RED BANK: THREE INJURED SLIGHTLY IN CRASH
Three people suffered minor injuries in a three-vehicle crash in Red Bank Thursday morning, police said.
RED BANK: CRIME & ARREST REPORTS
The crime and arrest reports below were provided by the Red Bank Police Department for September, 2023. This information is unedited; see below for additional information.
CRIMES
Criminal Mischief: On 09/06/2023 a patrol unit reported graffiti. In the area of Shrewsbury Av., a building was tagged with black in color spray paint. Ptl. Preston Mellaci.
Theft: A patrol unit took a report of theft from a motor vehicle in the area of Leighton Av. On 09/09/2023 the victim reported a TD Bank Visa debit card and a black and white in color umbrella were stolen from a vehicle. Ptl. Grace Maggiulli.
RED BANK: POLICE CHASE & NAB SUSPECTS
The incident began with a report of car burglaries in the parking lot at Grandville Towers, police said. ( Archive photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank police arrested three men on car-burglary charges after hot pursuits on foot early Monday morning, Captain Mike Frazee said Tuesday.
At about 2:38 a.m., police responded to a report by a witness of “multiple males” wearing all black clothing and face masks burglarizing cars parked in the lot outside the Grandville Towers apartment high-rise on Morford Place, Frazee told redbankgreen in a statement.
RED BANK: CRIME & ARREST REPORTS
The crime and arrest reports below were provided by the Red Bank Police Department for August, 2023. This information is unedited; see below for additional information.
CRIMES
Theft: A patrol unit took a report of theft in the area of Shrewsbury Av. On 08/02/2023 the owner of a vehicle reported the theft of a catalytic converter which was valued between $1100.00 and $1800.00. Ptl Jeffrey Lewandowski.
Theft: In the area of Leighton Av, a patrol unit took a report of theft from a motor vehicle. On 08/02/2023 the owner of a vehicle reported the theft of a catalytic converter. The catalytic converter was valued at $600.00. Ptl. Jhonatan Quispe.
Theft: A patrol unit took a report of theft from a vehicle in the area of Hudson Av. On 08/02/2023 the owner of a vehicle reported the theft of a catalytic converter that was valued at $600.00. Ptl. Christopher Fuentes.
RED BANK: SUSPECT CHARGED IN SHOOTING
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank police arrested a 24-year-old suspect wanted in a shooting at a hair salon in which no one was injured three months ago, they said Thursday.
According to a statement by Captain Mike Frazee, police arrested Oliver Romero-Nava Wednesday in Long Branch and charged him with aggravated assault and weapons charges stemming from an incident that occurred May 19.
RED BANK: MCPO WEIGHS IN ON PBA CLAIM
Chief Darren McConnell speaking at an event in 2021. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office amended its policy on internal-affairs investigations into matters involving relatives of local police chiefs in February, the agency told redbankgreen Monday.
But the changes were “not formulated as a reaction to any one specific matter,” the MCPO said in a statement that appeared to contradict an assertion made last week by Red Bank’s police union about borough police Chief Darren McConnell.
McConnell said the statement bares “another misrepresentation of the facts by the PBA.”
RED BANK: CRIME & ARREST REPORTS
The crime and arrest reports below were provided by the Red Bank Police Department for July, 2023. This information is unedited; see below for additional information.
CRIMES
Criminal Mischief: On 07/03/2023, a patrol unit took a report of graffiti. In the area of Locust Av., the caller reported a fence, a slide and other parts of the property were tagged with purple in color spray paint. Ptl. Luke Cahill.
Criminal Mischief: A patrol unit took a report of criminal mischief to a motor vehicle in the area of Globe Ct. On 07/07/2023 the owner reported damage to the hood and front driver side fender of a vehicle. Ptl. Frank Metta. More →
RED BANK: McCONNELL REBUTS ALLEGATIONS
Chief Darren McConnell at the police station in 2020. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank police Chief Darren McConnell acknowledged Saturday that he’d had a relationship with a former “significant other” of a department employee “years ago,” but none since.
The admission came two days after the police union accused McConnell of engaging in “numerous inappropriate and questionable sexual relationships with the significant others'” of department personnel, as well as alleged ethical lapses that led to “no confidence” vote by local members last month.
RED BANK: PBA BLASTS McCONNELL’S ‘ETHICS’
PBA president Mike Zadlock, at table, addressing the council while the union’s executive committee members stood. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
[See CLARIFICATION below]
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank’s police union accused Chief Darren McConnell of “numerous inappropriate and questionable sexual relationships” with employees and other alleged ethical lapses Thursday night.
The allegations, aired during a council meeting, came a month after a previously undisclosed “no confidence” vote by Police Benevolent Local 39, and almost two weeks after McConnell had been expected to retire.
RED BANK: ‘CLINICIAN’ ON COUNCIL AGENDA
A resolution calls for using grant money to pay for a police department social worker. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
An idea “spitballed” at the new Red Bank council’s first business session last month is up for adoption Thursday night: adding a “clinician” to the police department.
Here’s a quick overview of the agenda.
RED BANK: COUNCIL TURNS TO CODE REWRITE
Revisions to the borough code include granting wide latitude to the new position of municipal manager. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
See CORRECTION below
By JOHN T. WARD
Just over a month into a new form of government, Red Bank’s council is expected to get down to the nuts-and-bolts of erasing its predecessor: the “borough” structure.
