MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Acting Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Morris County Acting Chief of Detectives Chris Kimker, and Chatham Township Police Chief Thomas Miller announce the arrest of an individual for a series of residential burglaries and vehicle thefts in Chatham Township.

During the month of September 2020, Chatham Township Detective Muta Blanford, with the assistance of the Morris County Auto Theft Task Force (MCATTF) began an investigation into a series of residential burglaries and motor vehicle thefts that occurred in Chatham Township. As a result of this coordinated investigation by the MCATTF, Elijah Lott was identified and subsequently charged with multiple offenses related to these incidents. Lott is alleged to have burglarized three residences in Chatham Township and stole items of value from the residences. In addition to the residential burglaries, Lott is accused of burglarizing vehicles at these residences, stealing items from the vehicles, as well as theft two of the vehicles themselves. Some of the residences were occupied by residents at the time of the alleged burglary.

The MCATTF developed Lott as a suspect using an intelligence-driven model of investigation, using shared resources, and a variety of investigative methods that corroborated initial information and ultimately identified him as the prime suspect in these criminal offenses.

Background on Morris County Auto Theft Task Force
During 2018, 2019, and 2020, Morris County Law Enforcement identified a significant increase in motor vehicle burglaries and thefts within Morris County. In total, there were 640 motor vehicles stolen in Morris County during this three year time period.

As a result of this crime increase, the impact on the community, and the potential for violent crime to be committed during the thefts or additional crimes committed using the stolen vehicles, the Morris County Chiefs Of Police Association, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Intelligence Unit, and the Morris County Sheriff’s Office devoted significant investigative resources to develop intelligence and target the individuals responsible for victimizing property owners residing in Morris County.

As a result, the Morris County Auto Theft Task Force (MCATTF) was created, which is comprised of local and county law enforcement agencies. The MCATTF also works collaboratively with the New Jersey State Police Auto Theft Task Force to identify and focus investigative efforts into the organized criminal auto theft gangs that are negatively affecting the quality of life in North Jersey, including Morris County.

The arrest of Elijah Lott stems from the creation of this task force and as a result of their work, Elijah Lott, 22, was charged with the following:

• Six (6) counts of third-degree burglary;
• Five (5) counts of third-degree theft;
• One (1) count of second-degree theft; and
• One (1) count of second-degree conspiracy to commit burglary and theft.

Elijah Lott is currently lodged in the Bergen County Jail in accordance with the Criminal Justice Reform Act. Under the bail reform act, a motion for pretrial detention has been filed.

Acting Morris County Prosecutor Carroll stated: “The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office is committed to investigating and prosecuting burglars and thieves who prey on our residents and violate the sanctity of their homes.

Through the coordinated efforts of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Intelligence Unit, and the Morris County Auto Theft Task Force, and the Chatham Township Police Department, we pledge our commitment to assisting all law enforcement agencies within Morris County with the investigative and legal resources available to solve these types of crimes. The involved police departments and their officers are commended for their efforts and intelligence sharing, which led to this arrest and which demonstrates our collective commitment to keeping Morris County safe.”

Acting Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll also wishes to thank the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, Montville Police Department, Morris Township Police Department, Chatham Township, and the East Hanover Police Department for devoting resources and personnel to the Auto Theft Task Force.

Editor’s Note: An arrest or the signing of a criminal complaint is merely an accusation.  Despite this accusation, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until he or she has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

MORRIS COUNTY — Acting Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Acting Chief of Investigations Christoph Kimker, and New Jersey State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan announce the sentencing of Nicholas Zarantonello, 25, of Lake Hopatcong. The sentence stems from a fatal boating incident that occurred on August 3, 2019.

Zarantonello was sentenced on Friday, October 23, 2020, by the Hon. Stephen J. Taylor, P.J.Cr. to three years probation conditioned upon 364 days imprisonment in the Morris County Correctional Facility and completion of 200 hours of community service. The defendant must also forfeit his right to operate a boat for one year and to operate a motor vehicle for three months.

Zarantonello had previously entered a guilty plea on July 20, 2020, to one count of third-degree Strict Liability Vehicular Homicide before Judge Taylor.

He also entered a guilty plea to the boating regulation violation of Operating a Vessel Under the Influence.

The charges arise from a single-vessel boating incident that occurred on Lake Hopatcong in Jefferson Township on August 3, 2019. The investigation revealed that Zarantonello was the driver of a pontoon boat on Lake Hopatcong with two passengers. Jonathan Gil, of Mount Arlington, was a 2013 graduate of Roxbury High School who was working as an X-ray technician in Cedar Knolls. He was survived by his mother, Monica, and twin brother Jonathan.

