Police & Fire Top Stories
By TAPINTO SPARTA STAFF
May 31, 2026
TRENTON, NJ – A Sparta man has been found guilty of fraud related to $2.1 million in Paycheck Protection Program or PPP and Economic Injury Disaster Loans or EIDL funds.On May 28, Nikenson Jean Mathurin, aka Nik Mathurin, aka Jean Mathurin 46-year-old Sparta resident, was found guilty of three ...
NEWARK, NJ – Sparta woman Dominique Saczawa was sentenced to 20 years in prison and 15 years supervised release on four child pornography charges in US District Court on May 18, US Attorney Robert Frazer announced.Saczawa, 34, and Russell Lynn Davis Jr, 47 of Texas had previously pleaded guilty in ...
SPARTA, NJ – A 21-year-old Morris Township man died in a car crash on Route 15 on Sunday. According to Sparta Police Captain Tom Snyder, township police officers responded to the scene of a one-car crash on Route 15 near Layton Lane around 12:45 a.m.Police said preliminary investigation showed the ...
SPARTA, NJ – A small crowd gathered at town hall on Sunday evening to usher in Light the Night week. Several members of the Sparta Township Fire Department attended with two fire trucks.Mayor Dean Blumetti, Deputy Mayor Mike Slyvester, Councilwoman Marjy Murphy and Councilman Mark Scott attended. ...
SPARTA, NJ – Days after a brush fire in Lake Mohawk, the township council presented Fallen Firefighters Foundation's Amy Hayowyk with a proclamation for Light Up the Night for Fallen Firefighters week.Deputy Mayor Michael Sylvester discussed the details of the “substantial brush fire this weekend, ...
SPARTA, NJ – The unsung heroes of safety in Sparta, the 13 dispatchers that serve Sparta and four other municipalities were celebrated last week during 2026 National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.Sparta Police Chief Jeff McCarrick said, “Our dispatchers are the first voice someone hears with ...
SPARTA, NJ – Sparta Township Fire Department responded to a brush fire in the woods between Fairway Trail and Golfview Terrace on Sunday around 1 p.m. Two firefighters had to be treated for heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation with one transported to the hospital where he was treated and released, ...
SPARTA, NJ – Milton Road will be closed between Glen Road and Crystal Rock Road on Thursday, April 16 and Friday, April 17 for gas line installation in the area of Hayward Road, according to township officials.While this will not affect homeowners in the area, other drivers are advised to follow ...
SPARTA, NJ – A woman reported to the Sparta Police Department because she appeared to be drunk. On March 23, around 1:58 p.m. Sparta Police Officers Michael Lania and Christopher Botta found Barbara Rothstein at a business on White Lake Road, police said. Rothstein, a resident of Hopatcong, had ...
SPARTA, NJ – A Newton man is facing charges after he tried to out run police on Route 15. On March 6, 2026, around 8:43 a.m. Officer Christopher Fligel clocked 28-year-old Newton resident Andrew Lang driving 92 mph in a 55 mph zone between south of Main Street, police said.The officer turned on his ...
SPARTA, NJ – An employee of Sparta Dairy was arrested for theft. On March 13, 2026, Branchville resident Maria Rizzo, 36 was taken into custody by Sparta Police, they said.According to Sparta Police Captain Tom Snyder, over the course of approximately one year, “Rizzo stole approximately $18,589 ...
PHILLIPSBURG, NJ - Three Phillipsburg residents have been arrested in connection with the alleged illegal dumping of dogs across Sussex County, authorities said.Joshua R. Ciemniecki, 18, Robert Ciemniecki, 74, and Kaila McNeill, 30, all of Phillipsburg, in Warren County, NJ were charged with animal ...
SPARTA, NJ – Sparta Township firefighters and police officers responded to a brush fire on Alpine Trail around 11 p.m. on Monday, March 16. It turned out to be a car that was on fire.Strong winds brought down a tree limb, which in turn, caused a high-voltage electricity wire to fall onto the ...
BROOKLYN, NY – Sparta residents and businessmen Joseph Passalaqua and Raymond Pirrello Jr pleaded guilty to three counts in Federal Court on Tuesday, March 3. The Change of Plea hearing occurred before Judge Kiyo Matsumoto.Facing a maximum sentence of 45 years in prison, Passalaqua and Pirrello ...
