The Lakewood community responded as best it could Tuesday,gathering money to fund a $50,000 reward for information leading directly to the arrest and conviction of the assailant. The reward was announced in a news release by the Lakewood Vaad, and funded by David Lichtenstein of the Lightstone Group and Somerset Development.
This is NOT the actual suspects vehicle. It’s just a similar car that was reported to have been used. It was just reported on Lakewood Raido’s station [WOBM] “We (LPD) have several leads on the case and are optimistic that an arrest will be made”. —————————————– The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office released a description of the abductor and the vehicle he used. The assailant is a white man in his mid-20s to early 30s, approx 5-foot-7 with a thin or medium build, and closely cropped, brown hair. The assailant was driving a green Jeep Cherokee with gray trim and alloy wheels. The vehicle’s model year was between 1996 and 1998, Gasser said. It had New York or New Jersey license plates. ————————————————————– Click HERE to view live coverage taken last evening (WB11) from the scene of this sick crime. Towards the end a man identifies himself as the victims brother-in-law, and addresses the Lakewood Police Department, and the ownership of the parking lot. ————————————————————- 4:30 pm Mayor Meir Lichtenstein has just released a statement stating that a large reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect in Sunday night’s abduction. ———————————————————— 4:35 pm Reb Mattisyahu Soloman Shlita & Reb Malkiel Kotler Shlita are now both at the Lakewood Municipial building. It’s unknown why. ———————————————————— The New York Times has an article about this tragic story. CLICK HERE to read it. KINDLY REMEMBER THAT THIS IS NOT A JOKING TOPIC. PLEASE THINK BEFORE YOU POST A COMMENT.
UPDATED: A 19 year old (Frum) Lakewood girl was abducted last evening at approx 8:00 pm. She was leaving “Trim Gym” on Rt 9 (next to Shop Right), when she was abducted from her vehicle. She was then forced into a car, bound, gagged and taken away. She was dropped off back at her car at 5:00 am. [WCBSTV has video coverage] ———————————————— The NYPD is assisting The Lakewood PD in ascertaining if the abducter is the same person who is sought in the recent abduction attempts in Boro Park. They are looking for a white man, 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-8 with a shaved head. ———————————————— The Press conference is taking place right now in Lakewood. Details will be posted soon. ———————————————— The press conference has just ended. There was NO information given to the press. The only thing that they DID do – was take back a description of a car the was earlier released. ———————————————– To all those concerned: The helicopter flying above Lakewood now [5:15 pm] is NOT a police chopper.
The man suspected of attempting to lure two teenage girls in Lakewood into his vehicle this morning, was arrested and charged by authorities, TLS reports. In an exclusive video message, Police Chief Rob Lawson tells TLS that the suspect attempted to lure two girls at two different locations, but the girls ran off. One incident occurred on 14th Street, and the other on Kimberly Drive. One of the girls was 14 and the other 15 years old. A short time later, Officer Rob Meyer spotted the suspect’s vehicle, and conducted a traffic stop. Nicholas Ravaioli, 29, of Jackson Township, was arrested and brought to Police Headquarters. At Lakewood headquarters, Det. Lindsay Woodfield of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and Det. Steven Wexler of the Lakewood Police Department arrested Nicholas Ravaioli after interviewing the victims and charged him with Luring and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office confirms. Ocean County Superior Court Judge Wendel Daniels set bail at $300,000.00 no 10% and Ravaioli was lodged in Ocean County Jail. Nicole’s Law was implemented assuring Ravaioli has no contact with the victims. There is the potential for additional victims in this case. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and the Lakewood Police Department are encouraging any other victims to contact either the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Special Victims Unit at 732-929-2027 or the Lakewood Police Department at 732-363-0200. (Source: TLS)
According to the Asbury Park Press, a judge has denied a request to have a Lakewood man evaluated for his competency to stand trial in the abduction & assault of a Lakewood woman (as reported HERE on YW), citing a psychologist’s report that he faked psychological problems. State Superior Court Judge James N. Citta last week denied a request by attorneys for Brandon Fritz to have him evaluated for his competency to stand trial. Citta denied the request after First Assistant Prosecutor Ronald F. DeLigny argued that a psychologist who examined Fritz reported there was “a 100 percent chance he was feigning psychological problems.” Attorneys for Fritz had sought the evaluation after he was sent in the spring to a psychiatric hospital in Trenton, after exhibiting some behavior at the Ocean County Jail. He has since been returned to the jail. (Source: APP)
Click HERE to view a video of the press conference.? Lakewood resident Brandon J. Fritz has been arrested in connection with the abduction and sexual assault of an Orthodox Jewish woman in Lakewood,
Lakewood Police and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office are looking for a white male in his mid-20s to early-30s, thin build, with short brown hair, short goatee and a scar on his forehead below hairline.
