Timothy Gallagher, Special Agent in Charge of New Jersey's only FBI field office, was named to the position in March 2016. Gallagher, a New York native, earned a bachelor's degree in economics from St. Peter's University in Jersey City.

Timothy Gallagher, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Newark office, will be the guest speaker at the 200 Club of Hudson County's Valor Awards luncheon.FBI photo 

The head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Newark Division will be the keynote speaker at the annual 200 Club of Hudson County Valor Awards luncheon.

Timothy Gallagher, Special Agent in Charge of New Jersey's only FBI field office, was named to the position in March 2016. Gallagher, a New York native, earned a bachelor's degree in economics from St. Peter's University in Jersey City.

The luncheon, set for April 26 at the Liberty House in Jersey City, honors members of police and fire departments, EMTs and other first-responders who have performed with extraordinary valor during the prior year. To purchase tickets, contact club secretary Maureen Hulings at mhulings@connellfoley.com or call 201-240-1050 or 201-618-3200. 

Previous speakers include Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez and former U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman.

Lunch will be served at noon and the awards ceremony will begin at 1 p.m.

Before joining the FBI, Gallagher spent five years investigating fraud and corruption in technology transfer programs at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Department of Defense.

Gallagher, who most recently served as a deputy assistant director in the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division, began his career as a special agent in May 1996 in the Cleveland Division's Canton Resident Agency and investigated all criminal programs.

As a member of the Evidence Response Team, Gallagher responded to the crash site of United Flight 93 in Somerset, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 11, 2001.

Among his other assignments, Gallagher was a supervisory special agent in the Financial Crimes Section, where his focus was on identity theft and mortgage fraud; and he oversaw the White Collar Crime Squad, focused on fighting public corruption, mortgage fraud and civil rights violations.

The victims were bound with zip ties and beaten with a gun and rubber mallet.

WOODBURY -- A grand jury has indicted two men on charges of attempted murder and kidnapping in connection with a robbery in Westville.

Two men were bound and beaten during the incident and one was taken to his home in Camden County to retrieve cash, according to investigators.

Shawn Johnson, 46, of Sicklerville and Rumiejah K. Ukawabutu, 47, of Atlantic City, are accused of entering a business in the 600 block of Ryan Avenue in Westville on the evening of Jan. 3 with a third man and trying to rob the business owner, according to the criminal complaint.

Two of the men carried guns, according to the victim. The trio bound his wrists and legs with zip ties and beat him over the head with a long gun, the victim told police.

The second victim arrived a short time later, unaware of the crime in progress. He was also bound and beaten with a rubber mallet.

Murder trial ends in hung jury

The second victim told his captors that he had $10,000 cash at his Cherry Hill home, according to the report. His captors took him to his home in his vehicle. When they arrived, two of the men tried to enter the home, but retreated when they were confronted by a dog and other family members, police said.

His captors eventually abandoned their victim and his vehicle and he was able to seek help. He was hospitalized in critical condition following the assault.

He suffered a depressed skull fracture, fractured shoulder blade and a broken wrist. The first victim suffered a cut to the right side of his head and injuries to his wrists.

Investigators recovered a cellphone from one victim's car that was traced back to Ukawabutu. One of the victims also said he knew Johnson, who allegedly told him during his beating that "It's nothing personal."

Other charges against Johnson and Ukawabutu include conspiracy to commit murder and robbery. The complaint makes no reference to the identity of the third suspect.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

He was caught after police saw video footage of him using a stolen credit card at Walmart.

EAST GREENWICH TWP. -- Township police have made an arrest in a string of car burglaries that resulted in money, credit cards, a computer and other personal property being stolen from residents. 

Jahquan E. Meekins (provided) 

According to police, over the last few weeks, officers have responded to reports of thefts from unlocked vehicles. Many of the reports to police said that the vehicles were broken into during overnight hours without force. 

During the investigation, officers checked surveillance video from a local Walmart which is where a male suspect was seen using one of the stolen credit cards. Police identified him as 24-year-old Jahquan E. Meekins of Mount Holly. 

During the time of the burglaries Meekins was reported to have been staying with a friend in Paulsboro, police said.

Police reported that during his arrest, Meekins gave police an alias and police discovered he was wanted on several outstanding criminal warrants in Burlington and Camden counties.

