Stolen Handgun Recovered During Dispute; Three Arrested

On 10/14/2020 at approximately 6:35 pm, the Riverside Police were dispatched to the 400 block of St. Mihiel Drive for the report of a possible fight.  The caller reported three females attempting to start a fight.  

Upon arrival, the Riverside Police located the three suspects and identified them as Tyeisha Mantez, 26 yrs, Khadija D. Davis-Byng, 28 yrs and Essence A. Tate, 26 yrs.  An investigation ensued which led police to find that the three females recently used illegal narcotics.   During the course of the investigation, the suspect's vehicle was searched.  As a result of that search, a stolen .357 Magnum handgun with 6 loaded rounds of armor piercing ammunition, Clonazepam Rx pills (Schedule IV CDS) and marijuana were all located within the vehicle.  

Tyeisha Mantez was found to have two outstanding warrants for her arrest and the stolen handgun was determined to have been in her possession.  She was arrested, charged and lodged in the Burlington County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing. 

Davis-Byng was found to have two outstanding NCIC warrants for her arrest issued by Camden County Probation.  She was also found to be in possession of several small bags of heroin.  She was arrested, charged and lodged in the Burlington County Correctional Facility pending transfer to Camden County Correctional Facility.

Essence Tate was arrested and charged with Possession of Marijuana 50g or less and released pending court.  

All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.  

 

 Tyeisha S. Mantez, 26 yrs  Camden, NJ

  2C:39-5b Possession of a Handgun 2nd degree

 2C:20-7 Receiving Stolen Property – Handgun 3rd degree

 2C:39-3f Possession of Armor Piercing Ammunition 4th degree

 2C:35-10a(1) Possession of CDS – Schedule IV - Clonazepam

 

Khadija D.  Davis-Byng, 28 yrs  Camden, NJ

2C:35-10a(4)      Possession of marijuana 50g or less (DP)

2C: 35-10a(1)     Possession of CDS – Heroin (3^rd degree)

2C:35-10c           Failure to Turn over CDS to LE

2C:28-6              Tampering w/ Evidence

 

 

 

Essence A. Tate, 26 yrs  Camden, NJ

39:4-49.1            Possession of CDS in a MV

2C:35-10a(4)      Possession of marijuana 50g or less (DP)

 

Riverside Police Participate in 2020 Torch Run

 On Friday, October 8^th, Riverside Police Officers proudly joined officers across the state to participate in the 37^th Annual New Jersey Law Enforcement Torch Run to raise awareness and support for Special Olympics NJ. Officers can be seen carrying the “Flame of Hope”, as well as the American Flag along the 26 different routes that covered approximately 750 miles throughout the state. The run, originally scheduled for June 5^th, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, that did not stop over 3,000 officers from showing up and running for a great cause!

 

Traffic Advisory-Grant Street Construction Beginning October 6, 2020

 

Riverside Township Police

Traffic Advisory

 

Residents and Parents,

 

On October 6, 2020 road work will begin on Grant St. behind the Riverside School. The work will begin between 12:00 pm and 12:30 pm and continue into the early evening.

 

The following will be the impact to the flow of traffic and parking on Grant St. between Paine St and Park Avenue:

• Parking on both sides of the street will be shifted while the work is ongoing, so please be flexible as parking switches from one side of the street to the other.
• The roadway will remain open to traffic during the project.
• Traffic controls will be in place and an officer will be on location each day to assist with any issues that may arise.
• Wednesday October 7, 2020 will be a full construction day beginning at 8:00am, as the school is closed for students.
• Construction is anticipated to last three to four days.

 

The construction is being undertaken in an attempt to mitigate the persistent flooding issues that have plagued Grant Street. The flooding issues have adversely impacted the ability of parents to safely drop off and pick up children during extreme rain events. The Township is hopeful this project will address some of those issues. This project was scheduled to take place prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, but unfortunately like many previously scheduled road construction projects it had to be rescheduled. Any questions can be directed to Riverside Twp. Administrator Meghan Jack at 856-461-1460.

  

Thank You,

 

William T. Eliason

Chief of Police

Riverside Police Welcome Two New Officers

 Last night the Riverside Police Department welcomed two Officers to the Department.  Although they are new full time hires, neither is new to the Riverside Police Department.

Ptl. Michael Hynes was a Class II Special for the Riverside Police Department for one year prior to taking a full time position with the Palmyra Police Department.  While serving as a Class II Officer, Ptl. Hynes received several awards for his community policing efforts in Riverside, including being one of several officers recognized by the Attorney General.  Ptl. Hynes played an integral part in the development of the Kidz Funzone Game Truck, outdoor movie nights, and the Haunted Police Station.  

Ptl. Hynes served with the Palmyra Police Department for the last three years.  We are glad to have him back!

Ptl. Nicholas Strough is another valuable addition to the Riverside Police Department.  Ptl. Strough was a Riverside Police Explorer in high school.  He also worked at Riverside Public Works prior to being hired as a Class II Officer in Riverside.  Ptl. Strough is an E.M.T. and a volunteer firefighter for the Riverside Fire Department.  While employed at Riverside Public Works, Ptl. Strough also volunteered much of his free time to assist with the development of the Kidz Funzone Game Truck, outdoor movie nights, and the Haunted Police Station.

