Two right lanes were closed as of 6:42 a.m. west of Exit 58 for Madison Avenue Friday, according to the DOT.

A jackknifed tractor-trailer was tying up westbound traffic near Exit 58 in Paterson Friday morning, the Department of Transportation reported. (511nj.org) 

PATERSON -- A jackknifed tractor-trailer had reduced westbound traffic to a crawl Friday morning on Route 80 in Paterson, according to the Department of Transportation.

Two right lanes were closed as of 6:42 a.m. west of Exit 58 for Madison Avenue, causing delays of five minutes, the DOT reported.

Traffic appeared to be crawling past the crash in the left lane, based on traffic camera footage.

A fluid spill was also reported in connection with the crash, according to the DOT.

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

A 15-year-old girl stole prescription pills from her mother and gave them to two friends at Lakeland Regional High School, authorities said Friday.

A 15-year-old girl gave her friends stolen pills at Lakeland Regional High School on Sept. 29, 2015, police said. (Google Maps) 

WANAQUE -- A 15-year-old girl stole prescription pills from her mother and gave them to two friends at Lakeland Regional High School, authorities said Friday.

Police were alerted that the three girls were at the school nurse's office late Tuesday morning after taking the painkiller OxyContin, according to Capt. Ken Fackina.

Investigators learned a girl took the drugs from her mother and gave the pills to her friends, Fackina said.

"One began experiencing medical issues shortly after ingesting them," the captain said in a statement. "Ambulances were dispatched to transport all three to Chilton Memorial Hospital for evaluation."

The girls were all released from the hospital and turned over to their parents, according to police. Charges were pending for various drug offenses, including distribution on school property and theft.

Fackina said the investigation was ongoing. Authorities did not identify the girl because of her age.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

A bomb threat was found in one of the boy's restrooms, police said.

West Milford High School was evacuated Friday morning after a bomb threat was found in one of the boy's restrooms, police said.Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images, file photo 

WEST MILFORD -- West Milford High School was evacuated Friday morning after a bomb threat was found in one of the boy's restrooms, police said.

Police responded to the high school at 8:47 a.m. after a threat was found written on the wall of one of the boy's restrooms, West Milford police said in a news release.

Students were evacuated from the school as units from the West Milford Police Department, the Passaic County Sheriff's Office, the West Milford Fire Company No. 4, the West Milford First Aid Squad and the West Milford Office of Emergency Management responded.

The Passaic County Sheriff's Office K-9 units swept the school but no threat was found, police said.

Students were allowed to return to class after the school was cleared by police. The case remains under investigation.

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

A Republican candidate running in a closely watched state Assembly race has dropped out after it was revealed that a book he wrote 12 years ago is filled with rants and slurs against a number of minorities, from gays and women to blacks and Muslims

TRENTON -- A Republican candidate running in a closely watched state Assembly race has dropped out after it came to light that he wrote a book 12 years ago that is filled with rants and slurs against gays, women, blacks, Asian, Muslims, and more.

Anthony Cappola's sudden exit leaves Republicans scrambling to see if they can put a new candidate on the ballot in a race that is considered one of the few in New Jersey's Assembly elections this year in which the party has a decent chance at picking up seats.

Politico New Jersey on Thursday was the first to report that Cappola -- a 41-year-old River Edge councilman -- is quitting the race against incumbent Democrats Tim Eustace and Joseph Lanagan, who represent the 38th District in the lower house of the state Legislature. The distric includes parts of Bergen and Passaic counties.

"I'm sorry if I offended anyone and deeply regret what was written," Cappola told the website in a statement. "I am not the same person I was 12 years ago, but I take responsibility for what I wrote and have chosen to bow out of the race."

Cappola did not immediately return a message seeking comment Friday.

The book -- which Politico obtained a copy of -- is titled "Outrageous!" 

In one passage, according to the website, Cappola writes that "beautiful" lesbians are "a sin." 

"Aside from making porn, they serve no purpose," he writes.

