September 18 Evening News
NEWS 12 NEW JERSEY REPORTED FRIDAY MORNING THAT A SUSPECT ON A NEWARK BUS PUNCHED AND PEPPER-SPRAYED ANOTHER PASSENGER. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH, AROUND 7:15 PM ABOARD BUS 25 BETWEEN BERGEN STREET AND SPRINGFIELD AVENUE. ACCORDING TO POLICE, THE BUS CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP, CAUSING A FEMALE RIDER TO BUMP INTO A CHILD WHO WAS WALKING PAST HER WITH THE SUSPECT. THE WOMAN APOLOGIZED, BUT AUTHORITIES SAY THE MAN BECAME ENRAGED, SHOUTING, THEN REPEATEDLY STRUCK HER IN THE FACE. THE WOMAN ATTEMPTED TO DEFEND HERSELF, BUT A PHYSICAL STRUGGLE BROKE OUT DURING WHICH THE SUSPECT SPRAYED HER IN THE FACE WITH PEPPER SPRAY, THEN FLED THE SCENE. EMS PERSONNEL RESPONDED TO FLUSH THE VICTIM'S EYES, AND SHE WAS TRANSPORTED TO UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL FOR FURTHER TREATMENT.
THE RIDGEWOOD BLOG REPORTED FRIDAY THAT A GROUP OF RIDGEWOOD PARENTS, TAXPAYERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE LAUNCHED A PETITION URGING THE RIDGEWOOD BOARD OF EDUCATION TO TERMINATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS DR. MARK SCHWARZ. THE PETITION REFLECTS A LOSS OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE, CITING QUESTIONABLE BUDGETS, NOT ENOUGH COMMUNICATION, AND ADMIN OVERSIGHTS THAT DISRUPTED THE FALL ATHLETIC SEASON. COMMUNITY MEMBERS POINT TO RECENT DECISIONS REGARDING RESOURCE ALLOCATION AS A MAJOR CONCERN. DISTRICT LEADERSHIP ELIMINATED SEVERAL TEACHING POSITIONS AND STUDENT CLUB PROGRAMS UNDER THE BANNER OF RISING OPERATING COSTS. HOWEVER, THE DISTRICT SUBSEQUENTLY HIRED STAFF FOR A NEW BEFORE-AND-AFTER-SCHOOL CARE PROGRAM. THE BREAKING POINT FOR MANY FAMILIES WAS THE DISTRICT'S HANDLING OF THE ARTIFICIAL TURF ATHLETIC FIELDS AT RIDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. PROPER MAINTENANCE PROTOCOLS WERE NOT FOLLOWED, LEADING TO SURFACES REACHING DANGEROUS LEVELS OF HARDNESS THAT POSED SAFETY RISKS TO ATHLETES. THE RIDGEWOOD BOARD OF EDUCATION IS SCHEDULED TO VOTE ON A 5-YEAR RENEWAL FOR SUPERINTENDENT SCHWARZ ON SEPTEMBER 28TH. PETITIONERS ARE ASKING BOARD MEMBERS TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION AND DEMAND THAT “TERMINATE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT” AND “PROVIDE FULL FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING”.
ABC 7 REPORTED THURSDAY MORNING THAT A TIKTOK INFLUENCER FROM HACKENSACK HELPED EXPOSE AN ARREST WARRANT PHONE SCAM. IN A VIDEO SHE POSTED ON TIKTOK, LINDSAY ANGIO SAID SHE RECEIVED A CALL FROM SOMEONE WHO USED THE REAL NAME OF A LIEUTENANT FROM THE BERGEN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, LIEUTENANT POPE. THE CALLER ALREADY POSSESSED PERSONAL INFORMATION ABOUT ANGIO, INCLUDING HER NAME, ADDRESS, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, AND THE CAR SHE DRIVES. THE CALLER PROCEEDED TO SEND ANGIO WHAT LOOKED LIKE AN ARREST WARRANT SIGNED BY A JUDGE FOR FAILING TO APPEAR IN COURT. SHE LATER LEARNED IT WAS FAKE. THE SCAMMER INSTRUCTED HER TO CHECK MONEY FOR BOND INTO A CREDIT UNION. INSTEAD OF FOLLOWING THE DIRECTIONS, ANGIO APPEARED AT THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE IN PERSON, WHERE THE REAL LIEUTENANT POPE HELPED HER CONFRONT THE CALLER, PRETENDING AT FIRST TO BE HER HUSBAND. ACCORDING TO BERGEN COUNTY SHERIFF ANTHONY CURETON, REAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES NEVER REQUEST MONEY FROM RESIDENTS TO AVOID ARREST OR RESOLVE WARRANTS. OFFICIALS BELIEVE THESE SCAMMERS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SIMILAR SCAMS FOR THE PAST 4 OR 5 YEARS, AND THAT ANGIO’S CALLER MAY BE AN INMATE SERVING A SENTENCE IN A GEORGIA PRISON. AUTHORITIES SAY VICTIMS OF THIS KIND OF PHONE SCAM ARE UNLIKELY TO RECOVER ANY MONEY THEY’VE SENT.