NJN News; 11/28/1989

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Good evening six indicted state troopers say they'll clear their reputations as soon as their case comes to trial. Marie DeNoyer reports the suspects pleaded innocent today to charges of official misconduct and conspiracy. In connection with the alleged assault of a New Jersey turnpike motorist. The six officers from New Brunswick barracks D sat silently when asked by superior court judge George Nicola if they wanted to speak regarding the charges against them but that was no indication of their dispositions on the upcoming trial. Each pleaded innocent. We welcome the ability to go to trial and there will be no plea. This case is going all the way from our point of view. We are of the opinion that the charges are unfounded. Super Henning is going to be given the opportunity to clear his name and I can assure everybody. Everybody in the courtroom is going to hear that your panic will clear. Cooper Robert Henning was named in both the 15 count indictment that charges all six but also in a separate five count indictment. He allegedly planted cocaine on a suspect and tainted

that same suspects urine specimen. According to the other indictment, troopers Henning and Stephen Walde assaulted one of three men they'd pulled over and arrested on the New Jersey turnpike for motor vehicle violations. Trooper Gary Turnquist, Sergeant Anthony Simonetti and Lieutenant's Phillip Plegra and Robert Golombowski allegedly helped cover it all up. I'm pretty well convinced that many of the defendants that I've represented have in fact had some problems on the turnpike and that some of the state police and I say some have exceeded their authority. Middlesex County public defender Brad Forens says there are 189 cases on hold in his office arrests made by troopers from Barracks D. He too has heard allegations from some of those motorists of beatings and rough treatment by troopers in New Brunswick. I know that the state police investigating probably upwards of a dozen additional cases. What's going to come of them? I really don't know. Before the proceeding

officer Henning stormed out of court after muttering something to Forens. Forens said Henning had threatened to beat him but later refused to discuss the matter with the press. All six officers have been released on their own reconnaissance. The trial is expected to begin sometime in the spring. Marie DeNoia, New Jersey Network News, New Brunswick. Meanwhile another state trooper Wayne Burke will be the subject of a general disciplinary hearing tomorrow. That hearing will deal with Burke's alleged involvement in an incident involving New Jersey Network cameraman Raphael Rosario. Rosario was injured while covering the first court appearance of Trooper Henning last spring. Can't among police nationwide there's growing concern over the use of steroids. The body building drugs can have an unwanted side effect, irrational, violent behavior. And police officers in at least two south Jersey towns are suspected of using steroids from Gloucester County Deborah Zara reports. Two police officers, one from the Deppard Police Department, the other from Franklin

Township, both taken off street patrol. The men are under investigation by the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office for allegedly using anabolic steroids. The police officer work to use this type of a drug and be out on the street in public in a situation arise where he has to make an immediate decision, take some perhaps physical action. I would not want to see that the officer overreact. Steroid uses illegal, although many people who work out use the drug to build their bodies faster. But while the drug produces bulk in muscle, it tears apart other body functions. Feeling short tempered, irritable, angry, intent to get into more and more problems with other people that way. One official said this investigation may have started with a tip from another employee within the police department. That's why Petrolman Robert Bot, who is close friends with one of the men accused, does not believe it. It's just not that type of person. I mean, you know, it's

anything's possible, but I just don't think so. But other sources within the police department say the officers could have gotten the steroids through a doctor's prescription and apparently they may not have been alone. It doesn't encompass other police departments. I'm aware of that. One high ranking official told me as many as eight officers from other police departments, as well as a local pharmacist and doctor, could face similar charges. In the meantime, the results from the urinalysis test taken from the two officers could be back as early as the end of this week. Deborah Zara, New Jersey Network News, Deppford. An undercover sting operation has cracked a major car theft ring in northern New Jersey. The two-month investigation has turned up more than a quarter of a million dollars in stolen cars, as Belinda Morton tells us. Alfredo Coroscolo, the alleged ring leader and five other people, have been charged with stealing and selling expensive cars, throughout Essex, Hudson, Bergen, and Pasey counties. Today, four of the defendants were

