MEC&F Expert Engineers : 09/17/18

Monday, September 17, 2018

Officer Kirt Ricks III, 24, of the Montgomery Police Department died Sept. 7 after he lost control of his 2006 Ford Crown Victoria patrol vehicle and overcorrected into oncoming traffic, where he struck another vehicle, killing its driver driver, 65-year-old Gary Wayne Pinder





Officer Kirt Ricks III was killed Sept. 7. (Photo/Montgomery PD) 
La. officer killed in highway collision

Officer Kirt Ricks III lost control of his patrol vehicle and overcorrected into oncoming traffic Sept. 7

Duty Death: Kirt Ricks III - [Montgomery , Louisiana]

End of Service: 09/07/2018




By PoliceOne Staff

MONTGOMERY, La. — 


Officer Kirt Ricks III of the Montgomery Police Department died Sept. 7 as a result of injuries sustained in a traffic collision. 

Officer Kirt Ricks III was driving his 2006 Ford Crown Victoria patrol car northbound on on U.S. Highway 71 around 6:30 p.m. when he lost control and ran off the right side of the road
 
Ricks, 24, lost control of his 2006 Ford Crown Victoria patrol vehicle and overcorrected into oncoming traffic, where he struck another vehicle, a pickup truck, killing its driver and injuring its passenger. 

Neither Ricks nor the other driver, 65-year-old Gary W. Pinder, were wearing seatbealts at the time of the collision. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. 


A passenger in Pinder's truck, 58-year-old Robert L. Carter of Montgomery, wasn't wearing his seat belt, either. However, he sustained minor injuries.

Officer Ricks is the 33rd law enforcement officer to lose his life in a traffic-related incident in 2018. 


=====================






A service to honor the life of Mr. Gary Wayne Pinder will be at 10 am Wednesday, September 12, 2018, at Northside Baptist Church in Montgomery, LA. Burial will follow at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Montgomery, LA. The family will receive friends from 6 pm until 9 pm on Tuesday, September 11th at Northside Baptist Church.

Gary was born on July 14, 1953, to Herschell and Opal Dement Pinder in Orange, TX. He passed away Friday, September 7, 2018, in Montgomery, LA. He worked many years in the logging industry.

He is preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Sandra Pinder; and a brother, Harvey Pinder.

He is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 30 years, Linda Pinder; two sisters, Diane Shields and Emmett, and Cindy Kane and Ken; two brothers, Ricky Pinder and Monty Pinder and Alicia; stepchildren, Misty Evans and Andy, Jason Bailey and Bridget, Chasity Henderson and Michael, Christy Bailey, Tulena Francis, Greg Varnell, Keisha Dickerson, Chuck Rachal, Teresa Shell and Greg; numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and very special friends, Brenda Guin and Charlene Pinder.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers include Rivers Pinder, David Tarver, Shane Ferrier, DeWayne Thompson, Chase Pinder, and Chance Pinder. Honorary pallbearers will be Robert Carter, Chris Pinder, Jarrod Pinder, Tom Gongre, Kurt Pinder and James “Blinky” Johnson.

Construction worker Marcus Dewayne Billingsley, died in the 50-foot fall at the work site of the Vesta luxury apartment complex on Birmingham's Highland Avenue


Marcus Dewayne Billingsley, died in the fall.  29-year-old father ID'd as man who fell 50 feet to his death at Highland Avenue work site in Birmingham, Alabama







Updated Sep 14; Posted Sep 14


By Carol Robinson

crobinson@al.com


Birmingham, Alabama
 
A Pleasant Grove father has been identified as the worker who fell 50 feet to his death at the construction site of a luxury apartment complex on Birmingham's Highland Avenue.

The Jefferson County Coroner's Office identified the victim as Marcus Dewayne Billingsley. He was 29.

The accident happened about 3 p.m. Thursday at Vesta apartments in the 2100 block of Highland Avenue. Coroner's officials said Billingsley and others were working on the 14th floor to extend the stairwell to the 15th floor. The complex is 17 floors.

There was a piece of wood covering the opening but Billingsley lifted it to do something, lost his balance and dropped to the ninth floor. Authorities said the fall was about 50 feet.

Billingsley was pronounced dead on the scene.

Friends said he leaves behind one son, and said Billingsley was a great father who always put his son first. Two of Billingsley's friends were working along side him when the accident happened and have been hard-hit by the death.


Positioned on the historic Highland Avenue South and 14th Avenue South, the nearly 390,000-square-foot development will consist of 318 luxury units, within an 18-story highrise building and a five-story midrise building. A 502-space parking structure will serve the residents. Estimated to be complete in the fall of 2018, the highly sought after complex will include a top-floor recreation area, complete with a roof-top pool, exercise facility, yoga + Pilates center, outdoor sun terrace and club lounge. The complex has space for future development of a restaurant on the entry level, as well as other luxury amenities. Vesta is the tallest structure under construction in the City of Birmingham in 30 years. 

Road construction worker Frank Caputo, 61, was killed in a Friday night crash on the Tri-State Tollway near Rosemont after a black 2014 Infiniti, crossed into the closed construction area and hit Caputo






Our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and coworkers of Frank Caputo.