Assembly Miniority Leader Jon Bramnick condemned Cappola's writing Friday, saying it doesn't reflect the Republican Party in New Jersey.

"Let me be clear: I find abhorrent the kind of statements that I read," Bramnick (R-Union) told NJ Advance Media. "They're disgusting. And as long as I am the Republican leader in the Assembly, I won't stand for this type of talk."

Assembly races top the ballot in New Jersey this year. And Republicans are hoping to pick up seats in the house, which is currently controlled by Democrats, 48-32. The state Senate is also controlled by Democrats.

But what happens to Cappola's place on the November ballot now is unclear. The deadline to replace him with another candidate expired last month.

Bramnick said he is consulting with attorneys to get a court to approve a last-minute replacement. He said the party is still searching for "the right candidate" and he's optimistic a court will side with him.

"If you pay for reprinting of the ballot, courts have been inclined to allow replacement of a candidate," Bramnick said.

Cappola's running mate, Mark DiPisa, told Politico that he pressured Cappola to drop out of the race when he learned of the book.

"I feel betrayed and denounce the offensive garbage he sold to the public," DiPisa told the website in a statement. "I refuse to associate myself with someone who would promote hate, intolerance and bigotry."

DiPisa said he is staying on the race.

Cappola is a former teacher, a Bible study leader, and a married father of one, according to his campaign bio.

In one of the passages of his book -- which is apparently riddled with typos -- he writes that it's homosexuals' "choice" to "like them same sex," according to Politico. 

"But like the rest of normal humanity keep your preference behind doors like normal people do!!" Cappola writes, according to the website. "You don't see heterosexuals with parades, national days, and months, special amusement park closings, and flags. Get out of here!"

Eustace, one of Cappola's opponents, is openly gay. He could not be reached for comment Friday, but he told Politico that he does not think Cappola is "fit to lead, even locally."

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Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

Can a public employee be punished "based on a supervisor's perception that the employee supports a political candidate"?

TRENTON -- A Paterson police officer's decade-old political retaliation suit will be heard by the nation's highest court next year.

The U.S. Supreme Court announced this week it would hear arguments in the case, in which veteran cop Jeffrey Heffernan claims he was wrongly demoted because superiors believed he supported a challenger in the city's 2006 mayoral race.

Heffernan, a 20-year veteran of the Paterson Police Department, claims he faced retaliation when supporters of Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres saw him at the campaign headquarters of former police chief Lawrence Spagnola, who was seeking to unseat Torres.

Heffernan, who has since retired, said at the time he lived outside the city and was not active in the mayoral race, but was off duty and picking up a lawn sign for his bedridden mother, who supported Spagnola.

His attorney, Mark B. Frost, said the lawn sign wrongly put a target on Heffernan's back.

"When he comes in the next day, he is demoted and given a punishment assignment of walking a beat back and forth," Frost told NJ Advance Media on Friday.

Heffernan filed a federal lawsuit in 2006 alleging the demotion was retaliatory and violated his First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and association, and was awarded more than $100,000 when a jury later ruled in his favor.

But the case has since wended its way through the courts in a complicated array of appeals, and earlier this year the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit dismissed the case, finding Heffernan could not bring a retaliation claim based on a perceived exercise of First Amendment rights.

RELATED: U.S. Supreme Court asked to weigh in on N.J. public pension fight

That court essentially found that because Heffernan was not actually supporting a campaign, but was simply perceived to be supporting it, he could not claim his First Amendment rights had been violated.

On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to take another look.

The question before the court is "whether the First Amendment bars the government from demoting a public employee based on a supervisor's perception that the employee supports a political candidate," according to court documents.

Frost told NJ Advance Media the perception of engaging in political activity can leave a public employee just as vulnerable to attack as the real thing -- and that both ought to be protected under the law.

"If you're believed to be associated with a particular candidate, it opens Pandora's Box for retaliation," he said.

The Supreme Court will hear the case in January 2016.

S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Marquis Turner, 19, of Paterson, has been charged with the murder of 24-year-old John Williams, Paterson police director Jerry Speziale said on Saturday.

