< Back Woman arrested in Newton on Paterson warrants Arrested: Natasha McCoy, age 31, of Hamburg, NJ. Previous Next On Friday, September 20, 2013, while assigned to the probation department at the Sussex County Superior Court courthouse in Newton, Sheriff’s Officer Joseph Cahill encountered Natasha McCoy. Officer Cahill believed McCoy to be the subject of an outstanding warrant and subsequently detained her. Further investigation revealed McCoy to be the subject of multiple warrants from Paterson Municipal Court. Officer Cahill immediately arrested McCoy and transported her to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office for processing. Natasha McCoy was lodged in the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility in lieu of $1,000 bail.

< Back Jail facility gets seal of approval following inspection The Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility was found to be 100% compliant with state requirements. Previous Next Sheriff Michael Strada is pleased to announce that the New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC) has found the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility (KDCF) to be 100% compliant with the requirements of the Manual of Standards for New Jersey Adult County Correctional Facilities. The KDCF has a long-standing history of impeccable compliance with these strict standards set forth by the NJDOC. As a result of this inspection, 625 standards were met such as security and control, inmate work program, and training and staff development. The inspection process occurs annually over the course of a three day period. Upon receiving notification from the state of New Jersey, Sheriff Strada noted, “I am proud of the men and women who work in our correctional facility. It is clear that their hard work and professionalism has paid off as we continue to receive high marks and praise from the New Jersey Department of Corrections.”

< Back Probationer arrested by sheriff’s officer Arrested: Angel N. Robles, age 21, of Vernon, NJ Previous Next On Tuesday, September 3, 2013, while assigned to the probation department at the Sussex County Superior Court courthouse in Newton, Sheriff’s Officer Johnny Swords observed Angel N. Robles. Believing Robles to be the subject of an outstanding Superior Court warrant, Officer Swords detained him. Upon confirmation of the warrant, Robles was arrested and transported to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office for processing. Robles was initially lodged in the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility without bail. He has since been sentenced to serve an additional 30 days in the Sheriff’s Labor Assistance Program (SLAP).

< 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.

< 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.

< Back Man arrested at courthouse in Newton Arrested: Shawn Guerrero, age 28, of Landing, NJ Previous Next On Friday, September 6, 2013, while assigned to courtroom security at the Sussex County Superior Court courthouse in Newton, Sheriff’s Officer Robert Jacoby observed Shawn Guerrero. Believing Mr. Guerrero to be the subject of an outstanding Superior Court warrant, Officer Jacoby detained Mr. Guerrero until the warrant was confirmed. Upon confirmation, Officer Jacoby arrested Guerrero and transported him to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office for processing. Guerrero was lodged in the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility where he remains incarcerated in lieu of $10,000 bail.

< Back Woman arrested with marijuana in Woodbourne Park Arrested: Christina J. Woodruff, age 22, of Franklin Borough, NJ. Previous Next On Thursday, February 28, 2013, while assigned to traffic enforcement within Wantage Township, Sheriff’s Officer Scott Haggerty observed a suspicious vehicle parked in the rear section of Woodbourne Park. Officer Haggerty spoke with the driver of that vehicle, Ms. Christina Woodruff. Further investigation revealed Woodruff to be in possession of a small quantity of marijuana and a glass smoking device. Woodruff was taken into custody and transported to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office for processing whereupon she was issued summonses for possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was given a future date to appear in Wantage Township Municipal Court and released.

< Back K-9 team graduates training academy K-9 team graduates from the Bergen County Police Academy K-9 Patrol class. Previous Next On January 28, 2011, the team of K-9 Atlas and Sheriff’s Officer Kieran McMorrow completed an extensive four month training program comprised of instruction in canine obedience, human tracking, handler protection, and criminal apprehension. Additionally, K-9 Atlas is cross trained as a narcotics detection canine. Sheriff Michael F. Strada recognizes the value of trained K-9 teams as a tool for effective law enforcement and is pleased to offer the services of K-9 Atlas and Sheriff’s Officer McMorrow to the municipal law enforcement agencies of Sussex County. The Sussex County Sheriff’s Office currently has three K-9 teams, offering specialized services in narcotics detection, explosives detection, and search and rescue.

< Back Sheriff nominates Newton youth for leadership program Jeffrey Chandler will attend the statewide Leadership Excellence Direct Results (LEDR) program in August. Previous Next Sheriff Michael F. Strada recently announced that he has nominated Jeffrey Chandler of Newton to participate in the inaugural session of the statewide Leadership Excellence Direct Results (LEDR) program. Developed by the Team Eagle Foundation in cooperation with the Boy Scouts of America, LEDR is a week-long retreat designed to give 14 to 20 year old students a chance to explore their leadership skills, to connect with peers and to learn how to get involved in their communities. The program will be held in August at Camp Winnebago at no cost to the participants. “It was my pleasure to nominate Jeffrey for this excellent program. His involvement in community service and his status as Cadet Senior Airman - Civil Air Patrol, Juvenile Justice Academy and Trooper Youth Week graduate makes him the perfect choice,” stated Sheriff Strada. With respect to the program, Sheriff Strada added, “the New Jersey Sheriff’s Association has played a pivotal role in the development of the LEDR, both as financial and curriculum partners. This program can only benefit our society by developing understanding citizens who care about their communities.”