Please follow posted speed limits in work zones, day and night, even when workers are not present. Lower posted speed limits in work zones are place to protect workers AND motorists driving in work zones with narrower lanes, lane pattern changes, and uneven pavements. #RespectTheDanger #WorkZoneSafetyAwareness




Construction worker from Bartlett killed in Tri-State Tollway crash


Hannah Leone Chicago Tribune




A construction worker
Frank Caputo, 61, was killed in a Friday night crash on the Tri-State Tollway near Rosemont, Illinois State Police said.

The worker was identified as Frank Caputo, 61, of the 1800 block of Golfview Drive in Bartlett, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

The crash occurred in an area where two lanes were closed for construction on northbound I-294, near milepost 41.

A car, a black 2014 Infiniti, crossed into the closed construction area and hit Caputo around 10:15 p.m. Friday, police said. The Infinity went on to hit a parked, unoccupied white construction van, police said.

The driver and Caputo were both taken to Lutheran General Hospital, where the driver was treated for minor injuries, police said.

Caputo was pronounced dead at the hospital just before 11 p.m. and an autopsy will be performed, according to the medical examiner. 


==================================


Family of construction worker killed in Tri-State Tollway crash devastated: 'His biggest fear was to die this way'



It seemed like Frank Caputo had worked in construction with his family since he could walk, and at 61 years old, he had no plans of retiring anytime soon, his family said.

“He would die with concrete on his hands, and he did,” said Lorraine Richards Caputo, his estranged wife. “His blood ran concrete. He was proud of his job. He was a good worker, and he did a damn good job.”

Caputo was working Friday night on the northbound lanes of the Tri-State Tollway near Rosemont where two lanes had been closed for a construction project. Just before 10:20 p.m., a driver in a black Infiniti crossed into the closed lanes of I-294 near milepost 41 and hit Caputo, Illinois State Police said. The driver, who has not yet been identified, went on to crash into a parked, unoccupied white construction van that was in the area.

Caputo was taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead less than an hour later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. An autopsy was pending.

The driver of the Infiniti was also taken to the same hospital to be treated for minor injuries, state police said. No one else was inside the Infiniti. As of Saturday afternoon, no charges had been filed in the case and the crash remained under investigation, state police said.

Caputo, of the 1800 block of Golfview Drive in suburban Bartlett, had three adult children, two of whom he had with Richards Caputo. Outside of work, he liked singing at karaoke nights. His favorite artists to imitate were Barry White and Joe Cocker. Richards Caputo said if she closed her eyes, it sounded like she was listening to Elvis Presley though Caputo would be the one singing.

He was also a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan and liked watching other sports. He played football in high school and college, Richards Caputo said. On Facebook, he described himself by writing, “I am a man who enjoys life.”

Caputo had worked in the construction business since at least his early teen years, joining other relatives who work in the same field, Richards Caputo said. He worked on major construction jobs on Chicago-area roadways such as the Dan Ryan and Kennedy expressways, she said.

“There is a little bit of my husband out there — his blood, sweat and tears,” Richards Caputo said.

But he knew the job was dangerous and knew people who had gotten hurt, she said. Richards Caputo recalled that Caputo had told her about times when cars had almost hit him while he worked.

“His biggest fear was to die this way,” she said. “We are absolutely devastated.”

In April, the Tribune reported that roadwork zone deaths were down in Illinois from 44 in 2016 to 29 in 2017. In 2016, eight of the fatal crashes in Illinois involved workers, according to a news release from the Federal Highway Administration.

But across the country, the number of work zone fatalities increased by 7 percent. In 2016, a total of 765 people died in these types of crashes compared to 712 people in 2015, according statistics maintained by the Federal Highway Administration.

“The Illinois Tollway offers its deepest sympathies to the family, friends and co-workers of the roadway worker killed last night,” said an emailed statement sent Saturday night. “This incident tragically emphasizes once again the importance of drivers slowing down in work zones for the safety of our construction workers, tollway maintenance workers, state police and first responders,” the statement said.

Richards Caputo said she doesn’t think there are enough protections for construction workers on the road and wants to push for tougher laws. She said she always slows down in construction zones because she thought of Caputo and his relatives, but she always noticed there were distracted drivers around her.

“I’m going to make sure, even if it takes the rest of my life, that he did not die in vain,” she said.

Chicago Tribune’s Hannah Leone contributed.

A Boat Maintenance Crew Supervisor Dies of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning While Using a Gasoline-Powered Pressure Washer









A Boat Maintenance Crew Supervisor Dies of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning While Using a Gasoline-Powered Pressure Washer


SUMMARY


On May 17, 2012, a 25-year-old boat maintenance crew supervisor died from carbon monoxide poisoning while using a gasoline-powered pressure washer to strip paint from a boat.


On the day of the incident, he was supervising a crew using a pressure washer and disc grinders to remove old paint from the exterior of a 162-foot steel hulled fishing boat moored at a dock. The six crew members were working on the boat in different areas that were covered with plastic tarps in order to prevent paint chips and dust from entering the water.


