MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, and Montville Police Chief Andrew Caggiano confirmed charges have been filed in connection with a four-year-old student left on a school bus.

On July 10, 2025, it is alleged that a four-year-old, special needs student was left on a school bus parked in a bus yard for approximately two-and-a-half hours unsupervised. The child’s absence that morning was observed by staff at Valley View Elementary School in Towaco. Staff contacted the child’s parents, who advised the child boarded the school bus that morning. The child was subsequently located on the bus, parked in the bus yard. The child was transported to an area hospital for treatment for an elevated heart rate and low blood pressure.

As a result of subsequent investigation, Frank J. Blair, 61, of Hamburg, the school bus driver, has been charged with second-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(2). It is alleged that the driver did not check the bus pursuant to state statute and company policy.

Blair has been released from custody on conditions to include no supervision of juveniles. 

The investigation was conducted by the Montville Police Department and Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit.

Editor’s Note: The court’s rules require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and/or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

NEW BRUNSWICK — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill has named Dr. Dale Caldwell, a seasoned educator, civic leader, and pastor, as her choice for lieutenant governor in the upcoming November election.

Caldwell, 65, brings a multi-faceted background in education, government, and nonprofit leadership to the Democratic ticket. A lifelong resident of New Brunswick, his extensive public service includes 26 years on the New Brunswick Board of Education and leadership roles with the New Brunswick Housing Authority and the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey.

Currently serving as president of Centenary University in Hackettstown, Caldwell has also held positions at Fairleigh Dickinson University and led the USTA Eastern Section. He is a published author and an ordained pastor at Covenant United Methodist Church in Plainfield.

In announcing her choice, Sherrill pointed to Caldwell’s legacy of service, rooted in a family history of civil rights activism. His father, Rev. Gilbert Caldwell, marched in Selma alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Dale has dedicated his life to lifting others — in the classroom, in the pulpit, and in the community,” said Sherrill. “He’s exactly the kind of leader New Jersey needs.”

Caldwell echoed Sherrill’s vision, calling for fresh leadership that rejects complacency. “We won’t be tied to old systems that don’t work,” he said. “Together, we’ll focus on opportunity, equity, and affordability for New Jersey families.”

The campaign is set to hit the ground running this weekend, as Sherrill and Caldwell begin a statewide tour to rally support. They will face Republican Jack Ciattarelli in what is expected to be a closely watched general election.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, Florham Park Police Chief Joseph Orlando, and Denville Police Chief Scott Welsch confirmed charges have been filed against several individuals allegedly engaged in conspiracy to commit the acts of residential burglary, motor vehicle theft, fencing, receiving stolen motor vehicles, and computer criminal activity.

It is alleged that between September 2024 and December 2024, Tyshawn Hoover, Samad Foster, Deeend Coleman-McRae Zayanna Overby, a juvenile, and other yet to be identified co-conspirators were involved in a conspiracy spanning multiple jurisdictions. The investigation revealed Hoover and Foster to be leaders in this network.

Data obtained via warrants, surveillance video, and other stored records available through mobile devices allegedly placed Hoover, Foster and Coleman-McRae in the area of a Sept. 20, 2024 residential burglary/vehicle theft in Florham Park, in which two suspects entered the victim’s residence, removed a key fob for a 2023 Land Rover, and stole the vehicle. The investigation also determined Hoover fenced the 2023 Land Rover.

It is also alleged that Hoover and Foster were in the area of a November 20, 2024 attempted residential burglary/attempted vehicle theft in Florham Park, in which the suspects arrived at the victim home in a stolen vehicle and two suspects attempted to enter a locked 2022 Honda Civic and residence by damaging the screen of a window. The would-be burglars were interrupted and fled.

Hoover, along with members of his auto theft trafficking network, are also alleged to have been in the area of a residential burglary and vehicle theft in West Orange that same day, and sent messages evidencing an attempt to fence a Mercedes Benz GLE that was stolen in West Orange.

Further investigation revealed that Foster is alleged to have continuously provided a woman, later identified as Zayannah Overby, with license plates of luxury vehicles so she could use her Newark Police Department civilian employee access to learn what addresses were associated with these vehicles so they could be stolen and fenced. It is further alleged that Overby ran the license plate of a Land Rover registered to the Florham Park home that was subject to the attempted residential burglary/attempted vehicle theft on November 20, 2024, with no lawful request do such.

Additional investigation placed Hoover and a juvenile at the scene of a motor vehicle theft, that being an unoccupied, running BMW M5, in Denville on December 5, 2024.

During the course of the investigation, a search warrant was executed at a residence in Hillside, and at that time, Coleman-McRae and Jameer D. Smith were located in the residence and found in possession of suspected controlled dangerous substances, specifically cocaine and heroin. An additional search via amended search warrant also located two handguns, one of which was defaced, two large capacity firearm magazines, and drug distribution paraphernalia. Approximately $7,060 in suspected narcotics proceeds were also seized.

