House fire on Second Street

Fire, police departments respond to call

At 1:31 a.m. on July 18, the Hammonton Police Department received a call of smoke coming out of an apartment on the 200 block of N. Second Street, near the intersection of French Street, Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel said. (THG/Kristin Guglietti)

HAMMONTON—At 1:31 a.m. on July 18, the Hammonton Police Department received a call of smoke coming out of an apartment on the 200 block of N. Second Street, near the intersection of French Street, Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel said.

“The Hammonton Police Department and Fire Department responded. All parties safely evacuated the building,” Friel said.

The fire is currently under investigation by the Hammonton Police and Fire Departments, Friel said. Utility work could be seen being done to the property, which had been boarded up and was blocked off by police tape, on the morning of July 18.

In other police news, at 11:46 p.m. on July 15, police were dispatched to the 700 block of 12th Street regarding a suspicious vehicle parked at a parking lot, and upon responding they noticed a man passed out behind the wheel with the vehicle in drive and the keys in the ignition, Friel said.

The subject was awakened and was identified as Raphael Jiminez-Flores, 37, of Hammonton, Friel said. The odor of alcoholic beverage was emitting from his person, Friel said.

He was placed under arrest, transported to police headquarters for processing and charged with the following motor vehicle violations: driving while under the influence, refusal to submit to breath testing, careless driving, reckless driving, open container of alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle, unlicensed driver, unregistered vehicle, failure to possess the registration and failure to possess the insurance card, Friel said.

Jiminez-Flores was released as per John’s Law pending a court appearance in Hammonton Joint Municipal Court.

Friel said Officer Travis Hoffman is the investigating and arresting officer.

This report is comprised of arrests and investigations made by the men and women of local enforcement. All suspects and arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.