At the start of the day, the gasoline-powered pressure washer was positioned on the dock. Later, employees of another contractor moved the pressure washer onto the boat to clear the way for supply deliveries. Shortly before the end of the work day, the victim moved the pressure washer onto a side deck passageway that was fully enclosed by plastic tarps. Working alone, he used the pressure washer for about 20 minutes. A co-worker went to look for the victim and found him unconscious on top of the pressure washer. Emergency responders arrived and determined that the victim was deceased. The medical examiner reported the cause of death as “carbon monoxide intoxication due to inhalation of engine exhaust.”


RECOMMENDATIONS


Washington State Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) investigators concluded that to protect employees from the hazard of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning from small gasoline-powered engines and tools, employers should:

  • Ensure that gasoline-powered pressure washers or other fuel-powered tools arenot used in enclosed or partially enclosed areas where CO can build up.
  • Train employees on the hazards, sources, symptoms, and control of COexposure from fuel-powered equipment and tools.
  • Ensure that personal CO detectors equipped with audible alarms are used byemployees when working with small gasoline-powered engines in locations where CO may build up.
  • Coordinate work activities at job sites where there are multiple contractors andtheir employees to ensure safe work.
  • Ensure that CO safety warning labels are attached to pressure washers and thatthey are replaced when no longer readable.
  • Consider using alternatives to fuel powered equipment and tools.

The Hectrio Specialty Chemical System warehouse in Royersford caught fire on Saturday night, bringing first responders from around the area together to battle the blaze.











Last night the 63 crew assisted the Royersford Fire Department on a smokey fire at the Hectrio Specialty Chemical System warehouse at 400 First Ave. in Royersford Borough. Crews from Limerick, Linfield, Trappe and Skippack were also on location, units operated for about 2 hours before returning.




ROYERSFORD, PA —


A chemical warehouse in Royersford caught fire on Saturday night, bringing first responders from around the area together to battle the blaze.

The incident was first reported at around 7:40 p.m. at Hectrio Specialty Chemical System, located on the 400 block of First Avenue.

Crews forced entry to the rear of the building, and used hand lines to battle the blaze, which was contained to a small area in the manufacturing part of the building, according to officials. Firefighters were on the scene containing the smokey fire for close to two hours.





Royersford Fire Department said that the sprinkler systems were very effective in controlling the blaze until crews arrived. That, along with the swift response from first responders, helped quell the "potentially hazardous" blaze.

Despite the bad smell reported by neighbors, the chemicals posed no danger to the public, officials said.


According to their website, Hectrio produces and stores chemicals like tin, lead, copper, silver, bismuth, iron and potassium.


The cause of the blaze and extent of the damage are not yet clear. The fire appeared to be contained to the manufacturing section of the warehouse, but there was heavy smoke involved.

No injuries were reported.

Royersford Fire Department was assisted by Liberty Fire Co. of Spring City, along with crews from Trappe, Skippack, Limerick, and Linfield.

The CDC is reminding clinicians seeing patients from the areas affected by Hurricane Florence to maintain a high index of suspicion for CO poisoning. Mark Carter King, 63, and his wife (or partner) Debra Collins Rion, 61, of Loris, South Carolina, were killed by inhaling carbon monoxide because he stupidly run a generator inside his home


Mark Carter King, 63, and his wife (or partner) Debra Collins Rion, 61, of Loris, South Carolina, were killed by inhaling carbon monoxide
Sales Consultant at Bell and Bell Buick GMC
Studied Business studies at Coastal Carolina University
Went to Loris High School
Lives in Daisy, South Carolina
From Loris, South Carolina
Divorced

 Mark Carter King, 63, and his wife (or partner) Debra Collins Rion, 61, of Loris, South Carolina, were killed by inhaling carbon monoxide because he stupidly run a generator inside his home






Authorities confirmed Sunday that a married South Carolina couple died of carbon monoxide poisoning from running a generator inside.

Mark Carter King, 63, and his wife Debra Collins Rion, 61, of Loris, South Carolina, were killed by inhaling carbon monoxide, authorities said.

Their bodies were found in their Loris home Saturday afternoon however, police said they likely died the day before as the heavy rains and winds from Florence were moving onshore.

King worked as a sales consultant for Buick and the couple leave behind children.


===========================
Horry County Chief Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard said 63-year-old Mark Carter King and 61-year-old Debra Collins Rion were killed by breathing in carbon monoxide.

Willard said in a statement their bodies were found in a Loris home Saturday afternoon, but they likely died the day before as the heavy rains and winds from former hurricane-turned-Tropical Depression Florence were moving onshore.
===========================================

Hurricane Florence—Clinical Guidance For Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning


Distributed via the CDC Health Alert Network


September 16, 2018 1345 ET (1:45 PM ET)
CDCHAN-00415

Summary

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reminding clinicians seeing patients from the areas affected by Hurricane Florence to maintain a high index of suspicion for CO poisoning. Other people who may be exposed to the same CO source may need to be identified and assessed.

The signs and symptoms of CO exposure are variable and nonspecific. A tension-type headache is the most common symptom of mild CO poisoning. Other symptoms may include dizziness, flu-like symptoms without a fever, drowsiness, chest pain, and altered mental status.

Clinical manifestations of severe CO poisoning include tachycardia, tachypnea, hypotension, metabolic acidosis, dysrhythmias, myocardial ischemia or infarction, noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, neurologic findings including irritability, impaired memory, cognitive and sensory disturbances, ataxia, altered or loss of consciousness, seizures, coma, and death, although any organ system might be involved.