reigned in Essex County Superior Court. Police say the group had been taking the cars from hotel and shopping mall parking lots, along with 346 and four in north and central New Jersey. About $350,000 worth of cars were recovered, and the total amount of money that we spent in order to purchase those cars was less than $10,000. Police say most of the cars taken were luxury cars, like these Cadlacks. They sold anywhere from $500 to $1,000. Officials say the group managed to steal the cars in less than 30 seconds. They allegedly popped a lock, cracked the steering column and hot-wired the vehicles. You can go out and purchase a brand new or late-model vehicle, 88 or 89 for $500 that will stolen maybe a day before. I mean, that causes us all concerned. Authorities say Carthafson, New Jersey, have become epidemic. In fact, a national Carthaf study of cities with populations over 50,000 shows Newark heading the list. And while Newark had the

most five other New Jersey cities were among the top 10. This type of operation, of course, impacts directly on the way we do business. We've had several complaints from the hotels around the airport and in the surrounding community. Police say the group allegedly stole from 20 to 30 cars a day. Law enforcement officials say consumers can better protect their vehicles by installing devices that will deter those looking to steal a car. Belinda Morton, New Jersey Network News, Newark. For more than five years now, a Morris County man has stood accused of raping and murdering a teenage girl from Jefferson Township. In all that time, the case against Richard Johnson has never gone to trial. But his day in court got one step closer today, with arguments before the State Supreme Court. Trish DeGasperous reports. 27-year-old Richard Johnson has been in the Morris County jail for five years awaiting trial for murder. He's accused of strangling

and raping 12-year-old Don Kimmel of Jefferson Township in 1984. Authorities say that Johnson followed the youngster when she left a neighborhood carnival. According to officials, Johnson chased Kimmel off the road and threw a front yard. There were signs of a struggle. A neighborhood child found Kimmel's body the next day. Johnson was arrested when a witness said that a black male, fitting his description, was near the scene of the murder. Johnson did in fact have a traffic accident near the scene. And at the time of his arrest, authorities learned that Johnson had just been paroled after serving four years for manslaughter. Jefferson Township police questioned Johnson for 10 hours without an attorney present. When Johnson bolted through a plate-glass window and escaped into the woods, he turned himself in three days later, but received extra time for violating parole. And today, over five years after the incident, the State Supreme Court heard arguments on whether or not Johnson's escape could be admitted as evidence at his trial. They want to use the fact of the escape as evidence of consciousness

of guilt. But the fact is that defendant 36 hours later, he surrendered himself with an attorney. Why do you want a jury to hear about Richard Johnson's escape? We think that a jury should be able to consider that evidence to determine what inference to draw from it. There's a line of cases that allow juries to consider departure from a scene or departure from headquarters on the issue of what it shows about the defendant's mental state. Now, the State Supreme Court must decide whether or not a jury will be able to hear about Richard Johnson's escape. Their decision could take several months. It could take up to a year. In the meantime, Richard Johnson remains behind bars. Trish DeGasperous New Jersey Network news Trenton. A delegation of municipal officials from Asbury Park rallied in front of the State House today. The shore community leaders were protesting a plan by the State Corrections Department to place a halfway house for short-term inmates in their town. Here's Scott Moniac's report. The Asbury Park protesters boarded a caravan today in their seaside community

to attend a midday rally on the steps of the State House in Trenton. The protesters are upset that the Department of Corrections is considering a plan to establish a 60-bed halfway house in Asbury Park for prisoners with less than a year remaining on their sentences, even though the inmates would be non-violent offenders and from the Asbury Park area. I don't think you can release prisoners into a community and know for sure that nothing's going to happen with. In the city of 17,000, we have over 1,000 people that are socially dependent. We just can't stand anymore. We're a city that's in a Mr. Redevelopment and we're going to discourage redevelopment if we bring this type of operations into the city. We're trying to reduce what we have now and then the state comes in and wants to put this on us. The mayor says Asbury Park is already doing more than its fair share to provide services for the homeless and halfway houses. But the facility some people have pointed to is an already existing halfway house in Asbury Park. In fact, isn't a halfway house at all?

