Trenton police call Hamilton man's death a homicide

by Ryan Tracy/The Times

Tuesday December 02, 2008, 9:00 PM

TRENTON -- Monday night's fatal shooting on South Clinton Avenue has been ruled a homicide, city police announced Tuesday. (See earlier story)

Trenton police identified Joseph Costanzo, 38, of Hamilton, as the man pronounced dead due to an apparent gunshot wound to the face, and called the incident a homicide.

However, few other details of the slaying were released Tuesday.

The killed occurred Monday evening at approximately 8:48 inside a residence in the 1400 block of South Clinton Avenue, police reported.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Helicopter, dogs aid East Windsor police in hunt for teenage suspects

by Michael Ratcliffe/The Times

Tuesday December 02, 2008, 7:23 PM

EAST WINDSOR -- A State Police helicopter and police dogs were used to help locate a pair of Hightstown teenagers after they allegedly ditched a stolen minivan Tuesday morning.

Police said the two -- a 17-year-old Morrison Avenue resident and a 16-year-old from Herron Avenue -- were charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and hindering apprehension. Their names were withheld because they are juveniles.

It was shortly before 8 a.m. when township police were notified that an off-duty North Brunswick police lieutenant was on Windsor-Perrineville Road following a vehicle that had been reported stolen from East Windsor on Nov. 25.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Police seeking tips after pedestrian shot in thigh

by Michael Ratcliffe/The Times

Tuesday December 02, 2008, 7:19 PM

TRENTON -- A city man was shot in the thigh Monday night as he walked in the West Ward, police announced Tuesday.

Police said they learned of the shooting after the victim went to St. Francis Medical Center for treatment of the wound, which was not life-threatening.

The 24-year-old man, whose name was not released, told officers he was shot in the right thigh about 9:30 p.m. while he was walking along Hoffman Avenue, police said.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Police blotter for Tuesday, 12/02/2008

by Michael Ratcliffe/The Times

Tuesday December 02, 2008, 5:11 PM

Available for download below, in PDF format, are copies of news releases issued to the media by area police departments between Saturday, Nov. 22, and Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008. The releases provide details about various crimes that occurred recently within the respective municipalities.

It should be noted that not all area police departments issue written news releases. Some departments prefer to release details about newsworthy events directly to reporters over the telephone. Of those departments that do issue written releases, some do so only once or twice a week.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Guilty plea in killing after argument about TV remote control

by Linda Stein/The Times

Tuesday December 02, 2008, 1:49 PM

"I'm sorry," Donald Zampini said to a victim's family as sheriff's officers led him in shackles from the courtroom after he pleaded guilty Tuesday to aggravated manslaughter in the killing of an East Windsor woman.

A jury had been selected and opening arguments were slated for the morning when, after a delay of several hours, lawyers said there would be a guilty plea hearing instead of a trial.
Zampini, 73, told Superior Court Judge Charles A. Delehey that he had argued with the victim, Barbara Morris, 63, over possession of a television remote control shortly before he stabbed her 28 times on Aug. 31, 2006. But Zampini said he does not remember committing the actual slaying but agreed that it was his voice on a 911 call to East Windsor police at about 1 a.m. the next morning.

Post a comment | View comments (1)

Fatal shooting under investigation by Trenton police

by Michael Ratcliffe/The Times

Monday December 01, 2008, 10:19 PM

TRENTON -- A man died Monday night just minutes after he was shot in the face on South Clinton Avenue, police confirmed.

Police Monday night said they were not yet certain if the man was the victim of a homicide or if he somehow shot himself.

Nevertheless, police were treating the shooting as a crime. Homicide detectives were on the scene and crime scene tape was stretched across the 1400 block of South Clinton Avenue.

Post a comment | View comments (4)

Trenton police probe death of Lebanese man

by Michael Ratcliffe/The Times

Monday December 01, 2008, 10:16 PM

TRENTON -- Police are investigating the death of a foreign national whose body was found outside a city residence Monday night.

The man, tentatively identified as a 79-year-old native of Lebanon, was found in cardiac arrest shortly before 6 p.m. in front of a home in the 500 block of West State Street, police said.

The man, whose name was not released, was rushed by ambulance to Capital Health System at Fuld hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Police said there were no obvious signs of foul play. A bruise on the man's nose appeared consistent with a fall, police said.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Armed robbers frighten patrons at Cinnaminson Friendly's

by Alex Zdan/The Times

Monday December 01, 2008, 10:15 PM

CINNAMINSON -- Three armed men terrified but did not injure patrons at a Friendly's Restaurant in the township during a stickup early Saturday, police reported.

Just before 12:30 a.m., the men, two of whom were armed with handguns, one of whom was armed with a sawed-off shotgun, entered the restaurant on Route 130 South. Four employees and 24 juveniles were inside at the time.

A suspects with a handgun mounted the counter, police said, and ordered the employee there to give him the money she was counting and to open the safe. The suspect with a shotgun put the weapon to the head of a female juvenile paying for her food, ordering everyone to the back of the store. The patrons were told to leave their belongings and cell phones where they were seated as they were herded into the men's restroom.

Post a comment | View comments (4)

Cops say Hamilton man fired weapon after domestic dispute

by Alex Zdan/The Times

Monday December 01, 2008, 10:10 PM

HAMILTON -- Police on Monday released details of the Sunday afternoon incident in which a SWAT team responded to the 800 block of Kuser Road following a call about shots fired. (See earlier story)

Police said 45-year-old Steven Worth was arrested as a result of the incident.

Police said Worth allegedly quarreled with his wife after returning from hunting around 5 p.m. After the wife left the house, police said he discharged one of his guns.