Although CO poisoning can be fatal to anyone, children, pregnant women, the unborn, persons with sickle cell disease, older adults, and persons with chronic illness (e.g., heart or lung disease) are particularly vulnerable.

Background

High winds and heavy rain from Hurricane Florence began affecting the southeastern U.S. around September 12, 2018. Impact on the southeast coast and inland led to thousands of people without power. Those without power may turn to alternate power sources such as gasoline generators and may use propane or charcoal grills for cooking. If used or placed improperly, these sources can lead to CO build up inside buildings, garages, or campers and poison the people and animals inside.

With a focused history of patient activities and health symptoms, exposure to a CO source may become apparent. Appropriate and prompt diagnostic testing and treatment are crucial to reduce morbidity and prevent mortality from CO poisoning. Identifying and mitigating the CO source is critical in preventing other poisoning cases.

Recommendations for Clinicians 


Consider CO poisoning in patients affected by Hurricane Florence, particularly those in areas currently without power. Assess symptoms and recent patient activities that point to likely CO exposure. Evaluation should also include examination for other conditions, including smoke inhalation, trauma, medical illness, or intoxication.


Administer 100% oxygen until the patient is symptom-free or until a diagnosis of CO poisoning has been ruled out.


Perform COHgb testing when CO poisoning is suspected. Venous or arterial blood may be used for testing. A fingertip pulse multiple wavelength spectrophotometer, or CO-oximeter, can be used to measure heart rate, oxygen saturation, and COHgb levels in the field, but any suspicion of CO poisoning should be confirmed with a COHgb level by multiple wavelength spectrophotometer (CO-oximeter). A conventional two-wavelength pulse oximeter is not accurate when COHgb is present. For more information, see https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/co_guidance.html.


An elevated carboxyhemoglobin (COHgb) level of 2% or higher for non-smokers and 9% or higher COHgb level for smokers strongly supports a diagnosis of CO poisoning. The COHgb level must be interpreted in light of the patient’s exposure history and length of time away from CO exposure, as levels gradually fall once the patient is removed from the exposure. In addition, carbon monoxide can be produced endogenously as a by-product of heme metabolism. Patients with sickle cell disease can have an elevated COHgb level as a result of hemolytic anemia or hemolysis. For additional information about interpretation of COHgb levels, visit https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/co_guidance.html or call Poison Control at (800) 222-1222.


Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) should be considered in consultation with a toxicologist, hyperbaric oxygen facility, or Poison Control Center (800) 222-1222. For additional management considerations, consult a toxicologist, Poison Control at (800) 222-1222, or a hyperbaric oxygen facility.


Be aware that CO exposure may be ongoing for others spending time in or near the same environment as the patient. These individuals should be evaluated and tested as described in this advisory.


Clinicians treating people for CO poisoning should notify emergency medical services (EMS), the fire department, or law enforcement to investigate and mitigate the source and advise people when it is safe to return.


Advise patients about safe practices related to generators, grills, camp stoves, or other gasoline, propane, natural gas, or charcoal-burning devices. Stress that that these devices should never be used inside an enclosed space, home, basement, garage, or camper — or even outside near an open window or window air conditioner. Please see https://www.cdc.gov/co/pdfs/generators.pdf.

For More Information
Clinical Guidance for Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning After a Disaster
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/co_guidance.html

MASSIVE CONSPIRACY AGAINST HOMEOWNER EXPOSED. THE CONSPIRACY WAS KNOWN TO THE PASSAIC COUNTY PROSECUTOR PRIOR TO THE GRAND JURY PROCEEDINGS




MASSIVE CONSPIRACY AGAINST HOMEOWNER EXPOSED. 