Marquis Turner, 19, of Paterson, has been charged with the murder of 24-year-old John Williams, Paterson police director Jerry Speziale said on Saturday.File Photo 

PATERSON -- A 19-year-old man has been charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of a city man this past July, police said.

Marquis Turner, of Paterson, was being held on carjacking charges on Sept. 17 when police charged him with the murder of 24-year-old John Williams, who was shot and killed on July 12, Paterson police director Jerry Speziale said on Saturday.

Williams, 24, was found wounded by gunshots near the corner of Rosa Parks Boulevard and Warren Street at about 10:17 p.m. on July 17, police have said. He was taken to St. Joseph's Medical Center, where he died of his injuries.

A second man was also wounded in the shooting, but police have not released more information about the extent of his injuries.

According to the Passaic County jail records, Turner is being held on $750,000 bail with no 10-percent option on the murder charge and $75,000 bail with no 10-percent option on an aggravated assault charge.

Turner was also charged with robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery, Speziale said. He referred further comment on the nature of the conspiracy charge to the prosecutor's office.

A second man, another 24-year-old from Paterson, was also wounded, police have said. He was treated and released.

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Police say Leigh White, 46, of Paterson, shot a 38-year-old city woman multiple times in the upper torso around midnight on Sunday in the area of 18th Avenue and East 33 Street.

Leigh White, 46, of PatersonPassaic County Sheriff's Office 

PATERSON -- A city woman who was free on bail in connection with a 2014 shooting was arrested at a Wayne hotel Friday for allegedly trying to kill a woman earlier this week, police said.

Police say Leigh White, 46, of Paterson, shot a 38-year-old city woman multiple times in the upper torso around midnight on Sunday in the area of 18th Avenue and East 33 Street.

The woman who was shot was still in critical condition at St. Joseph's Medical Center as of Saturday, Paterson police director Jerry Speziale said in a news release.

Investigators determined that White was the shooter and located her at a Wayne hotel early Friday afternoon following a manhunt by Paterson detectives and members of the United States Marshal Service Regional Fugitive Task Force, Speziale said.

White has been remanded to the Passaic County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail with no 10-percent option, Passaic County Sheriff's spokesman Bill Maer said.

RELATED: Paterson woman pleads not guilty to attempted murder in shooting

White, who was out on bail at the time of the Sunday shooting, was charged with attempted murder last year for allegedly shooting a 36-year-old woman at an East 27th Street apartment in Paterson on March 10, 2014. White has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder in connection with the 2014 shooting.

Authorities have not said whether the woman allegedly shot by White on Sunday was the same woman from the 2014 shooting.

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

The House Freedom Caucus, co-founded by U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett, is blamed for the decision of House Majority Kevin McCarthy's decision to forgo the speakership.

WASHINGTON -- What role did U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett, New Jersey's most conservative member of Congress, have in the current turmoil over leadership in the U.S. House?

After the House Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative Republicans co-founded by Garrett, decided not to support House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy's bid to become House speaker, the presumptive front-runner suddenly withdrew from the race Thursday.

The action by McCarthy (R-Calif.) left House Republicans with no clear successor to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), who said Sept. 25 that he would resign his office. A conference meeting to nominate the next leader was abruptly adjourned following McCarthy's announcement.

"I was completely surprised," said Rep. Leonard Lance (R-7th Dist.).

The Freedom Caucus had announced that its members would support Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Fla.) rather than McCarthy. If McCarthy gained the conference nod but members of the Freedom Caucus refused to then support him on the House floor, he could lack the 218 votes needed to take over the gavel when the entire chamber voted to elect Boehner's successor.

RELATED: N.J. Rep. Garrett, who opposed Speaker Boehner, looks for new leadership

"They're responsible for Boehner stepping down," said Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) of the group Garrett co-founded. "They're responsible for Kevin not running."

Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th Dist.) agreed. "There was dissatisfaction with the Freedom Caucus," he said.

