PARSIPPANY — On Wednesday, May 18 at 4:09 p.m. Mr. Shazan Shroff, 27, Parsippany, was traveling east on Old Bloomfield Avenue when his vehicle, a 2009 Blue Honda Accord, was hit by a 2012 Lexus 250, driven by Ms. Pamela Munoz, Hopatcong. Ms. Munoz was attempting to make a turn onto Old Bloomfield Avenue from New Road when she struck his vehicle.

Mr. Shroff’s vehicle spun and struck a 2002 Nissan Maxima Sedan driven by Mr. Absalon Litus, 37, Summit.

Mr. Shroff was partially entrapped in his vehicle and was removed by Parsippany-Troy Hills Volunteer Fire District 5 and Parsippany Rescue and Recovery.

Mr. Shroff suffered injuries and was transported to St. Clare’s Hospital by Parsippany Emergency Medical Services.The 2009 Blue Honda Accord was towed from the scene by Corigliano Towing and all other vehicles were driven away from the scene.

Parsippany-Troy Hills Patrolman Gregory Bloete investigated the accident. At the time of this report there were no summons issued. Police investigation revealed that Ms. Pamela Munoz was at fault due to driver inattention and failure to yield right of way.

PARSIPPANY – A Parsippany man has been charged after he allegedly beat a goose to death with a golf club near the 18th hole of a local golf course.

According to Detective Paul Williams of the Morris County Park Police, at approximately 1:45 p.m. on Monday, May 16, Morris County Park Officer Casey Petrocy and Conservation Officer Robert Driscoll of the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife were dispatched to the Sunset Valley Golf Course in Pompton Plains on a report that a Canada goose had been killed there the prior day.

“Witnesses had reported to golf course personnel that a golfer had struck the goose with his golf club until it was dead near the 18th hole,” said Williams. “Officers observed and removed the dead goose from a pond.”

After a joint investigation by the park police and the division, William L. Mitchell, 54, was charged on May 17 with killing waterfowl.

“Incidents like these, thankfully, are rare, but when they do occur, we take them seriously and respond accordingly,” said Williams.

Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

ROCKAWAY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp announces that the Morris County Grand Jury has returned an Indictment against Bhavuk Uppal, 23, with a last known address in Mountain Lakes, charging him with various crimes related to the July 11, 2015 motor vehicle crash that left three dead and two injured.

During the early morning hours of July 11, 2015, a motor vehicle crash occurred involving multiple vehicles on Route 80 westbound in Rockaway Township.  Through the course of the investigation, it was determined that Defendant crashed his motor vehicle into the rear of one vehicle, a Kia, which then caused that vehicle to collide with the vehicle in front of it, a Jeep. Uppal was driving a 2014 Cadillac Escalade.

The crash resulted in the death of the three occupants in the first vehicle struck, a Kia, and injuries to the two occupants in the second vehicle, a Jeep.  It is alleged that Defendant operated his vehicle recklessly, and under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life. It is also alleged that at the time of this incident, Defendant was operating a vehicle recklessly, in part, by speeding, driving while having a suspended license, and being under the influence of alcohol and narcotics.

The impact of the collision sent the 2004 Kia Sedan crashing into a Jeep located in front of it. Flames consumed the Kia, killing Briana Mae Anderson, 21; her fiance, Edward Russell Hitt, 24, and their 18-month-old daughter, Charlotte Reagan Hitt, all of Jeffersontown, Kentucky. Anderson was 18 weeks’ pregnant at the time of the crash, a fact which her family only discovered via news reports of her death.

The occupants of the Jeep were treated for minor injuries.

Uppal’s prior criminal history includes six arrests since 2009 on charges ranging from theft to failing to turn over a controlled dangerous substance to law enforcement, Troiano said.

On May 19, 2016, the Morris County Grand Jury returned an Indictment formally charging Defendant with three (3) counts of Aggravated Manslaughter, crimes of the first degree, three (3) counts of Death by Auto, crimes of the second degree, three (3) counts of Death Caused While Driving with a Suspended License, crimes of the third degree, two (2) counts of Assault by Auto, crimes of the fourth degree, and two (2) counts of Unlawful Taking of Means of Conveyance, crimes of the third and fourth degree.  Defendant was previously charged by way of a summons-complaint with Possession of Hypodermic Needle, a disorderly persons offense, which is also related to this incident.

Defendant remains in the custody at the Morris County Correctional Facility, with a bail set at $750,000 cash, bond or property.

Members of the New Jersey State Police and Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit contributed to this ongoing investigation and prosecution.

If anyone has any information related to this investigation, they are encouraged to call the Major Crimes Unit of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at (973) 285-6200.

The family of Anderson has retained an attorney to file a lawsuit against the driver believed to be responsible for the crash. While the attorney does not plan to file a lawsuit immediately, he described his intentions to protect the family’s interests throughout the criminal investigation, and to ensure that evidence of Uppal’s responsibility remains protected until a civil trial can move forward. The attorney will also be investigating other possible causes of the accident and deaths, including whether or not Uppal was served an excess of alcohol before driving that night, such that the bar might be responsible in part for the deaths, or if the Kia was defective in some way, leading to the vehicle becoming engulfed in flames in an accident that may otherwise have been survivable.

Editors Note: Despite this Indictment, the Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

PARSIPPANY — Police say they busted a marijuana grow operation Tuesday being run out of a Force Place home, arresting two neighbors and seizing dozens of plants. The owner of the home, Barton R. Harris, 58, was arrested when police executed a search warrant there. Also arrested was 40-year-old Matthew Greist, who was at the house…

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Officers responded to the Saint Christopher’s Church located at 1050 Littleton Road where they were met by a priest who stated that between 5:20 p.m. and 5:50 p.m. on Saturday, May 14, unknown actor(s) burglarized the rectory by forcing entry through a rear door.

The church’s collection money in an undisclosed amount was taken during the burglary. The Parsippany Police Investigative Division and the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division responded for investigation.

Anyone with information can contact the Parsippany Police at (973) 263-4311.

PARSIPPANY — Reports of a working electrical fire at Care One, 200 Madzabrook Road, were reported at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 15. It was reported a heater on the first floor malfunctioned.

Parsippany-Troy Hills Fire District 5 and 6, and Lake Hiawatha Volunteer Fire Department District 4 Rapid Intervention Crew were called to the scene.  Also Boonton Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) was also requested at the scene.

Rockaway Neck Volunteer Ambulance Squad and Parsippany Volunteer Ambulance Squad are also at the scene.

Lake Hiawatha Fire District 4 was requested to assist in the evacuations of the residents. Members of the Office of Emergency Management are on scene.

Parsippany Focus will update this story as additional details become available.