By Walter J. O’Neill, Jr
Long Branch – Detective Michael Verdadeiro, was off duty and ordering food at Por Dol Sol restaurant on Broadway the other night when he was approached by an employee seeking his assistance.
According to the Long Branch Police Department, an El Salvadoran national, Edgar Roland-Santo Velasquez, 28, of South 5th Ave., was intoxicated and harassing restaurant employees. Verdadeiro approached the drunken Velasquez and identified himself as a police officer and asked Velasquez to leave the restaurant.
Valasquez refused to leave then became very abusive and started cursing and yelling. Verdadeiro began to escort Valasquez out of the business. Once outside the restaurant, Valasquez yelled to another man (in Spanish) who was allegedly waiting outside to help him attack Verdadeiro.
At this point Verdadeiro again identified himself and produced his police badge and requested that the two men leave the area. Valasquez, in Spanish, told Verdadeiro; “I kill police in my country. I got a knife and I am going to kill you.” He then attempted to punch the LB police officer.
Verdadeiro slipped the punch and attempted to wrestle the drunk to the ground. One employee of Por Dol Sol called LBPD HQ and reported the officer needed assistance immediately while others help Verdadeiro get the two men under control.
Officer Joshua Wagner responded and with Verdadeiro’s assistance placed the two men under arrest. Verdadeiro suffered minor injuries during the struggle. Velasquez is charged with threatening to kill a police officer, aggravated assault, and defiant trespass. He is currently at the MC jail in lieu of $25,000 bail with no ten percent option.
The other man was identified as Wiber A. Martinez, 23, of Pacific Street in Long Branch. He was charged with hindering and resisting arrest. He is also at the county jail in lieu of $5,000 bail.
Both men are being held on an additional detainer by ICE, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency.
Photos by the LBPD
Eatontown Memorial Student is 10,000th Child to Benefit from Free Vision Screening by New Jersey’s Eatontown Lions Club The Eatontown Lions Club began its sixth year of vision screening with a bang on Thursday, September 14, 2023. As a result of partnering with the Eatontown and Ocean Township School Districts the Lions club provided the 10,000th free vision screening. On Thursday in recognition as the 10,000th screening recipient, Ashton Vassor, an eighth-grade student at Eatontown’s Memorial School, was given a citation and gift card from the Lions Club. Ashton has been screened annually by the Lions since second grade. Also given a Lions Club Certificate was Memorial School Nurse Lucy Craig, one of the first Eatontown School District nurses to collaborate with the Lions when vision screening began in 2017. She was Ashton’s school nurse at Meadowbrook School when his vision was first screened. Working in conjunction with school nurses, vision screenings are done annually by the Eatontown Lions in September and October for students in Pre-K through 8th grade. “We really appreciate your help as well as the support of the Lions. Your work and partnership with us make a difference. The vision screening process as well as the resources the Lions provide to our students if a vision problem is discovered help our students to be in a better position to learn and succeed. Thank you.” said Scott T. McCue, Superintendent Eatontown Public Schools More than 12 million school-age children in the United States have some form of vision problem. Many vision problems run the risk of becoming permanent if not corrected by the time the eye reaches full maturity. Vision also plays an important role in education. According to educational experts, 80 percent of learning is visual. “Early screening leads to early detection, which helps ensure that children get the follow-up care they need,” said Club President Linda Butler. “We want to make sure that cor