The following individuals were arrested as a result of this investigation to date, and have been charged in Morris County:

Tyshawn Z. Hoover, 24, of Newark:

• Conspiracy to Commit Residential Burglary, Motor Vehicle Theft, Fencing, Receiving Stolen Motor Vehicles & Computer Criminal Activity in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2 & 2C:18-2.2, 2C:20-10.1, 2C:20-7.1(b), 2C:20-10.2 and 2C:30-2(a), Second Degree
• Leader of an Auto Theft Trafficking Network in violation of N.J.S. 2C:20-18, Second Degree
• Use of a Juvenile in Theft of Auto, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-17, Second Degree
• Motor Vehicle Theft, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-10.1, Second Degree
• Fencing, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-7.1(b), Second Degree
• Criminal Attempt/Residential Burglary, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a & N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2.2, Second Degree
• Criminal Attempt/Motor Vehicle Theft, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a & N.J.S.A. 2C:20-10.1, Third Degree
• Burglary (residential burglary committed before October 18, 2024), in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2(a)(1), Third Degree
• Two (2) counts of Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-10.2a, Third Degree
• Motor Vehicle Theft, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-10.1, Third Degree
• Criminal Mischief, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:17-3, Disorderly Persons

Samad A. Foster, 29, of Newark:

• Conspiracy to Commit Residential Burglary, Motor Vehicle Theft, Fencing, Receiving Stolen Motor Vehicles & Computer Criminal Activity in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2 & 2C:18-2.2, 2C:20-10.1, 2C:20-7.1(b), 2C:20-10.2 and 2C:30-2(a), Second Degree
• Leader of an Auto Theft Trafficking Network in violation of N.J.S. 2C:20-18, Second Degree
• Motor Vehicle Theft, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-10.1, Second Degree
• Criminal Attempt/Residential Burglary, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a & N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2.2, Second Degree
• Criminal Attempt/Motor Vehicle Theft, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a & N.J.S.A. 2C:20-10.1, Third Degree
• Burglary (residential burglary committed before October 18, 2024), in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2(a)(1), Third Degree
• Two (2) counts of Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-10.2a, Third Degree
• Criminal Mischief, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:17-3, Disorderly Persons

Deeend T. Coleman-McRae, 25, of Hillside, has been charged in Morris and Union counties with:

• Conspiracy to Commit Residential Burglary, Motor Vehicle Theft, Fencing, Receiving Stolen Motor Vehicles & Computer Criminal Activity in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2 & 2C:18-2.2, 2C:20-10.1, 2C:20-7.1(b), 2C:20-10.2 and 2C:30-2(a), Second Degree
• Motor Vehicle Theft, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-10.1, Second Degree
• Conspiracy to Distribute CDS, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2 & 2C:35-5b(2), Second Degree
• Possession of a Firearm While Committing a CDS Offense, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4.1a, Second Degree
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(2), Second Degree
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(2), Second Degree
• Participant of an Auto Theft Trafficking Network in violation of N.J.S. 2C:20-18, Third Degree
• Burglary (residential burglary committed before October 18, 2024), in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2(a)(1), Third Degree
• Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-10.2a, Third Degree
• Possession of Heroin, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1), Third Degree
• Possession of Cocaine, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1), Third Degree
• Money Laundering, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25a, Third Degree
• Possession of a Defaced Firearm, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3(d), Fourth Degree
• Possession of a Large Capacity Magazine, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3(j), Fourth Degree
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia with Intent to Distribute, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:36-3, Fourth Degree

Zayannah T. Overby, 22, of Newark, has been charged in Morris and Essex counties with:

• Conspiracy to Commit Residential Burglary, Motor Vehicle Theft, Fencing, Receiving Stolen Motor Vehicles & Computer Criminal Activity in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2 & 2C:18-2.2, 2C:20-10.1, 2C:20-7.1(b), 2C:20-10.2 and 2C:30-2(a), Second Degree
• Computer Criminal Activity, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-25(c), Second Degree
• Participant of an Auto Theft Trafficking Network in violation of N.J.S. 2C:20-18, Third Degree
• Criminal Attempt/Residential Burglary, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a & N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2.2, Second Degree
• Criminal Attempt/Motor Vehicle Theft, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a & N.J.S.A. 2C:20-10.1, Third Degree
• Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-10.2a, Third Degree
• Criminal Mischief, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:17-3, Disorderly Persons

Jameer D. Smith, 25, of Newark, has been charged in Union County with:

• Conspiracy to Distribute CDS, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2 & 2C:35-5b(2), Second Degree
• Possession of a Firearm While Committing a CDS Offense, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4.1a, Second Degree
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(2), Second Degree
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(2), Second Degree
• Possession of Heroin, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1), Third Degree
• Possession of Cocaine, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1), Third Degree
• Money Laundering, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25a, Third Degree
• Possession of a Defaced Firearm, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3(d), Fourth Degree
• Possession of a Large Capacity Magazine, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3(j), Fourth Degree
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia with Intent to Distribute, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:36-3, Fourth Degree

Pursuant to the Criminal Justice Reform Act, Hoover and Foster remain detained in the Essex County Jail pending motions for pretrial detention, Smith remains detained in the Union County Jail pending a motion for pretrial detention and Coleman-McRae remains detained in the Morris County Jail pending a motion for pretrial detention. Overby was released under the conditions of Pre-Trial Monitoring Level II.