While traveling on Lake Hopatcong, one of the passengers went overboard and did not resurface. His body was located in the water in Lake Hopatcong on August 5, 2019.

Further investigation revealed that Zarantonello had consumed alcohol prior to operating the pontoon boat and was intoxicated at the time of the incident.

MORRIS COUNTY — Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 191. The Order extends the Public Health Emergency that was declared on March 9, 2020, through Executive Order No. 103, which was previously extended on April 7, May 6, June 4, July 2, August 1, August 27, and September 25. Under the Emergency Health Powers Act, a declared public health emergency expires after 30 days unless renewed.

“Today’s new COVID-19 case count marks our highest daily figure since May,” said Governor Murphy. “As we face a steep increase in cases, it could not be more important to ensure we have access to all available resources. Keeping New Jerseyans safe is our highest priority, today and every day. We are again extending the Public Health Emergency in order to do exactly that.”

Executive Order No. 191 extends all Executive Orders issued under the Governor’s authority under the Emergency Health Powers Act. It also extends all actions taken by any Executive Branch departments and agencies in response to the Public Health Emergency presented by the COVID-19 outbreak.

For the full text of Executive Order No. 191, click here.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Clerk Ann F. Grossi, Esq., announces the inclusion of additional extended office hours to help voters navigate the 2020 General Election.

The Clerk’s Office will be open on Saturday, October 24^, 2020, and Saturday, October 31, 2020 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon.  Due to the current pandemic, all voters entering the building will be subject to a temperature check and must wear a face mask. CDC protocols also require limited access to the building in order to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

The Morris County Clerk’s Office is located in the Administration and Records Building, 10 Court Street, first floor, Morristown.

MORRIS COUNTY — Some drivers would find reprieve from the hours-long line at the Motor Vehicle Commission under a bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Aura Dunn and passed by the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee today.

The bill (A4632) requires the MVC to make the written portion of the driver’s license exam available online during the Covid-19 public health emergency.

“I refuse to wait idly while the administration continues to steer us in the wrong direction. My measure provides a practical solution to a big problem at the MVC,” said Dunn (R-Morris). “The administration has let drivers wait in the heat for hours during the middle of a pandemic when we live in a digital age and a vast majority of us are learning and working from home.”

After a nearly four-month coronavirus shutdown, the MVC reopened in July to frustrated drivers who stood for multiple hours waiting to get into an agency. The backlog has not improved as people continue to snake around buildings during what many health experts are calling New Jersey’s second wave of Covid-19 outbreaks.

“We can and should move certain services online to protect people’s health and save time during the pandemic,” said Dunn.

Those taking driver’s license exams online would need to certify that they did not use any reference materials or receive assistance from another individual. Drivers under 18 would be required to have a parent or guardian present.

MORRIS COUNTY — On October 20, 2020, Acting Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll joined New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon, and the Hope One Team on a virtual outreach forum for youth and their parents to talk about suicide prevention and promote HOPE ONE, a pair of mobile recovery access vehicles which offer critical support for persons struggling with addiction and mental health. Presenters included Tracy Klingener, Director of Suicide Prevention Services, Mental Health Association of Essex & Morris, and Kelly LaBar, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, Prevention is Key – Center for Addiction Recovery, Education & Success (CARES).

Visiting over 500 locations and 15,000 contacts in the community, HOPE ONE operates in partnership with the Morris County Department of Human Services, the Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris, Family Promise of Morris County, the Center for Addiction Recovery, Education & Success (CARES), and Daytop New Jersey.

Offering immediate services to persons suffering from substance use disorder and opportunities to connect with recovery resources, HOPE ONE recently deployed a second vehicle in August. Vehicles and their staff – a plainclothes Sheriff’s officer, a mental health clinician, and a certified peer recovery specialist – travel throughout Morris County and visit locations known to have at-risk populations, homeless individuals, and histories of drug transactions and overdose deaths. Individuals may approach the vehicle seeking treatment or information about services. HOPE ONE also offers free NARCAN Nasal Spray, a product that may reverse the life-threatening effects of an opioid overdose, and training for how to administer it to family members and friends of those suffering from opiate addiction.

During a Q&A session, attendees asked how to find HOPE ONE, advice on stigma-free language, and how to start the conversation on suicide prevention and substance use disorder.

Acting Prosecutor Carroll said, “The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office believes in the HOPE ONE program and we pledge to General Grewal and Sheriff Gannon our full support.”

