James Cannici Charged in Fatal Crash
Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Acting Chief Donald Fritz Jr. of the Old Bridge Police Department announced on July 17, 2023, that an Old Bridge man has been charged in connection with a fatal crash that occurred on July 16, 2023, on Route 18 and Ferris Road.
On July 16, 2023, at approximately 11:17 P.M., authorities responded to Route 18 and Ferris Road following the report of a crash. Upon their arrival, authorities located a serious motor vehicle crash involving three vehicles. Florence Akoma, 45, of Sayreville, a passenger in a Honda Accord involved in the crash, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the same Honda Accord sustained significant injuries due to the crash.
After an initial investigation led by Detective Dan Haviland of the Old Bridge Police Department and Detective James Alleva of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, it was determined that a Nissan Rogue operated by James Cannici, 20, of Old Bridge, turned left from Ferris Road onto the wrong side of Route 18 and struck a Honda Accord and a third vehicle. Cannici was arrested at the scene for Driving While Intoxicated.
On July 17, 2023, Cannici was charged with first-degree Aggravated Manslaughter, second-degree Vehicular Homicide, third-degree Aggravated Assault, and fourth-degree Assault by Auto. Cannici is presently lodged at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center pending the results of a pre-trial detention hearing in Superior Court.
The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information or surveillance footage is asked to call Detective Haviland of the Old Bridge Police Department at 732-721-5600 ext. 3210 or Detective Alleva of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-745-4011.
OLD BRIDGE TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS:
The Old Bridge Township Police Department made the following arrests May 1, 2023 through May 31, 2023:
On May 1, 2023, Francis Wayne Henry, a 64-year-old Piscataway resident, was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, and Open Container of Alcohol Beverage in a Motor Vehicle following a motor vehicle crash in the area of Englishtown Road. He was processed and released pending a court date. Officer Serpico was the arresting officer.
On May 2, 2023, Joel Alvarez, a 40-year-old Manalapan resident, was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, Open Container of Alcoholic Beverage in a Motor Vehicle, Failure to Observe Signal, and Traffic on Marked Lanes following a motor vehicle stop in the area of Route 34. He was processed and released pending a court date. Officer Serpico was the arresting officer.
On May 7, 2023, Jose A. Rodriguez, a 39-year-old Perth Amboy resident, was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Unlicensed Driver, Open Container of Alcoholic Beverage in a Motor Vehicle, Reckless Driving, and a warrant out of Paterson following a motor vehicle stop in the area of Route 34. He was processed and released pending a court date. Officer Massa was the arresting officer.
On May 7, 2023, Javier Camacho, a 40-year-old Morganville resident, was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, Hindering Apprehension, Exhibiting False Documents as Proof of ID, and warrants out of Perth Amboy and Keyport following a motor vehicle crash in the area of Route 35. He was processed and released pending a court date. Officer Jaikissoon was the arresting officer.
On May 9, 2023, Kevin D. Polito, a 28-year-old Matawan resident, was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated and Reckless Driving following a motor vehicle stop in the area of Route 34. He was processed and released pending a court date. Officer Symanski was the arresting officer.
On May 12, 2023, John L. Burroughs, a 33-year-old Old Bridge resident, was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Traffic on Marked Lanes, Failure to Observe a Traffic Signal, and Reckless Driving following a motor vehicle stop in the area of Route 9. He was processed and released pending a court date. Officer Wilson was the arresting officer.
On May 14, 2023, Ariana Mae Silowka, a 22-year-old Spotswood resident, was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated and Reckless Driving following a motor vehicle stop in the area of Englishtown Road. She was processed and released pending a court date. Officer Cavaiola was the arresting officer.
On May 15, 2023, Ramon Jorge Olivares Hernandez, a 38-year-old Freehold resident, was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, Unlicensed Driver, Traffic on Marked Lanes, and Open Container of Alcoholic Beverage in a Motor Vehicle following a motor vehicle stop in the area of Route 9. He was processed and released pending a court date. Officer Walsh was the arresting officer.
On May 16, 2023, a 54-year-old Old Bridge resident was arrested and charged with Domestic Violence related Simple Assault. She was processed and released pending a court date. Officer Petrides was the arresting officer.
On May 16, 2023, Dmytro Bubela, a 32-year-old Old Bridge resident, was arrested and charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of CDS (suspected Crack Cocaine) following a motor vehicle stop in the area of Route 9. He was processed and released pending a court date. Officer Perrone was the arresting officer.
On May 17, 2023, Christina Marissa Bellafronte, a 52-year-old Morganville resident, was arrested and charged with Possession of CDS (suspected Heroin), Possession of CDS (suspected Crystal Meth), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Drug Possession by a Motor Vehicle Operator following a motor vehicle stop in the area of Route 18. She was processed and released pending a court date. Officer Annuzzi was the arresting officer.
On May 17, 2023, Vebi Canka, a 55-year-old Old Bridge resident, was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, and Careless Driving following a motor vehicle crash in the area of Ticetown Road. He was processed and released pending a court date. Officer Rivera was the arresting officer.