APP: Authorities say a man they suspect of abducting and sexually assaulting a Lakewood woman May 7 has a one-inch scar running down from his hairline.
What took four days? APP: Investigators have now reached out to the FBI to help find a man who abducted a young woman from a parking lot Sunday night, sexually assaulted her and then returned her to the lot seven hours later.Mayor Meir Lichtenstein confirmed the township has reached out to the FBI for help in the investigation. Lichtenstein said the decision was made between the Lakewood Police Department and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.”We are going to be tapping into their resources,” Lichtenstein said…………
FRANCE – After several months of suffering in a secular institution, three innocent frum children are at risk of being joined by another three siblings. The drama began this winter when the French police swooped down on the home where a family from Eretz Yisrael was staying in Armentieres, France, and forcibly snatched three helpless children from their mother’s embrace. Following their father’s placement in an institution due to emotional imbalances, the local authorities falsely deemed the mother neglectful and incapable of caring for her children. Maimon, 7, Esther, 5, and Shlomo, 3, were placed in a secular institution, alongside Arabs and other children, where they are being physically and emotionally abused. The authorities confiscated the yarmulkes of Maimon and his freshly-shorn brother, and had their peyos cut. When the oldest protested that the food they were served was non-kosher, he was placed on drugs to reduce his mental awareness and force him to give in. This Thursday – July 4 a court hearing will be held in France to determine the fate of the 3 captive children, if they will IY”H return to live in a Jewish home, or C’V they must remain by Goyim – totally assimilated from Yidishkeit until they are 18 years old Rc”l. A massive Atzeret will be held in Beth Medrash Guovoha – Lakewood, today at 10:30 to Daven and say Tehilim and beg Hashem for mercy on the Jewish children in France, to bring them back to a Jewish home. Askanim involved in the case say that the only way to save these innocent children from definite shmad and return them to their family, is by way of a lengthy and costly legal process. The latest is that the authorities are now threatening to take away the remaining three children. Please daven for the mother, Rivka bas Gila, and her children – Maimon, Esther, Shlomo, Rochel Brocha, and Avrohom. To help the family and Askanim or to donate Click Here or call 646-718-9907
A suspect was arrested in Toms River in the wee hours of Friday morning following a police chase resulting from the attempted abduction of a Jewish teenager several hours prior, Lakewood Alerts reported. The harrowing incident began at around 7:30 PM Thursday evening, when Lakewood Police and Shomrim were called to Forest Park Circle off Pine Street in Lakewood for reports of an attempted kidnapping. The caller and witnesses reported that a black or Hispanic man had approached a teenage Jewish girl and attempted to force her into a white SUV. The victim managed to escape, forcing the suspect to flee. Shortly thereafter, a second similar incident was reported in an unspecified nearby town, Lakewood Police said. At around 1 AM, a Jewish woman sitting in her vehicle in the Walden Woods neighborhood of Toms River was approached by the suspect. The woman honked her horn to scare the man off and alerted her husband and police. A chase ensued, resulting in the suspect crashing his vehicle at the intersection of Route 70 and Whitseville Road. The suspect was swiftly taken into custody. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office is expected to provide additional information later Friday. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The search for missing Lakewood Yeshiva talmid 23-year-old Aaron Sofer continues in Yerushalayim, now in its fifth day. Aaron disappeared during an erev Shabbos afternoon hike in the Jerusalem Forest. The search on Wednesday 2 Rosh Chodesh Elul has been focusing on the Technological Park area near Ein Kerem near the agricultural school and the Pi Glilot area in Givat Shaul. Zaka Operations Chief Chaim Weingarten told Kikar Shabbos that Zaka has been searching for Aaron since Friday, making today day six. He explains that while many view Aaron as being far from a professional hiker, they are expanding the search for they do not wish to leave any stone unturned on the small chance he covered more distance than believed. He explains that one possibility is that Aaron was the victim of a hit and run in the forest for there is a road running through it. He explains there are many paths and wells, demanding a painstaking search of a large area. Weingarten adds that Israel Police and the ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) are seeking to determine if Aaron was abducted. He was not carrying a cell phone and at present, there are no leads being reported. “If he was abducted we would expect to find eyeglasses or an article of clothing but this is not the case” adds Weingarten. Police officials state that at present, there is no evidence pointing to a terrorist abduction. Anyone with information is asked to phone 100 or 02-539-1520. The family has posted a 100,000 NIS reward for information leading to Aaron’s whereabouts. The tzibur is asked to continue davening for the safe return of Aaron ben Chulda. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
