Cops Blow Up Suspicious Bag at Dunkin' Donuts

Abandoned duffel bag posed no threat to the public, police report.

An abandoned duffel bag in front of Dunkin’ Donuts garnered the attention of multiple law enforcement agencies Tuesday night, leading to a controlled explosion for the public’s safety, Mt. Olive police said. Several calls were made to Mt. Olive police to report a suspicious looking duffel bag at the Village Green Shopping Center on Rt. 46, Officer Michael Russell said. When patrol arrived, officers found the bag partially opened with what appeared to be a metal cylinder inside, Russell said. The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Morris County Sheriff’s Office and Morris County Bomb Squad were called to the scene, and bystanders were removed from the area. X-rays of the bag were taken, Russell said, but the images were inconclusive. With …

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Search On for Man Accused of Trying to Lure Teens

Mt. Olive Police report a man in his late-30s approached two girls inside Dunkin' Donuts, then again in parking lot.

A man driving a black sedan in Flanders is being sought by Mt. Olive Police after two teen girls said he tried to lure them into his vehicle, authorities are reporting. The girls, ages 13 and 14, whose names have been withheld, said a man approximately 35 to 40 years of age approached them inside the Dunkin’ Donuts on Rt. 206 in Flanders about 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, and attempted to engage them in conversation, Officer Michael Russell said. The teens did not reciprocate or interact with the man, Russell said. When the girls left after making their purchase, the man, now in his vehicle, tried talking to them again, Russell said. He offered them a ride home, Russell said, but the girls refused. The man, driving what is believed to be a …

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Teen Boy's Luring Story Was Fake, Police Say

Search for man called off after investigation reveals incident never happened, authorities report.

The search for a man who allegedly tried luring a teen boy into his car recently has ended, but not because he was found. Mount Olive police reported Wednesday that a claim made Friday by a 13-year-old boy from the Flanders section of Mount Olive was false. New Jersey State Police assisted in the initial investigation by creating a composite sketch of the man who the Flanders boy said tried to lure him  – a white male in his 40s with a buzz cut driving a white van – and released it to the public and media on Monday. “While this event has been determined to be false, the Mt. Olive Township Police Department encourages all parents and caregivers to discuss safety and stranger issues with their children,” Officer Michael Russell said. “The …

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Luring Suspect Sought After Baiting Teen Boy

13-year-old Mt. Olive resident said a stranger in a van lied to him, tried getting him into car, police report.

Mount Olive police are searching for a man who they said tried to lure a 13-year-old boy on Friday. Officers responded to the area of Vista Drive in Flanders at 3:20 p.m. where the teen told police he was walking home from his bus stop when a white van pulled up to him and stopped, Officer Michael Russell said. The teen told police the man driving the van said the boy’s parents were in a car crash, and offered to drive him to the hospital, Russell said. The boy refused to get into the vehicle and the suspect drove away, Russell said. The teen went home and immediately told his father about the luring attempt, who then reported it to police, Russell said. Mt. Olive Police have released a New Jersey State Police composite sketch of the …

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Knife Pulled in Road Rage Dispute, Cops Say

Basking Ridge man threatens Long Valley driver in Mt. Olive, police report.

A Basking Ridge man pulled a knife on a Long Valley driver in Mt. Olive during a road rage incident Tuesday, Officer Michael Russell said. Officer Casey Grimm responded to the area of Goldmine Road at 7:35 a.m. in regards to a road rage incident, Russell said. Upon arriving, Grimm spoke with Bruce Wilber, 46, of Basking Ridge and learned he and the second driver–age 59 but whose name is being withheld–engaged in a verbal argument during a road rage incident, Russell said. During the argument, Wilber pulled out a folding knife and threatened the Long Valley driver, Russell said. Wilber was arrested without incident and taken to police headquarters. He was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and terroristic threats. For questions …

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5 Acres Burn in Mt. Olive, Fire Cause Unknown

Monday afternoon brush fires scattered along train tracks at International Trade Center.

About five acres of land were affected Monday afternoon when brush fires singed various parcels of land at the International Trade Center, according to Mt. Olive Police. Multiple firefighting agencies responded to the area after 911 calls were made regarding flames between Love Lane and Waterloo Valley Road, Officer Michael Russell said. The cause of the fire is still undetermined, Russell said. The blaze battle went on for most of Monday afternoon, with nearly a dozen agencies responding, including: The New Jersey Forest Fire Department declared fire danger status "high" Tuesday morning, as conditions remained dry in the area. Rain is not forecast for the area until Friday, April 12.

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Donors Thanked for $10K to Flanders Fire Survivors

Family more than halfway to goal less than 24 hours after donation page was created.

Amy Bonner Langdo, the aunt of a 7-year-old boy who, along with a 52-year-old man perished in a Flanders fire early Monday morning, thanked the donors and their generosity for the financial help that has poured in. Langdo launched a Give Forward page late Monday to help the surviving family members with the costs of burials and future living arrangements. As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, $10,861 had been donated. To visit the Give Forward page directly, click here. “The family members would like to thank everyone for their generous donations so far. Please give us the strength to go on. Cris and Hesham will be missed greatly and never forgotten. They both had smiles that could turn gray skies blue,” Langdo said on the Give Forward page Tuesday. …

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Hackettstown Man Disturbed Public, Police Say

Mt. Olive police arrested Hackettstown resident who had Warren County warrant.

TV Shoplifters Had Heroin in Car, Police Say

Long Valley woman among four charged with multiple crimes.

Four Morris County residents, including a woman from Long Valley, were arrested for possession of heroin and shoplifting from the Mt. Olive Walmart store, Officer Michael Russell said. Jamie Borelli, 30, of Long Valley, Joseph Masino, 40, of Netcong, Lawrence Hill III, 46, of Landing, and Heather Hill, 42, of Landing, were all charged with third-degree conspiracy, third-degree shoplifting, possession of heroin, possession of a hypodermic needle and possession of drug paraphernalia. Mt. Olive Police stopped a vehicle on Route 206 after receiving a report of stolen goods from the department store with a description of a pick up truck that had left the scene, Russell said. When Officer Anthony Gardner approached the vehicle, he observed two …

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Teen Sexually Assaulted Minor, Police Say

Budd Lake 19-year-old charged with aggravated criminal sexual contact, child endangerment.

A Budd Lake 19-year-old has been arrested and charged with aggravated criminal sexual contact for an alleged incident with a 15-year-old girl, Mt. Olive police said. Sergio Barba, 19, allegedly sexually assaulted a 15-year-old female between July 1 and Aug. 31, 2012, Cpl. Eric Anthony said. Mt. Olive police launched an investigation on Jan. 2, resulting in the arrest of Barba the following day, Anthony said. Barba was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility in lieu of $75,000 bail with no 10-percent option. The teen was charged with aggravated criminal sexual contact and endangering the welfare of a child. Mt. Olive police were assisted in the investigation by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office. For questions about this post, …

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