Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office

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Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office

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Raymond S. Santiago, Monmouth County Prosecutor

With over 50 Assistant Prosecutors and more than 80 Detectives, the Prosecutor's Office is the largest law firm in Monmouth County and one of the largest police departments. Together with a support staff of secretaries, paralegals and law clerks, we prosecute thousands of juvenile and adult criminal cases every year. The historical roots of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office are intimately tied to the history of the County as one of the original four counties which comprised New Jersey in 1682.

10/29/2026

A Long Branch man has been arrested and charged in connection with a single-vehicle crash that left one person deceased in May, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago and New Jersey State Police Superintendent Jeanne Hengemuhle announced on Thursday.

https://www.mcponj.org/news/index.php?rz=newsDetails&id=121

10/28/2026

Domestic violence isn't just one of the most common types of crimes, one of the most insidious in nature, and one of the most difficult to investigate and prosecute.

It's also a type of crime that can have a uniquely deleterious effect on those who are doing the investigating and prosecuting.

That was one of the key takeaways at the 180 Turning Lives Around Domestic Violence Symposium for Law Enforcement at the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office this morning, with speakers urging attendees to be mindful of the phenomenon of when stress follows you home, and to lean on colleagues for support. First Assistant Prosecutor Julia Alonso was honored to deliver opening remarks, while MCPO Detective Michelle Tucker was honored to deliver the keynote presentation, titled Behind the Badge: Resilience, Relationships, and Taking Care of Our Own.

We sincerely thank our partners with 180, the Sheriff's Office, and Monmouth County Government for their shared commitment to ensuring not only that perpetrators of domestic violence are brought to justice, but also that those who are making it happen are kept safe and well.

10/28/2026

Happy National First Responders Day!

Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago and the staff of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office proudly recognize and send our deepest gratitude to all of our first responders for their courage, dedication, and unwavering commitment to protecting our communities.

From police officers and firefighters to EMTs, paramedics and dispacthers, we are grateful for the sacrifices you make every day to keep our residents safe. When people are running from danger, you run towards it. Thank you for always answering the call when our communities need you the most.

10/27/2026

That's a wrap!

What a week it was! The twelfth installment of Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) came to a close on Friday afternoon.

First Assistant Prosecutor Julia Alonso delivered closing remarks to the largest class that the MCPO has hosted to date. Participants from police departments, along with health and wellness services from across the county gathered for an in-depth look at mental illness, behavioral health, developmental disabilities, and their implications for a law-enforcement response during a crisis.

We would like to congratulate each of our 38 graduates who went through some very intense week-long training. We extend our sincere thanks to all the participants for their hard work and also to their respective agencies for allowing them the time to be part of this vital training.

Putting on this type of class takes a herculean effort from everyone and we would not be able to do it without the members of our staff, including Captain Andrea Tozzi, Detective Thomas Manzo Jr., Assistant Prosecutors Alexandra Strzykalski and Janine DeLucia along with members of our planning committee, presenters, clergy and all of the mental health professionals and clinicians who commit so much of their time to be here for the entirety or many blocks of the training.

Our CIT Training has been acknowledged as one of the best in the state and it is because of the effort and dedication of everyone involved that makes it such a success. We cannot thank you all enough.

10/24/2026

First Assistant Prosecutor Julia Alonso and members of the MCPO had an absolutely spooktacular time at the Community Trunk or Treat in Freehold on Friday evening.

We got a sneak peek at some of the amazing costumes our trick or treaters will be wearing this Halloween. WOW is all we can say! We saw everything from the Ghostbusters, pirates, Disney characters, Mario Brothers, princesses, Harry Potter, witches, ghouls, dragons, entire family-themed costumes, and even a pop-up coffee shop!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to say and wish us a Happy Halloween! Have a happy and safe Halloween season! (and get LOTS of treats!)

10/22/2026

MCPO NEWS RELEASE -- Man Charged with Kidnapping, Extortion, S*x Assault of 11-Year-Old Asbury Park Girl

FREEHOLD – A Passaic County man has been arrested and criminally charged with luring an 11-year-old girl out of her Asbury Park home by threatening to disseminate partially n**e images of her and then sexually assaulting her in his vehicle nearby, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Thursday.

Adolfo A. Cruz-Garcia, 23, of Haledon is charged with first-degree Aggravated S*xual Assault, first-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, first-degree Kidnapping, second-degree Aggravated S*xual Extortion, second-degree S*xual Assault, and third-degree Endangering.

