Arrested: Shannon H. Foley, age 22, of Newton and Herbert W. Whitesell III, age 31, of Frankford Township, NJ. < Back Drug paraphernalia discovered on prisoner during transport Arrested: Shannon H. Foley, age 22, of Newton and Herbert W. Whitesell III, age 31, of Frankford Township, NJ. Previous Next On Friday, March 29, 2013, while assigned to fugitive transport duties, sheriff’s detectives Kieran McMorrow and William Lunger were assigned to pick up Shannon Foley and Herbert Whitesell from the New Jersey State Police barracks in Netcong and transport them to the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility. The New Jersey State Police had arrested both of them earlier that day. Foley was the subject of an outstanding Superior Court warrant and Whitesell was the subject of several municipal court warrants. Further investigation revealed Whitesell to be in the possession of several hypodermic syringes and a glass smoking pipe with cocaine residue. Whitesell and Foley were both transported to the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility and lodged without incident. Herbert Whitesell was issued multiple summonses for possession of drug paraphernalia and issued a future court date to appear in Newton Municipal Court. He remains lodged in the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility in lieu of $6,377. Shannon Foley remains lodged in the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility without bail.

Sussex County Sheriff Michael F. Strada Congratulates 911 Communications Center Dispatch Supervisor Andrea Wehrenberg on her Retirement < Back Sussex County Sheriff Michael F. Strada Congratulates 911 Communications Center Dispatch Supervisor Andrea Wehrenberg on her Retirement Sussex County Sheriff Michael F. Strada Congratulates 911 Communications Center Dispatch Supervisor Andrea Wehrenberg on her Retirement Previous Next Sussex County Sheriff Michael F. Strada Congratulates 911 Communications Center Dispatch Supervisor Andrea Wehrenberg on her Retirement. Sussex County Sheriff Michael F. Strada and the staff at the Sussex County Sheriff’s 911 Communications Center would like to congratulate, dispatch supervisor, Andrea Wehrenberg on her retirement after a combined 30 years of service. Andrea started dispatching for Newton Police Department in July of 1991 and worked there until March of 2020. Andrea was also a police matron and training officer for most of her 27 years at the department. In 2015 Andrea became a full-time dispatcher for Sussex County communications when the center first opened. She was quickly promoted to supervisor in March of 2016 due to her qualifications, experience and ability to lead. Andrea has become a pillar in the Sussex County communications Center. She is the training coordinator for the Communication center, TAC officer, most senior Supervisor, and our go to person for anything we may need help with professionally or personal. She single handed created our new training program and she has achieved numerous awards throughout her time here including dispatcher of the month multiple times, countless CPR saves, letters of commendation, and more. Andrea is also the only dispatcher to receive a stork pin after giving instructions via 911 to deliver a baby. All of the staff at the Sussex County Communications Center. extend our best wishes to her in her retirement and recognize that her presence here will most certainly be missed. Pictured left to right, 911 Communications Center Director Mark Rozek, Dispatch Supervisor Andrea Wehrenberg and Sheriff Michael F. Strada

Arrested: Steven Moyet, age 27, of Hamburg, NJ. < Back USMC deserter arrested at courthouse Arrested: Steven Moyet, age 27, of Hamburg, NJ. Previous Next On Thursday, September 5, 2013, while assigned to courtroom security at the Sussex County Superior Court courthouse in Newton, Sheriff’s Officer William Ficacci encountered Steven Moyet. Believing Moyet to be the subject of an outstanding federal warrant, Officer Ficacci detained him until the warrant could be confirmed. While waiting for the warrant to be confirmed, Sheriff’s Detective William Lunger arrived to assist. Further investigation revealed Moyet had deserted from the United States Marine Corps several months earlier. Upon confirmation of the warrant, Moyet was immediately arrested and transported to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office for processing. Steven Moyet was lodged without bail in the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility and he remained there until September 10, 2013, whereupon he was returned to the care and custody of the United States Marine Corps military police.

