News from Ocean & Monmouth counties and around New Jersey.

TRENTON - Governor Chris Christie will join Eric Scott across the Townsquare News Network tonight for Ask The Governor starting at 7PM. Hear it on 92.7WOBM & 1160 & 1310. You can also watch a live video stream and participate in the live interactive blog at WOBM.com.

TOMS RIVER - About 65 bags of heroin, a .38 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun and drug cutting and distribution items are scooped up in a township home and two suspects are under arrest in connection. Robert Callahan, 31, and Michelle Brown, 23, were collared Monday inside the Bash Avenue house by members of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Special Operations Group, SWAT Team, Toms River Police and a township K-9 team.  Authorities also seized a video surveillance system aimed at the approach to the house and an emergency-frequency police scanner.

BARNEGAT -A township man survives a self-inflicted gunshot to the head after being cornered by Ocean County warrant officers Monday night. Ocean County Executive Assistant Prosecutor Mike Paulhus says that Carmine Maggio, 51, was alone in the Redwood Drive house when investigators and New Jersey State Police arrived to arrest him on a warrant issued in Arizona. Paulhus says that Maggio refused to surrender, instead running to the bathroom and pulling the trigger of a small-caliber handgun. Maggio is being treated at Atlanticare Regional Trauma Center in Atlantic City.  Anyone with information that can help the ongoing probe should call either Barnegat PD Detective Bill Hetrick, 609-698-5000, or Ocean County Detective Brian Haggerty, 732-929-2027.

TRENTON - A dentist from Holmdel with a practice in Hazlet is charged with swindling Medicaid. New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa says that Ping Cai, 49, is accused of billing the federal service for about $39,000 worth of denture work and tooth fillings he never performed, between January 1, 2007 and January 1, 2010. Cai is charged with second-degree health care claims fraud, punishable on conviction by up to 10 years in state prison and fines as high as $150,000; and two third-degree counts of Medicaid fraud, which carry maximum three-year prison terms and up to $10,000 in fines apiece.

TOMS RIVER - Two eyewitnesses to the murder of Lakewood patrolman Christopher Matlosz testify against the accused killer during a pre-trial hearing. Reports say the men positively identified Jahmell Crockam as the shooter. He's charged with the murder and several weapons offenses. He's also charged with another unrelated murder. The pre-trial hearing continues today with opening arguments to the jury due to start tomorrow.

TOMS RIVER - It's going to cost you more to go to school At Ocean County College. Reports say the Board Of Trustees voted to increase tuition by 4.3 percent. That comes out to be about 4 dollars per credit. The last increase was four years ago. The school also approved its $60 million budget.

TRENTON - Shore Assembly members Brian Rumpf, Dianne Gove, Amy Handlin and new Senator Sam Thompson score big with Americans For Prosperity. They're among 19 state lawmakers perceived in their Taxpayer Scorecard survey as voting on behalf of taxpayers in the last session. Their ranking of 80 percent or more earned them the title Defender Of The Taxpayer. Senator Mike Doherty - a Tea Party favorite for a US Senate run - hit 90 percent or above, one of five legislators tabbed Hero Of The Taxpayer.

TOMS RIVER - Yet another home-invasion robbery in Toms River, this one around 10PM Sunday night, according to police. A 19-year-old man reported three black men and a white man with handguns who broke into his house and took his wallet while he was playing a video game with four friends. He told investigators that they wore dark clothes and red bandannas.

BEACHWOOD - Three Beachwood men face drug charges following a probe by Ocean County investigators. 26 year old Frank Caruso, 59-year-old Robert Schnering Junior and 26-year-old Robert Schnering the Third are charged with possession of more than a half-ounce of cocaine along with three pounds of marijuana and under a half-ounce of heroin with intent to distribute. The elder Schnering was released, while the remaining defendants were placed in the Ocean County Jail.

TOMS RIVER- Cocaine, marijuana, a handgun and a Mercedes, all components in what Ocean County investigators say was a drug ring they cracked in Brick and Lakewood. 29 year old Steven Stallworth and 24-year-old Karissa Hughes of Brick were arrested Wednesday along with 20-year-old Matthew Davis of Lakewood. Hughes was released on a summons but Stallworth and Davis were placed in the Ocean County Jail on drug and weapons counts. The car was impounded.

 

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