OCTOBER 21 INFORMATION ON LONGFELLOW AVENUE HOME INVASION AND SEXUAL ASSAULT, JOINT STATEMENT FROM MAYOR BRINDLE AND CHIEF BATTILORO, PRESS RELEASE FROM UCPO AND THE WESTFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT. The neighboring town of Scotch Plains put out an alert to residents saying "Please use extreme caution," and to "be on the lookout for any suspicious individuals who may be following you.". SPRINGFIELD Two 26-year-old men were sentenced to state prison Thursday after admitting to a Westfield home invasion. Authorities obtained a search warrant for Rhues home on Oct. 21 and found in the dryer the same clothes the man seen on surveillance video was wearing a red hooded sweatshirt and maroon pants. Derek Webb, 24, of 44 Mechanic St., and James Kosko, 36, of 123 Meadow St., were arraigned at Westfield District Court on May 23. He faces charges of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, first-degree robbery, second-degree burglary and two weapons offenses. 2021-10-22. Investigators are looking for people with security footage or knowledge of suspicious activity yesterday afternoon in the vicinity of Longfellow Avenue and asked them to call the police at 908-789-4000. Town of Westfield, NJ. Convictions on crimes of this nature are commonly punishable by terms of up to twenty years in state prison. Visit us. Authorities are seeking security footage in connection with a home invasion that injured one person and prompted a significant police presence in Westfield. Various surveillance videos from the neighborhood show Rhue return to a car registered to his father and drive back to Plainfield, authorities said. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). A significantly enhanced police presence has been established and additional patrols have also been deployed throughout Town as this investigation continues.". We are grateful for the collaboration with the local and State law enforcement agencies who assisted our Office in quickly locating and apprehending the suspect, Prosecutor William Daniel said in a statement. Law enforcement strongly discourages residents from approaching or confronting anyone they believe resembles the suspect and instead contact police. . March 1, 2023. ABS granted approval in principle (AIP) to Value Maritime (VM) for its Carbon Capture System onboard seagoing vessels. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Police have been circling the area since Tuesday, but some residents said more officers are needed. IMG_9158 Three suspects took off in a vehicle after the robbery, but officers quickly tracked them, made a traffic stop and arrested them. Latest news Anyone who may know the suspect or has any information about the individual is urged to contact Union County Prosecutor's Office at 908-347-2474 or Westfield Police Department at 908-789-6078. MSP tweeted out the information that the driver died at 1:59 p.m., updating its initial information that the tanker truck had overturned and was burning. PLAINFIELD - A 22-year-old city man who was charged in the Oct. 19 home invasion and sexual assault of a Westfield woman has now also been charged in connection with an armed sexual assault in the . An exhaustive investigation led by the Union County Special Victims Unit and the Westfield Police Department, and assisted by the Union County Sheriffs Office Crime Scene Unit, the New Jersey State Police Regional Operations Intelligence Center (R.O.I.C. Oct 22, 2021, 6:24pm Updated on Oct 22, 2021. The most . Authorities acknowledged there were questions about unreleased details in the case but said that decision was in the best interest of the investigation. By: News 12 Staff. Last murder was 5 years ago. Tips can also be submitted anonymously by phone at 908-654-TIPS (8477) or online at www.uctip.org; submission of tips made in this fashion that result in an indictment and conviction can be eligible for a reward of up to $10,000 via the Union County Crime Stoppers. UPDATE: Plainfield Man Charged with Westfield Home Invasion, Rape of Woman. Authorities make arrest in Westfield sexual assault & home invasion. (Previous coverage) A woman in New Jersey returned home from a jog to a nightmare. Copyright 2023 WABC-TV. Sources told CBS2 the female victim, a mom, entered her house at around 1 p.m. on Tuesday, and was in another room and unaware the suspect was hiding in her bathroom armed with a kitchen knife. Authorities say he broke in while the victim was out, and he brandished a knife when she entered. The woman escaped and ran to the house of a neighbor, who called 911, authorities said. BETHESDA, Md. The home invasion happened in the same neighborhood where a home on Cacciola Place was ransacked by four men on Aug. 16. WESTFIELD, NJ - A Plainfield man was arrested early this morning after being criminally charged with sexually assaulting a woman during a home invasion in Westfield on Tuesday, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel and Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro jointly announced Friday. The man had to behospitalized, according to Battiloro. Terence Rhue, 22, is charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, first-degree robbery, second-degree burglary, third-degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon in connection with the attack. "The victim was forced back into his home at gunpoint by three males," reads a Westfield police department report. Car Reviews. October 21, 2021 / 5:24 PM The Blue Devils overcame a slow start, really kicking this into gear late in third quarter and early in the fourth to move onto Sunday's state Group 4 final We provide personal insurance in 10 states, commercial insurance in 21 states and surety products in 50 states through a network of more than a thousand leading independent agencies. 2021-06-10 - Westfield Police Chief Announces . 