The monetary donation was used to purchase equipment for the program. < Back Project Lifesaver receives donation from Division of Senior Services The monetary donation was used to purchase equipment for the program. Previous Next Sheriff Strada recently accepted a donation on behalf of his office from the Sussex County Division of Senior Services. The monetary donation was used to purchase Project Lifesaver equipment, including a mobile locator tracking system. Project Lifesaver is an international program that assists sheriff’s personnel in locating individuals who have wandered away from home due to Alzheimer’s, autism, Down syndrome, dementia and other related cognitive disorders. The Sussex County Sheriff’s Office has offered the Project Lifesaver program to county residents since 2005. Citizens enrolled in Project Lifesaver wear a small personal transmitter around their wrist or ankle that emits an individualized tracking signal. If an enrolled client goes missing, the caregiver notifies the sheriff’s office and a trained emergency team responds to the wanderer’s area to begin searching using a mobile locator tracking system. Most who wander are found within a few miles of their homes and search times for these individuals have been reduced from hours and days to minutes. The average recovery time to locate a Project Lifesaver client is 30 minutes—that’s 95% less time than standard recovery operations. The Sussex County Division of Senior Services is a county department mandated by the federal government as part of the Older Americans Act. It serves as a connection for the elderly to services and programs designed to support seniors’ independence and quality of life. The mission of the division is to enable older individuals and/or their caregivers to choose from a coordinated system of services that allows seniors to live as independently as possible in their homes and in their communities while enjoying a dignified quality of life. Sheriff Strada, expressing his gratitude for the donation, thanked Lorraine Hentz for her agency’s continued commitment to improving the quality of life for our county’s seniors. (L to R) Sgt. Krista Galante, Project Lifesaver Coordinator, Lorraine Hentz, Director of the Sussex County Division of Senior Services, and Sheriff Michael F. Strada display the equipment purchased with the donated funds.

Arrested: Brian Rush, age 36, of Montague Township, NJ. < Back Warrant arrest occurs at Montague residence Arrested: Brian Rush, age 36, of Montague Township, NJ. Previous Next On June 24, 2011, Sheriff’s Officer Scott Haggerty and Sgt. John Gray were assigned to community policing within the Montague Township area. Sheriff’s Officer Haggerty was aware of a Sussex County Superior Court warrant for the arrest of Brian Rush for contempt and was attempting to locate him. Upon receiving information indicating Rush was staying at his parent’s residence, Sheriff’s Officer Haggerty and Sgt. Gray visited the home. After a brief investigation, Rush was located and taken into custody without incident. Rush was lodged in the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility in lieu of $10,000 bail.

Police seek information about diner vandalism. < Back Crime Stoppers offers $6,000 reward Police seek information about diner vandalism. Previous Next Thanks to the help of an anonymous donor, Crime Stoppers is offering a $6,000.00 reward for information resulting in the conviction of the individual(s) responsible for defacing the Airport Diner in Wantage with swastikas and other anti-Semitic graffiti on September 16, 2017. Submit an anonymous tip »

Do not fall for this latest scam threatening arrest for unpaid debts. < Back Telephone Scam Do not fall for this latest scam threatening arrest for unpaid debts. Previous Next Sussex County Sheriff Michael F. Strada would like to warn residents of a telephone scam targeting Sussex County. Some Sussex County residents have reported receiving telephone calls within the last few days from someone stating they are calling from the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office. The caller says that you will be arrested if you do not satisfy a particular debt. They give a case number and a call back number. Do not fall for this latest scam. The Sussex County Sheriff’s Office is not making these calls . If you have received a call threatening arrest by the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office, please call the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office at 973.383.1570, ext. 4526.

Sheriff's detectives provided assistance to the Pennsylvania State Police in the investigation of a homicide involving a new born infant. < Back Sheriff's detectives assist PA authorities in homicide investigation Sheriff's detectives provided assistance to the Pennsylvania State Police in the investigation of a homicide involving a new born infant. Previous Next On June 9, 2011, sheriff’s detectives Michael Yanko and Richard Otte were attempting to locate and arrest Ms. Jennifer Barrise, who was the subject of an outstanding Sussex County Superior Court warrant for nonpayment of child support. In the course of their investigation to ascertain Ms. Barrise’s whereabouts, detectives Yanko and Otte paid a visit to the family home of Ms. Barrise’s boyfriend, Christopher Fitzpatrick, in Vernon Township. Based on information acquired from Fitzpatrick’s parents, the detectives learned that Barrise and Fitzpatrick were residing in Lake Ariel, PA. Further investigation led the detectives to suspect Barrise and Fitzpatrick may have been involved in criminal activity related to a newborn child. Detective Yanko immediately contacted investigators at the Honesdale Barracks of the Pennsylvania State Police. The following day, on June 10, as a result of the information furnished by Detective Yanko, the Pennsylvania State Police opened a homicide investigation and subsequently requested investigative assistance within Sussex County from the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff’s Detective Sergeant Michael Tidaback and detectives from the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office assisted Pennsylvania authorities with their investigation in New Jersey. While the matter remains under investigation in New Jersey and no charges—criminal or otherwise—are pending against either party, both Barrise and Fitzpatrick have been arrested and charged by Pennsylvania State Police. Mr. Fitzpatrick has been charged with criminal homicide, concealing the death of a child and abuse of a corpse. Ms. Barrise has been charged with criminal homicide and concealing the death of a child. Both are being held without bail at the Wayne County Correctional Facility in Texas Township, PA.

