Gang member gets 20 years for role in arson deaths

by Linda Stein/The Times
Friday September 05, 2008, 1:36 PM

At an emotional sentencing hearing Friday, Andre Thomas, an admitted gangster whose actions caused the deaths of four people, including a city father and two young who were killed when their house was set ablaze, was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Andre Thomas

Thomas, 22, of Ellis Avenue, was second in command of the Bounty Hunter Bloods when he relayed the orders of gang leader Dewan "Gully Boy" Dennis, to foot soldiers, resulting in a shooting and two firebombings as the gang wreaked havoc on the city during 2005.

The May 5, 2005 fire took the lives Rasheen Glover and his daughters, Janaya Glover, 6, and Jyasia Watson, 7. The other victim of the gang's violence, Denneshia Ledbetter, of Somerset, was gunned down in a city alley on April 21, 2005.

Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor Kimberly Lacken asked Superior Court Judge Charles A. Delehey to sentence Thomas to the 25-year prison term he had agreed to in his plea bargain. She reminded the court that Thomas' testimony had helped the state obtain the convictions of Dennis, and other gang members involved in the killings. Afterward, she refused to comment on the judge's reduction in that sentence.

Heavy rain, high winds on the way

by The Times
Friday September 05, 2008, 12:52 PM

Wet, windy weather from Tropical Storm Hannah will pound the region Saturday and Saturday night, creating the chance for flooding in many areas, the National Weather Service warns.

The storm is expected to make landfall in the southeastern United States overnight and likely will pass through New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania on Saturday. Heavy rain and winds gusting as high as 47 mph are predicted locally.

Much of the region is under a flood watch for Saturday afternoon through late Saturday night, which means roads and areas of poor drainage could flod, and small streams and creeks could overflow their banks.

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City council approves water bill increase

by Lisa Rich/The Times
Thursday September 04, 2008, 9:21 PM

TRENTON -- Despite pleas from nearby mayors to table an ordinance that would hike Trenton Water Works' utility bills by 40 percent, the city council Thursday night approved the increase that will begin Oct. 1.

After a nearly eight-hour meeting, the city council voted 5-2 to approve the ordinance, which will amount to an extra $30 every quarterly bill, or up from $75 to $105 for a customer who uses the average amount of water.

Council members Manny Segura and Milford Bethea opposed.

The same rate will be applied to all customers of the water service, which includes Trenton, Hamilton, Ewing, Lawrence and Hopewell townships. The decision came to the dismay of those municipal leaders, who urged the council to table the motion for further discussion.

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Domestic dispute ends in arrest of woman, 27

by Michael Ratcliffe/The Times
Thursday September 04, 2008, 9:16 PM

PEMBERTON BOROUGH -- A borough resident was arrested Thursday after she allegedly bit and spat on police officers and medical personnel.

Kelly Collins, 27, of Mary Street, was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated assault by throwing bodily fluids, resisting arrest, criminal mischief, harassment, improper behavior and failure to disperse, police said.

Officers were sent to Collins' home Thursday in response to a report about a domestic dispute between Collins and her boyfriend, police said. When they arrived, officers heard glass breaking and Collins screaming, police said.

"As officers entered the residence, blood was observed throughout the house. The suspect (Collins) was found barricaded in the bathroom. As the suspect was exiting the bathroom, she began to charge at the officers," police said in a news release.

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Paroled killer charged with shooting carpenter

by Linda Stein/The Times
Thursday September 04, 2008, 9:14 PM

TRENTON -- A 47-year-old Trenton man was indicted Tuesday on a charge of attempted murder.

Tyrone Williams, of Stuyvesant Avenue, was charged with shooting a man on Nancy Lane in Ewing on Feb. 12, police said.

Williams, a paroled killer, allegedly shot a 42-year-old man doing carpentry work at the house, police said. The victim was wounded twice in the abdomen. Two accomplices were not apprehended.

The grand jury also indicted Williams on charges of burglary, four counts of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm, said Casey DeBlasio, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor.

Rt. 612 drivers advised to find alternate route

by The Times
Thursday September 04, 2008, 9:08 PM

LUMBERTON -- Reconstruction of a 2.6-mile section of Eayrestown Road (Route 612) is scheduled to begin Friday, Burlington County officials said.

Officials said the milling and paving of Eayrestown Road between Route 38 and Bridge Road is expected to take about two weeks.

The road will remain open to traffic during the resurfacing, but there will be delays and motorists are encouraged to seek an alternative route.

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Report: Man opens fire and damages building

by Michael Ratcliffe/The Times
Thursday September 04, 2008, 9:05 PM

TRENTON -- Police are searching for the gunman who fired several shots on Mellon Street Thursday.

No one was injured by the gunfire, but the exterior of a nearby building was damaged, police said.

It was about 2:30 p.m. when police received reports that one man was shooting at another. By the time officers arrived in the area, however, neither the shooter nor his intended target could be located.

Officers checked with area hospitals, including those in Bucks County, Pa., but no gunshot victims had arrived at any of those facilities, police said. A description of the shooter was not available, police said.

Police hunt for scrap thieves

by Kevin Shea/The Times
Thursday September 04, 2008, 6:34 PM

EWING -- Police are hoping someone can help identify the man and woman who stole $100 worth of scrap metal from State Welding Co. on Industry Court on July 22.

At about 11:45 p.m. on that date, two thieves were caught on the company's surveillance system taking metal from a small gated area on the west side of the business. The cameras also recorded the perpetrators' pickup truck backing up the driveway to the front of the business, police said.

Inside the truck were a white male with a shaved head who wore jean shorts and no shirt. He also had visible tattoos on his arms and one that extended from his neck to his shoulder blades. His passenger was a white female with possibly blonde hair.

Anyone with information about the theft or the perpetrators is asked to contact Detective Patrick Holt at (609) 882-1313 ext. 5571, or pholt@ewingtwp.com, or the police's confidential tip line at (609) 882-7530.

Photo courtesy of Ewing PoliceSurveillance camera footage of a suspect wanted in connection with a theft from State Welding Co. on Industry Court in Ewing on July 22.