SenVanDrew@njleg.org; AsmAndrzejczak@njleg.org; AsmLand@njleg.org; SenBrown@njleg.org; AsmMazzeo@njleg.org; AsmArmato@njleg.org; SenSweeney@njleg.org; AsmBurzichelli@njleg.org; AsmTaliaferro@njleg.org; SenMadden@njleg.org; AsmMoriarty@njleg.org; AswMosquera@njleg.org; SenCruzPerez@njleg.org; AswEganJones@njleg.org; AsmSpearman@njleg.org; SenBeach@njleg.org; AsmGreenwald@njleg.org; AswLampitt@njleg.org; SenSingleton@njleg.org; AsmConaway@njleg.org; AswMurphy@njleg.org; SenAddiego@njleg.org; AsmHowarth@njleg.org; AsmPeters@njleg.org; SenConnors@njleg.org; AsmRumpf@njleg.org; AswGove@njleg.org; SenHolzapfel@njleg.org; AsmWolfe@njleg.org; AsmMcGuckin@njleg.org; SenGopal@njleg.org; AswDowney@njleg.org; AsmHoughtaling@njleg.org; SenThompson@njleg.org; AsmClifton@njleg.org; AsmDancer@njleg.org; SenOscanlon@njleg.org AsmSKean@njleg.org; AsmThomson@njleg.org; SenCunningham@njleg.org; AswMcKnight@njleg.org; AsmChiaravallotti@njleg.org; SenSacco@njleg.org; AswJimenez@njleg.org; AsmMejia@njleg.org; SenStack@njleg.org; AsmMukherji@njleg.org; AswChaparro@njleg.org; SenGill@njleg.org; AsmGiblin@njleg.org; AswTimberlake@njleg.org; SenPou@njleg.org; AswSumter@njleg.org; AsmWimberly@njleg.org; SenSarlo@njleg.org; AsmSchaer@njleg.org; AsmCalabrese@njleg.org; SenWeinberg@njleg.org; AsmJohnson@njleg.org; AswVainieriHuttle@njleg.org; SenLagana@njleg.org; AswSwain@njleg.org; AsmTully@njleg.org; SenCardinale@njleg.org; AswSchepisi@njleg.org; AsmAuth@njleg.org; SenCorrado@njleg.org; AsmRooney@njleg.org; AsmDePhillips@njleg.org
stuart.rabner@judiciary.state.nj.us; jaynee.lavecchia@judiciary.state.nj.us; barry.albin@judiciary.state.nj.us; lee.solomon@judiciary.state.nj.us; walter.timpone@judiciary.state.nj.us; anne.paterson@judiciary.state.nj.us; fj.fernandez-vina@judiciary.state.nj.us
Dear Legislators:
I have been reading about abuse of laws and violation of citizens' constitutional rights by municipal and superior court judges as a way of shaking them up.  In one case reported to the media, former Chancery judge Margaret McVeigh in Passaic County stole homestead property valued at $475,000 for $20,000 in undue taxes in Wayne Township, New Jersey.  Then, Passaic County and state employees conspired to frame this homeowner whose property was stolen under the gun point (the Passaic County Sheriff brought MI-16 rifles with them to take his property by force), for assault.  They then have been delaying the adjudication of the fraudulent and fake charges for more than seven and a half years.
It is time that you intervene and put an end to this mockery of “justice”.

Sincerely,

William Stephan
Principal Investigator
In Search of Justice
PROOFS OF MASSIVE MATERIAL PERJURY BY RONALD A. LUCAS AND VICTOR D’AGOSTINO.  THIS PERJURY WAS KNOWN TO THE PASSAIC COUNTY PROSECUTOR PRIOR TO THE GRAND JURY PROCEEDINGS.