John Lindquist was promoted on Friday, March 21, 2014. < Back Sheriff’s detective promoted to sergeant John Lindquist was promoted on Friday, March 21, 2014. Previous Next Sheriff Michael F. Strada is pleased to announce the promotion of Sheriff’s Detective John Lindquist to sergeant. On Friday, March 21, 2014, in a ceremony conducted at the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office and attended by both family members and department employees, John Lindquist was officially sworn in as the newest sergeant in the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office. A 14-year veteran of the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Law Enforcement, Sgt. Lindquist began his law enforcement career as a sheriff’s officer in 2000. A graduate of the Bergen County Law and Public Safety Institute, Sgt. Lindquist has held numerous positions within the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office throughout his career including courts & transports, traffic enforcement, department evidence officer, the Sheriff’s Tactical Response Unit (TRU) and the Office of Emergency Management (OEM). Since 2006, Sgt. Linquist has been assigned to the Sheriff’s detective bureau. A certified firearms instructor, Linquist continues to serve as the department’s armorer and rangemaster during weapons qualifications. Following his promotion, Sgt. Lindquist will be assigned to supervise the courthouse security and prisoner transportation unit. Sheriff Strada congratulates Sergeant Lindquist and wishes him continued success in his career.

The sheriff’s office will conduct sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols from August 16 to September 2, 2013. < Back Crackdown on drunk drivers to begin The sheriff’s office will conduct sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols from August 16 to September 2, 2013. Previous Next Sussex County Sheriff Michael F. Strada announced today that law enforcement officers from the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office will be cracking down on drunk drivers as part of the 2013 Labor Day “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. Beginning August 16 and running through September 2, 2013, law enforcement officers will conduct sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols, looking for motorists who may be driving while intoxicated. “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” is a national campaign designed to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving through high-visibility enforcement and public education. Launched across the U.S. in 1999, the program works to combat drunk driving during some of the busiest travel times of the year, including the Labor Day holiday period. “Recent surveys indicate that many people harbor the dangerous belief that after a few drinks they’re still safe to drive,” said Gary Poedubicky, Acting Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety. “Even one drink can impair your judgment and reaction time, putting not only yourself, but everyone on the road in danger.” In 2012, alcohol-impaired fatalities accounted for 19 percent of New Jersey’s motor vehicle fatalities. As part of the initiative, the Division of Highway Traffic Safety provides grants to local law enforcement agencies throughout the state to run the two-week campaign. The Sussex County Sheriff’s Office wishes everyone a safe and happy Labor Day weekend and offers the following advice: If you plan to drink, designate a driver, someone who will not drink alcohol, before you go out. Take mass transit, a taxi, or ask a sober friend to drive you home. Spend the night where the activity is held. Report impaired drivers to law enforcement. In New Jersey, drivers may dial #77 to report a drunk or aggressive driver. Always buckle up, every ride, regardless of your seating position in the vehicle. It’s your best defense against an impaired driver. If you’re intoxicated and traveling on foot, the safest way to get home is to take a cab or have a sober friend or family member drive you to your doorstep.

Arrested: Courtney Leigh Devito, age 20, of Andover Township, NJ < Back Andover Township probationer arrested Arrested: Courtney Leigh Devito, age 20, of Andover Township, NJ Previous Next On Tuesday, September 17, 2013, while assigned to the probation department at the Sussex County Superior Court courthouse in Newton, Sheriff’s Officer Richard Nikola was advised by probation staff that one of the probationers present that evening, Ms. Courtney L. Devito, was the subject of an outstanding warrant. Officer Nikola detained Ms. Devito until he could confirm the warrant and then placed her under arrest. Devito was subsequently transported to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office for processing. Courtney L. Devito was lodged in the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility without bail.

CERT Join the Sussex County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and become better prepared to respond to emergency situations right here in your own community. Members of Sussex County’s CERT give critical support to first responders in emergencies, provide immediate assistance to victims, organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site, and collect disaster intelligence to support first responder efforts. CERT members receive training in the following areas: disaster preparedness disaster fire suppression medical operations light search and rescue operations disaster psychology and team organization terrorism and CERT disaster simulation Total basic training is usually about 24 hours, scheduled in 2-1/2 hour modules over a period of weeks. Training courses, materials and equipment are provided free of charge. To become a CERT member, you must be at least 18 years of age. For more information, contact CERT coordinator Eric Muller at 973.579.0380, ext. 2536. New Jersey Office of Emergency Management CERT web site »