After the swearing in, Chief Eliason presented three officers Exceptional Duty Awards for their response to a call to a volatile call.  Ptl. Brendon Griffin, Ptl. Shane Pettit, and Ptl. Christopher Deffler were recognized for utilizing less lethal force by deploying a Taser in a situation in which deadly force was justified.

All Officers were presented with citation bars from the Burlington County Chief's of Police Association.  The citation bars were presented in recognition of the Officers' dedication and service during the ongoing pandemic.

Developer Faces Criminal Charges over Riverside Watch Case Project

 

Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Riverside Township Police Chief William T. Eliason announced that a New York developer who purchased a historic Riverside commercial building to create luxury apartments in the seven-story landmark has been charged with using the credentials of a potential subcontractor to fraudulently gain approval for electrical permits from the township construction office.

Raphael S. Weiss, 60, of East 18^th Street in Brooklyn, was charged with Computer Criminal Activity (Second Degree), Impersonation (Second Degree), 36 counts of Forgery/Making (Third Degree), and 36 counts of Forgery/Uttering (Third Degree).

 He was taken into custody this morning at the Riverside Township municipal building and lodged in the Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly pending a hearing in Superior Court. The case will now be prepared for presentation to a grand jury for possible indictment.

 The investigation began after a contractor who was negotiating with Weiss to be the electrician of record on the Keystone Watch Case Co. redevelopment project noticed that electrical work had begun at the North Pavilion Avenue site, even though no formal agreement had been finalized and he had not applied for any permits.

 After being denied access to the construction site by Weiss, the electrician went to the township construction office and was told that 36 permits had already been issued in his name and in the name of his business for work to be done at the property. Further examination revealed that the electrician’s signature had been forged on the permits, which were applied for by Weiss, and a counterfeit version of the contractor’s state-issued embossing seal had been used to make an imprint.

 It is alleged that Weiss initiated the scheme as a way to reduce construction costs by fraudulently utilizing the credentials of the licensed electrician to obtain the necessary permits, then hiring unlicensed, unqualified laborers to complete the work at a much less expensive rate.

 Not only was the action illegal, but it also jeopardized the safety of the project, as demonstrated by the fact that the electrical work completed after the fraudulent permits were obtained failed to pass inspection.

 The Keystone Watch Case Co. building was constructed in 1908 and manufactured gold cases for watches. The company employed more than 1,000 employees in 1918, making it the largest watch case manufacturer in the world. The business was treasured as a strong engine in the local economy, with many employees living close enough to walk to work.

 The company closed in 1956, and the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. It was purchased in 2016 by Brooklyn-based SimShabs Capital Partners LTD, of which Weiss is owner and president.

 The plans submitted by Weiss to Riverside Township indicated that the iconic landmark, which has a prominent, highly visible clock tower rising above the roofline, would be converted into 64 luxury apartments.

 “This is a heartbreaking setback for Riverside officials who for years have been working to jumpstart a renaissance in their township, with this property as the centerpiece,” Prosecutor Coffina said. “This defendant has dimmed the hopes of an entire town by his selfish actions for illegal, personal financial gain, and he will face strong penalties as a result.”

Weiss will be prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Andrew McDonnell, supervisor of the BCPO Financial Crimes Unit.

 The investigation, which remains active, is being conducted by detectives from the BCPO Financial Crimes Unit and the Riverside Township Police Department. The lead investigators are BCPO Detective Nicholas Schieber and Riverside Lt. Louis Fisher.

All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Riverside Police Association Shops for Students

Today, The Riverside Police Association and Riverside Police Explorers went on a shopping spree at Target to purchase back to school supplies for students in need.  The supplies  will be donated to the Riverside School and Family Association, as part of their 7th annual back to school supply drive.  We like to thank Adrian of Carpathian Construction, for his $100 donation to the officers as they were checking out.  The officers were able to purchase almost $700 worth of supplies for the students.

 

Delran Drug Dealer Charged with Causing Death of Customer

Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina, Delran Township Police Chief Alfonso A. Parente Jr., and Riverside Township Police Chief William T. Eliason announced that a 27-year-old Delran drug dealer has been charged with causing the death of a Riverside customer who fatally overdose on fentanyl in late 2018.

David Bender, of the Hunters Glen apartment complex on Route 130, was charged with Strict Liability for Drug-Induced Death (First Degree) and Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (Third Degree).

He was taken into custody on August 20 by Delran Township patrol officers and lodged in the Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly pending a detention hearing in Superior Court. The case will then be prepared for presentation to a Burlington County Grand Jury for possible indictment.

The investigation began in October 2018 after Riverside Township police officers were dispatched to an apartment to conduct a wellness check on a man who was locked in a bedroom and unresponsive. Upon arrival, officers found the body of Kenneth Rocco, 38, who was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy performed by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood determined that Rocco’s death was due to fentanyl toxicity. The investigation revealed the drugs that led to Rocco’s fatal overdose had been purchased from Bender.

Bender will be prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Michael Angermeier, supervisor of the BCPO Gang, Gun and Narcotics Task Force.

The case was investigated by the Delran Township Police Department, the Riverside Township Police Department, the BCPO Gang, Gun and Narcotics Task Force and the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit.

All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.