The fire was intended to burn fake prescriptions the suspect tried to use to obtain drugs at a nearby CVS, police said.

MEDFORD TOWNSHIP -- A 27-year-old Ewing man accused of setting fire to a restaurant bathroom in order to destroy fake prescriptions was taken into custody Saturday, according to authorities.

Police said Craig Muehleisen Jr. faces charges of aggravated arson, conspiracy to obtain CDS by fraud, tampering with evidence, receiving stolen property, uttering a forged document and related drug offenses in connection with the incident. 

Muehleisen was allegedly one of four individuals who tried to use fraudulent prescriptions -- forged on a stolen prescription pad -- to obtain an unspecified drug at the CVS Pharmacy on Route 70 at about 6:30 p.m. on July 20. 

After police were called to the scene, Muehleisen fled to the nearby restaurant where he ignited a fire in the bathroom to burn the rest of the fake prescriptions, according to police. 

Naked man allegedly threatened cops with liquor bottle

Two of his alleged accomplices, 24-year-old Shamika Laws and 34-year-old Tarrik Boles, both of Trenton, were caught by police at a nail salon nearby. A third individual, 61-year-old Sandra McRae also of Trenton, was taken into custody at the CVS. 

Laws faces charges of possession of a controlled dangerous substance and conspiracy to obtain a controlled dangerous substance by fraud. McRae was charged with criminal attempt to obtain a controlled dangerous substance by fraud, uttering a forged document and receiving stolen property.

Both were later released.

Boles was charged with conspiracy to obtain a controlled dangerous substance by fraud and transferred to the custody of the Mercer County Sheriff's Department due to an outstanding warrant in the county. 

Muehleisen was charged with a slew of offenses on July 27 and taken into custody three days later. 

He remains in Burlington County Jail in lieu of $120,000 full bail.

Michelle Caffrey may be reached at mcaffrey@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ShellyCaffrey. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

National Night Out events are planned for Tuesday and will feature free food, games and other activities

MERCER COUNTY -- Police across Mercer County are participating in National Night Out, an annual event that aims to make neighborhoods safer and better places to live.

Cookouts and other events are being held on Tuesday as part of an effort to strengthen the relationship between police departments and the residents that they serve as a means to combat crime and drug use.

"Right now with everything going on nationwide ... it's now more important than ever to do these type of events to forge a closer bond between the community and police," West Windsor Patrolman Justin Insalaco said. "We're getting out there and interacting in ways that are not necessarily law and order."

In the past, the township's event has drawn between 2,000 and 2,500 residents, but Insalaco hopes to double that number.

Hopewell Township Detective Michael Sherman said the annual event allows the community to see police in a positive light.

"It's a great way for us to interact with the people we serve, ask questions and have a good time," he said.

In Trenton -- unlike the other towns, which hold their events at a park or department headquarters -- officers fan out across the city to the 80-plus block parties that are put on by neighborhood and community groups. Police give them kickoff items, including t-shirts and vouchers to pick up burgers and hot dogs.

"Officers get to see the community from a different perspective and the community gets to see the officers from a different perspective," Police Director Ernest Parrey, Jr. said. "A lot of times, we're called into situations and they're not necessarily friendly, one-on-one exchanges to see how they're doing. We're there to investigate a situation or complaint.

"But with (National Night Out), we're there to just say, 'Hey, how are you? What's going on in the community?'" Parrey continued. "We can break bread together. It makes a big difference."

He also sees the night as a perfect opportunity to reach out to potential recruits.

Tuesday's events are as follows:

East Windsor, 6 to 9 p.m., East Windsor P.A.L. complex, 30 Airport Rd.

Ewing, 6 to 8 p.m., Ewing Senior and Community Center, 999 Lower Ferry Rd.

Hamilton, 5 to 8 p.m., police headquarters, 1270 Whitehorse-Mercerville Rd.

Hightstown, 6 to 8:30 p.m., Rocky Brook Park, Bank Street

Hopewell Valley, 6 to 8 p.m., corner of Denow and Van Brunt roads

Lawrence, 5:30 to 8 p.m., municipal complex, 2211 Lawrence Rd.

Princeton, 5 to 8 p.m., Community Park Pool, Witherspoon Street

Robbinsville, 6 to 9 p.m., police headquarters, 1117 Route 130

Trenton, 5 to 10 p.m., events scattered throughout city's four wards

West Windsor, 6 to 10 p.m., Community Park, 193 Princeton-Hightstown Rd.

Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The American Red Cross was assisting the two displaced residents with housing and other aid.

HAMILTON -- A fire that started in the kitchen badly damaged a home on Johnston Avenue Sunday night and displaced two residents, fie officials said.

Firefighters were dispatched to the call at about 9:25 p.m. and arrived to find flames shooting from the rear of the duplex, volunteer Fire Chief John Newbon said.