MOTION (32) – UNDER THE DOCTRINE OF CUMULATIVE ERRORS, A NEW GRAND JURY SHOULD BE CONVENED PURSUANT TO STATE V. ORECCHIO, 16 N.J. 125, 129 (1954)
Taken cumulatively, the legal errors and false testimonies in this case are of such a magnitude that they undeniably prejudiced the defendant’s rights and, in their aggregate, rendered the grand jury proceedings totally unfair.  Fundamental fairness and constitutional concepts dictate a dismissal.  See State v. Orrechio, 16 N.J. 125 (1954).
The New Jersey Supreme Court first discussed the concept of cumulative errors in the context of a criminal trial in State v. Orecchio, 16 N.J. 125, 129 (1954).  When legal errors cumulatively render a grand jury proceeding or trial unfair, the Constitution requires a new trial. "[W]here any one of several errors assigned would not in itself be sufficient to warrant a reversal, yet if all of them taken together justify the conclusion that defendant was not accorded a fair trial, it becomes the duty of this court to reverse." Id. at 134 (citations omitted).
The testimonies’ cumulative effect was “clearly capable of producing an unjust result,” R. 2:10-2, requiring a reversal of defendant’s convictions. See State v. Weaver, 219 N.J. 131, 155 (2014) (explaining a court should reverse a conviction “[w]hen legal errors cumulatively render a trial unfair” (citing State v. Orecchio, 16 N.J. 125, 129 (1954))). 
It is respectfully submitted that there are numerous serious legal issues raised regarding the unfair grand jury presentation in the Stephanatos matter. 
·         In part, material false testimony presented to the grand jury by Lucas and D’Agostino when in fact they were never assaulted by Dr. Stephanatos (and Dr. Stephanatos has already provided irrefutable proof of the perjury committed by Lucas who signed a document stating that it was Nick Mango and not himself at the front door – See Defense Exhibit D-1, Supplemental Motions to Dismiss, March 2018);
·         Numerous contradictory investigatory reports were not presented to the grand jurors or were outright hidden from the grand jurors by the prosecutor;
·         In paragraph 2 of section 4 of the Warrant Affidavit, Lucas “relates” to Detective Scala “that upon knocking on the front entrance door of the residence”.  See excerpt from the warrant affidavit, Defense Exhibit D-11.  This statement to Detective Scala fully corroborates Dr. Stephanatos’ statements that his front door was closed – very closed – with a lock and deadbolt closed.
·         However, in his June 28, 2011 report prepared by Cpl. Lucas, he writes the following: “As we proceeded toward the front door I ascented[sic] the steps and noticed the front wood door was open and a glass storm door made the interior of the house visible to me”.  “At that moment a man came from the hallway with a long object in his left hand”.
·         So, based on these diametrically different statements by Lucas, the prosecutor knew or should have known that Lucas lied.  At the point at which the prosecutor learned of the perjury before and during the grand jury, the prosecutor was under a duty to notify the court and the grand jury, to correct the cancer of justice that had become apparent to him.  But he did not.  This is clear, unequivocal prosecutorial misconduct for intentionally misleading the grand jury.
·         Furthermore, in his grand jury testimony, Officer Lucas identified the “Ruger M77 Mark II, 270 caliber Winchester single bullet hunting rifle” as being the weapon that the defendant pointed at him. (GJT27-8 to 13; Da15, Motion to Change Venue).  It is critical to note that the hunting rifle is a BROWN COLORED GUN.  However, in section 2 of paragraph 4 of the Warrant Affidavit, Lucas “relates” to Detective Scala that he saw a “BLACK COLORED RIFLE”.  So, again the prosecutor knew or should have known that Lucas lied before the grand jury when he selected a different color gun than the one he related to Detective Scala.
·         “fake facts” (the pointing of a gun out a window) cooked up by the prosecutor that were highly prejudicial to the Defendant;
·         Not mentioning that this was a residential property in a wooded area of Wayne Township where less than 5 people and less than 5 dwellings were located nearby;
·         not presenting to the Grand Jurors the record of the phone and emails of Dr. Stephanatos PROVING BEYOND ANY DOUBT OF HIS WHEREABOUTS (and refuting the state’s allegations that he was pointing guns at people and that he was barricaded);
·         the impermissible mentioning of bombs and IEDs and ammunition boxes during the grand jury proceeding when in fact the prosecutor and his witnesses knew that these were false statements and no bombs or IED or ammunition boxes were ever found or ever existed;
·         not mentioning that State Statutes Prohibit the Entering into Residential Properties unless the entry and detention is made pursuant to legal process as set out in N.J.S.A. 2A:18-53 et seq.;  the purpose of following such clearly established process for residential properties is to avoid the breach of public peace;
·         not mentioning that no warrant for removal signed by a Law Division judge was obtained by the sheriff employees prior to attempting to remove Dr. Stephanatos from his residence;
·         not mentioning to the Grand Jurors that Victor A. D’Agostino’s duties were not that of a sworn law enforcement officer;
·         failing to provide proofs that the Defendant knew that the sheriff employees were in fact sworn law enforcement officers, as this was a civil matter and the statutes under which the Defendant was charged pertain to police officers while they perform criminal law enforcement duties.;
·         the intentional lying by Lucas that he injured his shoulder requiring 5 pins, when he in fact injured his shoulder and elbow after playing competitive football for many years and lifting heavy weights and doing body building;
·         Lt. Nick Mango wrote in his June 28, 2011 report that “nobody was hurt”.  Also, Lucas never wrote in his June 28, 2018 report that he was injured.  He specifically wrote :  “As I entered the woods I stumbled”.  He never wrote that he was injured.  However, during this grand jury testimony, he provided a diametrically different picture:
·         Lucas claimed that he fell on his elbow and shoulder, but was able to regain his balance, and he ran into a wooded area to seek cover behind a large boulder. (GJT11-18 to 21; Da7, Motion to Change Venue).  Lucas claimed that he tore his biceps and had surgery on his shoulder, and “ended up having a pretty severe injury” in his shoulder, requiring “five pins.” (GJT12-7 to 9; Da8, Motion to Change Venue).  Of course we now know that this guy was a football player and body builder and suffered these injuries over his many years of lifting heavy weights and hitting his opponents with his shoulder (he was a linebacker with the Pompton Lakes Cardinals at #41).  This guy then defrauded the Police and Firemen Retirement Fund by claiming disability and started the double dipping.
·         So, from flip-flopping regarding the color of the gun; to whether the door was closed or open; to whether he knocked the door or not; to whether he suffered a major injury or not, Lying Lucas has some serious credibility issues; and all his lies were allowed to poison the grand jury deliberations.
·         the false (and highly prejudicial) allegations that Dr. Stephanatos had threatened Robert Del Vecchio, Esq. with violence few days prior to the “eviction”;
·         the false (and highly prejudicial) allegation that Dr. Stephanatos did not want to pay taxes;
·         not presenting evidence that Dr. Stephanatos only wanted a simple stay of the proceedings (as is allowed by state law) so that he can file and adjudicate his appeals and to save his home and home-based business from an illegal eviction;
·         failing to mention that at no time did the sheriff employees told Dr. Stephanatos that he was under arrest;
·         not presenting evidence of the illegal background leading up to the charges perpetrated by the conspirators Robert Del Vecchio, ATF, and others;
·         not mentioning the fact that this was a civil matter based upon profit for the same;
·         not mentioning that Dr. Stephanatos fully owned his real estate property and was used as his home and small business and that his business (Metropolitan Environmental Services) was not part of any eviction proceedings;
·         not mentioning that state case law allowed Dr. Stephanatos not to lose his home;
·         not mentioning that no state or federal court has the authority to take private homestead property and deliver it to a private entity as it is in violation of the Fifth Amendment to the Federal Constitution and Article I, par. 20 of the state constitution;
·         not mentioning that Dr. Stephanatos’ property was over-assessed by more than 40 percent since 1995 and no taxes were legally due;
·         the failure to properly charge the grand jurors on several asserted defenses, including the defense of self and defense of dwelling, the Castle Doctrine, the defense of business, duress, outrageous government conduct, honestly-held belief, etc.;
·         the intentional failure to inform or notify the grand jurors that Dr. Stephanatos wanted to testify (based on the letter sent to the prosecutor by Mr. Herman, Esq. prior to the grand jury deliberations); thus the prosecutor interfered with the independence of the Grand Jury;
·         and no explanation was given to the grand jury of the specific violations of the law(s) and Court Rules (Sherman Act violation, tax sale law violations, fraud-on-the court, failure to provide notice, failure to adjudicate the issue of possession, obtaining ex-parte writs of possession, etc.) by the conspirators and what is required to be done if there was to be legality and legitimate process, which brought Officers Lucas and D’Agostino to the defendant’s home on the day in question.
·         Add to this the constitutional violations (subject to the motion to suppress); the doctrine of “false in one, false in all” not explained to the grand jury; the fact that the grand jury was not charged as to the rights of protection by the homeowner where it involves his property (the defense of home or New Jersey’s Castle Doctrine), the protection of his business, as well as the unlawful entry by the officers on defendant’s property as they were relying on void judgments and writs due to the fraud on the court committed by Robert Del Vecchio, ATF and others.  The law of duress and self-defense and outrageous government conduct should have been charged to the grand jury by the prosecutor. 
Instead of a fair presentation, there was a biased presentation in actuality depicting the defendant as a “monster”.  The perjured testimonies’ and “fake facts” cumulative effect was “clearly capable of producing an unjust result,” R. 2:10-2, requiring a reversal of defendant’s indictment.  State v. Orecchio, 16 N.J. 125, 129 (1954). 
The Law on Perjury Before a Grand Jury
The grand jury both “acts as a sword so that those who are suspected of wrongdoing may be properly brought to trial, and as a shield to protect the people from arbitrary prosecution.”  State v. Smith, 269 N.J.Super. 86, 93, 634 A.2d 576 (App. Div. 1993).  In State v. Murphy, 110 N.J. 20, 538 A.2d 1235 (1988) the New Jersey Supreme Court held that it is the court’s obligation to exercise its supervisory authority over the grand jury process to ensure that the selection of the grand jurors and the presentation are fair and unbiased.
“Unless the prosecutor’s misconduct is ‘extreme and clearly infringes upon the [grand] jury’s decision-making function’ an otherwise valid indictment should not be dismissed.”  Id. citing State v. Buonadonna, 122 N.J. 22, 48-49, 583 A.2d 747 (1991).  The dismissal of an indictment is appropriate “if it is established that the violation substantially influenced the grand jury’s decision to indict” or if there is ‘grave doubt’ that the determination ultimately reached was arrived at fairly and impartially.  Bank of Nova Scotia v. United States, 487 U.S. 250, 256 quoting United States v. Mechanik, 475 U.S. 66, 78 (1986).  “The grand jury cannot be denied access to evidence that is credible, material and so clearly exculpatory as to induce a rational grand juror to conclude that the State has not made out a prima facie case against the accused.”  State v. Hogan, 144 N.J. 216, 236, 676 A.2d 533 (1996).



