RED BANK: COPS NAB BURGLARS IN THE ACT
Thanks to a home security camera, Red Bank police caught two women, one of them a borough resident, in the act of burglarizing a house Saturday, Chief Darren McConnell tells redbankgreen.
R-FH GIRLS ADVANCE TO SCT SEMIS
Stephanie Lesko scored 12 points for Rumson-Fair Haven as the Lady Bulldogs routed Neptune, 52-26, in the Shore Conference quarterfinals at Brookdale Community College Saturday. Shore Sports Zone caught the action.
Second-seed R-FH is scheduled to face Manasquan in the semis Monday in Toms River.
RED BANK: FOURTH MAN CHARGED IN SLAYING
Photos of slain Red Bank teacher Jonelle Melton, as displayed at a prosecutor’s press conference in November. Below, a state Department of Corrections photo of suspect Jerry J. Spraulding. (Photo above by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
A fourth suspect in the 2009 killing of a Red Bank Middle School teacher has been charged, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said Friday.
Like the the three men charged in November, the latest suspect, Jerry J. Spraulding, 38, of Keansburg, was already in custody, Gramiccioni said in a prepared statement.
NEPTUNE GIRL SCORES 30 IN WIN AGAINST RBC
Neptune’s Desiree Allen scored 30 points and hauled down 13 rebounds as the Scarlet Fliers scored a quality road win against Red Bank Catholic Thursday. The Caseys rallied from 11 down with a 13-0 run that gave them a 34-32 lead, but Allen took over in the fourth with 13 points. Maureen Coakley had 16 for the Caseys. Shore Sports Zone has the video highlights. (Video courtesy of Shore Sports Zone.)
RBR LOSES HEARTBREAKER TO NEPTUNE
Matt Reardon hit what would have been a game-tying three-pointer, but it dropped after the buzzer, leaving Red Bank Regional on the short end of a 40-37 game against Neptune in Little Silver Monday. Shore Sports Zone has the video highlights.
LITTLE SILVER: ARREST NETS $1M IN LOOT
By JOHN T. WARD
A Little Silver burglary earlier this month led to the arrest last week of a Neptune Township man on charges he stole more than $1 million worth of goods from Monmouth County homes over the last three years, Little Silver Chief Dan Shaffery said Wednesday.
“Diligent work” by borough Detective Greg Oliva resulted in a “jackpot” discovery of stolen goods that included a $5,000 bottle of Scotch and a 24-karat gold Zippo lighter autographed by late comedian Bob Hope, Shaffery told redbankgreen.
RED BANK: TRIO CHARGED IN MELTON MURDER
Middle School Principal Maria Iozzi, left, and teachers Wendy Turnock and Mary Wynan speak with former Superintendent Laura Morana, back to camera, following the prosecutor’s announcement Thursday. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
Three Asbury Park men have been indicted in the “heinous” murder of Jonelle Melton, a Red Bank Middle School teacher they killed after breaking into her Neptune apartment six years ago, Acting Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said Thursday.
The three, who were already in custody on unrelated charges when they were indicted Wednesday, are alleged to have broken into Melton’s apartment by mistake after planning to burglarize another one in the Brighton Arms apartment complex, Gramiccioni said at a press conference in Freehold Thursday morning.
The news brought relief to school administrators and teachers who knew Melton.
ROAD WINS PUT BUCS & CASEYS AT 3-0
Week three of the 2015 high school football season kicked off with Friday night victories by Red Bank Regional and Red Bank Catholic, and the video cameras of Shore Sports Zone were there.
On the road at Ocean Township, the RBR Bucs’ 16-6 win was highlighted by an 88-yard TD by Matt Reardon on a a Jack Navitsky pass to end the third quarter. Reardon also busted up Ocean’s attempt for two after its lone touchdown. The Bucs are now 3-0 on the season.
Zip ahead to 9:15 to see how the 2014 state champion RBC Caseys dismantled Neptune on the road, 35-0. Mike Wilen scored two running TDs and one on a pass by quarterback Eddie Hahn, who ran one in himself. (Video courtesy of Shore Sports Zone)
RED BANK: PROSECUTOR ‘CLOSING IN’ ON KILLER
A poster displayed at the middle school during a February, 2010 memorial event for murdered teacher Jonelle Melton. (Photo by Dustin Racioppi. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
The Monmouth County Prosecutor says his office is “closing in on” the killer of Jonelle Melton, a Red Bank Middle School teacher murdered in her Neptune apartment almost six years ago.