The residents were not at home at the time, Newbon said.

Firefighters contained the flames to the one side of the home, and ventilated some from the attached side, Newbon said.

The exact cause of the fire was under investigation Monday by the fire district's fire marshal.

The American Red Cross was assisting the two displaced residents with housing and other aid.

The volunteer Hamilton Fire Co. and career firefighters from Hamilton's District 4 were assisted by several other township fire units at the scene.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Maker's Day sought to highlight the city's 69 manufacturing companies

TRENTON -- The famous words that appear on the Lower Trenton Bridge -- "Trenton Makes, the World Takes" -- celebrates the city's industrial past, but officials sought to showcase on Friday that Trenton still has a thriving manufacturing base.

The idea for Maker's Day came about from meetings the city had been having with some of the city's 69 manufacturing companies who say that there is some misinformation about the industry that make it difficult to hire, said Eric Maywar, an economic development specialist for the city.

He said the event was designed to highlight the city's manufacturers, the fact that the entry-level jobs pay well and that many of the companies are expanding and hiring.

"There are things in Trenton that students can do to learn the necessary skills including coding, mechanics and other trades," Maywar said.

Friday's event, which took place at Roebling Wire Works, had demonstrations, exhibits and hands-on activities for middle school and high school students.

Participants included Tektite Industries, which manufactures LED lights; Hutchinson Industries, a rubber manufacturer specializing in the production of tires for military vehicles; Code for Trenton; Mercer County Community College; Shiloh Community Development Corporation; bike welder Wills Kins; the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program; New Jersey Institute of Technology; and the city's school district and public library.

Kids from the YMCA and Boys and Girls Club were bused over to take part in the activities.

Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Police later arrested a 17-year-old Trenton resident suspected of committing the shooting.

TRENTON -- Police arrested a 17-year-old on charges he fired a gun at a group of males, but hit a passing car instead, police said.

Police say that a vehicle with four people inside was driving past a group of men who were involved in an argument amongst themselves at around 12:37 p.m. Sunday on the 100 block of South Walter Avenue.

During the argument, a male pulled out a gun and fired, but hit a passing car. Nobody in the car was injured, police said.

The group of men dispersed after the shot was fired, authorities said.

Police later arrested a 17-year-old Trenton resident suspected of committing the shooting.

The juvenile is being held on multiple charges including aggravated assault, weapon possession and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

Police did not have specifics of the type of gun or the gun's legal owner.

Greg Wright may be reached at gwright@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregTheWright. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Nolman Vidal Rodriguez lived in Trenton's East Ward, and was of Honduran descent.

TRENTON -- A 24-year-old man shot in the head while attending a child's birthday party Saturday has been declared brain dead, the Mercer County Prosescutor's Office confirmed Monday.

Nolman Vidal Rodriguez lived in Trenton's East Ward and was of Honduran descent, his Facebook page says.

His brother, surrounded by family members Monday as his home, also in the East Ward, was too distraught to comment Monday.

Rodriguez was expected to be officially pronounced dead in the near future, the prosecutor's office said.

Friends mourned Rodriguez on social media, offering prayers for his family and saying he was with God.

He was shot in the head shortly before 9 p.m. Saturday as he stood in front of a house on Greenwood Avenue where a child's birthday party was ongoing, officials said

Police investigators located surveillance video of a man walking down the street and firing a handgun indiscriminately in the direction of the house, and party.

The gunman wore a hooded sweatshirt and fired, then ran around a corner and out of sight. Bullets also struck the house, the prosecutor's office said.

No arrests have been announced by the prosecutor's office.

Anyone with information about the shooting can reach the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office's Homicide Task Force task force detective at 609-989-6406. Individuals may also call the Trenton Crime Stoppers tip line at 609-278-8477 or text a tip - labeled TCSTIPS - to Crime Stoppers at 274637.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Trenton Councilman George Muschal's comments prompted some residents to suggest that he resign

TRENTON -- A Trenton councilman on Monday said he's not backing away from comments that suggested that the pool of qualified police applicants in the city is so small because so many have criminal records.

"I am all for inner-city youths coming forward to get a career in law enforcement, but the problem is the majority of them have (criminal) records and they are not qualified to become an officer," South Ward Councilman George Muschal told The Trentonian in a story Saturday about the police department's recruiting drive.

File photo of South Ward Councilman George Muschal (Martin Griff | Times of Trenton) 

His comments provoked outrage from some residents who called for his resignation.

"Muschal's comments would be troubling from an ordinary citizen but are especially revolting coming from a former police officer and current Trenton city councilman," Jerell Blakeley said. "His comments crystalize some of the retrograde beliefs that too many leaders believe but are savvy enough to keep quiet and show how far we have to go in improving police-community relationships."

