Gazette Leader Newsnotes (11-18-09)

Nov, 21-2009 6:25 pm

66-year-old victimized by storms

NORTH WILDWOOD – The body of George W. Huber, 66, of North Wildwood, was found floating in deep floodwaters in the 200 block of 18th Street here, on Thursday evening, Nov. 12.

Police said the death, occurring during intense flooding caused by the storms that converged on the area last week, appeared to be accidental.

Huber was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians James J. Reilly Division 1, Loyal Order of Moose 585, and Greater Wildwood Elks Lodge 1896, and he was a longtime Fancy Division Mummer marching with various clubs. He served in the United States Marine Corps, receiving an honorable discharge in 1967.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Dolores L. Miller, ten children, 27 grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchldren.

Services were scheduled to be held at Ingersoll-Greenwood on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 10 a.m.



Three arrested for fishing off bridge, hiding from police

GRASSY SOUND – Middle Township police arrested three men Monday night following an extensive search for a possible “jumper” on the Grassy Sound Bridge. Each was issued a criminal summons for trespassing after being discovered hiding from authorities. The men had climbed down the bridge to go fishing, police said.

According to Sgt. Richard McHale of the Middle Township Police Department, police received a 911 call around 9 p.m. Nov. 16 alerting them to a man possibly wanting to jump off the highest span of the three bridges on Route 147 connecting North Wildwood to the mainland.

Police from Middle Township, North Wildwood and Stone Harbor responded to the scene and were alerted that the man on the bridge may have been there to go fishing. Officers then searched the bridge and surrounding land area, using flashlights and night-vision devices, but were unable to locate anyone.

The United States Coast Guard and New Jersey State Police Marine Bureau were notified and ready to conduct a water search, launching boats from Cape May and North Wildwood, McHale said. The Stone Harbor Fire Department used a small “jet boat” for immediate departure and it checked the entire base of the bridge, he said, but still turned up nothing.

Meanwhile, Patrolman Adam McGraw, of the North Wildwood Police Department, descended 40 feet down a ladder fixed at the top of the bridge and extending to its base, and he located three males hiding from search teams.

Chance Gray, Matthew Newby and Ryan Bailey, all in their 20s and from Lower Township, were arrested on the scene and later released. Further investigation revealed they had climbed down the bridge with fishing gear in an attempt to go fishing, McHale said.

Middle Township police are warning all residents against fishing, exploring, or any other type of activity in the area of all bridges. Trespassing on any bridges here, state- or county-owned, is forbidden, they said. Violations are taken very seriously, said police, and anyone caught in these areas will be arrested and charged with trespassing as well as any other related charges.

Additionally, police said such actions put each violator, as well as all responding rescue personnel, at risk of serious injury, and/or death.



Chamber forum for recall election candidates is next Tuesday

WILDWOOD – On Tuesday, Nov. 24, all candidates for Wildwood Dec. 8 recall election will speak at a breakfast forum conducted by The Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce at the Wildwoods Convention Center.

Networking begins at 8 a.m., and the candidates will answer pre-selected questions beginning at 8:30 a.m. The public is invited to submit questions in advance by placing them in a sealed envelope marked “Candidate Questions” delivered to GWCOC, 3306 Pacific Ave., Wildwood, 08260, by 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20.

A fee of $15 will be charged for the event, covering a breakfast buffet.

Please RSVP by Friday, Nov. 20, at 729-4000.



Bautista’s burglary suspect arrested

WILDWOOD – A 30-year old male suspected of burglarizing Bautista’s Grocery on Nov. 4 was tracked down to a hiding place on East Burk Avenue last week.

Police say that at approximately 10 a.m. on Nov. 4, they responded to a report of an armed robbery at Bautista’s. Upon arrival, they learned that a store clerk was threatened with a carving knife by an Hispanic male who removed more than $1,300 from the store’s cash register before fleeing.

Surveillance video and other leads led police to identify Aaron H. Velez, 30, of 145 East Spicer Ave., as the robbery suspect. A carving knife was seized from Velez’ home on Nov. 4, but Velez was absent from the premises.

On Nov. 10, acting upon tips, members of the Wildwood Detective Division went to apartment number 2 at 219 East Burk Ave., where they discovered Velez hiding under a bed.

Velez was charged with armed robbery, weapon possession crimes, and possession of a controlled dangerous substance.

Bail was set on all charges at $250,000 cash or bond, no ten percent.



Bicyclist critically injured

WILDWOOD – On Monday morning, Nov. 16, a 46-year-old male sustained severe head injuries when his bike hit a car at the intersection of Pacific and Baker avenues here.

The Wildwood Fire Department and Medic9 took the victim – reported to be Wildwood resident Leonard Cryan – to the County Armory in Cape May Court House, where he was medevac’ed to Atlanticare Regional Trauma Center in Atlantic City.

Cryan, reported to be in critical condition, remained hospitalized Monday.

Further details were not immediately available.



Local cops help Middle Township quell brawl

MIDDLE TOWNSHIP – Wildwood and North Wildwood police assisted Middle Township police early Sunday morning as they moved to suppress a large fight that broke out near the Wildwood Park Motel in Burleigh, according to Middle Township police.

Four county residents – Jason Popplewell, 24, of Cape May Court House, Norman Price, 24, of Woodbine, Assad Price, 18, of Woodbine, and Lorenzo Smith, 27, of Woodbine – were charged with aggravated assault as a result of the incident.

Each was held in the county jail on $50,000 cash bail.

According to police, a Rio Grande man was transported from the scene to Cape Regional Medical Center.