PROOFS OF MASSIVE MATERIAL PERJURY BY RONALD A. LUCAS AND VICTOR D’AGOSTINO.  THIS PERJURY WAS KNOWN TO THE PASSAIC COUNTY PROSECUTOR PRIOR TO THE GRAND JURY PROCEEDINGS.
In paragraph 2 of section 4 of the Warrant Affidavit, Lucas “relates” to Detective Scala “that upon knocking on the front entrance door of the residence”.  See excerpt from the warrant affidavit, Defense Exhibit D-11.  This statement to Detective Scala fully corroborates Dr. Stephanatos’ statements that his front door was closed – very closed – with a lock and deadbolt closed.
However, in his June 28, 2011 report prepared by Cpl. Lucas, he writes the following: “As we proceeded toward the front door I ascented[sic] the steps and noticed the front wood door was open and a glass storm door made the interior of the house visible to me”.  “At that moment a man came from the hallway with a long object in his left hand”.
The statement by Lucas to Detective Scala is diametrically different than the statements given by Lucas and D’Agostino at the grand jury proceedings and also wrote in their reports: that they did not knock the door and they were assaulted as they were coming up the front porch steps and they were able to see everything so nicely and so clearly because the front door was magically open (that stupid Dr. Stephanatos, he should have left his door closed! (sarcasm here)). 
So, based on these diametrically different statements by Lucas, the prosecutor knew or should have known that Lucas lied.  At the point at which the prosecutor learned of the perjury before and during the grand jury, the prosecutor was under a duty to notify the court and the grand jury, to correct the cancer of justice that had become apparent to him.  But he did not.  Welcome to Passaic County!
Furthermore, in his grand jury testimony, Officer Lucas identified the “Ruger M77 Mark II, 270 caliber Winchester single bullet hunting rifle” as being the weapon that the defendant pointed at him. (GJT27-8 to 13; Da15, Motion to Change Venue).  It is critical to note that the hunting rifle is a BROWN COLORED GUN.  However, in section 2 of paragraph 4 of the Warrant Affidavit, Lucas “relates” to Detective Scala that he saw a “BLACK COLORED RIFLE”.  Therefore, the affidavit paragraph 4, section 2 included a material false statement that was included with reckless disregard for the truth.  So, again the prosecutor knew or should have known that Lucas lied before the grand jury when he selected a different color gun than the one he related to Detective Scala.
I respectfully submit to this Court that the statements made by Lucas in the early moments of the June 28, 2011 events are closer to the truth (but not quite the truth), than his fabrications that are start pouring in later in the day and afterwards.  For example, Lt. Nick Mango wrote in his report that “nobody was hurt”.  Also, Lucas never wrote in his report that he was injured.  He specifically wrote :  “As I entered the woods I stumbled”. However, during this grand jury testimony, he provided a diametrically different picture:
Lucas claimed that he fell on his elbow and shoulder, but was able to regain his balance, and he ran into a wooded area to seek cover behind a large boulder. (GJT11-18 to 21; Da7, Motion to Change Venue).  Lucas claimed that he tore his biceps and had surgery on his shoulder, and “ended up having a pretty severe injury” in his shoulder, requiring “five pins.” (GJT12-7 to 9; Da8, Motion to Change Venue).  Of course we now know that this guy was a football player and body builder and suffered these injuries over his many years of lifting heavy weights and hitting his opponents with his shoulder (he was a linebacker with the Pompton Lakes Cardinals).  This guy then went on to defraud the New Jersey Police and Firemen Insurance Fund by claiming disability and retiring from the sheriff’s department.  After that, he started the double dipping.

