WOODBURY — An autopsy Monday by the Gloucester County Medical Examiner's Office determined that 10-year-old Matthew McCloskey, of Franklin Township, died of multiple injuries in a collision with a Franklin Township police car Sunday night on Route 47 in Franklin.

The manner of death was listed as accidental.

The driver of the police vehicle, Franklin Ptl. Nicholas Locilento, was responding to a police call for assistance.

 His vehicle was northbound on Route 47 near Elmer Street.

 Ptl. Locilento, 23, was hired as a Class II Special Officer June 26, 2013 and appointed as a full-time Franklin
patrolman Nov. 25, 2014.

He was taken to an area hospital after the collision as a precautionary measure but had no physical injury. He has been placed on administrative leave pending further evaluation.

At the collision scene, two other juveniles were with Matthew McCloskey.

The incident remains under investigation by the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office.

FRANKLIN TWP. — The 10-year-old boy who was fatally injured when he was hit by a township police car  Sunday night has been identified as Matthew McClosky, a 5th grader at the Caroline L. Reutter School.

The boy was hit while crossing Delsea Drive around 7 p.m. Sunday, said authorities.

The Franklin Township police car, driven by Ptl. Nicholas Locilento, was  traveling north on Delsea Drive, responding to a call, according to authorities. The accident happened near Elmer Street, authorities said.

MANTUA TWP. — The body of 58-year-old Theodore Smith III, of Deptford, was found on the bank of the Mantua Creek near the Route 45 bridge Sunday afternoon.

Smith lived abour a half mile from the spot where he was found.

An autopsy Monday determined Smith had drowned, authorities said.

Smith’s wife called Deptford police Sunday morning to report that her husband had not returned home, said authorities.

A Deptford police officer who was looking for Smith found the body, authorities said.

It was determined that he’d been at the Telford Inn Saturday night and when he left there, he told someone he planned to walk home, authorities said.

There was no immediate sign of foul play in Smith’s death. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday.

 

 

DEPTFORD TWP, — On Dec. 12, at the Deptford Rotary Holiday Lunch attended by 130 members and guests, the officers of the Rotary presented Mayor Paul Medany a Check for $500 to help with the costs of Food and Toy Baskets for the Deptford less fortunate. Left to right are Secretary Anita Gates, Vice President Pat Egberts, Mayor Paul Medany, Secretary Daniel Howell and President Dominic Alessandrini.  The event was held at Filomena's Lakeside, Deptford, NJ. 

DEPTFORD TWP. — At least 40 local police officers left Gloucester County Saturday morning to attend the funeral of New York police Officer Rafael Ramos, who was murdered, with his partner, on Dec. 20.

Gloucester County officers said they were going to the funeral out of respect for the fallen officer, a brother in blue.

The entourage left a gathering place in the Deptford Mall parking lot at daybreak Saturday, bound for New York.

The group, mostly members of Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local 122, included officers from East Greenwich, Westville, West Deptford, Paulsboro, Newfield, Deptford, Washington Township, Rowan University, Mantua, Pitman and Gloucester City.

WASHINGTON TWP. — A 23-year-old Washington Township man has been charged with attempted murder and related charges in connection with the critical injury of a 2-year-old boy.

The toddler, the son of the man’s fiancee, has been in The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia since Friday, authorities said. He has been stabilized after being treated for kidney failure and other injuries, but remained in critical condition over the weekend, said authorities.

Giovanni Crucitti, of Buckingham Court, was charged with attempted murder, endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated assault and was lodged in jail in default of $350,000 bail.

DEPTFORD TWP. — The Center for People in Transition at Rowan College at Gloucester County will host an assortment of empowerment, computer-skill, financial and legal workshops to help facilitate all personal New Year resolutions during the month of January.

All workshops are free, unless noted otherwise. Please call 856-415-2222 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register.

FRANKLIN TWP. — A 10-year-old boy reportedly was killed while crossing Route 47/Delsea Drive at about 7 p.m. Sunday after being struck by a Franklin Township police car.

The accident happened near the intersection of Delsea Drive and Paul Street. Witnesses reported three boys had run across the highway in front of the police car in a foggy drizzle.

Delsea Drive was closed between Coles Mill and Williamstown roads for the investigation.

WEST DEPTFORD TWP. — Two people have been arrested in connection with three burglaries in West Deptford.

The first burglary was reported on Dec. 16 at a residence in the 1300 block of Lafayatte Avenue. Someone entered through an unlocked window and stole more than $1,000 worth of electronics, jewelry and cash, police said.

The same night, someone broke into a house in the 100 block of Covington Lane, police said, by forcing open a window. Jewelry valued at more than $21,000 was reported stolen, police said.

On Dec. 22, at about 7:32 p.m., a resident of the 1100 block of Vivian Terrace returned home to find an unknown male in his yard, said police. The resident and the man spoke briefly, but the man fled. The resident discovered his home had been entered by forcing open a locked window, police said. Approximately $1,140 worth of electronics and cash was stolen.

West Deptford Investigator Anthony Scirrotto obtained information that led to the arrest on Dec. 22 of Theodore McCollum III, 36, and Christine Bowker, 30, both of West Deptford, police said. Several items were rcovered from all three burglaries, said police.

McCollum was charged with committing two of the burglaries and charged with two counts of conspiracy, two counts of burglary, and two counts of theft. Bail was set at 10-percent of $10,000 for each burglary.

Bowker was charged with committing all three of the burglaries and charged with three counts of burglary, three counts of theft, and two counts of conspiracy. Bail was set at $25,000 full cash for each of the three burglaries.

Both McCollum and Bowker were lodged in the Salem County Jail in lieu of bail.