He said Muschal should apologize to the "overwhelming majority of young Trentonians who don't have a record" and take cultural sensitivity classes.

"If he doesn't do this immediately, I demand that he resign," Blakeley said. "Trenton has forgiven George several times from making divisive and demeaning comments and it's time that he lives up to his own standard and admits he screwed up and be done as an elected official."

Muschal, who was a city cop for 38 years, told NJ Advance Media on Monday that the city has struggled to find qualified applicants.

"A lot of them are thrown out because they have criminal records," he said, repeating what he has heard from Police Academy staff. "They can't find anybody because the majority of them have criminal records."

Muschal said that while people deserve second chances, they should never be hired over applicants who have clean records.

"I think (the police department) should be shooting for the stars, for the best they can get," whether they come from the city or a neighboring township, he said. "Are you going to give the guy who was locked up for armed robbery a second chance to become a cop or give it to the guy who was never convicted of a crime?

"People deserve a second chance, absolutely," he continued. "But you have to pick and choose what second chance you're going to give them and for what job."

Muschal said he knows people who would be qualified, but have no desire to become a police officer.

The department's most recent recruiting efforts have been focused on attracting city residents to the job, but officials have never said that the hiring standards would be lowered.

"There are many qualified individuals within the City of Trenton who we would love to have consider this position," Police Director Ernest Parrey, Jr. said Monday. "Law enforcement is not always a favorite choice in the inner city, but we're looking to change that.

"What better way for the community to take control of its community than for the community to involve itself in the law enforcement profession," he continued. "That is the best way. It is the way you say, 'I care about what's going on in my community and I'm going to strive to make it a better place.'"

Applications are being accepted through Aug. 31 on the state's Civil Service Commission website, state.nj.us/csc.

Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

John A. Delorimier, 48, of Gloucester Way, is charged with weapon possession counts.

MONROE -- Police responding to a report of a man pointing a rifle at houses and trees in the Rossmoor adult community Saturday morning found a man with a pellet gun, and machete, police said Monday.

Police arrested John A. Delorimier, of Gloucester Way, and charged him with possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, possession of an imitation firearm for an unlawful purpose and disorderly conduct following the 10:30 a.m. incident.

The incident occurred on Gloucester Way, near Delorimier's home.

Township police said in a statement that when officers arrived, they found him with a long, black airsoft rifle in a long gun case, a machete in a holster, an object that resembled a hand grenade and orange noise-canceling ear muffs.

Delorimier told the officers he was cleaning out his car and took this airsoft gun from the trunk and because he did not want to put on the ground, he put it on a bench, police said.

He denied to police he pointed the gun at any houses, police said.

Delorimier was initially held on $15,000 bail Saturday. South Brunswick and Jamesburg police assisted Monroe police at the scene.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

New Jersey is making efforts to complete its part of a 3,000-mile bike path that will stretch from Maine to Florida.

Picture this, bicycle enthusiasts and fitness fans: A 3,000-mile path wending its way from the upper reaches of Maine to the southernmost tip of Florida, offering mostly traffic-tree sailing along the way.

It's far from a done deal yet, but if the East Coast Greenway Alliance has its way, it might well happen in our lifetimes.

The North Carolina-based nonprofit has been teaming up with local partners, including the Mercer County Parks Commission and the Department of Public Works, to link together existing trails and paths into one continuous route for cycling.

About one-third of the project is complete, and the rest is expected to be done within the next two decades.

East Coast Greenway carves 3,000-mile path

The New Jersey leg of the East Coast Greenway, just under 100 miles long, passes through portions of Trenton, Newark, Jersey City and New Brunswick, with about half of it traffic-free. Organizers say that's the second highest percentage of completed trails for a state.

A highlight of the Garden State's portion is a 35.7-mile stretch along the Delaware and Raritan Canal Towpath, a historic path that runs along the main canal from Bakers Basin Road in Trenton to New Brunswick.

The canal itself, portions of which pass through Frenchtown, Stockton and Lambertville, consistently draws history-lovers to its wooden bridges, lovely 19th Century houses and arched stone culverts.

And therein lies one of the major charms of the East Coast Greenway: It's designed to allow bikers to meander through hundreds of towns and cities along their way, stopping whenever the fancy strikes to explore a hamlet here, an architectural wonder there.

"We want to build a linear park that is available to all 16 million people who live along the corridor," said Dennis Markatos-Sariano, executive director of the alliance.

750-mile biking, walking trail to serve 3.2 million

There are still a lot of kinks to be worked out.

Amidst concerns that the likes of Trenton and Newark are not bicycle-friendly cities, organizers will have to address the issue of rider safety in more developed areas. There are also the logistics of creating convenient access to public transportation for riders, and closing the gaps that exist in some regions of the path.