Meekins was charged with burglary, theft of movable property, hindering apprehension and obstruction, as well as an additional warrant. He was taken to the Burlington County Correctional Facility.

Caitlyn Stulpin may be reached at cstulpin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitstulpin. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Officers extinguished much of the blaze with their fire extinguishers and a garden hose.

SPARTA -- Township police rescued two dogs from a house fire on Hillside Road Thursday by breaking the glass of a rear sliding glass door, police said.

Police and firefighters responded to the home at about 3:51 p.m. on a report of a structure fire with possible entrapment, Sgt. Dennis Proctor said in a news release.

As they arrived, patrol officers saw smoke and flames pouring out from below a second floor window, Proctor said.

Corporal Rick Smith gained access to the locked home by breaking the glass or a rear sliding glass door and began checking the home for occupants, he said.

Inside, police found only two dogs, which officers were able to safely remove from the home. 

Patrol officers quelled much of the blaze with their fire extinguishers and a garden hose in the rear of the home before the Sparta Fire Department took over and extinguished the remaining fire, Proctor said.

The fire was ruled not suspicious and was believed to have started from a cigarette thrown from the second story of the home, he said.

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

An emergency sewer repair is underway outside of Bridgewater Commons on April 14, 2017.

BRIDGEWATER - An emergency sewer repair is underway outside of Bridgewater Commons on Friday.

The mall is open while emergency and utility crews work on the south side of the building, township police said. A mall spokesperson was not available to confirm what the issue was, but firefighters were called to the mall just after 11:30 a.m. on a report of a strong smell of sewer gas.

More information will be reported as it becomes available.

Township police recovered counterfeit documents and arrested seven suspects - two who were wanted in Texas and California.

BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP -- Two separate groups suspected of theft and fraud offenses were arrested at township hotels recently, police said.

Township police recovered counterfeit documents, drugs and weapons and arrested seven people. Two of the arrested were wanted in Texas and California.

On Tuesday morning, police were called to a hotel by staffers who said a couple were abusive to employees and causing damage. An officer pulled the couple over in the parking lot as they were driving away, police Capt. Brian Pesce said.

The passenger, Tania Miles-Tinsley, 27 of Boston, had cocaine, drug paraphernalia and a stun gun, Pesce said. The driver, Yoel Joaquin-Peguero, 25 of Boston's Dorchester neighborhood, had a knife, Pesce said.

Officers then found $1,650 worth of stolen TJ Maxx clothing in the vehicle and numerous return receipts from TJ Maxx stores in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.

Pesce said the duo were stealing the items in one store and returning them in another, and asking for gift card refunds. Those gift cards are then typically sold for cash, he said.

Both were charged with receiving stolen property, and additional counts for the weapons and Miles-Tinsley for the cocaine, Pesce said.

Men in U.S. on visa waivers caught using ATM skimmers, cops say

The first arrests occurred April 4.

Officers investigating a narcotics compliant at another hotel in town found the man who rented a room, Daniel Smith, 34, of Brady, Texas, used a false name and had a fake Florida drivers license, police said.

He was arrested, and police then investigated the people he was with: Anthony Jones, 40, of Miami; Oscar Reeves, 34, of Sanmato, Fla.; and Rhonda Cooper, 51, of Houston.

Police searched their rental vehicle parked outside and found 23 counterfeit TD Bank and Bank oaf America checks, and five more fake Florida drivers licenses.

Pesce said the four are believed to be part of an interstate check fraud ring who target banks using fake IDs. Smith was wanted in Texas as a state parole violator and Cooper was a fugitive from California for a fraud charge.

The foursome faces several conspiracy, forgery and related charges locally, Pesce said.

Both hotels sought help from police, and police did not name them.

"The close relationship our department has developed with local hotel managers was instrumental in these arrests and we work hand-in-hand with all our hotels to help keep their facilities safe," Pesce said in a statement.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

The friend was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and weapons offenses

ATLANTIC CITY - A 19-year-old from South Jersey is in critical condition after being accidentally shot by his friend in an Atlantic City parking deck Thursday night, authorities said.

The friend, Joseph Crouch, 20, of Alton, Ill. was arrested after throwing the gun out of the car while he and a third person drove the victim to the hospital, Atlantic City police said Friday. 

The three were in a car on the top level of the parking garage of the Tropicana Casino & Resort at 11:20 p.m. when the firearm discharged, according to police.

