ASBURY PARK PRESS :: MONMOUTH EDITION

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THURSDAY 06.02.16
Donald Trump
and his
businesses
have been
involved in
at least 3,500
legal actions in
federal and
state courts
during the past
three decades.
Page 1B

DOG-FIGHTING
RING BUSTED

Asbury Park man arrested, 17 pit bulls rescued

from his home as part of a federal investigation

Sanders wife
talks Bernie,
Chris Christie
PAYTON GUION @PAYTONGUION

While New Jerseys presidential primary likely will

inflict more damage on the Bernie Sanders presidential
campaign, his wife isnt yet saying the Democratic race
is over, at least not publicly.
In an exclusive interview with the Asbury Park
Press, Jane Sanders insisted, despite unfavorable polls
ahead of the final Super Tuesday in primary season, the
senator from Vermont will campaign into the Democratic National Convention in late July and hopefully
pilfer delegates from Hillary Clinton.
On June 7, neither candidate will have the requisite
number of delegates to be deemed the nominee, Mrs.
Sanders said, referring to next weeks primaries. His
purpose of staying in the race is to win it. Its a long shot,
but well see what happens on June 7.
See SANDERS, Page 14A

INSIDE
Hillary Clinton attacks Trump in N.J. PAGE 14A
Bill Clinton stumps on behalf of wife. PAGE 14A

THOMAS P. COSTELLO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Asbury Park Press Executive Editor Hollis Towns applauds as

Ocean Township Intermediate School students hoist a trophy.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NEWS12 NJ

One of the dogs rescued from a New Street home in Asbury Park Wednesday as part of a federal investigation into an
interstate dog-fighting network in which canines were set up to maul each other, often until death, authorities said.

KATHLEEN HOPKINS @KHOPKINSAPP

Promising young
talent recognized

ASBURY PARK The pit bull was repeatedly biting

another dog during a fight.
She had bleeders on that bitch, was the way Mario
Atkinson of New Street, here, described the fight to an
associate in a telephone call, according to federal authorities.
In a later telephone call, Atkinson spoke of how another dog became weak after fighting for an hour, authorities said.
He wasnt really fighting back, Atkinson told an
associate. He was just hanging on.
On Wednesday, Atkinson, 40, was described by authorities as a key player in the interstate ring that
arranged for dogs to fight, often to their death. Atkinson, whose intercepted telephone calls were released
by federal authorities, was among nine people from
four states who were arrested by federal authorities in
what was described as a dog-fighting network that
stretched from New Jersey to New Mexico.

NEPTUNE - Aspiring Pulitzer Prize-winning novelists and Academy Award-winning filmmakers were escorted by family, friends and teachers to the 18th annual Student Voices reception Wednesday night at the Asbury Park Press.
Nearly 100 people gathered in the auditorium.
Armed with cellphones, attendees captured the moment their childs or students name was announced in
recognition of their writing or video accomplishment.
We have quite a lot; we have over 60 students that
participate throughout the year, said Lianne Brock, a
language arts teacher from Saint Leo the Great School.
Theyre into it; its something different.
The Press recognized all the first-, second- and thirdplace winners in the monthly competitions before an-

See CANINES, Page 9A

See STUDENTS, Page 10A

RANDY BERGMANN AND TAMARA WALKER

STAFF WRITERS

See more
Visit us online at APP.com and watch video from the
nationwide bust on the Asbury Park dog-fighting ring.

THOMAS P. COSTELLO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

A man was arrested Wednesday inside this New Street home

in Asbury Park where 17 pit bulls were rescued.

Brick Memorial wrestler Gianni Ghione went 35-3 in his junior

season and finished fourth in the state in a brutal 120-pound
weight class.
Join Ghione and Giants quarterback Eli Manning on June 13
at the Jersey Shore Sports Awards. Student-athletes being
honored and others wishing to attend must RSVP by June 8.
Info: on.app.com/sportsawardstickets.

ADVICE
BUSINESS
CLASSIFIED
COMICS
LOCAL

7D
6A
1E
6D
3A

LOTTERIES
OBITUARIES
OPINION
SPORTS
WEATHER

2A
12A
15A
1C
8C

VOLUME 137
NUMBER 132
SINCE 1879

Watch video
Visit us online at APP.com to view video from the 18th
annual Student Voices awards reception.