Still, it's exciting that the vision of nine people who came together in New York City in November of 1991 to bat around the idea of a coast-long trail for bikers has come this far.

With partners such as the Lawrence Hopewell Trail and the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the Department of Environmental Protection, as well as tons of volunteers and supporters, this welcome project is well on its way to becoming reality.

Follow NJ.com/Opinion on Twitter @NJ_Opinion. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.

Former actress facing resentencing in fatal drunk-driving crash. Watch video

MONTGOMERY -- The husband of the woman killed by former "Melrose Place" actress Amy Locane-Bovenizer in a 2010 drunk-driving crash feels vindicated.

Fred Seeman was outraged by the three-year sentence Locane-Bovenizer received on February 14, 2013 in the death of his wife, Helene Seeman. He shouted at the judge. He held up a family photo. He stormed out of the courtroom.

On July 22, the state's Superior Court Appellate Division expressed their outrage as well, ruling that the judge didn't provide adequate explanation for the light sentence and ordering a resentencing hearing.

Locane-Bovenizer could have been sentenced to up to 15 years.

"The Appellate Division affirmed the conviction and our feelings," Seeman told NJ Advance Media on Monday. "We now feel our feelings have been validated and justified. You have learned, experienced justices who basically said the judge was wrong.

"And they didn't even leave it at that. They pointed out exactly where he was wrong. They said they were 'distressed' by the court's failure to recognize what the family and prosecutor said. It was an amazing 50-plus page decision. They left no stone unturned in examining every aspect of the trial. "

Locane-Bovenizer, 44, was convicted of vehicular homicide and assault by auto in the crash that killed Helene Seeman and sentenced to three years for each charge to run concurrently. She was released from prison on parole in June of 2015 after serving two and a half years.

When Judge Robert B. Reed cited the actress' two small children, one of whom has Crohn's disease, as the reason for his leniency, Seeman yelled to the judge that having sick kids isn't a get-out-of-jail pass.

The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office appealed the sentence, saying it sent a "bewildering message" about the penalty for drunken driving. A date for the resentencing hearing hasn't been set. It's unclear if Judge Reed will preside over the resentencing hearing.

'Melrose Place' actress Amy Locane sentencing in 2013

The appeals court didn't suggest a proper sentence. Locane-Bovenizer was sentenced under the guidelines for third-degree vehicular homicide, even though she was found guilty of the crime in the second-degree.

"We just want whatever is called for under the law, nothing more, nothing less," said Seeman, who applauded the efforts of Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Murphy in the case.

The state's public defender's office, which represented Locane-Bovenizer in the appeal, declined to comment on the Appellate Division's ruling.

"Judge Reed watched us pour our souls out and then right in front of us he ignored us," said Seeman, a lawyer. "We will again put forth before the judge that we believe that a stronger message has to be sent to anyone who wants to drink and drive. There's a price to be paid. Society can't withstand these losses.

"My wife was an extraordinary woman and now she's gone. I don't want anymore wives, anymore mothers to be lost. My son is about to have a granddaughter and my wife will never be able to hold her. This has to stop. People can't drink and drive."

Locane-Bovenizer's blood-alcohol content was more than three times the legal limit on June 27, 2010 when her SUV crashed into a Mercury Milan turning into a driveway in Montgomery Township, prosecutors said.  She was driving 53 mph in a 35 mph zone, prosecutors said.

Helene Seeman, the passenger in the Milan, was killed in the crash. Fred Seeman was critically injured. He said he recently underwent surgery to repair a hole in his diaphragm resulting from the crash.

Seeman insists the family hasn't lived the past three years stewing in bitterness about how Locane-Bovenizer got off with a slap on the wrist.

"We tried not to focus on that because you can't live your life like that," he said. "We left it up to the courts."

Locane-Bovenizer expresses remorse for fatal accident

In its ruling, the three-judge appellate panel said that the "defendant's sentence must be vacated for resentencing as it is illegal in departing from the mandatory-minimum sentence, as it failed to meet the high standard for a downgraded sentence, and as concurrent sentence were an abuse of discretion."

The panel said that "the trial judge did not identify compelling reasons to downgrade defendant's second-degree offense, other than harm to defendant's children."

Locane-Bovenizer filed a cross-appeal challenging the underlying merits of her conviction.

The Seeman family has filed a wrongful death civil suit stemming from the crash.

"As a family, we relive it every day," said Seeman. "When people talk about closure, it's something that happens to somebody else. It doesn't happen to the family that endures it. My wife's death has left a huge hole in our lives and it'll never be replaced. All of this doesn't change that."

Aurobindo Pharma USA broke ground last week on a 567,000-square-foot facility in East Windsor

EAST WINDSOR -- Pharmaceutical company Aurobindo Pharma USA broke ground last week on a 567,000-square-foot facility in East Windsor that will become its new U.S. corporate headquarters.