Crouch is charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Tropicana security recovered the gun. 

The wounded teen lives in Hamilton Township, Atlantic County. His friends first took him to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center's Mainland Division in Galloway before he was transferred to AtlantiCare's facility in Atlantic City.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Jonathan "Jay Jay" Thompson Jr. of Salem was last seen by his family on March 20, authorities said.

SALEM -- The body found at a city marina Wednesday has been identified as 30-year-old Salem man who had been missing for more than three weeks, authorities said.

Jonathan "Jay Jay" Thompson Jr. had been missing since March 20, authorities said.(Salem City Police Department) 

Jonathan Thompson Jr., 30, of Salem, was last seen March 20, according to Salem City Chief of Police John A. Pelura III.

Pelura said an autopsy showed that Thompson had drowned and his death has been ruled an accident.

Thompson's body was found around 1 p.m. Wednesday in the boat docking area of Barber's Basin, a popular marina, on Tilbury Road.

Salem City police put out a notice March 29 asking for the public's help in finding Thompson.

At the time, authorities said Thompson had last been seen March 20 where he worked in Carneys Point Township.

While Thompson lived in Salem, Pelura said Thompson was also known to frequent Wilmington, Del.

Authorities did not offer any further details. 

The marina where Thompson was found is on the Salem River, a tidal waterway that empties into the nearby Delaware River.

Mussab Ali, a graduate of McNair Academic High School, is studying biology, economics and Middle East studies at Rutgers-Newark.

A Jersey City 20-year-old who ran for a spot on the school board last year has been named a Truman Scholar, the first time the prestigious $30,000 scholarship has been awarded to a student of Rutgers University's Newark campus.

Mussab Ali was one of 62 students chosen out of 768 candidates nationwide this year by the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, which awards the graduate study scholarships annually to students showing outstanding leadership potential and intellectual ability.

Ali, a graduate of McNair Academic High School who studies economics, biology, chemistry and Middle East/Islamic studies at Rutgers-Newark, now joins the ranks of former Truman Scholars that include mayors, U.S. senators, former governors and a U.S. Supreme Court justice.

In his second year of college, though technically a junior because of the AP credits he amassed in high school, Ali said he hopes to go to medical school and obtain a master's degree in health policy.

As part of the interview process, Ali said he mentioned the impact Jersey City and its diversity have had on him.

"I told them I think it's one of the greatest cities in the world," he told The Jersey Journal, adding that former Philadelphia Mayor Wilson Goode, who was on the interview panel, "got a laugh out of that."

Ali is the only New Jersey resident to be named a Truman Scholar this year.

Last year Ali garnered over 7,000 votes in his bid to become a Jersey City school board member, losing the race ultimately but earning kudos from his opponents for his take on issues facing the school district. The Jersey Journal endorsed his candidacy.

Rutgers-Newark Chancellor Nancy Cantor in a statement said Ali has "demonstrably put his mark on our university."

"From starting and directing a campus chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success, to serving on the executive board of the Muslim Student Association, he had been a positive community builder -- a leader of future leaders among our incredibly diverse student body, listening acutely, drawing out perspectives from others, and shaping those around him," Cantor said. "We couldn't be more proud of him."

The Truman Foundation first began awarding scholarships in 1977. Past scholarship winners include New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons and former Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano.

Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.

The auction opens for business on Saturday in Williamstown.

MONROE TWP. -- Every day on his way to work, Joe Bottino used to drive past the Gloucester County 4-H Nature Preserve in Williamstown and think about the possibilities.

This weekend, the idea he dreamed about on those trips is finally coming to fruition.

All American Auctions is a company founded by Bottino, a Sicklerville resident, with help from his wife Jennifer and their children, Joe and Jillian. Affiliated with the Gloucester County 4-H Association, the auction house is located in a former barn on the Nature Preserve that now serves as an educational building.

They will host auctions there on the third Saturday of every month, with a significant portion of the proceeds going to the Nature Preserve for the upkeep of the property and to update its amenities. 

All American Auctions will hold its first auction Saturday, April 15, in Williamstown. (Submitted photo)
 

"We have put a lot of work into it, the whole family," Bottino said. "It has been a family affair along with the 4-H and a slew of extended family and close friends. It was about three months in the making to get things moving and get all the moving parts jelling together."