It's a facility for the homeless and the indigent. Well, the facility you have here has nothing to do with the correctional facility. This is a no-way correctional facility. The correctional facility is a category unto itself. Even though the Department of Corrections says a final decision on the halfway house hasn't been made and a site hasn't been confirmed, opposition against the plan is gaining momentum. It seems ludicrous to me to mandate something to a community and have them have nothing to say about it. Scott Moniac, New Jersey Network News. In a moment, state employees are still camping out for higher wages. What does the governor think? And the state is trying to make it safer to sit in front of a video display terminal. That story coming up next. Three weeks after the votes were first counted, Thomas Schuster,

tonight is again saying he is the winner in Camden County's sixth district. The veteran Republican Assemblyman narrowly lost his seat election night only to get it back in a recount. Democratic challenger Barbara Burman called for a second recount, which began this afternoon. It still shows, shoes set ahead by just 34 votes. The two candidates are still arguing over 12 ballots and the case could wind up in court. They call it Cainville or Camp Solidarity. It's a small tent city outside the State House in Trenton, set up by the CWA to protest old contract negotiations with the state. And as Michael Aaron reports, it's likely to be there for a while. The tents are a sign of frustration. They've been manned day and night all month. The CWA represents almost two thirds of all state government workers and has been working without a contract for five months. It's relations with Governor Cain or deteriorating.

It's absolutely mind-boggling that now when the fact finders report comes out and you don't want accepted. Last June, the CWA asked for a seven and a half percent pay hike. Governor Cain offered four to five and a half percent, the same that was accepted by two other state unions. An impartial fact finder recently recommended that pay structure, but larger increases for those earning less than $15,000 a year and for teachers and nurses and state institutions, plus a $300 bonus in 1990 and 91 for those earning less than $50,000 a year. The union, which rallied again late this afternoon, is willing to accept the fact finder's recommendations. Governor Cain is not. He says they'll cost the state an extra $50 million and he seems put off by the tents, which he claims he hasn't even seen. Well, that's not the way to negotiate. I mean, the CWA way has not got good union leadership and hasn't had some time. Otherwise, it would have had a contract four or five months ago like the other unions. And they feel that the other way to negotiate is to have press conferences of this kind of thing. That isn't the way to negotiate,

particularly with this administration. Cain says the two sides should negotiate at the table. The union says the governor agreed to a fact finder and now should live with his recommendations. Something the union will wait for a better deal from the incoming flurry of administration. It said today it has no position yet on the issue. The union says it thinks Cain should settle the matter now and that the $50 million figure is misleading. The cost is not an initial $50 million. It's spread out over a three-year period. In fact, the first year of the contract, Governor Cain's outgoing budget is not affected one penny by this recommendation. The union says it will keep this tent city going indefinitely. The governor seems disinclined to budge. Another seven weeks and Cainville could become known as Floreoville. Michael Aaron, New Jersey Network News, Trenton. From a big New Jersey company tonight helping hand for the environment. Here's Jim Van Sickle with the business. You're worried about the ozone layer I know and the threatened greenhouse effect. Well, here's good news.

In Boris Township, Allied signal announces it has a substitute for the chloroflora carbon gases used for among other things, blowing urethane foams in a large number of solvents as well. And Allied signal says it plans construction of a $50 million facility to manufacture HCFC, world's first such plant they report. Pilfering or shopliftering, if you prefer, is more and more a fact of life. It stores entrances. We do see those electronic scanners which detect small devices which sound alarms unless removed or deactivated. Some merchandise are simply locked in cabinets and you need a clerk's help to make a purchase for the moment. It is a trade-off, which is worth sales loss because merchandise is not quickly available or the losses from Pilferage. Well, at Pittman, New Jersey, Kachron reports a new generation of Pilfer-proof racks which permit merchants to display, for instance, cartons of cigarettes without fear of theft. Kachron originally developed for these things for R.J. Reynolds, which is buying 4.5 million worth of the new generation of devices.

