Latest news with #MorrisCountyProsecutor'sOffice
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Republican Jack Ciattarelli introduces 2025 running mate in NJ governor election campaign
For his second run at New Jersey governor, Republican Jack Ciattarelli is turning to Morris County Sheriff James Gannon as his running mate. Ciattarelli made it official at a tavern event the morning of July 23. His selection of Gannon as lieutenant governor leaked July 22, but the campaign would not confirm the choice. The two toured the area after the event. Gannon is a native of Boonton Township, where he also started a 39-year career in law enforcement. He was also a member of the township fire company. More: NJ governor election polls: What early surveys say about Sherrill-Ciattarelli He has two brothers and one sister. His father was a New York City police detective. Who is Jack Ciattarelli's running mate James Gannon? Gannon has been sheriff of Morris County since 2017 and was reelected to a third three-year term in November 2023. Gannon has an associate's in law enforcement from County College of Morris and a bachelor's in criminal justice administration from William Paterson University. He joined the Boonton police force after graduation. He also is a former deputy chief of investigations at the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, where he started as a detective. He retired from Novartis Pharmaceuticals as the global head of security risk. Gannon was married for 26 years and has one daughter. His wife, Lisa, died in 2010 from multiple sclerosis. He was president of the Sheriff's Association of New Jersey from 2022 to 2022. More: Morris County Sheriff's Office launches opioid recovery initiative Glenn Paulsen, chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee, in a statement called Gannon 'a bold pick' who 'brings serious political firepower to the ticket.' 'Sheriff Gannon is exactly the kind of leader New Jersey needs,' Paulsen said. 'He's a no-nonsense, results-driven public servant who has spent his entire life protecting our communities and standing up for the values we believe in. "A former beat cop who rose through the ranks to lead high-profile investigations alongside the FBI, Jim Gannon knows what it means to serve — and to lead — with integrity, strength, and compassion.' Ciattarelli is facing off against U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, to succeed Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy. Sherrill has not yet announced a pick for lieutenant governor. In his unsuccessful 2021 gubernatorial campaign, Ciattarelli chose a South Jersey resident as running mate: Diane Allen of Edgewater Park in Burlington County. Allen was a former state senator and before that a television reporter in Philadelphia. (This story was updated to add information.) Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times. Have a tip? Support local journalism with a subscription. This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: GOP 2025 ticket for governor is Ciattarelli, Gannon Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Yahoo
Carlstadt nurse sentenced in school bus death of disabled student from Morris County
A nurse charged with the care of a Morris County man with muscular dystrophy and autism, has been sentenced to 90 days in jail after the 19-year-old's death on a school bus. Emilio J. Rivera, 30, of Carlstadt, will surrender his nursing license following his guilty plea to charges of endangering another person and neglect of a disabled person, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office said on Monday. The sentence, handed down Friday by state Superior Court Judge Ralph Amirata, also includes three years of probation, the office said. The charges followed the 2023 death of Matthew Rossi of East Hanover, who lived with both muscular dystrophy and autism. He died after his airway was obstructed with mucus during a bus ride home from school, according to a lawsuit filed by his family against Rivera and the bus company. Rossi was in good health when he headed off to school the morning of Feb. 10, 2023. But he suffered respiratory distress on his ride home that afternoon that authorities said was not adequately addressed by his nurse. 'Rivera was legally responsible for the care of Matthew, and neglected to perform certain acts necessary for the victim's care which created a substantial risk of serious bodily injury,' stated the joint press release from the Prosecutor's Office and the East Hanover Police Department. Police and emergency personnel were called to Rossi's home 'on a report of an unconscious male,' who had 'just arrived home on the bus from his school. EMS personnel and East Hanover Police officers attempted CPR and other lifesaving intervention. The victim was subsequently pronounced deceased,' the statement reads. Up to 45 days of Rivera's sentence may be served as part of the Morris County Sheriff's Labor Assistance Program; he was ordered to have no contact with the Rossi family. More: School bus safety bill focused on special education students clears NJ Senate There has been a heightened focus on improving transportation safety for students with disabilities in the wake of Rossi's death and other recent tragedies on New Jersey school buses. The state has introduced a new training program for school bus drivers and aides, and proposals in the state Legislature seek further reforms. Assembly bill A-5142, currently under review by the chamber's Education Committee, would require the installation of video cameras and GPS units on buses and would make it mandatory for staff to call 911 during an emergency. Another proposal, S-3447, would create a special education transportation task force to standardize safety practices and improve accountability; it passed the state Senate unanimously last month. This article originally appeared on NJ nurse sentenced in school bus death of disabled student