Bottino noticed the barn on his commute and thought an auction would be a good way to generate funds for the Nature Preserve. He made some phone calls and eventually proposed his idea to the 4-H executive board, which loved it.

"It's an actual auction with an auctioneer and everything," Bottino said. "People bring their items for consignment and the auctioneer auctions them off.

"Not everybody is suited to put a yard sale out in front of their house or go to something like the Berlin (Farmer's Market). This way it is sold for them, they get a nice portion of the money and the 4-H makes out as well."

The funds raised will help improve the property and allow the 4-H to focus on the various events and activities it puts on throughout the year, according to MaryAnn Metz, the association's program assistant for livestock and small animals.

"We are mainly a youth development program and we provide experiences for people to have hands-on, educational learning and to develop tools to carry them through their adult years," Metz said. "There are lots of things the association has been working on and new ideas to have people get some appreciation for the area there in the Pinelands and the nature that is there."

People who don't want to sell items can also donate them and receive a tax-deductible receipt, and pick-up service can be arranged.

Saturday's opening day will feature a preview starting at noon so prospective buyers can inspect the items up for bid. The auction, under the direction of auctioneer Daniel Cogdill Jr., begins at 4 p.m. at 3950 S. Black Horse Pike in Williamstown.

"We have appliances, paintings, all kinds of house goods, a ton of furniture, a lot of tools and Christmas decorations," Bottino said. "It's really a huge array of items." 

"You never know -- there might be that diamond in there that someone has been looking for, some kind of collectible," Metz added. "Auctions are a fantastic way for people who have a limited income to find something they need, or for a first-time homeowner or renter who needs a piece of furniture or an appliance. It's a fantastic opportunity to get something reasonable."

Metz also pointed out that the auction can be a good chance to make new friends or develop business relationships. And of course, it allows visitors to see the property and learn more about the 4-H.

"The property is beautiful," she said. "The preserve itself backs up to 8,000 acres of the Winslow Wildlife Management Area, which is all white sand trails and is just gorgeous. It's a really neat place."

"Since the camp begins right after the school year ends, we can extend each student's 'learning mindset' within a positive, enriching, and caring setting."

BAYONNE -- The Bayonne Economic Opportunity Foundation (BEOF) is inviting local students to participate in this year's "Say Yes to Literacy" summer camp beginning in June.

The camp will be partially funded through a $2,500 grant from the Investors Foundation, the charitable arm a community-oriented group affiliated with Investors Bank that assists organizations that invigorate their local communities with civic-minded initiatives focused on arts, education, health and youth programs.

"We are grateful to Investors Bank and the Foundation for providing a generous grant that will partially cover our costs to run the literacy program," said BEOF's executive director Samantha Howard. "Since the camp begins right after the school year ends, we can extend each student's 'learning mindset' within a positive, enriching, and caring setting."

The summer camp will run from June 26 to July 14, and is open to children ages 5 to 12. 

Guided by certified teachers, the summer camp program blends fun activities, outdoor play and field trips with education. It also focuses on connecting children with all that is around them through an environmental themed curriculum. There is also a scheduled trip to the Liberty Science Center. 

One of last year's projects involved visiting local businesses to find out how companies recycle various materials.

Students will create books that recount what they learned and discovered during the camp. The plan is for the older students to write the content and the younger children draw illustrations or select photos for the book.

The BEOF will hold the camp in one of its three buildings in Bayonne, where it also hosts the Head Start program.

More details about how to register for the camp are available at BEOF website or by calling 201-437-7222.

Mounds of possibly toxic debris were found on the grounds of a county-owned training center in Mahwah.

MAHWAH - Spent ammunition found at a county-owned firing range for police and public safety officers has raised concerns about lead contaminants leeching into the Ramapo River and the township's drinking water.

"Waste generated by the bullet fragments at the range require specific procedures for handling and cleanup," said Councilman Rob Hermansen, adding the debris had been there for about a year.

An unnamed person recently discovered old bullet fragments and shell casings at the Bergen County Law and Public Safety Training Center on Campgaw Road. They brought their findings to the Township Council and an environmental group, which held a joint press conference on Friday outside the municipal building on Corporate Drive.

"There needs to be a full investigation into the dumping, including identifying toxins such as lead that are present as well as possible other locations of dumping," Hermansen said.

Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, said some of the old ammo has oxidized, meaning the debris has broken down in the soil.