On April 8th at approx 7:30PM, Officers from the the Lakewood Police Department were dispatched to the area of 5th Street and Princeton Avenue after receiving a report of an attempted abduction of a 16 yr old girl. Initially, arriving Officers were unable to located the caller and/or victim. As they searched the area, dispatch received a second call regarding a man who was attempting to lure or follow a mother and daughter, ages 54 and 16, in the area of Princeton Avenue and 9th Street. While other Officers responded to that location, information was received that members of LCSW (Lakewood Community Safety Watch) were following a black 2001 BMW SUV, that was believed to be operated by the suspect. Officers also located the vehicle in the area of Clifton Avenue and 9th Street. While conducting a motor vehicle stop, the operator of the vehicle, 18 yr old Rafael Laurano-Flores of Lakewood, became violent towards the Officers. He was placed under arrest and transported to headquarters. Detectives from the Lakewood Police Department Street Crimes Unit were able to locate the victims in this case. Further investigation revealed that Laurano-Flores’ intention was to touch and knock down a woman from the Orthodox Jewish community as part of a gang initiation. He was ultimately charged with Obstruction, Resisting Arrest, Three counts of Biased Intimidation and Three counts of Biased Harassment. Bail was set in the amount of $18,000 without a 10% option by Judge Basen. He is awaiting transportation to Ocean County Jail at this time. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management today supplied Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) in four municipalities with specialized Disaster Response Utility Trailers. The trailers will enhance the communities’ emergency response capabilities during times of crisis. The New Jersey State Police Missing Persons Unit is also receiving a specially-equipped trailer to support child abduction and missing person searches and investigations. The new initiative pairs the expertise of the professional missing persons investigators with CERT manpower to support search efforts with trained and equipped volunteers. “New Jersey is proud to be home to one of the nation’s largest CERT programs — 23,000 volunteers organized into 250 teams,” said Colonel Rick Fuentes, State Police Superintendent and Director of the NJ Office of Emergency Management. “The program is robust because of citizen engagement and neighbor helping neighbor, a New Jersey tradition. We will continue to support our volunteers’ efforts by equipping them with resources, such as the Response Utility Trailers. Four communities are receiving equipment today, but it is also a time to thank and recognize all CERT volunteers who serve others selflessly during adverse conditions.” The following communities received Disaster Response Utility Trailers: · West Orange Township – Essex County · Lakewood Township – Ocean County · Aberdeen Township/Matawan Borough (joint team) – Monmouth County · Little Ferry Borough – Bergen County The Disaster Response Utility Trailers are worth $7,650.00 each. Each trailer is equipped with a generator, basic medical supplies, lighting equipment, tools, tents and evacuation support equipment. The trailers are funded by the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Today’s deployment brings the total number of CERT Utility Trailers allocated by the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management to 112. The New Jersey Citizen Corps is a volunteer program directed by NJOEM. It includes the Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), Neighborhood Watch, Volunteers in Police Service and Fire Corps. New Jersey Citizen Corps and New Jersey CERT are one of the largest programs of their kind in the nation. Citizen Corps volunteers are ordinary citizens who supplement and support their area’s first responders. The volunteers undergo basic emergency management training including fire suppression, first aid and triage, search and rescue and disaster psychology. New Jersey CERT volunteers have taken a leadership role in helping their neighbors; staffing emergency operations centers and evacuee shelters; directing the activities of other volunteers; and searching for missing children. New Jersey CERT and Medical Reserve Corps volunteers worked nearly 10,000 hours in response to Superstorm Sandy. Citizen Corps volunteers must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license. Anyone can participate, regardless of their level of physical ability. Those interested should call (609) 963-6995 and speak with Howard Butt, the New Jersey Citizen Corps Coordinator. CERT information can also be found at www.ready.nj.gov. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
An Ocean County grand jury has handed up a nine-count indictment charging a 21-year-old Lakewood sprinkler installer with the kidnapping and abduction of a 20-year-old Lakewood woman, abducted in May after leaving a Lakewood gym.
