News

On November 15, 2024, a Newark man was sentenced to 9 years in state prison for his participation in the daytime robbery of an Amazon driver in June of 2023.

Union County Superior Court Judge Daniel Roberts sentenced Anthony Torres, age 24, to 9 years in State Prison for second-degree robbery, directing that he must serve at least 85% of that sentence before being eligible for parole.

On Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at about 3:00 p.m. Officers responded to the parking lot of Jersey Lanes, 30 N. Park Ave. The victim, an Amazon delivery truck driver, told the Officers that he parked in the lot to take a break when Torres reached though the open side door into the driver’s compartment and stole his backpack.

The driver exited the van and confronted the suspect, grabbing onto his shirt as he entered a vehicle parked nearby. Torres struck the driver several times in an attempt to break free, and the driver was struck by the vehicle as it fled the scene. The driver suffered minor injuries.

“There is absolutely no place for violent crimes like this in our community,” said Linden Police Chief David Hart. “I’d like to thank the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, as well as the responding Officers and Detectives whose diligent efforts made an extended sentence like this possible.”

Captain Christopher Guenther

The City of Linden and the Linden Police Department announced that they have been awarded a year-long, federally-funded grant focused on improving pedestrian safety. The $20,000 grant, administered through the New Jersey Department of Highway Transportation & Safety, supplements and supports the department’s educational and enforcement efforts throughout the year.

In New Jersey, drivers are required to STOP for pedestrians in a crosswalk and yield to pedestrians walking outside of a crosswalk. Drivers are also advised to slow down and be alert for pedestrians; the risk of death for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling at 23 mph is 10%, but jumps to near 50% if the vehicle is traveling at 40 mph.

“Walking is one of the best things you can do for your mental and physical health, and for the environment,” said Police Chief David Hart. “In Linden, we are committed to keeping our pedestrians safe on the sidewalks and while crossing the street — anywhere that people walk, bike, or roll they should be able to do so without fear or stress. We urge drivers to take the time to look out for pedestrians, slow down, and incorporate pedestrian awareness into their driving routines.”

Despite a nationwide decline in highway fatalities last year, pedestrian fatalities across New Jersey surged 30%. Two hundred and twenty-two pedestrians lost their lives in vehicle crashes, the most since 1968.

For more information about pedestrian safety, please click here.