Garrett (R-5th Dist.) declined to comment when asked outside the House chamber on Thursday. He was one of the House Republicans who refused to vote for Boehner in January when he was re-elected as speaker, backing Webster instead.

Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-3rd Dist.) said the new speaker needs "to be somebody who can bridge the gap," working with both Republicans and Democrats and their various factions in order to gain support to pass legislation, even if it means making compromises.

"I recognize that you don't get to win 100 percent and the other guy loses," MacArthur said. "The speaker has to work with both parties."

Smith, the dean of the New Jersey congressional delegation, said every House speaker since Thomas P. (Tip) O'Neill Jr. (D-Mass.) ruled in the 1980s has run into trouble.

"It is a very difficult spot," Smith said. "I think we'll sort it all out."

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which has targeted Garrett in 2016, sent out a fundraising solicitation Thursday, citing the House Republicans' inability to choose a new candidate for speaker.

DCCC spokesman Bryan Lesswing said Garrett, likely to face a well-funded Democratic challenger, bears some responsibility.

"Months after he voted against Boehner for speaker, Garrett is now the dog that caught the car -- he and his fellow conservative hardliners invited upon their caucus the tremendous chaos that is now on full display for all to see," Lesswing said. "Garrett helped bring his caucus to the brink -- now what?"

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Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

Victim's toddler granddaughter was home when 2012 slaying occurred

PATERSON -- A jury found a city man guilty Thursday of stabbing his girlfriend to death after she tried to break up with him, NorthJersey. com reported.

Raheem Jones, 37 stabbed Latasha Smith, 39, with a kitchen knife nearly a dozen times Dec. 12, 2012. Smith's 3-year-old granddaughter was present in Smith's Butler  Avenue home when she was murdered. 

Ed Murray/NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

Jones, who faces up to life in prison when he's sentenced next month, had just been released from prison the day before the murder after serving time for aggravated assault against Smith.  

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaulMilo2. FindNJ.com on Facebook

 

An investigation by the city's narcotics unit netted six arrests and a loaded handgun Thursday night, police said.

Paterson Police made several arrests and seized a loaded gun Oct. 8, 2015, officials said. (File photo) 

Alexander Acevedo, 20, a Paterson resident, was caught with a .45 caliber Sig Sauer semi-automatic handgun loaded with six hollow point rounds, according to Police Director Jerry Speziale. He was arrested with 104 baggies of marijuana and charged with various drug and weapons offenses.

Investigators also seized $384 in drug proceeds from Acevedo, according to police.

Christopher Velez, 24, of Paterson, was caught with two sealed bags and one knotted bag of marijuana, totaling about 168 grams, the police director said. Velez faces drug distribution-related charges.

ALSO: Cops make 3 drug arrests in 12 hours, sheriff says

Eury Ortiz, 20, of Paterson, was charged with drug offenses after investigators found he was carrying 80 glassine packets of heroin, according to authorities. Police seized $264 in drug proceeds from Ortiz.

Edgar Mateo, 32, Neame Sanchez, 20, both Paterson residents, and Ashley Miyashiro, 21, of Haledon, were arrested on marijuana possession charges, police said.

The police department operation took place on 17th Street, police added.

"The drug dealers and armed felons must be removed from our streets and together if everyone does their part we will achieve a safer city," Speziale said in a statement. "We cannot go this alone and need collaboration from the masses to do what none can do alone."

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

A 22-year-old woman was seriously injured in a hit-and-run on Route 46 early Friday, police said.

A 22-year-old woman was in critical condition after a hit-and-run on Route 46 early Oct. 9, 2015, Clifton police said. (Justin Zaremba | NJ Advance Media) 

The pedestrian was struck on the eastbound highway just after midnight, near Valley Road, according to Detective Sgt. Robert Bracken of the Clifton police.

She was listed in critical condition, Bracken said.

Additional details were not immediately available.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

A 29-year-old woman is facing charges for allegedly selling fraudulent divorce judgments to unsuspecting clients, authorities said.