USA Today
14-03-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Arson investigation launched after fire at Bayer executive's New Jersey home
Arson investigation launched after fire at Bayer executive's New Jersey home Show Caption Hide Caption Health insurance industry faces backlash after UnitedHealthcare CEO death There's a common theme in the wave of unsympathetic posts about UnitedHealth exec Brian Thompson's death: rage against the health insurance industry. PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Multiple federal and state agencies are investigating a possible arson attempt at the New Jersey home of an executive of global pharmaceutical giant Bayer, authorities said. Earlier this week, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office said a fire was reported around 7:30 a.m. on March 4 at an occupied residence in the borough of Madison. The suburban community is about 15 miles west of Newark, New Jersey. The prosecutor's office told the Morristown Daily Record, part of the USA TODAY Network, that Madison firefighters responded to the incident and that the fire was quickly extinguished. No significant property damage or injuries were reported. The prosecutor's office declined to identify the residents of the home, citing an "active and ongoing" arson investigation. Bayer spokesperson Nicole Hayes confirmed to the Daily Record that an incident occurred at the "private home of one of Bayer's U.S. executives," adding that the "family is safe and unharmed." "The safety and security of our employees are of utmost importance to Bayer," Hayes said. "The incident is under active investigation. The company is cooperating fully with the investigation. We appreciate the quick response of local law enforcement." Several agencies, including the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Arson/Environmental Crimes Unit, Morris County Sheriff's Office CSI Unit, New Jersey State Fire Marshals Office K-9 Unit, New Jersey Transit Police, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department, and the New York City Police Department are investigating the incident as a possible arson. On Thursday, the prosecutor's office told NBC News and CNN that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is also assisting in the investigation. The incident was first reported by Yahoo Finance last Friday. UnitedHealth CEO: 'We understand people's frustrations' with health care system What is Bayer? Bayer, an international pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, was founded in Germany in 1863. The company initially focused on manufacturing and selling synthetic dyestuffs, according to the Bayer website. It is now one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies and known for making prescription drugs and other consumer health products such as aspirin, Alka-Seltzer, Claritin, and Aleve. Bayer consolidated its U.S. operations in 2013, opening a new $250 million headquarters in the Whippany section of Hanover Township, New Jersey. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who approved a $35.1 million business incentive grant to keep the company in the state, attended the grand opening. In recent years, the company has been under intense scrutiny after it acquired Roundup under the $63 billion takeover of agrochemical company Monsanto in 2018. Roundup is a popular residential and commercial herbicide widely used by landscapers and agricultural workers. Reuters reported last Friday that Bayer told U.S. lawmakers it may halt the sales of Roundup if it does not receive stronger legal protections against product liability litigation. The company has faced thousands of lawsuits that claimed victims developed a form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma from exposure to glyphosate, which was the active ingredient in Roundup sold for home use until 2023, according to Reuters. Bayer has paid about $10 billion to settle disputed claims. About 67,000 cases are pending, for which the group has set aside $5.9 billion in legal provisions. 'Root cause of health care cost': UnitedHealth CEO remembers slain colleague, talks about health care woes Incident follows increased security measures for companies Last week's incident comes amid heightened security measures and social media vitriol aimed at the health insurance industry and corporate America. Authorities and companies feared potential attacks targeting industry executives after the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December. Thompson, 50, was shot outside a New York City hotel while on his way to speak at an annual investor conference. Luigi Mangione, 26, was arrested following a massive manhunt and faces state charges of murder as an act of terrorism. He pleaded not guilty in December. The shooting sparked an outpour of contempt toward health insurers with people on social media sharing their grievances over denied claims and complaints about perceived greed in the industry. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, videos posted online appeared to show "wanted" posters in New York with the names and faces of other corporate executives. Thompson's death prompted industry peers to remove biographies and photographs of top executives from their websites. Some companies also closed offices or canceled in-person events. "It was an eye-opening experience for many CEOs. ... Most of them think they're anonymous. A great deal of them, they drive themselves to work or just jump in a cab," Matthew Peters, vice president of protective services at security provider Guidepost Solutions, previously told USA TODAY. Contributing: Bailey Schulz, Ken Alltucker, Jeanine Santucci, and N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY; Reuters