The 90-acre campus on Windsor Center Drive will house a pharmaceutical warehouse, distribution and manufacturing center that is expected to generate new tax dollars and 400 to 500 jobs.

It also recently moved its administrative offices into the Patscentre building on Route 571.

"This is an exciting day as the size and scope of this facility marks a significant investment by Aurobindo in East Windsor Township," Mayor Janice Mironov said. "Aurobindo's selection of East Windsor ... underscores once again the tremendous attraction of the township for high-tech, high-growth research and development pharmaceutical-related companies."

The company, which is based in India, has a broad portfolio of generic drugs that includes more than 125 product families and 450 individual product packages.

Officials say that its expansion comes at a time of rapid growth for the company.

In the past year, it has received the highest number of final abbreviated new drug application approvals by the Food and Drug Administration among all of its competitors and ranks eighth among all generic pharmaceutical companies. The FDA recently approved its generic version of Tricor, which is used to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The event, now in its fourth year, is organized by the Hightstown and East Windsor Latino Festival Committee

HIGHTSTOWN -- Hightstown and East Windsor will host its annual Latino Festival this weekend after rain forced organizers to postpone it a week.

The festival, now in its fourth year, is set to take place Aug. 6 from noon to 5 p.m. in Rocky Brook Park.

The event will include food native to the Caribbean and Central and South America, games, activities, dance and exhibits. It is intended to increase people's knowledge and understanding of traditions at the heart of Latin culture and strengthen community relations.

The county's Hispanic population continues to grow at a fast pace. Census estimates show a 2014 Hispanic population of 58,733, a 6 percent increase over 2010.

In Hightstown, Hispanics make up 41.6 percent of the borough's population and in East Windsor, they make up 22.7 percent.

"The festival is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the rich cultural traditions of Latinos within our region," said Dr. Carlos Fernandez, a member of the organizing committee and director of Rutgers University's Center for Latino Arts and Culture.

The event is organized by the Hightstown and East Windsor Latino Festival Committee. Sponsors include RISE Community Services, Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission, Wells Fargo Bank and other local businesses and organizations.

Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Police chased the man after seeing him near a suspicious car around 1:30 a.m. Monday

PRINCETON - A Somerset man who ran from police after a traffic stop, was arrested hours later after he was found hiding in an abandoned attic with a screwdriver and a weapon, according to a statement from Princeton Police.

Anthony Eason, 20, of Somerset, was arrested after fleeing from police and hiding in an attic (Photo, Princeton Police)
 

Police started looking for the man - later identified as 20-year-old Anthony Eason - after they were sent to investigate a suspicious car parked on Terhune Road at around 1:30 a.m. Monday. Officers believed the car was used by suspects in several burglaries around Princeton, the statement said.

While they were investigating the area, they saw Eason walk out of some bushes on the 100 block of Dodds lane and take off running. Police ordered him to stop but he ignored them and kept running, police said.

Eventually officers gave up their search for Eason - until around five hours later when they went to Harriet Drive to investigate a car alarm, according to police. There, they noticed Eason and tried to confront him but the 20-year-old again took off running. Police called for backup and chased Eason to North Harrison Street, the statement said.

Stray gunfire strikes car

Police heard a loud noise coming from a vacant home on Ewing Street nearby and went in, looking for Eason. They found him in a crawl space in the house's attick. He was holding an object in his hand and a "threatening" manner, police said. The officers repeatedly ordered him to drop the object and finally got Eason to comply. They took him into custody and found that the object was a piece of plastic tapered at one end. He was also carrying a flat screwdriver, police said.

"Going into that confined space that they had to go into and encountering what they encountered, I think they did a great job," Princeton Police Lt. Jon Bucchere said of the incident.

Officers charged Eason with burglary, eluding, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, obstructing the administration of law and possession of burglar tools.

A bail was set at $150,000 and he was taken to the Mercer County Corrections Center.  

Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman 

PURCELLVILLE, VIRGINIA- After finally getting over the Brooklawn Post 72 hump, the Flemington Post 159 baseball team celebrated its second state title Friday night. The Indians, who knocked off Brooklawn 7-1, won their first New Jersey American Legion baseball crown since 2009. But after the festivities ended late Friday night, the players and staff turned their attention to the...

PURCELLVILLE, VIRGINIA- After finally getting over the Brooklawn Post 72 hump, the Flemington Post 159 baseball team celebrated its second state title Friday night.

The Indians, who knocked off Brooklawn 7-1, won their first New Jersey American Legion baseball crown since 2009. But after the festivities ended late Friday night, the players and staff turned their attention to the upcoming Mid-Atlantic Regional tournament, which gets underway Wednesday in Purcellville, and runs through August 7. The tournament, which includes two teams from Virginia, including the host team, and Pennsylvania, and one each from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and New York. Flemington plays the Pennsylvania champs, Swoyersville (8-5 winner over Blackhawk), at 12:30.

