Latest news with #N.J.S.A
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Englishtown police chief pleads guilty, barred from public employment
ENGLISHTOWN -- Police chief Peter S. Cooke has resigned after pleading guilty to illegally accessing a law enforcement database for non-law enforcement purposes. He will enter the state's Pretrial Intervention Program, which provides first-time offenders a path to dismiss all charges if the offenders complete a list of conditions set by the court. Cooke was arrested on November 1, 2024, according to the complaint. On May 19, Cooke submitted his resignation through his attorney. It came after a 'Public Employment Forfeiture Order' by Judge Natalie Watson, according to the May 28 Englishtown resolution. Christopher Swendeman, Monmouth County Public Information Officer, wrote that as part of the order, Cooke is 'forever disqualified from holding any other office or position of honor, trust, or profit under this State or any of its administrative or political subdivisions.' Howell: SWAT operation turns into a death investigation Neither Cooke nor his attorney responded to requests for comment. According to the accusation, Cooke was charged with 'one count of third-degree Computer Criminal Activity.' On August 24, 2023, he accessed the Spillman Flex Law Enforcement Database 'for a non-law enforcement purpose, contrary to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-25(a),' a state law that prohibits such actions. According to the complaint, Cooke looked up individuals by the initials of 'M.M. and/or M.A.' between February 14, 2019 and August 24, 2023. In April 2024, Cooke was placed on paid administrative leave. Between August and September 2024, Cooke agreed to help another person 'M.M.' shoplift in Marlboro, according to the complaint. Stolen groceries were found during the investigation. Cooke was arrested in November 2024 and Englishtown suspended him without pay. Point Pleasant Beach: Municipal judge suspended for 2 months over 'biased' Facebook posts In May, he pleaded guilty to the computer crimes. When asked if the shoplifting charges were dropped, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office did not address those charges, pointing only to the charge of computer crime activity. Cooke has been involved in a lawsuit filed by former borough clerk Gretchen McCarthy. According to that lawsuit, McCarthy claimed she was fired for raising questions about borough activity – in particular, the police department's finances. In a response to the complaint, Cooke denied the allegations of unlawful conduct and retaliation. Olivia Liu is a reporter covering transportation, Red Bank and western Monmouth County. She can be reached at oliu@ This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: New Jersey town's police chief pleads guilty, resigns from office
Hindustan Times
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ras Baraka arrested: Will Newark mayor's Delaney Hall dispute land him in prison? Exploring charges
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested Friday for allegedly trespassing inside a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in his city, interim US attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba announced. She further added that he 'committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings' from Department of Homeland Security officials. 'He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this state. He has been taken into custody,' Habba said on X, platform formerly known as Twitter. 'NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW,' she added. Yes, Baraka could face imprisonment, depending on the charges filed, the severity of the offense, and the outcome of legal proceedings. Trespassing on federal property, especially an ICE facility, can carry significant penalties, particularly if additional charges like obstruction or interference with federal officers are applied. However, prison time is not guaranteed and depends on factors like plea agreements, judicial discretion, and Baraka's lack of prior criminal history. Based on the claim of trespassing and disregarding HSI warnings, Baraka could face the following charges under federal and New Jersey law: Criminal Trespass (New Jersey State Law) Statute: N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3 (Trespass) covers entering or remaining on property without permission after notice to leave. Trespassing on Federal Property (Federal Law) Statute: 41 C.F.R. § 102-74.385 and 18 U.S.C. § 930(h) address unauthorized entry onto federal facilities. Obstruction of a Federal Officer Statute: 18 U.S.C. § 111 prohibits resisting, opposing, or impeding a federal officer in their duties. Disorderly Conduct or Inciting a Disturbance Statute: 41 C.F.R. § 102-74.390 (federal) or N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2 (state) cover creating disturbances or inciting unlawful activity. In 2018, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler faced no charges after protesting outside an ICE facility. However, in 2020, several activists were charged with trespass and obstruction at ICE facilities in New York, receiving fines or probation rather than prison.