Now they plan to offer the technology they say to wider markets yet. At Edison, C. Lan, President Jackson Baker announces he will leave C. Lan to pursue other interests. C. Lan lately has been planning a major decentralization to increase its efficiency. A move to put decision-making closer to its customers. Baker's announcement says the process will place the responsibilities of the office. He holds closer in the hands of C. Lan division as. Sheering plow laid a claim today to a piece of what it says is a billion dollar market in Japan. This was approval there of its new anti-hypertensive drug to level all. A unique product, Sheering says, offering high blood pressure sufferers, a once-a-day tablet, answer which Sheering says has been tested on 4,000 patients worldwide. Same old story on the street waiting for Greenspan to tip his hand. As we noted, the Fed's move yesterday indicating that it has not been easing interest rates came as a very big surprise on the street.

So the argument ranges, the Fed will cut Fed funds to 8%. No, the Fed will not lower rates right away. The Naysayers contend among other things that employment figures remain too strong, all of which failed to stifle the at least momentary uptrend, dial up a might, and fair breadth, MX and OTC making positive moves as well. Fed funds fluctuated today up to 9. And a quarter percent for a bit before we're treating to their opening level of 8 and 5, 8% and we're waiting. You remember, Jim, we've done many stories on New Jersey's notoriously high auto insurance rates, but apparently there are some out of stators who consider this state's rates a bargain. A bargain that's gotten them into trouble. Ten drivers, some who live across the Hudson, along with several others who live across the Delaware, have been charged with falsifying insurance applications in order to obtain coverage from New Jersey's JUA, joint underwriting association.

The state insurance department says those indictments are just the tip of the iceberg. It's estimated by the departments of 15 to 20,000 high-risk drivers who can't get insurance in their own state are driving with fraudulently obtained insurance. When we come back, our rollercoaster forecast seems headed for another big snow. And in sports, the giants lose a big one and what about Lawrence Taylor, Pat, with the latest coming up next? Okay. Page 16. Right? Page 15 is next. I heard it. I heard it. I'm waiting to hear. Hopefully he's already. I don't know what he's going to say. Kramer just went down. He'll toss to business sports. He's got. What? Is that a two-shot?

20 seconds back. I don't really relate to the tape room sign. They're called VDTs, those visual display terminals that turned office typewriters into high-tech work stations. VDTs help get work done faster, but some people say they're causing injury to workers who use them often. A problem the state health department hopes to avoid. Science and health correspondent Mark Levinson reports. Iris Jaret spends her work day typing on a VDT. She's also a VDT victim. Before the health department modified her visual display terminal, the screen strained her eyes,

and the keyboard caused a pinkle syndrome that more than just strained her wrist. I've been in and out of physical therapy, but it really doesn't help much. And in the future, I might have to get surgery done on it. Iris Jaret is one of 400 health department employees, whose VDTs were modified to make them safer. But health officials say most of New Jersey's public agencies have yet to update their VDTs, leaving as many as 250,000 public employees at risk. But you want to be working at your board. Health commissioner Molly Koi, a former secretary herself, today demonstrated how to take the pain out of VDTs. I should not have the written material down here at the side when I'm typing onto the screen. So those are some of the key points for protection of the VDT operator. Koi turned those modifications into guidelines for public agencies. They include adjustable keyboards to avoid so-called carpal tunnel syndrome that injured Iris Jaret,

tiltable screens that ease eye strain, padded furniture that's easier on back muscles and 15 minute breaks every two hours. The guidelines answer the same complaints that brought changes to assembly lines, taking monotony and strain out of repetitive jobs. They're only guidelines, though, and they could be expensive for public agencies to comply. The health department hopes these public employee guidelines will spread into the private sector. But there's more to come. Another study, now underway, is testing whether VDTs emit any dangerous radiation. Mark Levinson, New Jersey Network News, Trenton. In South Jersey, today, temperatures climbed into the 60s for the eighth time this month. But then an Arctic cold front rolled in. Just look at the wintry sky over Branch Brook Park in Newark. Although normal temperatures are expected into the weekend, along with a strong possibility of another big snowfall, it's time between Friday and Saturday. Checking current conditions, clouds and wind at all are reporting stations. Newark, with 50 degrees, Trenton 48,