Anastasya Varvayuk, 29, of Elmwood ParkPassaic County Prosecutor's Office 

CLIFTON -- A 29-year-old woman is facing charges for allegedly selling fraudulent divorce judgments to unsuspecting clients, authorities said.

Anastasya Varvayuk, of Elmwood Park, was arrested this week on charges of practicing law without a license and forgery following an investigation by the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office Financial Crimes Unit, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said in a news release.

Varvayuk, who is not a licensed attorney, operated out of Empire Multi Services on Main Avenue, authorities said.

She allegedly forged the signature of a Superior Court judge on the judgments to create the appearance of authenticity and then passed off those forged documents to unsuspecting clients as valid divorce judgments, authorities said.

Messages places to Empire Multi Services on Friday afternoon have not yet been returned. A message placed with the prosecutor's office Friday afternoon seeking additional comment hasn't yet been returned.

Both charges are third-degree crimes and carry penalties of three to five years in prison.

 

 

A man was found eating a sandwich following the car wreck he caused early Friday morning, according to Port Authority police.

Keith Gould, 38 (Port Authority) 

HOBOKEN -- A man was found standing outside his wrecked car, eating a cold cut sandwich, after causing an accident in the Lincoln Tunnel on Friday morning, according to Port Authority police.

Keith Gould, 38, of North Haledon, was charged with reckless driving and driving under the influence after his 2016 Hyundai collided with the rear end of a heavy duty pickup truck in the westbound north tube of the Lincoln Tunnel around 3 a.m., police said.

RELATED: Man tried to dodge Lincoln Tunnel tolls by removing license plates, police say

When Port Authority Police Officer Leonardo Lago arrived at the scene, he saw Gould "outside the heavily damaged vehicle eating a sandwich," a police press release stated. 

According to Port Authority police spokesman Joe Pentangelo, the traffic inside the tunnel was stopped westbound due to the accident. When Lago was finally able to get to the scene of the accident, Gould, who had come from somewhere in Manhattan, was eating a "cold cut sandwich," Pentagelo said.

"The officer asked him 'Was that your car?' He said 'yeah,'" Pentagelo said.

Gould, whose face was flushed and appeared unsteady on his feet, later failed a breathalyzer test, police said.

Pentangelo said Gould had a blood alcohol content of .11, when the legal limit is .08.

Gould, whose inoperable car was later towed, appeared unharmed and refused medical attention, Pentagelo said. 

The 37-year-old driver of the "heavy duty pickup truck," who also declined medical attention, was able to drive away in his truck, the spokesman said.

Laura Herzog may be reached at lherzog@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LauraHerzogL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Michael DeFrancisci, who served as head of the state's largest sewage treatment authority since 2012, abruptly and quietly handed in his resignation on Thursday.

The head of the troubled Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission has resigned, agency officials confirmed on Saturday.

Michael DeFrancisci, who served as head of the state's largest sewage treatment authority since 2012, abruptly and quietly handed in his resignation on Thursday, Gregory Tramontozzi, the agency's general counsel, said.

He said the agency's only two commissioners, Kenneth Lucianin and Thomas Tucci Jr., issued a brief email statement late Friday confirming DeFrancisci's departure but offered little reason for the resignation other than to note that he left to pursue other interests.

The commission's website now lists Tramontozzi as holding the executive director's post as well.

Tramontozzi said DeFrancisci's resignation is effective Oct. 30 and that he would remain with the agency until then to help with the transition.

Gov. Chris Christie drew criticism after appointing DeFrancisci, a former agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and past director of the state's Office of Consumer Protection, in 2012 because DeFrancisci had no experience with wastewater treatment facilities beyond the information he had gained as mayor of Little Falls.

After taking office in 2010, Christie vowed to remake the commission, which by that time had become a landing-spot for many politically connected people who rarely, if ever, showed up at their jobs. 

Two months into DeFrancisci's term, Hurricane Sandy struck. Sandy's storm surge flooded the facility's network of tunnels, causing 840 million gallons of raw sewage to flow into the New York Harbor.