RED BANK: SCENES FROM A NICE ‘NIGHT OUT’
Hundreds of Red Bank residents turned out for free food and games at the annual police-sponsored National Night Out Against Crime festival at Count Basie Park Tuesday night.
Check out the photos below to see who you know. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
RED BANK: PURSUIT, CRASHES END IN ARRESTS
Police charged Jamir Brown, left, and Alix Eugene. (Red Bank police photos. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Two Tinton Falls men were arrested on weapons, drug and other charges by Red Bank police after a motor vehicle pursuit that ended with crashes and foot chase late Monday night, police said Tuesday.
RED BANK: COUNCIL TO TAKE AIM AT GRAFFITI
Borough attorney Greg Cannon, right, with interim Administrator and police Chief Darren McConnell, will draft proposed new laws to limit graffiti. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
See CLARIFICATION below
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank’s mayor and council are planning measures they hope will counter an increase in graffiti around town.
Here are some highlights from last Thursday’s semimonthly meeting.
RED BANK: SMELL OF SMOKE EMPTIES TRAIN
A New Jersey Transit crew evacuated dozens of riders from a train at the Red Bank station Sunday over concern about a possible fire in the undercarriage Sunday afternoon.
RED BANK: FRAZEE TO BECOME POLICE CHIEF
Captain Mike Frazee, left, at an incident with Chief Darren McConnell (back to camera) in April. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank-born-and-raised police Captain Mike Frazee will become the borough’s next police chief, succeeding Darren McConnell, Mayor Billy Portman announced Thursday night.
The handoff, however, will be delayed “several weeks” as McConnell’s retirement, previously expected to occur next week, has been postponed, McConnell said.
RED BANK: PARKS AND MORE ON AGENDA
An update on plans for Marine Park is on the agenda. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
The agenda for the Red Bank council session Thursday night includes a presentation on the status of planned changes at the Marine Park.
It also includes minutes of the most recent session, which for the first time, are available for public review prior to formal acceptance.
RED BANK: NOVEMBER ELECTIONS ADVANCE
Municipal elections would revert to a November schedule if approved by the council later this month. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
Two months after their victory in the May 9 election, Red Bank’s new mayor and council moved to restore future elections to November Thursday night.
At its first regular meeting, the freshly reorganized government also “spitballed” a suggestion to add a social worker to the police department.
RED BANK: FIVE FACE GUN, DRUG CHARGES
By JOHN T. WARD
Four Red Bank men and a juvenile were arrested on weapons and drug charges after police stopped their car outside borough hall Sunday night, police said Tuesday.
The arrests followed a motorist’s report that he was being followed by men who had “brandished a handgun in a threatening manner” toward him a short while earlier.
RED BANK: CRIME & ARREST REPORTS
The crime and arrest reports below were provided by the Red Bank Police Department for June, 2023. This information is unedited; see below for additional information.
CRIMES
Theft: On 06/05/2023 a patrol unit took a report of shoplifting. In the area of Broad St., an employee reported several items were stolen from a business. The items were valued at $110.62. Ptl. Kristin Altimari.
Theft: A patrol unit took a report of theft in the area of White St. On 06/05/2023 the victim reported an iPhone 14 Pro Max was stolen from a business. The iPhone was valued at $1250.00. Ptl. Milton Gray.
RED BANK: McCONNELL TO RETIRE
Red Bank police Chief Darren McConnell on Broad Street after the Red Bank Classic 5K Saturday. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Darren McConnell, Red Bank’s police chief and interim administrator, plans to retire next month, he told redbankgreen Saturday.
McConnell’s exit means the incoming mayor and council will now have to fill the top two administrative jobs at borough hall while implementing a new “council-manager” form of government approved in a voter referendum last November.
And there’s an outside chance McConnell could return as the manager.
RED BANK: CRIME & ARREST REPORTS
The crime and arrest reports below were provided by the Red Bank Police Department for May, 2023. This information is unedited; see below for additional information.
CRIMES
Theft: On 05/01/2023 a patrol unit took a report of theft. In the area of Spring St., the victim reported the theft of an engagement ring from a residence. The ring was valued at $2500.00. Ptl. Piero Vescio.
Criminal Mischief: On 05/02/2023 a patrol unit reported graffiti on a stop sign in the area of Maple Av. Ptl. Ashon Lovick.
RED BANK: MAN STABBED WITH BBQ FORK
A dispute over money ended with a Long Branch man stabbed in the chest with a barbecue fork in Red Bank Saturday, police said.
According to Captain Mike Frazee, police responded to Riverview Medical Center’s emergency room at 1:14 p.m. on a report of a patient who sought medical treatment for a stab wound.
RED BANK: CRIME & ARREST REPORTS
The crime and arrest reports below were provided by the Red Bank Police Department for April, 2023. This information is unedited; see below for additional information.
CRIMES
Theft: On 04/03/2023 a patrol unit took a report of theft from a vehicle. In the area of Leighton Av., the owner of a vehicle reported a key was stolen from the vehicle. The key was valued at $5.00. Ptl. Jhonatan Quispe.
Theft: In the area of Newman Springs Rd. a patrol unit took a report of theft from a vehicle. On 04/03/2023 the owner of a vehicle reported US Currency in the amount of $800.00 was stolen from a vehicle. Ptl. Ashon Lovick.
RED BANK: WORKER EXTRICATED FROM BOAT
[SEE UPDATE BELOW]
A worker at Red Bank Marina was extricated from a boat after becoming stuck in its engine well Monday afternoon.