Missing Person, $10 Million Fraud and Train Crash Top Monthly News

Missing Verona Man Reported to Police

William Culbertson, 22, of Verona, last heard from by his Montclair parents on Dec. 12, has been reported missing, according to police. 

Culbertson is described as being white, 6-foot, 3-inches tall, about 275 lbs., and has blond hair and blue eyes. 

Bloomfield Man Accused of Taking Part in Mob-Run Trash Scam

A 77-year-old Bloomfield man was charged Jan. 23 in a widespread federal sweep targeting a mob-run conspiracy to control the trash-hauling industry in New York and New Jersey. 

Anthony Pucciarello, known as "Muzzy" and a soldier for the Genovese Crime Family, was one of 32 people in New York and New Jersey charged in an FBI-run takedown that included members of several crime families, US Attorney for the Southern District of NY, Preet Bharara, Assistant Director in Charge of the NY Office of the FBI George Venizelos and Westchester County Police Department Commissioner George Longworth said in a release.

10 Injured in Little Falls Train-Truck Crash

A NJ Transit passenger train slammed into a tractor-trailer in Little Falls, Wednesday morning, injuring several people, backing up traffic on Pompton Avenue and cancelling trains along the Montclair-Boonton line.

Additional Credit Card Fee Begins in New Jersey

New Jersey residents using credit cards to pay for purchases may be digging a bit deeper into their wallets effective Sunday, Jan. 27, according to a report on CBSlocal.com.

The report says retailers may start adding an additional fee of up to 4 percent if a credit card is used to pay for a purchase.

$10M Mortgage Fraud Scheme Allegedly Linked to Verona Man

A Verona man was among nine New Jersey residents charged in connection with an alleged mortgage fraud scheme that defrauded financial institutions of $10 million over several years, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced Thursday.

Two Cedar Grove Cars Stolen From Driveways Thursday

Cedar Grove Police are searching for two vehicles stolen while idling from driveways early Thursday morning.

The cars, a 2008 Acura and the 2011 Jeep, were idling in driveways on Young Avenue and Cedar Grove Parkway when they were stolen around 7:30 a.m., police said.

Police: Verona Man Arrested After Brandishing Knife at Verona Inn

A 22-year-old Verona man was arrested and charged with assault after allegedly brandishing a knife at employees at the Verona Inn, police said.  

Thomas McMahon was arrested and charged with simple assault, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes and defiant trespass after the Dec. 29 incident, according to police. 

Police: Resident's Call May Have Thwarted Burglary

A Cedar Grove resident may have stopped a potential burglary, police said, after a suspicious person was spotted visiting various homes on Devonshire Road.

Police said the man was going door to door claiming that he was soliciting business for snow removal, despite the fact that there only had been a dusting of snow.

Early Morning Accident Stalls Traffic on Bloomfield Ave.

An early morning crash on Bloomfield and Park avenues in Verona caused heavy traffic delays on the morning of Jan. 25, as PSE&G replaced a damaged utility pole.

A man was traveling west on Bloomfield Avenue between 1 and 2 a.m. that day, when the Honda crossed into the eastbound lane and crashed, taking out a utility pole, streetlight and garage can, said Verona Chief of Police Douglas Huber.