That call, and the fact it stemmed from a domestic dispute, led authorities to call in the SWAT team to make the arrest, police said.

No one was hurt and no children were home when Worth was arrested, police said. He was charged with terroristic threats, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and domestic abuse.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Princeton jogger tells police she saw man expose himself

by Alex Zdan/The Times

Monday December 01, 2008, 10:09 PM

PRINCETON TOWNSHIP -- A woman taking a Saturday morning jog along the Delaware & Raritan Canal towpath reported seeing a man exposing himself, police said.

The woman told police she was jogging around 9:50 a.m. when she saw the man exposing his genitals in the wooded area facing the path. She described him as a white male, about 6 feet tall, dark hair, wearing a blue and orange jacket.

A search of the area did not locate the suspect, but canal park patrons were advised of the situation and the man's description. The incident happened along the canal between Harrison and Washington roads, police said.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Princeton homeowners find drunken person in their residence

by Alex Zdan/The Times

Monday December 01, 2008, 10:04 PM

PRINCETON TOWNSHIP -- After a night of drinking, a man who thought he was returning to his own house mistakenly entered a home on Fleming Way where the residents called police, officials said.

Entering the home through an unlocked door just before 3:30 a.m. Thursday, 23-year-old township resident Jason Hopkins awoke the homeowners, who told him to leave. Hopkins responded he thought he was home, police said.

The homeowners called police and reported a possible home invasion in progress, and officers arrived to find Hopkins being held down by one of the homeowners. Police said Hopkins, who was drunk, was arrested and charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct. He was processed at police headquarters and released to a family member.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Gunman terrorizes 3 Brazilians at Burlington apartment complex

by Alex Zdan/The Times

Monday December 01, 2008, 10:01 PM

BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP -- A man claiming to be from immigration enforcement stole passports and cash during a home invasion robbery at the Chateau Apartments on Sunday afternoon, police said.

The armed man entered one of the apartments in the 500 section of the apartment complex around 12:50 p.m. through the open rear sliding door. Identifying himself as an immigration officer, he bound one of the three Brazilian victims with black cable ties, police said.

The man allegedly stole the victim's Brazilian passport, other Brazilian documents, and $200 cash.

The man, who was described as a white male, 5 foot 10, 185 pounds, clean shaven, wearing a black knit cap and a long blue trench coat and armed with a black handgun with a wood handle. It is believed he fled the area possibly driving a small, light-brown four-door sedan.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Canal waters yield no sign of missing man

by Alex Zdan/The Times

Monday December 01, 2008, 5:54 PM

TRENTON -- A second day of searching by state police divers for a man who dove into the Delaware and Raritan Canal over the weekend turned up nothing, authorities said.

New Jersey State Police conducted a grid-by-grid search of the cold and dark canal waters Monday morning. Trenton Fire Department marine units had dragged the bottom Saturday after the man's plunge just before 12:30 a.m., and state police divers entered the water later Saturday morning. The search was suspended on Sunday.

The man, of whom neither a full description nor a name was given, had taken off running when police patrolling the 800 block of Bellevue Avenue tried to stop and question him, police said. They said he had been carrying items they believed might have been stolen and that he was acting suspiciously.

"I don't know why he started running," police spokesman Sgt. Pedro Medina said. "Obviously, he was up to no good."

The city's Criminal Investigation Bureau canvassed the area where the man was last seen, hoping to gain clues to his identity. Police are hoping that someone will call them about a missing friend or family member, and that person could turn out to be the missing man.

Medina said the divers would be returning to the water Tuesday.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Jury being picked for man accused of stabbing girlfriend to death

by Linda Stein/The Times

Monday December 01, 2008, 10:33 AM

Jury selection is under way Monday in the murder trial for a 73-year-old man who is accused of stabbing his girlfriend to death at her East Windsor house.

Donald Zampini of Queens, N.Y., also was charged with weapons offenses in the Sept. 1, 2006 stabbing death of Barbara Morris. Morris, 63, suffered wounds to her head, chest, face, arms and body, Assistant Skylar Weissman said.

Zampini, who had taken sleeping pills, was found barely conscious on a couch after calling 911, police said.

Defense lawyer John Holliday said Zampini was not capable of 'knowing and purposeful" murder due to psychological problems. He plans to present testimony to a jury to show Zampini's impairment.

The trial before Superior Court Judge Charles A. Delehey, is expected to last about two weeks.

Contact Linda Stein

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Man who fled police still missing after canal plunge

by Alex Zdan/The Times

Sunday November 30, 2008, 10:30 PM

TRENTON -- The man who leapt into the Delaware and Raritan Canal early Saturday while trying to flee city police remains missing and is feared dead.

Recovery efforts at the North Hermitage Avenue location were suspended Sunday after nearly seven hours of searching Saturday morning by divers and foot patrols. Trenton firefighters and New Jersey State Police are expected to resume the search Monday, authorities said.

Police said a man described only as black ran from officers after they attempted to question him about items he was carrying and what they deemed suspicious behavior around 12:20 a.m. Saturday. The officers had been patrolling for vehicle break-ins.

The man jumped into the canal and gave several shouts for help before disappearing from view, police said.

Sunday, city police remained doubtful that the man had survived, but were unwilling to officially say he had not made it.

"We don't know," police spokesman Pedro Medina said Sunday night. "We can't pronounce this guy dead, we haven't found a body."

Police late Sunday confirmed a jacket had been found during the search of the area. It was uncertain whether it was the man's, who had run from the 800 block of Bellevue. Police said the man had been acting suspiciously and carrying several items, which he dropped as he broke into a run before officers Craig Harris and Jose Villanueva could exit their patrol car.

For the full story, see Monday's edition of The Times.

Post a comment | View comments (1)