On May 25, 2023, Alyssa Lee Link, a 19-year-old Old Bridge resident, was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, Responsibility in Accidents, and Failure to Report a Motor Vehicle Accident following a motor vehicle crash in the area of Inverness Drive. She was processed and released pending a court date. Officer Annuzzi was the arresting officer.
On May 25, 2023, a 33-year-old Old Bridge resident was arrested and charged with Domestic Violence related Simple Assault, Criminal Mischief with Damage, and Harassment. He was processed and released pending a court date. Officers Petrides and Walsh were the arresting officers.
On May 27, 2023, Monica Dasilvasampaio, a 23-year-old New York resident, was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, and Traffic on Marked Lanes following a motor vehicle stop in the area of Route 34. She was processed and released pending a court date. Officer Landi was the arresting officer.
On May 27, 2023, Gary Schade, a 53-year-old Tinton Falls resident, was arrested and charged with Possession of CDS (suspected cocaine) in the area of Wawa on Route 18. He was processed and released pending a court date. Officer Gavares was the arresting officer.
On May 27, 2023, Jonathan Moises Nunez, a 35-year-old Aberdeen resident, was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, Refusal to Consent to Breath Samples, and Refusal to Submit to Chemical Testing following a motor vehicle crash in the area of Route 9. He was processed and released pending a court date. Officer Goy was the arresting officer.
On May 28, 2023, Andrew J. Garciso, a 30-year-old Staten Island resident, was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, Refusal to Consent to Breath Samples, and Refusal to Submit to Chemical Testing following a motor vehicle stop in the area of Partridge Road. He was processed and released pending a court date. Officer Rhoades was the arresting officer.
On May 28, 2023, Frankie Garcia, a 37-year-old Edison resident, was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Open Container of Alcoholic Beverage in a Motor Vehicle, Reckless Driving, Traffic on Marked Lanes, Failure to Observe Signal, Refusal to Consent to Breath Samples, and Refusal to Submit to Chemical Testing following a motor vehicle stop in the area of Ferry Road. He was processed and released pending a court date. Officer Rivera was the arresting officer.
On May 31, 2023, Armin Jesus Romero Perez, a 47-year-old North Middletown resident, was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, Unlicensed Driver, Consumption of Alcohol by a Motor Vehicle Operator, and Uninsured Motor Vehicle following a motor vehicle stop in the area of Route 9. He was processed and released pending a court date. Officer Micich was the arresting officer.
On May 31, 2023, John P. Alexander, a 58-year-old Sanbornton New Hampshire resident, was arrested and charged with Possession of CDS (suspected Meth) following a motor vehicle stop in the area of Route 9. He was processed and released pending a court date. Officer Annuzzi was the arresting officer.
On May 31, 2023, Harry Pepe, a 55-year-old Old Bridge resident, was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving and Refusal to Submit to Chemical Testing following a motor vehicle accident in the area of Route 9. He was processed and released pending a court date. Officer Brady was the arresting officer.
The names of defendants who are juveniles, involved in domestic violence incidents, or involved in ongoing investigations have been removed.
Officers responded to or initiated 4,684 calls for service between May 1st, 2023, and May 31st, 2023, including 212 motor vehicle accidents, 174 alarms, 365 first aid calls, 19 fire calls, 110 suspicious person/vehicles, and 108 welfare checks.
Press release prepared by Acting Chief of Police Donald F. Fritz, Jr.
Yolanda Ciccone, of Metuchen, the former Assignment Judge of Somerset County, was sworn in as Prosecutor of Middlesex County during a brief ceremony officiated by retired Judge and former Prosecutor Alan A. Rockoff.
In June 2020, Governor Phil Murphy nominated Yolanda Ciccone to be the Prosecutor of Middlesex County. She was confirmed by the Senate on June 15, 2020, beginning a five-year term as the county prosecutor.
Prosecutor Ciccone began her legal career in 1980 as a law clerk to the Hon. John E. Bachman J.S.C. and Hon. Theodore Appleby, J.S.C. In September of 1981, Prosecutor Ciccone began working as an Assistant Prosecutor in Middlesex County.
During her ten years in the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, Prosecutor Ciccone had a number of different duties including Chief of the Juvenile Division, advisor to the Narcotics and Gambling Task Force, oversaw the Hate Crimes Task Force and negotiated memorandums of understanding with 23 of the Middlesex County school districts.
In October of 1991 Governor Jim Florio nominated Prosecutor Ciccone to the Superior Court, Middlesex County. During her tenure as a Superior Court Judge, Ciccone served in the Family, Criminal and Civil Divisions. She was the Presiding Judge of the Civil Division from 2005 to 2006.
In September of 2006 Chief Justice Deborah Poritz selected Ciccone to be the Assignment Judge of Vicinage 13 compromising Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren counties.
Prosecutor Ciccone earned her law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law in Newark, NJ, and is a graduate of Douglass College at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ.
Following her being sworn into office, Prosecutor Ciccone swore in assistant prosecutors, detectives, and staff who work in the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office via a virtual ceremony.
The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office oversees 26 municipal and university/college police departments as well as the County Sheriff’s Department and is amongst the busiest in the state. The office handles more than 6,500 criminal complaints annually, has a budget of $20.7 million and employs just over 200 people.