APP: A year ago this month, it was a respected rabbi arrested and charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, a charge later dropped in a plea bargain.
Responding to the recent child abduction attempts in Lakewood, Yated Ne’eman in conjunction with the Barry and Harriet Ray Child Safety Awareness Campaign of the Center for Jewish Family Life is sponsoring a coloring contest for kids. The coloring pictures, will be printed in the center of the magazine section and will contain five critical safety messages to empower the children to keep themselves safe. The coloring pictures were adapted by illustrator, Mrs. Tova Leff, from the Center for Jewish Family Life’s/Project YES’ best-selling children’s safety book, “Let’s Stay Safe!” (an ArtScroll/Mesorah publication). All children ages 3 – 8 who color all 5 safety pictures will receive a certificate for a free safety teddy bear. (Official rules appear on page 4 of the Yated Ne’eman’s magazine each week.) The first coloring picture, teaching children how to respond to stranger-danger, appeared in the Shabbos Nachamu issue of the Yated Ne’eman. If you missed it, it’s posted below or download it here for your children to color, or send us an email at [email protected] and we will email it to you. JUST FOR PARENTS: Rabbi Yakov Horowitz has also created a special 4 ½ minute safety video to teach parents how to discuss stranger-danger with your children in an easy and comfortable manner. Hey Kids! You all want to be safe, But you’ve got to know how, Join our summer safety contest – You can start coloring right now! Every week for five weeks, The Yated Ne’eman will bring to you, A safety message to learn, Be sure to color it in too! When you’ve learned the safety rules, And your coloring is all done, You can win a “Let’s Stay Safe!” Teddy And be so safe, while you have fun!
The man wanted in the fatal shooting of four police officers was shot and killed Tuesday in south Seattle, Washington, after he challenged police who approached him, authorities said. The Seattle police department confirmed to the Pierce County sheriff’s office that Maurice Clemmons was killed in the shooting, sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said. Troyer could not immediately say whether Clemmons was armed or whether he exchanged gunfire with police in the 2 a.m. confrontation. Troyer was headed to the scene and said authorities will have more information in a news conference set for later in the morning. “The Seattle police department is the agency that shot and killed him after the incident occurred,” he said. “We had supplied information to them earlier on multiple occasions where the suspect could possibly be at, along with a bunch of other police agencies that were running multiple operations. And at this point we do have the suspect. He’s no longer out there.” Monday night, investigators had rounded up several of Clemmons’ relatives and friends to keep them from helping him elude police. Some of Clemmons’ family and friends had tried to help him seek treatment for a gunshot wound that he suffered during the Sunday attack. They also called in false leads to police to divert investigators, Troyer said. The incident ended a two-day manhunt for Clemmons, 37, that began Sunday after an ambush-style killing of four police officers from Lakewood, about 40 miles south of Seattle. The slain officers were identified as Sgt. Mark Renninger, 39; Officer Ronald Owens, 37; Officer Tina Griswold, 40; and Officer Greg Richards, 42. All of them were parents and had been with the department since its inception. Clemmons was an ex-convict with a long rap sheet in Washington and Arkansas, according to authorities and documents. Witnesses say Clemmons was shot in the torso during the Sunday morning attack, and blood and gauze bandages were found in a truck linked to Clemmons, Troyer said. Clemmons is thought to have slipped away from a home in Seattle’s Leschi neighborhood Sunday night, before police surrounded the residence for about 12 hours. He was not found in the home when the investigators moved in Monday morning, Seattle police spokesman Jeff Kappel said. The night before the shootings, Clemmons had threatened to kill police officers, but witnesses did not report those threats until after the slayings, Troyer said on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Clemmons was accused of child “abduction” and assaulting a police officer in May. He had been released on $150,000 bond five days before the shootings, according to court records. After his arrest, Clemmons’ sister told police that he “had not been himself lately” and that his behavior was “unpredictable and erratic.” “He had said that the Secret Service was coming to get him because he had written a letter to the president,” an affidavit quoted her as telling investigators. In addition, neighbors had complained that he had been throwing rocks through their windows. In 2000, then-Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee commuted a 95-year prison sentence for Clemmons, according to documents from the Arkansas Department of Community Correction. He returned to prison in 2001 but was paroled in 2004. “Should he be found responsible for this horrible tragedy, it will be the result of a series of failures in the
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