In an unusual move, Acting Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said in a statement released Monday afternoon that his office has “recently developed new leads that make us confident that those responsible for this senseless crime will be brought to justice,” and appealed to the public for help.
RFH, CBA TO VIE FOR SCT TITLE
With a 37-29 win over Neptune at Brookdale Community College Wednesday night, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional advanced to Shore Conference Tournament championship game against top-seeded Christian Brothers Academy Friday night at Monmouth U. Trailing 19-17 at the half, the Bulldogs put together a big third quarter to go up, 28-22, and iced the game at the free throw line. Brendan Barry had 12 and Morgan Maguire added 10 for Rumson. Watch the highlights and post-game reaction courtesy of Shore Sports Zone.
RBC GIRLS END NEPTUNE’S UNBEATEN STREAK
Sophomore JosIe Larkins had 18 points to lead the Red Bank Catholic Caseys to a victory at home against previously unbeaten Neptune Tuesday. The Scarlet Fliers had a 24-20 halftime lead paced by Desiree Allen and Marajiah Bacon, but Larkins and senior Alex Barazotti sparked RBC to a quality win. Shore Sports Zone has full highlights and post-game reaction.
RBR FALLS TO NEPTUNE IN THRILLER
In a nail-biter at Little Silver, Neptune comes back from eight points down in the fourth quarter to score a big “B” North road win at Red Bank Regional Wednesday night. Kerry Kirkwood had 15 points for Neptune, including the game-winning bucket. Sadiq Palmer led the Bucs with 21 points, but missed a coast-to-coast layup at the buzzer. Shore Sports Zone has the thrilling video highlights.
RFH, RBR SUFFER FIRST FOOTBALL LOSSES
Rumson-Fair Haven Regional’s varsity football team fell to unbeaten St. John Vianney Thursday night in a game “with plenty of fireworks,” says Rich Chrampanis, of the new video-based website Shore Sports Zone. The SSZ highlight reel from Thursday also includes a report on Red Bank Regional’s road loss to Neptune, as well as highlights from Middletown South and Middletown North. Check in with SSZ for great coverage of high school sports across Monmouth County and beyond. (Video courtesy of Shore Sports Zone .)
WHERE HAVE I SEEN THIS?
Can you identify the subject of this week’s Where Have I Seen This? Take a guess! Please send your answer to wherehaveiseenthis@redbankgreen.com.
INDICTMENT IN SHOOTING, RED BANK HOLDUP
A one-man, 24-hour crime spree that included a holdup of a Red Bank gas station and a shooting in Asbury Park got a Monmouth County man indicted on federal charges Thursday, authorities said.
Quam Wilson, 23, of Neptune Township, started the blitz by shooting an Asbury Park cab driver in the head during a robbery, an indictment handed down by a grand jury in Trenton alleges.
The driver survived.
RED BANK TRAFFIC STOP YIELDS DRUG BUST
A Neptune man was in custody after a traffic stop turned up heroin in his vehicle Tuesday morning, Red Bank police said.
Terrell Rainey, 19 was arrested by Sergeant Robert Clayton and Patrolman James DePonte following a motor vehicle stop on Bank Street at 9:45 a.m., according to department spokeman Captain Darren McConnell.
When Clayton attempted to take Rainey into custody on an outstanding warrant issued by the Wall Township municipal court, he physically resisted arrest and had to be subdued by the officers, McConnell said.
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QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT HOTEL LAWSUIT
A borough resident has filed suit to stop a six-story, 72-room hotel from being built on Route 35 at the Cooper Bridge. (Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
Is someone lurking in the shadows of the legal challenge to the proposed Red Bank Hampton Inn?
Marty McGann, the lawyer for the hotel’s developer, Rbank Capital LLC, effectively raised the question Monday night, when he asked whether borough resident Stephen Mitchell, who has filed a state Superior Court lawsuit to derail planning board hearings on the proposal, had ties to another hotel or the lodging industry.
WALK FOR SLAIN TEACHER PLANNED
A vigil on the one-year anniversary of Jonelle Melton’s murder attracted about 80 students, teachers and parents to Riverside Gardens Park ank Tuesday night. A memorial walk is planned for Saturday. (Photos by Peter Lindner. Click to enlarge)
Friends and colleagues of slain Red Bank Middle School teacher Jonelle Melton plan a memorial fundraising walk at the school Saturday.
An opening ceremony is scheduled for 9:30a with music, a butterfly release and a dedication of a small butterfly garden. A walk around Red Bank will follow. The rain date for the walk is Sunday.