A crash Sunday morning on Route 46 left a Jersey City man in critical condition, police said.

A man was left in critical condition after crashing in Wayne, Oct. 11, 2015. (File Photo) 

WAYNE -- A crash Sunday morning on Route 46 left a Jersey City man in critical condition, police said.

Multiple 911 callers reported the crash at 4:33 a.m., Wayne Police Capt. Laurence W. Martin said.

Police found a car about 200 feet off the embankment in a heavily wooded area near the interchange with Route 80, Martin said. Police shut down traffic from Route 46 to Route 80.

The driver was breathing but unconscious, Martin said. He was removed from the car and taken to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Paterson.

The roadway reopened after an investigation at 7:42 a.m., Martin said. The man remained in critical condition as of 12 p.m.

A fire displaced 20 people Sunday night on E. 22nd Street, city fire officials said.

A fire displaced about 20 people Sunday night in Paterson. (File Photo) 

PATERSON -- A fire displaced 20 people Sunday night on E. 22^nd Street, city fire officials said.

Firefighters were called to a 2.5-story wood-frame house on the 100-block of E. 22^nd Street at about 8 p.m., Paterson Deputy Fire Chief Pablo Delvalle said.

The fire reached three alarms and spread to the three-story residence to the north before it was extinguished, Delvalle said. About 20 people were displaced.

One firefighter suffered a minor injury, Delvalle said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The stores owned by the bankrupt Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company are all up for grabs, including the nearly 90 locations in New Jersey.

The stores owned by the bankrupt Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company are all up for grabs, including the nearly 90 locations in New Jersey.

A&P opted to close nine New Jersey stores immediately, while selling more than 40 stores to Acme, Stop & Shop and Key Foods.

The remainder are up for auction. The most recent round on Thursday saw successful bids placed on the Fair Lawn and Navesink stores. It's not clear what's going to happen to stores that don't receive bids.

It's a fast-moving process, but you can keep track of what's happening with your store with this map, which will be updated as more sales are finalized.

The points indicate whether a store has sold (green), closed (red), or is up for auction (grey). The yellow points indicate stores that don't fall in any of the prior categories, but where A&P plans to make layoffs. Click the points for details on buyers or bidders.

The family of a Moonachie woman left in critical condition in a hit-and-run crash is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible.

MOONACHIE -- The family of a Moonachie woman left in critical condition in a hit-and-run crash is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible.

Anna Semioli, 22, was struck just after midnight Friday while walking on Route 46 eastbound in Clifton near Valley Road, Clifton police said.

Her older sister Gina said Anna is in "very, very, critical condition," at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson.

"Hopefully someone will come forward and give us more information," Gina, 31, of Lodi, said.

A family friend and a relative raised the $10,000, Gina said.

Semioli, who lives in Moonachie with her family, is a student at Montclair State University studying accounting. She's due to graduate in December.

The Montclair State University Police Department urged anyone with information to contact the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office or Clifton Police.

"Our thoughts are with Anna and her family during this very difficult time," the department said in a statement.

Gina said the family hopes the reward, and media attention, will draw someone with information, or the person who hit Anna, to come forward.

Another friend of the family started a GoFundMe page Sunday to help the Semioli family with medical and other expenses. The page had raised $450 of a $10,000 goal as of Monday morning.

"We have a very, very, long road ahead of us but I know she's going to be OK," Gina said. "I feel it in my heart."

Anyone with information should call the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office at (862) 849-6019.

Jessica Mazzola of NJ Advance Media contributed to this story.

Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Special interest groups backed primarily by Democrats and unions raised $5.4 million for the upcoming state Assembly elections — nearly as much money as the candidates' solicited for their own campaign committees, according to an analysis Tuesday by the Election Law Enforcement Commission

TRENTON -- Special interest groups backed primarily by Democrats and unions raised $5.4 million for the upcoming state Assembly elections -- nearly as much as the candidates solicited for their own campaign, according to an analysis Tuesday by the Election Law Enforcement Commission.