An investigation into Cruz-Garcia’s activities was initiated earlier this month by members of the MCPO Special Victims Bureau and the Asbury Park Police Department. The investigation ultimately revealed that on Friday, October 2, he and the victim met via social media, and despite being made aware of her age, he solicited photos of her in a state of undress and offered her money in exchange for the performance of sexual acts.

Several hours later, the investigation showed, Cruz-Garcia arrived at the victim’s home, threatened to share the photos with her family and friends if she did not come outside, and lured her into the rear of his vehicle, where he repeatedly sexually assaulted her before dropping her back off near her home.

Cruz-Garcia was arrested without incident near his home on Tuesday, October 20, and lodged in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI) pending a detention hearing tentatively scheduled to take place on Monday, October 26. The State is filing a petition to keep Cruz-Garcia detained while the case against him proceeds.

Anyone with information about Cruz-Garcia’s activities is being urged to contact MCPO Detective Stephanie Regina at 732-431-7160, Ext. 8791 or Asbury Park Police Department Detective Terrence McGhee at 732-502-5781. A photo of Cruz-Garcia is being publicly distributed along with this news release.

This case is being prosecuted by MCPO Special Victims Bureau Director and Assistant Prosecutor Danielle Zanzuccki. Information about Cruz-Garcia’s legal representation was not immediately available as of this writing.

Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.

10/22/2026

**UPDATE - MISSING JUVENILE FOUND!!**

Please be advised that the missing 15-year-old juvenile autistic male, who disappeared at Monmouth Battlefield earlier this morning has been found safe and unharmed.

Prosecutor Santiago would like to thank all law enforcement and the over 100 total resources who came together in a truly collaborative effort to bring Kamilo Giraldo to safety.

We would like to thank the 40 MCPO detectives for their dedication coupled with the combined cooperative efforts of the following agencies who were all instrumental in ensuring the juvenile was found unharmed:

Manalapan Township Police Department
Monmouth County Sheriff's Office
New Jersey State Police Aviation Division
New Jersey Search and Rescue
Monmouth County Rapid Deployment Force (RDF)
New Jersey Office of Emergency Management
New Jersey State Park Police
New Jersey State Police Drone Unit
Freehold Township Police Department
Englishtown Police Department
Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management
Monmouth County CERT Team

10/21/2026

**UPDATE - MISSING AUTISTIC JUVENILE HAS BEEN FOUND**

A missing 15-year-old male, Kamilo Giraldo, was last seen wearing a blue jacket and gray pants at Monmouth Battlefield State Park in Manalapan at approximately 11:46 am this morning. Subject is autistic and verbal but may be unable to communicate exact thoughts. If located, please contact the Manalapan Township Police Department 732-446-4300.

Monmouth County Sheriff's Office

10/20/2026

**UPDATE**
Please be advised that the juvenile has been located and is safe. Thank you to everyone for your assistance and concern.

On behalf of Borough of Tinton Falls Police Department :

Riley Dolan, 16 year old female. Last seen on October 14th, 2026 in Tinton Falls. Last phone contact, October 18th, 2026.

Anyone with information on Riley’s whereabouts please contact Tinton Falls Police Department Det. Sgt. William Rodriguez at 732-542-3400 Ext 467.

10/19/2026

We couldn't think of a better way to start the week than with the 12th installment of MCPO's Crisis Intervention Training (CIT), which kicked off this morning at the MCPO.

Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago delivered opening remarks and welcomed the class earlier this morning, as participants from police departments across the county once again gathered for an in-depth look at mental illness, behavioral health, developmental disabilities, and their implications for a law-enforcement response during a crisis.

2026 marks the sixth straight year of MCPO hosting two annual sessions of the week-long course. Monmouth County’s version of CIT was named Program of the Year at the ninth annual New Jersey CIT Forum, held in 2023.

The training is based on an established and renowned international model, with community mental healthcare and advocacy partnerships key to the agenda. Participants learn to apply the strategies they learn in real-life situations in order to minimize the potential for injury or violence. Mental and behavioral health practitioners also sit in as students in the class in order to build relationships with the police officers, and to better understand the issues they face while often serving as the initial responders to such calls for service.

Well over half of the law enforcement agencies in Monmouth County have had at least one CIT training participant to date, and there have been been numerous instances of CIT-trained officers later encountering individuals in real-life crises and successfully connecting them to resources.

Address

132 Jerseyville Avenue
Freehold, NJ
07728

Telephone

+17324317160

Website

http://www.mcponj.org/

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