But this is not a Flemington team that is content with only a NJ title. The Indians have a team loaded with college-aged kids, and a roster full of pitchers, so they will look to do some damage in their first regional appearance since 2012.

FLEMINGTON POST 159 TOPPLES SIX-TIME CHAMPS TO WIN NJ TITLE

"Absolutely, we feel like we can do something down there," Henry Hawkins said. "Our pitching is on point right now. Everyone feels good. Our lineup can't get any better right now. Everyone hits the ball. We are going in there, and trying to win a world series at this point."

"We can definitely make a run at this," 2016 NJ state tournament MVP Austin Arndt said.

Some of the Flemington roster has already had an even more amazing 2016 baseball season, as members of the NJSIAA New Jersey Group 4 state champions Hunterdon Central in the spring. Two players who started in the legion state final, Mark Saponara and Ryan Koep, celebrated state crowns twice in seven weeks, and are pivotal to the Indians chances this week.

FLEMINGTON STUNS GLOUCESTER LATE

"We knew we were good coming into this legion season," Saponara said. "We had all the talent. It was just a matter of throwing strikes, and making all the plays n the field. We knew we could do it."

"I could never imagine this," Koep said. "After we won states with Hunterdon Central, I was set on moving on to the summer, and the next season. But i couldn't have imagined this, ever."

"We have a lot of leaders on our team," Koep said. "I think that will help us in the regionals. They keep motivating us to play harder, and we are going to keep at it."

Flemington manager Steve Farsiou, who was at the helm in 2009 (his first season in charge) for the Indians first NJ crown, now gets to take his team into a regional tournament for the third time, and first since 2012 when they were runners-up to Brooklawn.

"New Jersey is very hard to get out of, in baseball," Farsiou said. "Dennis (Barth, the Brooklawn manager) said you have to win the state, because it is so difficult to get out of this tournament. We think that we are one of the best teams in the country. Now we have to go to the regional and stay focused."

"I think we can do some damage there, but we have to stay focused," Farsiou said. "Pitching-wise, and really with my whole team right now, I just feel confident. We have guys that play multiple positions. We have a ton of pitchers. We are able to make a run if we can do it."

"The kids believe in each other right now," Farsiou said. "They know that if they can beat Brooklawn, they can beat anybody."

The tournament will have live box scores and stats from each of the eight regional tournaments here, so you can follow along with the Indians as they try to advance to the American Legion World Series, held August 11-16 in Shelby, North Carolina. 

Contact Sean Miller at seanmillertrentontimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean

Dajon Bethea, 18, and a minor were caught attempting to rob a man on Division Street, police say.

TRENTON -- Two Trenton residents suspected in several recent robberies were arrested Sunday when police officers on patrol allegedly saw them attack a man, the police department said.

Dajon Bethea is charged with strong arm robbery after police say he and a minor attacked a man.  (Police photo) 

The department's Street Crimes Unit spotted Dajon Bethea, 18, and a 14-year-old boy at about 11 p.m. on the 600 block of Division Street, police spokesman Lt. Rolando Ramos said.

The unit was patrolling the Emory, Roebling and Whittaker avenues area due to several recent robberies in that area, Ramos said.

Ramos said Bethea and the minor asked the victim for a beer, and the man obliged.

However, Ramos said, the two suspects then asked the victim for money before attacked him after he refused.

The victim fought them off, and the Street Crimes officers intervened, arresting the two with backup officers, Ramos said.

Both have been charged with strong arm robbery.

The police department encourages victims of robberies, specifically in the aforementioned areas, to come forward.

Ramos said they suspect Bethea are being investigated in connection several other robberies in the Chambersburg neighborhood.

Thomas Regan may be reached at tregan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Thomas_P_Regan. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

The changes to the Route 130 Connection bus line go into effect Aug. 15

TRENTON -- The county announced this week that the Route 130 Connection bus line will be expanded to now provide service to and from Mercer County Community College for Hightstown and East Windsor residents.

The changes to the Route 130 Connection bus line go into effect Aug. 15 (Courtesy photo) 

Other changes mean that it will also be easier for workers to get to the Exit 8A warehouses and the 'ZLine,' which serves the Matrix Business Park and Amazon mega-warehouse.

Cheryl Kastrenakes, executive director of the Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association, said the group spent the last two years monitoring ridership on the existing route and looking at possible routing and scheduling changes.

"Besides the routing to MCCC, we wanted to make the route more efficient by providing more bus service to areas underserved by transit, streamline the route where it is underperforming and eliminate duplication of service that is already provided by NJ Transit," she said.