"We know there is contamination at the site," Tittel said. "We don't know the level of contamination or how widespread it is, but testing is being done."

Woman hurt in gas explosion

Tittel and Hermansen said the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is testing the soil and debris for lead, metals and contaminants.

The debris is in an area rich with wetlands and streams that drain into the Ramapo River, which is a water supply source. More than 80 percent of Mahwah's drinking water is drawn from wells linking to the Ramapo River, officials said.

"There have been tons of mounds of contaminated piles dumped under tarps and other areas," Tittel said. "If there are indeed toxins such as lead in the waste, they will be washed away in the rain. This will lead to contaminated groundwater and drinking water."

Lead in drinking water has long been known to cause serious health problems in humans.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports children, infants and fetuses are most vulnerable to lead, even at low exposure. Lead exposure is linked to damage to central and peripheral nervous system, leading to learning disabilities and impaired hearing and formation, according to the EPA.

According to its website, the Bergen County Law and Public Safety Institute trains police, fire and emergency medical services workers. The site on Campgaw Road contains a 32-position outdoor firing range, along with training areas a smoke tower. Private corporations, public and non-profit organizations use the facility.

Bergen County officials could not be reached for comment on Friday. A message left in the administrative office of the law and public safety center was not returned on Friday.

Hermansen declined to speculate who dumped the old ammo, saying only, "We're not going to point fingers."

"This should never have happened," Tittel said. "And we need to make sure it doesn't happen again."

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

If the toy is ingested, it can expand inside a child's body.

Target is recalling about 560,000 water absorbing toys which, if ingested, could cause serious internal damage.

The recall involves Hatch & Grow Easter Eggs, Easter Grow Toys and Hatch your Own Dino. The toys come with the following model numbers: 234-25-1200 and 234-09-0016.

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission 

If the toy is ingested, it can expand inside a child's body and cause intestinal obstructions, resulting in severe discomfort, vomiting and dehydration -- and can be life-threatening.

The company said surgery is necessary to remove a toy once ingested. There is a chance the toys may not show up on an x-ray.

No injuries have been reported to date.

Rajeev Dhir may be reached at rdhir@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @googasmammoo. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Chelsea Reel walked away from her group home in Clementon Wednesday.

CLEMENTON -- Police are looking for a 15-year-old girl who walked away from a group home Wednesday.

Chelsea Reel, 15, has been been missing since Wednesday.Bill Duhart | For NJ.com 

Chelsea Reel could be in the Toms River or Mays Landing area, authorities said. Police said the teen may have friends in the area.

She is described as a white female, 5-foot-2, blond hair, blue eyes; last seen wearing a gray hooded-zipper sweatshirt, white tank top, blue jeans, white Adidas sneakers, and a silver hoop nose ring.

Anyone who may have seen Chelsea is asked to call Clementon police at 856-783-4900.

The suspect, from Camden, is believed to have supplied the heroin that killed a Burlington man.

BURLINGTON TWP. -- An alleged drug dealer has been arrested and charged in the overdose death of one of his suspected heroin customers, police say.

Around 4 a.m. Wednesday Burlington Township Police were called to a medical emergency in an apartment in Building 7 of the Sunset Heights complex on 1130 Sunset Rd., Burlington.

The found a 35-year-old man unconscious. He was later pronounced dead from a heroin overdose, authorities said.

Members of the Burlington Township Police Department Investigations Bureau initiated an aggressive investigation into the man's death and which led them to Jose M. Laporte Jr., 24, of Camden. Police say that Laporte is the dealer who sold the heroin that caused the victim's death.

Laporte was arrested Friday at 12:17 p.m. in the parking of 1107 Sunset Rd. in Burlington, according to authorities.

Driver who hit cop had used heroin: Police

Laporte was charged with strict liability drug-induced death, possession of heroin with intent to distribute and possession of heroin, police said.

Laporte is being held in the Burlington County Jail awaiting an initial hearing.

Burlington Township Police were aided by detectives from the Willingboro Police Department in their investigation.

In announcing the arrest, the department officials said they will aggressively search out those peddling drugs to the vulnerable.

"We are committed to identifying any person who seeks to profit by preying on the addictions of others, and we will exhaust all investigative efforts to ensure they are held accountable under law."

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

All 12 New Jersey House members took in more money than their opponents last year.

Similar incidents have taken place in Wildwood Crest over the past two days, authorities say.