MORRIS COUNTY — Lily was rescued from a local, municipal shelter where she came in in a very, very bad shape. Lily was part of a neglect case and they soon realized she was pregnant and reached out to us.

While Lily clearly had a hard life before coming to us, she is undergoing professional training and is doing so well. Due to her past, Lily has a hard time trusting strangers. She absolutely loves her family but will need people to understand her limitations with strangers. Lily can live with other dogs and children 16+!

Lily definitely enjoys a walk and a romp in the yard, but she is not a high energy pup despite her being so young. She also loves to play with toys!

If you’re looking for a dog who wants to give you all the love in the world and more, apply to adopt Lily today!

If you are interested in adopting, please fill out an application by clicking here.

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MORRIS COUNTY — Governor Phil Murphy announced his nomination of Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan, Ed.D., as the next Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education.

“From day one, I pledged to select a Commissioner of Education with experience in public education. We fulfilled that promise through the nomination of Dr. Repollet, and maintain that promise today,” said Governor Murphy. “A product of New Jersey’s public schools, Angelica has worked at all levels of education and knows exactly what our teachers and students need to succeed. She is an exemplary educator and I’m confident she is the leader we need to carry our school communities through the remainder of this pandemic and beyond.”

“I’d also like to thank outgoing Interim Commissioner Kevin Dehmer for his tireless service during an unprecedented time for the Department and our state,” continued Governor Murphy. “He’ll continue to serve the DOE as CFO and Assistant Commissioner and will work alongside Angelica to advance an agenda that puts our students’ health, achievement, and well-being first, and maintains our state’s reputation as home to the nation’s best public education system.”

“I am a proud product of New Jersey’s magnificent public education system and I have dedicated my career to ensuring that the children of this state continue to get the type of education I received,” said incoming Acting DOE Commissioner Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan.  “I am extremely proud the Governor has put his faith in me to continue New Jersey’s tradition of educational excellence.”

“Thank you, Governor Murphy, for the opportunity to serve as Interim Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education during this period of transition,” said Interim Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education Kevin Dehmer. “It has been a great honor to serve New Jersey school administrators, educators, students, and parents. Together we developed a strong framework that continues to put student success in a safe environment as our top priority.  Best wishes to the incoming Commissioner as she continues to build upon the New Jersey education system as the best public schools in the nation.”

“We look forward to working closely with Dr. Allen-McMillan in her new role. Strong leadership is more important than ever right now as New Jersey’s public schools continue to navigate this challenging school year,”

New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) President Marie Blistan, Vice President Sean M. Spiller, and Secretary-Treasurer Steve Beatty.

“We are committed to working with the new commissioner to ensure that our students are safe, healthy, and learning and we look forward to bringing the voices of working educators to the table to ensure that happens. At a time when every classroom, virtual or in-person, looks very different than before, it is more important than ever to listen to the people who are still helping our students flourish.

Dr. Allen-McMillan is taking the helm of America’s premier public school system. We can maintain that excellence and build upon it by continuing to invest in public education, respect educators, and prioritize student success. We trust that, as an experienced educator herself, the commissioner shares those priorities and will work alongside us to lead new Jersey’s public schools to even greater success and even better outcomes for the students we educate.”

Since 2018, Dr. Allen-McMillan has served as Interim Executive County Superintendent for Morris County, where she supports and oversees school districts within the county on behalf of the Department of Education.

For over 25 years, Dr. Allen-McMillan has worked as a teacher and administrator in various school communities throughout New Jersey. From 2017 to 2018, she served as Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education for the Newark Public Schools system. Prior to holding that position, she served as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instructions in the Irvington School District.

She also served as a middle school Life and Physical Science teacher in the East Orange School District, the Executive Director of the Marion P. Thomas Charter School in Newark, Assistant Principal of Clinton Elementary School in Maplewood, and Principal of the Marshall School in South Orange.

Dr. Allen-McMillan will replace Interim DOE Commissioner Kevin Dehmer, who has held the position since the appointment of former DOE Commissioner Dr. Lamont Repollet as the next President of Kean University in July 2020. She will serve as Acting Commissioner until she is confirmed by the State Senate.

Dr. Allen-McMillan is a graduate of Cornell University, where she received a baccalaureate degree in Industrial and Labor Relations. In addition, she received a master’s and a doctorate degree in Education, Leadership, Management, and Policy from Seton Hall University

She resides in Montclair with her husband, Randy, and their three children, Faizah, Jada, and Jason.