7:00 pm Westfield Meditation: Path . Prosecutors in New Jersey say the man behind an armed home invasion has been arrested and charged for sexually assaulting a woman in one of the state's . Husband has been ruled out. These criminal charges are mere accusations. Members of the public are strongly discouraged from approaching or confronting any individuals they believe to resemble the suspect composite but are instead advised to contact members of law enforcement. Westfield Police Department patrol units responded to the area of Forest and Longfellow Avenues at approximately . We've sponsored the Cleveland Cavaliers Straight "A" All-Stars . WESTFIELD An arrest was made Friday after a woman was raped in a home invasion after she had returned from a lunchtime job . Rhue is currently being held at the Union County Jail pending a court hearing. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. The arrest came after an intense collaboration among Westfield, Fanwood and Scotch Plains PD and the Union County Prosecutor's Officer. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNJ. The UCPO said there was a report of sexual assault during the incident as well and it is being investigated by the office's Special Victim's Unit. Subscribe to Patch: https://patch.com/subscribe. The attackers pistol-whipped the resident, police said at the time. A brief, chilling history, Shooter among 2 adults, 2 children dead in Linden, NJ Sunday shooting, Equal Employment Opportunity Policy and EEO Report. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Anyone with information about this matter is still urged to contact Prosecutor's Office Detective Annie Coll at 908-347-2474 or Westfield Police Department Detective Betsy Savnik at 908-789-6078. Officials released a composite sketch of the suspect (above). Copyright 2021. A multi-agency investigation led authorities to Rhue, who is being held in the Union County Jail. By Charlie Dwyer. They say Rhue broke into the home and assaulted the woman inside. Westfield home invasion under investigation A home invasion sexual assault that took place in Westfield Tuesday is under investigation, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel and Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro jointly announced this morning. People who live in the area have been on edge as police searched for the suspect who hid in a woman's home and sexually assaulted her Tuesday. "This does not appear to be a random act. The chief asked anyone with information about the incident to call 908-789-6077. (The Westfield News) - Two city men were arraigned in Westfield District Court after being arrested for home invasion.Derek Webb, 24, of 44 Mechanic St., and James Kosko, 36, of . 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. As a mom, as a daughter and wife and first female mayor of this town, I feel this very personally and it brings out all of our vulnerabilities and fears. It . WESTFIELD, NJ Westfield police are working alongside the Union County Prosecutor's Office to find the suspect in the violent home invasion that took place near Longfellow and Forest Avenues on Tuesday. CBS2's Meg Baker contributed to this report. The Indianapolis man who pleaded guilty in the 2013 Westfield home invasion and murders of a woman and her daughter has been sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. "This was a dangerous call for service and our residents should be extremely proud of these officers and the way they performed.". Oct 22, 2021, 6:24pm Updated on Oct 22, 2021. Prosecutors in New Jersey are investigating an armed home invasion and sexual act that happened in one of the state's higher-end income communities earlier this week, officials said Thursday. Meet Jonathan Gotschall from Pok Fresh with locations in Cuyahoga Falls and Highland Heights . Topics you care about, straight to your inbox. 1 min read. Terence Rhue, 22, is charged with first-degree aggravated sexual . Police were called to the scene, but the attacker had run off by the time they arrived. The snow will transition to a . Rhue is currently being held in the Union County Jail pending a First Appearance. All Rights Reserved.425 East Broad Street, Westfield, NJ 07090. It's just even more jarring," Brindle said. It's the one place you feel like you should be safe.". People who live in the area have been on edge as police searched for the suspect who hid in a woman's home and sexually assaulted her Tuesday. Each month, the Cavs and Westfield will feature a new Small Business Spotlight winner. She revealed to Hasan Minhaj on "The Daily Show" that she got banned from the Anaheim theme park for 30 days because she took a photo in a secret bathroom. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Authorities make arrest in Westfield sexual assault & home invasion. The Union County Special Victims Unit and the Westfield Police Department are leading the investigation with assistance from the Union County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Unit and New Jersey State Police, authorities said. It's all here. This the worst thing that you could imagine happening, especially in your own home. First published on October 21, 2021 / 5:24 PM. When the woman entered the bathroom the suspect approached her at knife point and began sexually assaulting her. Be in the know. Westfield, (Union County) New Jersey, U.S.A., is an attractive suburban community located approximately 25 miles southwest of New York City. "We haven't had really any violent crime happen to us for several years. Please enter valid email address to continue. Sainsbury's is planning to close two Argos depots over the next three years in a move that will impact more than 1,400 jobs. He was said to be wearing blue surgical gloves and a blue face mask. The suspect is described as a man with a dark complexion, in his 20s or 30s, with a thin build but muscular. She eventually fought off the attacker and ran from the scene to a neighbor's for help. October 22, 2021 / 1:53 PM The attackers pistol-whipped the resident, police said at the time. "Our officers were on the scene within two minutes of their dispatch," Battiloro said on Facebook. WESTFIELD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A New Jersey community is on edge as police search for the suspect in a frightening home invasion and sexual assault in Union County. Anyone with information is asked to contact Union County Prosecutors Office Detective Annie Coll at 908-347-2474 or Westfield Police Department Detective Betsy Savnik at 908-789-6078.