Monday, June 10, 2013
Vonshea Johnson was driving south when she allegedly crossed the road and collided with a Dodge pickup truck.
A 19-year-old woman from Elizabeth has been identified as the woman killed in a crash on Hillcrest Road in Watchung on Friday afternoon. Vonshea Johnson died from injuries sustained in the crash after she allegedly crossed the double yellow line around 2:30 p.m. and collided with a Dodge pickup truck driven by 44-year-old Luis Arnez-Lopez of Montclair. Johnson was driving a 1995 Nissan at the time and was pulled from her smashed car by emergency rescuers. Watchung police said Johnson died at Overlook Hospital, where she was transported after the crash. Arnez-Lopez and his 49-year-old passenger, Rubin Zuniga, of Orange, were not injured in the crash. Both vehicles were towed from the scene. Hillcrest Road was closed for about three hours …
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
After another vehicle stolen, police message reminds residents to take precautions.
After a pair of motor vehicle thefts in Watchung in the last week, police in the town issued a message urging residents to be mindful to lock their vehicles at night. The message follows the theft of a 2011 Chrysler 300, reported stolen from a Joan Drive residence sometime between 6:30 p.m. Sept. 14 and 9 a.m. Sept. 15. The vehicle is valued at $40,600. That followed the theft of a 2011 Dodge Charger stolen Sept. 5, and a 2007 BMW 328 stolen from a residence in Warren. The earlier incidents both involved unlocked vehicles—which is why the message stressed the importance of locking vehicles and not leaving the key fobs where they can be easily taken. Police note residents can also help by being vigilant and reporting any susicious behavior …
Monday, August 20, 2012
15 firearms and pellet rifle allegedly found in Watchung man's Johnston Drive residence.
- POLICE & FIRE
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Monday, August 20, 2012
A Watchung man said he had "homicidal" thoughts and threatened "suicide by cop," prompting a standoff with authorities that lasted more than five hours and evacuated nearby homes Sunday, the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office said. Gregory Zarhardt, 65, of Johnston Drive, was charged with third-degree making terroristic threats after surrendering to authorities Sunday night shortly after 8 p.m. Following the arrest, authorities discovered 15 firearms and a pellet rifle inside the residence, Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey Soriano said. According to Soriano, the Watchung Police Department received a call at about 2:30 p.m., from a man authorities described as "extremely distraught" who was contemplating suicide and having "homicidal …
Sunday, August 19, 2012
SWAT team, other law enforcement agencies shut down area near Johnston Drive Sunday evening.
- POLICE & FIRE
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Sunday, August 19, 2012
Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Somerset County SWAT team, locked down a Watchung neighborhood for several hours Sunday evening. UPDATE: Man's "suicide by cop" threat prompted five-hour standoff, the prosecutor's office said Monday. Access to Johnston Drive was blocked at Watchung Avenue, just a few blocks from Route 22, was blocked during the incident. Authorities left the scene and re-opened the area shortly before 8 p.m. Officers on the scene declined to comment on the activity. A spokesman for the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office could not immediately provide information on the situation. Patch will continue to update this story.
40.63035
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Johnston Dr & Watchung Ave, Watchung, NJ
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KarenP
12:09 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Interesting- I live one block over from here and never got evacuated! We saw a lot of cop and ambulance activity, but that was it. more ›