WILDWOOD CREST -- Police are looking for a man they say has approached local children in this Jersey Shore town and acted in a suspicious way.

Wildwood Crest Police say similar incidents took place twice this week.

On Thursday, police say the man pulled his vehicle up to two girls walking home from school and asked them "Why didn't you say 'hi'"? The vehicle then pulled off. After the encounter, the girls went home and reported the incident.

On Friday a boy was playing basketball in front of his home when a man pulled up and asked "Is your father home?" Police say the boy went into his house, but when the boy's father came outside the man was gone.

All of the children involved are middle school-age, police reported, and they believe the incidents may be related.

In both incidents, police say the children described the vehicle as a tan or gold-colored SUV in good condition. The boy said it was possibly a Chevrolet Equinox.

The lone driver was described as a white male. The girls said he appeared to be in his 50s, had gray and black hair and was gray baseball cap. The boy said the man appeared to be about 60 with gray hair.

While they are not considering this to be a criminal case, police want to identify the driver of the vehicle. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Wildwood Crest Police at 609-522-2456.

They also want anyone who experiences a similar incident to immediately call police. They also say parents should use extra care in making sure they supervise their children.

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A youth football coach with a criminal conviction says he was discriminated against when he was removed from his position, according to a report.

DUMONT -- A youth football coach with a prior criminal conviction is suing the borough claiming he was removed from his volunteer coaching position because of his race and local politics, according to a report.

Christopher Snell, 43, who is black, says his civil rights were violated and he was discriminated against when he was barred from coaching the Dumont Mighty Mites, according to NorthJersey.com, which first reported the lawsuit. 

Snell says he was barred from the position after he declared his candidacy for Borough Council; he ran in 2014 and 2015, the report says. 

Snell told NorthJersey.com he pleaded guilty to drug charges when he was 18 years old in New York, which is considered a felony in that state.

In New Jersey, state law makes certain convictions a reason for disqualification from volunteer positions, according to the report.

But Snell claims in the suit he was removed from his coaching position weeks before the 2014 election due to a background check even though he was fingerprinted three years earlier, the report said.  

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook. 

All ongoing construction and repair projects have been suspended to accommodate holiday traffic.

Scheduled construction and repair work on all Port Authority bridges and tunnels has been suspended to accommodate holiday traffic, according to a release. 

Lane closures are set for next week, however, at the Bayonne Bridge, Goethals Bridge and Holland Tunnel.

The closings are as follows:

- The Bayonne Bridge will be closed from Tuesday, April 18, to Thursday, April 20, from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.

The bridge will remain open Monday night, April 17, into Tuesday morning to accommodate the scheduled closing of the eastbound Goethals Bridge Monday overnight for pavement repair work.

- The Goethals Bridge will close its eastbound lanes staring Monday, April 17, at 10 p.m. for road repairs. It will reopen on Tuesday, April 18, at 5 a.m.

The westbound lanes will remain open throughout this period. The Bayonne Bridge and Outerbridge Crossing will also be open during this period.

- The Holland Tunnel will have one westbound lane and one eastbound lane closed during overnight hours from Monday April 17, through Thursday, April 20.

The eastbound lane will be closed from 11 p.m. each night until 5 a.m., while the westbound lane will be closed from 11:59 p.m. through 5:30 a.m.

These closures are necessary for ongoing tunnel repairs, the Port Authority said in a release.

Amin Roland, of Orange, and Jacquill D. Swain, of Newark, were arrested Thursday night on weapons and drug possession charges, police said.

NEWARK -- City police arrested two 21-year-old men after they were found with several vials of crack cocaine, a stolen handgun and marijuana. 

Amin Roland, of Orange, and Jacquill D. Swain, of Newark, were arrested Thursday night on weapons and drug possession charges, Newark Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose said.

Amin Roland, of Orange, (left) and Jacquill D. Swain, of Newark, (right) were arrested Thursday night on weapons and drug possession charges, police said. (Courtesy of Newark Police) 

The two were driving a white 2012 Honda Accord on South 16th Street near South Orange Avenue when they were pulled over by police around 9 p.m., Amborse said. Police found a .40 caliber handgun stolen from Virginia inside the car and could smell marijuana emanating from the vehicle, Ambrose said. 

It wasn't immediately clear who was representing Roland and Swain. 

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.