Numerous law enforcement agencies have participated in this investigation, including members of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Special Operations Division, Morris County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations within the Department of Homeland Security, Florham Park Police Department, Union County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Denville Police Department.

Prosecutor Carroll said: “As I said last autumn with the signing of new legislation increasing the penalties for home invasions, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office is taking the concerns expressed by the public and our municipal police chiefs seriously – burglars entering homes has eroded residents’ sense of safety. I applaud all our law enforcement partners for doggedly doing their due diligence to expose this criminal network, especially the efforts of MCPO Lt. James Bruno, MCPO Sgt. Sasha Gould, MCPO Det. Lamar Hagans, Florham Park PD Det. Thomas Belli, Denville PD Det. Michael Ambrose, and Assistant Prosecutor Noelle Fiorentino. It was a time-consuming and expansive investigation and demonstrates excellent multiple interagency cooperation among dedicated law enforcement personnel. We will not hesitate to aggressively use the expanded burglary law when appropriate to hold those who violate the sanctity of our residents’ homes accountable. Our shared goal is to also deter the recruitment of juveniles into criminal organizations, which has become a serious problem.”

Chief Orlando said, “I am grateful to Prosecutor Carroll for hearing and understanding the concerns of our residents and the municipal police chiefs regarding the seriousness of these crimes and the significant role he played in securing revisions to the State statutes enhancing the penalties for the same. I want to thank the outstanding police work and cooperation exhibited across Local, County, and Federal Law enforcement, which was crucial in bringing these cases to a successful conclusion. I particularly want to recognize Detective Thomas Belli, whose extensive and exhaustive investigative efforts identified the involved suspects and set the table for a significantly larger, far-reaching investigation.”

A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, these defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

MORRIS COUNTY — Dr. Maria Isaza, dean of the School of Health Professions and Natural Sciences at County College of Morris (CCM), has been named the recipient of the prestigious “Excellence in Community Engagement Award” from the Sloan Scholars Mentoring Network (SSMN). This honor, which recognizes a Sloan Scholar alum, reflects her outstanding commitment to community engagement and public service, which has positively affected or is poised to make a positive change within her community.  

Born in Colombia, Dr. Isaza immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 21 and immediately began her academic journey at CCM. She furthered her college education with earning a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Saint Elizabeth and later completing a Ph.D. in biomedical science as a Sloan Scholar at Rutgers University.    

She began her career at CCM as an adjunct faculty member. Through unwavering commitment and excellence, Dr. Isaza advanced to full-time professor, assistant chairperson and then chairperson of the Department of Biology & Chemistry. In 2021, she was appointed to dean of the School of Health Professions and Natural Sciences. 

“Receiving this honor is deeply humbling,” said Dr. Isaza. “As an immigrant and a first-generation college student, my journey has not always been easy. But I’ve been fortunate to have the support of mentors, colleagues and community members who believed in me. I carry that spirit forward in everything I do — in the classroom, in leadership and in service.” 

In addition to her academic achievements, Dr. Isaza has been an active and dedicated community leader for over a decade in her hometown of Dover. She has served on the board of the Morris County Organization for Hispanic Affairs (MCOHA) since 2015 and has chaired since 2020. Under her leadership, MCOHA expanded its reach, now serving more than 20,000 individuals annually through programs ranging from food distribution to senior support. Dr. Isaza has also served on the Advocacy Committee at Employment Horizons since 2019 and was appointed to the Morris Area Paratransit System Citizens Advisory Committee.  

Her overall philanthropic nature has resulted in numerous accolades in recent years. This includes the Sloan Scholars Mentoring Network Travel Grant (2019), the CCM Innovation Award (2019), the SHINE Award from Child & Family Resources (2024) and the Impact Award from the National Society of Leadership and Success (2024). She also became the 2025 Honoree of the Hispanic Resource and Information Center of the Newark Public Library. 

“Dr. Isaza embodies the mission of CCM in transforming lives through education and strengthening communities,” said Dr. Anthony J. Iacono, president of CCM. “Her story is one of perseverance and purpose, and her impact reaches far beyond our campus. She is a highly regarded scholar, a leader, a role model and a true force for good in our community. She continues to inspire students and colleagues alike through her passion for service. This is a testament to what’s possible when opportunity meets dedication.” 

For more information about CCM, which offers associate degree programs and a full slate of certificate and workforce development opportunities designed to lead to successful careers, visit www.ccm.edu.