During the first cycle of campaign fundraising and spending that ended Oct. 2, the candidates raised $6.6 million while five independent groups collected $5.4 million, according to ELEC's analysis of preliminary data.

All 80 seats in the Assembly are up in the Nov. 3 election, but so far only three of the 40 legislative races -- two in south Jersey, one in north Jersey -- are drawing the most cash, according to ELEC's analysis.

RELATED: Special interest campaign spending was off the charts in 2013

"Usually, an election with just Assembly candidates on the ballot is a low-key affair. But the involvement of the independent committees is definitely adding some drama this year,'' Jeff Brindle, ELEC's executive director said.

These special interest groups are known as 527 organizations, which are tax exempt and can accept donations from contributors without limits. They must disclose their donors to the IRS, not the state.

Garden State Forward, founded in 2013 by the dominant teachers' union in the state, the New Jersey Education Association, raised $2.75 million, more than any other independent group. 

When the NJEA formed Garden State Forward two years ago, the union's spokesman said the intent was to focus more on issues and less on specific elections. The NJEA already had a state political action committee.

General Majority PAC, a national group dedicated to supporting Democrats running for state office, raised $2,019,000.

"The last time Assembly candidates ran alone on the ticket in 1999, there was no independent spending,'' Brindle said. "Interestingly, independent group spending in this year's Assembly general election so far represents 45 percent of total spending."

These special interest political action committees are not new to New Jersey elections. In 2013 when the governor and all 120 seats in the state legislature were open, these committees spent $38.9 million, representing 60 percent of all contributions. General Majority PAC, under the name Fund for Jobs Growth and Security, spent more than $8 million to help elect Democrats, according to ELEC's analysis. 

The committees also played a significant role in the Newark mayoral race last year, which drew $5.5 million in independent spending -- a record for a local race, Brindle said.

Nearly $12 million has been raised collectively for the Nov. 3 Assembly contests, with Democratic candidates reporting $8.5 million and Republicans $3.8 million, according to ELEC.

The other top special interest groups contributing this election cycle include the Carpenters Fund for Growth and Progress, which raised $349,410 and gave $300,000 of it to General Majority PAC; the National Association of Realtors Fund which raised $250,450; and New Jerseyans for a Better Tomorrow, which raised $25,000 and gave it all to the General Majority PAC.

General Majority PAC, founded by U.S. Sen. Harry Reid's former chief of staff Susan McCue, has spent a combined $854,069 on the race in the 1st District, consisting of Cape May County and parts of Atlantic and Cumberland Counties, and the 2nd District in Atlantic County.

Incumbent Bob Andrzejczak and R. Bruce Land are the Democrats, and incumbent Samuel Fiocchi and Jim Sauro are the Republicans running in District 1.

Incumbent Vincent Mazzeo and Colin Bell are the Democrats running in District 2; incumbent Chris Brown and Will Pauls are the Republicans.

General Majority also spent $198,262 in the 38th District, which represents parts of Bergen and Passaic counties. Incumbents Tim Eustace and Joseph Lagana are the Democrats in District 38; Mark DiPisa is the Republican challenger.

Anthony Cappola was running with DiPisa until he dropped out this month following a story by POLITICO New Jersey about a book he wrote 12 years ago filled with rants and slurs against gay men and women, blacks, Asians, senior citizens, Muslims and foreign-born business owners. 

Democrats hold a 47-32 majority in the Assembly, with one vacancy in the heavily Democratic 5th District representing parts of Camden and Gloucester.

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

Person caught on video 'tagging' numerous buildings, police say

LITTLE FALLS -- Police are asking the public's help in identifying the man pictured, who was caught on surveillance video while allegedly putting graffiti on several buildings.

Little Falls Police Department  

The images, released Tuesday, show the man wearing a Seton Hall Prep T-shirt "tagging" a number of locations, including businesses and a school, police said. 

Anyone with information is being asked to call police at 973-256-0200.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaulMilo2. FindNJ.com on Facebook