THE LIES, FABRICATIONS AND INTENTIONAL OMISSIONS OF WALTER DEWEY
After the two sheriff employees served a bunch of lies to the grand jurors and the prosecutor, after learning of the perjury failed to correct it, he decided to add some more fake facts of his own creation; basically, adding salt to the injury (the vultures were keep piling on the body of still-alive Dr. Stephanatos).  The prosecutor, Walter Dewey, also mislead the jurors and fabricated “facts” by eliciting false testimony from Officer D’Agostino regarding the pointing of a gun out of a “window”.  The officers had indicated that they saw me standing behind a glass storm door and that I never opened the door.  No “window” was ever mentioned by the two individuals, as no window exists in the front porch of the dwelling.  See attached image of the front door of the dwelling, showing that no window is present.

(I denied that I was standing behind the storm door:  I have stated many times that I was in my office doing my business, I have the computer records to prove it, those records were submitted to the prosecutors, and I kept the doors of the home locked with a deadbolt). 
But the prosecutor asked D’Agostino if I was pointing a gun “out the window”.  Then D’Agostino said “yes”.  See Grand Jury Transcripts, Motion to Change Venue. 
This Court should note that there is no opening window in the front porch- that was another misleading and prejudicial question by the corrupt Passaic County prosecutor.  The prosecutors obviously wanted to mislead and lie to the grand jury by stating that the defendant was pointing a weapon outside a window, something that the two sheriff employees never wrote in their reports, as no window was involved.  In fact, Lucas never testified or wrote that the defendant was pointing a weapon outside a window.  The corrupt prosecutor Walter Dewey elicited this statement from D’Agostino only.  Certainly this is a highly prejudicial, fraudulent and misleading question/statement, necessitating a dismissal of the indictment.
So, from flip-flopping regarding the color of the gun; to whether the door was closed or open; to whether he knocked the door or not; to whether he suffered a major injury or not, Lying Lucas has some serious credibility issues.  And Walter Dewey added salt to the injury by cooking up highly prejudicial fake “facts” of his own creation (the pointing of a gun out a window).  This Court cannot possibly uphold an indictment based on these material fact perjuries and based on all the false and highly prejudicial evidence presented at the grand jury.  This is not how things are done.  They need to go back and try to obtain a superseding indictment (using the truth please), after this Court dismisses this patently flawed one.

DEFENDANT SPECIFICALLY REQUESTS AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING PURSUANT TO NJ COURT RULE 3:5-7 (C) HEARING AND THE RECENT SUPREME COURT CASE STATE V. ATWOOD, A-42, SEPTEMBER TERM 2016 (2018).
Because Defendant has provided many proofs in his various submissions to this Court, directly refuting the fake facts cooked up by the prosecutor and his witnesses, Defendant specifically requests an evidentiary hearing pursuant to NJ Court Rule 3:5-7 (c) Hearing.  If material facts are disputed, testimony thereon shall be taken in open court.  The evidentiary hearing is also requested pursuant to the recent Supreme Court case State v. Atwood, A-42, September Term 2016 (2018).
See WAYNE R. LAFAVE ET AL., CRIMINAL PROCEDURE § 14.3(a), at 321–22 (3d ed. 2007) (defendant arguably should not be bound over for trial if evidence would not permit jury to convict).
I am forwarding a copy of the material directly to the Passaic County prosecutor, Stephen Bollenbach, as reflected by the enclosed certification of service.

I hereby certify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing statements made by me are true and correct.  I am aware that if any of the foregoing statements made by me are willfully false, I am subject to punishment. NJ Court Rule R. 1:4-4(b); 28 U.S.C. §1746.

Respectfully Submitted,



___________________________________
Joshua Epstein, Esq.

Encl.
cc:          Steven Bollenbach, Passaic Co.