NBC News
13-03-2025
- Health
- NBC News
Fire at home of Bayer executive launches multi-agency arson investigation
At least eight agencies are investigating the cause of a fire at the home of a Bayer pharmaceutical executive in New Jersey earlier this month. The fire was reported at around 7:30 a.m. on March 4 and was "quickly extinguished by the Madison Fire Department," according to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office. A statement from the office added that the home was occupied at the time. "The structure sustained no significant damage and there were no reported injuries," the prosecutor's office said. Multiple agencies investigating the matter as arson, including the FBI, New Jersey State Police, Madison Police, Morris County Sheriff's Office, and the NYPD. The Madison Fire Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Bayer confirmed that the home belonged to one of its executives and that the company is fully cooperating with the investigation. "The family is safe and unharmed," the company said. "The safety and security of our employees are of utmost importance to Bayer." Authorities feared potential attacks on corporate executives in the immediate aftermath of the UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting last year. Brian Thompson was in New York City in December to speak at the UnitedHealth Group's investor conference when he was shot and killed. The shooting occurred at 6:44 a.m. outside a Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan that morning. Luigi Mangione, 26, is charged with Thompson's murder and pleaded not guilty in the case. Following the shooting, Americans began to vent their frustration at the medical insurance industry and healthcare executives faced a wave of threats and harassment. "Wanted" posters were plastered around New York City that featured photos of at least two health insurance companies. They were accused of 'denying medical care for corporate profit.' Rebecca Weiner, the New York Police Department's deputy commissioner for intelligence and counterterrorism, said the attack on Thompson risked a "contagion" effect. Chris Pierson, founder of BlackCloak cybersecurity company, told NBC News on Thursday that his firm has experienced a 50% increase in requests since the end of last year. 'Where we have seen the greatest shift, since December, is in executives and boards demanding that these protective services be in place for not only them but their families as well,' Pierson said.


CNN
13-03-2025
- Health
- CNN
An arson investigation is underway after a Bayer executive's New Jersey home catches fire
At least eight agencies are investigating a recent fire at a Bayer executive's New Jersey home as a possible arson, authorities said. The fire happened around 7:30 a.m. March 4 'at an occupied residence on East Lane in Madison,' the Morris County Prosecutor's Office told CNN on Thursday. 'The fire was quickly extinguished by the Madison Fire Department. The structure sustained no significant damage and there were no reported injuries. The victim will not be identified.' Bayer confirmed an incident happened 'at the private home of one of Bayer's U.S. executives,' the global pharmaceutical company said in a statement to CNN. 'The family is safe and unharmed. The safety and security of our employees are of utmost importance to Bayer. The incident is under active investigation. The company is cooperating fully with the investigation. We appreciate the quick response of local law enforcement.' The prosecutor's office said the case is 'an active and ongoing arson investigation by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Arson/Environmental Crimes Unit, Madison Police, Morris County Sheriff's Office CSI Unit, New Jersey State Fire Marshals Office K-9 Unit, NJ Transit Police, MTA Police Department, NYPD, and FBI.' The fire happened three months after United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down on his way to an investors' conference in Manhattan. Since then, many companies have ramped up security for their executives. Bayer, a biomedical and pharmaceutical behemoth, makes drugs such as aspirin, Claritin and Aleve. In recent years, the company has come under heightened scrutiny after it acquired agrochemical giant Monsanto in 2018. Monsanto is the maker of Roundup, a popular herbicide used by homeowners and farmers alike. Thousands of cancer patients or their estates have sued, saying Roundup gave them non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In 2020, Bayer settled lawsuits from cancer patients in a $10 billion agreement. Bayer said the settlement agreements 'contain no admission of liability or wrongdoing.'