident began early Wednesday when the two juveniles were apparently taken against their will from separate locations in the city and driven to a location at Third Street Terrace and Third Street Annex. There, they were assaulted, police said.

Police did not say what, if any, injuries the juveniles suffered, nor did they specify the type of weapon or weapons used.

The adults charged were Chrishell Thomas, 28, of the first block of Myrtle Street; Christopher Rollings, 24, of the 700 block of South West Boulevard; and Monet C. Brown, 29, of the first block of Villa Avenue. Police did not release the names of the juveniles.

Thomas also was charged with making terroristic threats and held in Cumberland County Jail on $250,000 cash bail. Rollings was held in the jail on $300,000 cash bail, and Brown was jailed on $250,000 cash bail.

The two juvenile suspects were held in the Cumberland County Juvenile Detention Center.

Read more about the incident here.

Police: Yield to pedestrians or get a ticket

Think the punishment for talking on a cell phone while driving is bad?

Police officers in the state of New Jersey issue $100 fines and two points for motorists that don't yield to pedestrians in crosswalks - a law they hope to remind state residents of over the next month with the Pedestrian Decoy Program.

Here in Vineland - which is one of 17 municipalities participating - undercover police officers will actas pedestrians in crosswalks of busy streets to spot motorists who aren't abiding by state laws.

Any motorists who don't yield to pedestrians are subject to warning citations or possibly tickets, Patrolman David Tesoroni of the city's Traffic Safety Unit told DJ staff writer Kristi Funderburk on Wednesday.

"What we're strictly going out for now is to educate the public," he said.

The decoy program is set to begin Monday and continue through Sept. 13.

Read more about the program here.

Under Arrest: Man charged with illegal inhaling

Vineland police arrested a city man on a charge of illegally inhaling compressed air from a can, according to DJ staff reports.

Carl Harris, 18, of Salem Avenue, was arrested on charges of possession of an intoxicating inhalant and inhaling the fumes at 9:40 p.m. Thursday at North West Avenue and Wood Street.

Harris was also treated at South Jersey Healthcare Regional Medical Center.

Read more here.

Under Arrest: Woman leaves infant home, goes to liquor store

A 24-year-old Vineland woman left her infant son home alone for nearly an hour while she went to buy liqour with her friends, police told DJ Staff Writer Tim Zatzariny Jr.

Police charged Erica G. Gentry, 24, with endangering the welfare of a child and transported her to the Cumberland County Jail to be held on $100,000 bail.

The department received an anonymous call at 11:45 p.m. Thursday about a woman leaving her infant alone in an apartment at Walnut Manor Apartments on East Walnut Road. Crying could be heard through the door.

Police had to kick open the door after several knocks went unanswered. Upstairs, they found a 1-year-old boy, later identified as Thomas Russell, crying in a crib. Police said estimated the room was 80 to 85 degrees.

Read what happens next.

Tonight, police officers come to community

Every other evening of the year, city residents can speak with their local law enforcement officers by phone or in a visit to police headquarters on Sixth Street.

But for one evening every year, the police officers reach out to the community.

Tonight is National Night Out, an annual event that seeks to heighten crime, fire and drug prevention awareness; generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs, such as Neighborhood Watch; and strengthen public safety and community partnerships.

Usually the event is held at Vineland Public Library, but the Vineland Police Department is going bigger and better this year. The event begins at 5 p.m. tonight at Pagliughi Park on East Magnolia Road.

The event runs until 9 p.m. and will include demonstrations by the police department's K-9 and motorcycle units, fire-safety demonstrations and identification kits for children. There also will be food, music and games for children. Admission is free.

Under Arrest: Man crashes car while intoxicated, flees scene with son

Vineland police charged a Millville man with drunken driving and other offenses on Friday after he was drunken driving with his 16-year-old son and his car struck another vehicle. Both father and son fled the crash scene, police said.

Police said a vehicle driven by Kevin T. Morey, 44, of the 300 block of East Main Street, Millville, was pulling out of the McDonald’s restaurant at Sherman Avenue and Delsea Drive when his car struck an-other vehicle shortly before 10:17 p.m. Friday.

Police were able to locate both men and took them to police headquarters. Read more of Staff Writer Tim Zatzariny Jr.'s story here.

Under Arrest: Man caught in act breaking in truck

What happens when you break into a pickup truck? You might not get back out.

Vineland police arrested 28-year-old Robert Maldonado of East Quince Street Thursday on charges of burglary, theft and resisting arrest after the Center City man broke into the cab of a pickup truck parked on the 600 block of East Cherry Street.

A roommate of the truck's owner saw Maldonado break in the vehicle and then trapped prevented the suspect from getting out, allowing time for police to arrive at the scene and arrest him.

Read more about it at www.thedailyjournal.com.