The primary reason for the route change, which goes into effect Aug. 15, was to add service to the college. Officials said it became apparent, after reviewing enrollment and census data, that there was a need for transportation service from the eastern part of the county.

College records show there were 567 enrolled students from East Windsor and Hightstown last semester.

MCCC to have free shuttle bus to mall

"Increased access to employment and educational opportunities is the purpose of re-aligning and expanding service for Mercer County's Route 130 Connection bus route and we are so pleased to partner with the college and the TMA to add additional transportation options," Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes said.

The first bus leaves East Windsor's Town Center Plaza at 7:55 a.m. and arrives at the college at 8:45 a.m. In total, there are five trips to the college and nine return trips.

Other changes include:

• Increasing the number of trips between Trenton and the Exit 8A warehouses from two to three, while also shortening the traveling time with a more express route;
• Adjusting the route's timing to make it easier for workers to connect to the 'ZLine' at Hamilton Marketplace; and
• Running more frequent service on weekdays and Saturdays

Saturday service will only operate from East Windsor and Hightstown bus stops to Hamilton Marketplace.

Though service to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton and some trips to and from the Hamilton Rail Station are being eliminated, NJ Transit has bus routes to provide alternate service.

The Route 130 bus line is funded in part by a grant from NJ Transit. The fare is $1 each way and exact change is required.

More information is available at gmtma.org.

Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The family of Kenneth Howard, who fell unconscious in police lockup and later died, settled a 5-year-old lawsuit with the city last month

TRENTON - It's been five years since Kenneth Howard was found unconscious on the floor of a Trenton police jail cell in January of 2011 - and last month the case started to finally reach a close. 

Just one week before the suit was scheduled to go to trial, Howard's family settled a wrongful death lawsuit with the city of Trenton for $690,000 late last month, Robin Lord, an attorney representing the family, said.

The settlement will still need to be approved by the city council - either this month or next month - but Lord said the decision provided some closure for Howard's family.

"This has been going on for so long," Lord said.

Family of man who dies in lockup sues city

The family sued in December 2011 after the 55-year-old Howard, who was being held in the jail on warrant charges, was found unconscious in his cell from cirrhosis of the liver on Jan. 14, 2011.

He was undiscovered for seven hours, although authorities have said police should have been checking on him every half hour. Howard died from chronic liver failure the next day, leading the family to claim officers had failed to properly check on Howard while he was detained.

Apart from the lawsuit, the incident also resulted in charges against police officer Joseph Schiaretti and police aides Jose Millan and Richard Reyes, who were accused of falsifying records to cover up in the infrequent checks on Howard.

The charges against the men were dropped in November 2011 when the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office decided the matter should be handled administratively by the police department.

Lord noted that the decision was not an admission of guilt on the part of the city. She said that Howard's death "never should have occurred."

Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman 

The process to consolidate the township's 9 districts got a fast start last year, but it's had problems.

HAMILTON -- It's been almost a year since Hamilton fire districts started publicly supporting the idea of consolidating the nine districts into one, thereby creating a single, unified firefighting force.

Around the same time, the township firefighters' two unions took the lead and announced a plan to do it: by seeking signatures from residents on petitions that would allow the township council to start public hearings on it.

The township council and Hamilton Mayor Kelly Yaede pledged support.

No official timetable was announced, but all involved said they were eager for action.

Now, after problems certifying the petitions, and ongoing discussion on the delivery of a state report on Hamilton's fire service, will consolidation happen in 2016?

"Yes," Hamilton Councilman Ed Gore said Tuesday.

Well, he hopes so.

Gore plans to make a request at the next council meeting that the council president scheduled hearings in September. "I am going to start pushing it," he said.

The council president, Illeana Schirmer, could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday, but she's been vocal in moving the effort forward as soon as possible.

Gore reiterated Tuesday that technically, the council could start dissolving districts one at a time, and have them absorbed into an existing district. But council members and firefighters have said they'd like to see it done in a single coordinated effort.

How long will report on Hamilton fire service take?

Mike Kiernan, president of the firefighters rank-and-file union, said Tuesday he and the officers union are little skeptical.

"We don't know if it's going to happen this year," Kiernan said. "We're were not against it (starting in 2016), we just want to make sure when it's done its done correctly for the residents."

"Once it's done, this will be the system the residents will have to deal with the next 100 years," Kiernan said, referencing how Hamilton's current nine district system is nearly a century old.

Kiernan said the unions continue to collection signatures from residents to bolster the number of petitions due to irregularities in voter records discovered by the Hamilton clerk's office during the initial certification process earlier this year.

The unions, joined by Yaede, publicly turned in 2,500 petitions to the clerk in March.