< Back Winter fire safety With the cold weather upon us, Fire Marshal Joseph Inga provides timely information about staying safe. Previous Next While households are encouraged to be diligent about fire safety year round, it becomes especially important now because home fires are more prevalent in winter than in any other season. According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), an estimated 108,400 residential building fires occur during the winter months each year in the United States. Sheriff Michael F. Strada and the Sussex County Fire Marshal would like to pass along the following tips and suggestions to ensure the safety of county residents and their families. General Cold Weather Fire Safety If your pipes freeze, do not try to thaw them with a blowtorch or other open flame. The pipe could conduct heat and a fire could be started. Try a hand held dryer, hot water or a UL labeled device for thawing. Never use an oven or a range to heat your home. This is a safety hazard and could cause a build-up of carbon monoxide. Be certain that all windows that are used as emergency exits can still be opened in the winter. Practice your escape plan at this time of year. If there is a fire hydrant near your house, help keep it clear of snow and debris. We need to be able to access it in case of a fire. Generator safety information sheet from the National Fire Protection Association Fireplaces and Wood Stoves Never leave a fire unattended! Have your chimney and fireplace inspected annually by a certified chimney sweep. They will check for creosote build-up, cracks, crumbling bricks and obstructions. Make sure the fireplace opening is covered with a sturdy metal screen or heat tempered glass doors. To prevent fires in your flue, burn dry, well-seasoned wood. Never burn trash. Make sure your wood stove burns hot twice a day for 15-30 minutes to reduce the amount of creosote buildup. Never burn charcoal indoors—it can give off lethal amounts of carbon monoxide. Always be certain the fire in your fireplace is out before going to bed. It is extremely important to never close your damper while there are hot ashes in the fireplace. A closed damper could cause the fire to flare up again and this will cause toxic carbon monoxide to be released into the house. If you are using synthetic logs, always follow the directions on the package. Never break a synthetic log apart to quicken the fire or use more than one log at a time. Place ashes outdoors in a covered metal container at least three feet away from anything that could burn. Portable Heaters Make sure you have at least 36 inches of empty space between all heaters and everything else, like curtains, furniture, papers and people. Never leave children unattended in rooms with portable heaters. Be sure the heater has a tip-over shut off function. Never use an extension cord with portable electric heaters—it is a common cause of fires. Check the cord on your electric portable heater. If it is cracked, frayed or gets hot, have the heater serviced. Be sure to clean the dust from all heaters. If left to build up, dust and lint can ignite and cause a fire. Be sure to turn portable heaters off when leaving the house or sleeping. Avoid using portable heaters in the bathroom. Furnaces Leave furnace work to experts. Have a qualified technician check and clean your furnace every year. Be sure the emergency shut off and automatic controls are in good condition. Always keep trash, papers, paint, etc. away from the furnace area. Finally, make sure your smoke detectors are functioning properly and that there is one installed on each level of your home. Smoke detectors save lives! Have questions or need more information? Contact Sussex County Fire Marshal Joseph C. Inga at 973.579.0380.

< Back Corrections officers ride to Washington Officers took part in the 2012 Police Unity Tour and raised funds for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Previous Next Homer’s epic poem, “The Odyssey,” recounts an ancient Greek soldier’s decade-long voyage home after the Trojan War. The word odyssey, itself, has since become synonymous with a long and arduous journey. In mid-May, members of the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Corrections hopped on their bicycles, joining approximately 600 others, and began an odyssey of their own—pedaling from Florham Park, NJ to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. as part of the Police Unity Tour. Their 300-mile ride took four days and ended with a candlelight vigil at the memorial which is etched with the names of 18,983 officers killed in the line of duty. The Police Unity Tour was organized by Florham Park Police Officer Pat Montuore in May, 1997 to raise public awareness of police officers who have died in the line of duty and to honor their sacrifices. A total of 18 police officers from throughout New Jersey rode that first year and raised approximately $18,000. In comparison, this year, over 1,600 members from throughout the United States made the trip, raising $1.65 million for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Inspired by the tour’s motto, “We ride for those who died,” many riders traveled from countries such as Australia, Israel, Great Britain, Italy, India and Canada to join the tour. Montuore, who is now chief of the Florham Park Police Department, still accompanies the tour each year. Tour participants from the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Corrections raised approximately $7,500 and included the following people: Undersheriff Homer Wanamaker, who was accompanied by his daughter, Blaire, a detective with the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office Sussex County Sheriff’s Corrections Sergeant John Bannon, who was accompanied by his brother, Jim, a retired United States Coast Guard member Sussex County Sheriff’s Corrections Officer Jason Kimble Sussex County Sheriff’s Corrections Corporal Anthony Masucci Since 1997, the Police Unity Tour has raised almost $12 million dollars for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and Museum. Riders who took part in the Police Unity Tour, from left to right: Homer Wanamaker, John Bannon, Blaire Wanamaker, Anthony Masucci, Jason Kimble and Jim Bannon.

< Back Sparta Woman’s Club hosts Sheriff Strada Sheriff Strada was a guest speaker at the Sparta Woman’s Club luncheon. Previous Next Sussex County Sheriff Michael Strada was a guest speaker at the Sparta Woman’s Club luncheon held recently at the Lake Mohawk Country Club in Sparta. Sheriff Strada was invited to share a presentation on the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office with the audience of fifty members. During the presentation, he spoke about the history of the sheriff’s office, the Bureau of Law Enforcement/Corrections Unit, the Sheriff’s Labor Assistance Program (SLAP)/Sheriff’s Work Assistance Program (SWAP), Emergency Management/Fire Marshal responsibilities along with the many community programs that are in place such as Crime Stoppers, Project Lifesaver, Outbound 9-1-1, Register Ready, D.A.R.E., TRIAD and CERT programs. The presentation, designed to educate the public about the many services that the sheriff’s office provides to the citizens of Sussex County, was followed by a question and answer session. Sheriff Strada would like to encourage any organization which is interested in learning more about the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office to contact it at 973.579.0850. Pictured from left to right: Marjorie Strohsahl, Corresponding Secretary/FWCNJ Past President, Sheriff Michael F. Strada and Stevie Fava, Co-President.