Atlantic City 56, after a high of 64. The forecast, tonight clearing windy and cold. The wind chills could fall to near zero. Low temperatures ranging from 27 north to 36 south. Tomorrow, partly sunny and windy again. The highs between 30 and 37. Thursday, sunny and not so cold. The highs between 33 and 42. Time now for sports. Pat joins us from our Newark Bureau with all the action, Pat. Okay, Kent. Well, you know, the San Francisco 49ers were the better team last night, beating the Giants 34-24 to improve to 10-2. The Giants are now 9-3 with the Eagles coming to the medal and Sunday, just a game back. Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor Spray and a right ankle, according to Bill Parcells today. And the coach doesn't think LT will be ready Sunday. But he promises to know more on Taylor's status tomorrow. Not just too much of Joe Montana. Three touchdown passes, stake to 49ers to a 24-7 lead. The Giants did rally with the explosive Dave Megett going 53 yards for a touchdown from Phil Sims.

The Giants eventually tied it at 24 all. But there was a costly penalty. We gave the Niners a go ahead field goal. And Phil Sims picked off on a potential tying or winning drive to costly mistakes. The Giants just couldn't overcome. Time again, Franklin. We made two mistakes on the pressure at the end of the game. And that's when you size it all up. And however you got to 24 all. And who did what? It really doesn't make any difference. All right. Well, here's our high school football top 10 on this Tuesday night. Middletown South number one followed by Elizabeth. St. Joseph's of Montfell. Randolph and Camden Wilson. Then it's Passek. Lacey Phillipsburg. That's where the game is 10. Now Franklin dropped from six after Morristown upset the Warriors 16-12. There's Morristown's Jeff Bell scoring an eight yard touchdown. Then Morristown went for two and took a 16-12 lead. The defense came up big, holding the Warriors, the Colonials, get the Interception.

That preserved the win. So the Franklin Warriors handed their first loss by an upset-minded Morristown team. College basketball. That's where the winning Bridge Point last night, 80 to 62. P. J. Calisimo's Pirates have five new starters in the lineup this season that complete overhaul from last year. The new point guard Oliver Taylor played real well for the Pirates. He had 17. And St. Anthony Grant, Terry DeHair, had a dozen from the two-guard position. But it was the play of Michael Cooper that keyed the win for Seton Hall. 24 points from Coop. Still, he knows there's room for improvement. You know that we got a lot of work to do. Bridge Point's a good team. We're not taking anything away from him. But this is our first game. And we had to get a little bit out of Jettelbugs out. Was it a great performance? No. But it was adequate. We got the win. I think the kids understand that we need to continue to work and work a lot harder in certain areas. And that's important. But we've got to put this in the harness. We better be a lot more prepared on Saturday for all of you.

And Rutgers opened up with the loss at Syracuse 95 to 79. It has the Scarlet Night story. It's one of college basketball's toughest arenas to play. The carrier dome with number one ranked Syracuse in nearly 30,000 fans. But Rutgers managed to quiet the crowd by staying close. For a key thews, a Syracuse transfer led the Skull at nights with 21 points. And guard Earl Duncan, another Syracuse transfer managed 11 points despite playing with the sprained back. Rutgers down by only two at the half. Definitely played with the first half, second half. We started giving up some big baskets. And we couldn't afford to do that. But as far as this team hanging in here, I'm very proud of our team because we hung in there and we showed that we could play. And I think we got to have a great season at Halleberg. This might coming into the game, 12 point underdogs. The Scarlet Night's not only proved that they could play with the number one ranked team in the country, but that they already have the groundwork laid for what could be another dream season. At the carrier dome, Jerry, having New Jersey Network news Syracuse. Hockey tonight at Devils Entertainment, the Islanders of the Metal Lands of Flyers

are in Pittsburgh and last night NBA. The nets lose to Utah 105 to 68, the net shot 104 from the floor. That sports iPad Scanlon. Let's go back to Trenton. Thank you, Pat. That's all for this evening. I'm Phil Bremen. And I'm Kent Manahan from all of us here at New Jersey Network News. Thank you for being with us. We'll see you tomorrow. This has been a presentation of New Jersey Network. Thanks for watching. See you next time.

Bye. Bye. Bye.