But in May, the township clerk's office said they found nearly 10,000 Hamilton voters are assigned to the wrong fire district in Mercer County's voter database, maintained by the Mercer County Board of Elections, which delayed the process significantly.

Also in the mix is the state study, by the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), of Hamilton's fire service, which Yaede sought last year to aid the consolidation process.

The mayor requested it in October and it began in December, with a comprehensive survey sent to all fire districts.

In June, the state said it could be ready by the end of July, this year. 

On Tuesday, a DCA spokeswoman said the report is ongoing and those working on it are "reviewing voluminous documentation."

"It is anticipated that this document will be completed and shared with the township toward the end of the summer," the spokeswoman said in an email.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

TRENTON- With the flurry of moves the Yankees made before the MLB trade deadline, it was a lock that some of the prospects would end up in Trenton, sooner or later. J.P. Feyereisen falls into the sooner category. The relief pitcher, who came over in the Andrew Miller trade with Cleveland, moved from Akron to the Thunder. He jumps...

TRENTON- With the flurry of moves the Yankees made before the MLB trade deadline, it was a lock that some of the prospects would end up in Trenton, sooner or later.

J.P. Feyereisen falls into the sooner category. The relief pitcher, who came over in the Andrew Miller trade with Cleveland, moved from Akron to the Thunder. He jumps from the thick of one pennant race to another, with the white-hot Thunder just three games back of Reading in the Eastern Division standings. 

Trenton also started the day six games up on the Hartford Yard Goats, who happen to be in town for a three-game set starting Tuesday night, for the second playoff spot from the division. So bringing in Feyereisen, who was 4-3, with a 2.33 ERA and six saves with the RubberDucks, should bolster the already strong Thunder bullpen.

Minor League Men roll into Trenton on quest to see every ballpark

"A couple of days ago I got the call," Feyereisen said. "I actually was woken up in the morning by the Indians minor league coordinator, Carter Hawkins. He called me, woke me up, and said I was traded to the Yankees, and Brian Cashman would be giving me a call."

"It is great," Feyereisen said. "We were in the playoff race over there, but now we are looking like we can win this side. It is going to be a lot of fun down the stretch here."

Thunder manager Bobby Mitchell was excited to get another quality arm for an already-strong pen.

"Yeah, it is always a good thing to welcome an arm like that, for sure," Mitchell said. "He will fit right in to our bullpen. I am not sure how we are going to use him in the beginning. He will be off today (Tuesday) with the trade, so he will be ready to go tomorrow."

Feyereisen indeed watched on as his new team beat Hartford 11-4, with an eight-run rally in the bottom of the eighth inning. It moved the Thunder to 69-40, and gave them a seven game cushion over Hartford.

Feyereisen faced the Thunder just twice this year with Akron. He was tagged for three runs in a 6-1 Trenton win on April 23, but came back on May 2 and struck out the side in the top of the ninth for a 2-1 Akron win. But with just two innings of work against his side, Mitchell has limited memory of the 23-year-old righty.

"He has a big arm," Mitchell said. "We faced him twice, and he did well once and we got him once. He was their closer then. So he has that mentality, which is huge, for any type of reliever when you come in. He is a big, strong kid, and we are really happy to have him here to help an already-strong bullpen."

"Right now, he will be in the middle," Mitchell said. "He will probably slide in to the fifth-sixth, sixth-seventh type of guy. Then we will see how it goes from there. I don't know how things are going to pan out in our bullpen coming up, so it is kind of hard to see."

For now, Feyereisen is ready to help his new team in any role that he can.

"Honestly, I don't know (where they will end up putting him)," Feyereisen said. "I am most likely going to be a short-stint guy, one or two innings. Hopefully it is in game situations that we can win ballgames."

"If they want to put me in the closing role, I would be comfortable there," Feyereisen said. "I have done it before. I am sure that they are winning a lot of ballgames here, so it would be fun to pitch a lot of innings."

Thunder's Adams has a chance to be special

Two Thunder players were called up to Triple A Scranton Wilkes-Barre. Pitcher Jordan Montgomery (9-4, 2.55 ERA) and infielder Cito Culver (.252, 40 RBI) made the jump, and it is not sure if either will be back for the stretch run. But with reinforcements on the way from Tampa, the Thunder may not miss a beat in their chase of Reading for an Eastern Division title.

Contact Sean Miller at seanmillertrentontimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean

Trenton police worked with community members on 80-plus locations for the event.

TRENTON -- Residents from all neighborhoods in all wards celebrated National Night Out Tuesday.

Police officers, firefighters and EMS crews stopped by many of the parties, which ranged from simple barbecues, to large block parties.

Mayor Eric Jackson and police commanders stopped by several of the wards to talk with residents, including Police Director Ernest Parrey Jr.

National Night Out is an annual, national event aimed at strengthening bonds between communities and the first responders that protect them.