SPARTA, NJ – The forecasted blizzard conditions for Sussex County have led to many cancellations for Monday. Gov. Mikie Sherrill has declared a state of emergency for the entire state. Sparta Township public school has been canceled for Monday.Sparta Town Hall will be closed Monday.Sparta Library ...
NEWTON, NJ – Cash, a car, silver coins and a silver bar were confiscated from Devin Pupo following his arrest for illegally "manufacturing and distribution of controlled dangerous substances and money laundering” on May 23, 2025. On February 17, 2026, Pupo pleaded not guilty to each of seven counts ...
ANDOVER, NJ – UPDATE - Many of the dogs were rescued from the fire at OCSAR by people who arrived on the scene before firefighters. So far there is no information about any people or dogs who may have been injured in the fire.The Sussex County Fire Marshal and police are on the scene, which is not ...
SPARTA, NJ – The victim of fatal accident that happened on Route 15, on Tuesday, February 10 around 8:30 p.m. has not been identified by police.According to Sparta Police Captain Thomas Snyder, a commercial vehicle struck and killed a 63-year-old man who was outside of his disabled car, parked on ...
SPARTA, NJ – With brutal cold weather expected through the weekend, several locations are available for anyone needing to warm up and charge their devices according to Sparta Police Chief Jeff McCarrick.The lobby of the Sparta Police Department at 65 Main Street and Sparta VFW at 66 Main Street are ...
SPARTA, NJ - A Sparta woman is facing drunk driving and other charges after police responded to Route 605 following up on a call from a concerned citizen. Officer Erick Finley and Joseph Febus found the reported red pickup truck in the area of Park road and Hillside Trail, Police said.The driver ...
SPARTA, NJ – No one was injured in a two-car crash though one driver was charged with drunk driving. On December 16 around 5:57 p.m. Officer Harry Chewning responded to the crash on Route 181 near 301 Lafayette Road, according to police.During their investigation of the crash scene, officers ...
SPARTA, NJ – Sparta Police Officer Michael Poon rescued a dog from the icy waters of Lake Mohawk on Wednesday, December 17. “We are incredibly grateful for Ptl. Poon’s courage and dedication, and we also want to thank the concerned citizens who immediately contacted us to report the dog in ...
SPARTA, NJ – An investigation started by Sparta Police Detectives in July has yielded the arrests of an attorney and two accomplices. On December 12, 2025 Randolph resident Gary D Grant 68, Sarabjeet S Madhan, 34 and Bandana S Madhan, 37 both of Woodbury, New York were arrested on numerous accounts ...
SPARTA, NJ – One Sparta firefighter was injured and three cats died in a fire likely set by 45-year-old resident Samuel Kirkpatrick. According to police Kirkpatrick is facing numerous charges after setting his home, 194 Springbrook Trail on fire, according to the Sparta Police Department. The ...
SPARTA, NJ – During the holiday season, Sparta police will have an increased presence to crack down on drunk driving. The annual Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign funds overtime pay for officers through the Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund provided to the township by the New Jersey Department ...
SPARTA, NJ – A tree has reportedly fallen across Woodport Road. Motorists are advised Route 181/Woodport Road is closed between Mara Boulevard and Pine Cone Lane. “We have many roads closed in town due to trees down and power lines,” Sparta Police Captain Thomas Snyder said. “Detours are set in ...
SPARTA, NJ – Township officials have announced construction on Main Street will cause traffic delays from Route 181/Woodport Road to Glen Road. The work and delays are expected between 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.Construction will continue through November 7, according to township ...
SPARTA, NJ – A potential crisis was averted on Friday when Sparta Police Department found a missing 18-year-old autistic woman in the woods on Sparta Mountain. Within about two hours of the initial call to police, she was found by Detective Matt Pletcher “deep in the woods, uninjured and happy to ...
SPARTA, NJ – The Sparta VFW’s front yard will host the annual Sparta Township First Responders Hanging with Heroes party on October 17 from 6 to 9 p.m. Spartans of all ages are invited to meet Sparta Police Officers, Firefighters, Ambulance Squad members and members of the VFW. “Dress up in your ...
SPARTA, NJ – Many residents visited the library on Wednesday to have Coffee with a Cop, as well as donuts and cookies. Lots of children visited with Sparta police officers too. “This year was the largest turnout for Coffee with a Cop. Our officers had some great conversations and were able to ...