RIO GRANDE — Ending a month-long narcotics investigation on Wednesday, Feb. 18, Middle Township Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit arrested Janet Hicks, 49, an unemployed resident of the 200 block Maurice Blvd.
According to a release, her 8 p.m. arrest was made after Cape May County Regional SWAT Team executed a search warrant at that address.
Hicks was charged with possession of marijuana over a half ounce, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Municipal Court Judge George Neidig set bail at $45,000 full cash, and Hicks was remanded to county jail in lieu of bail.
The incident was not Hicks’ first encounter with the law.
Hicks served nearly three years in state prison for one count of manslaughter for her part in the death of Wildwood Crest Police Officer Eugene J. Miglio III, on June 2, 1995. Placed into state custody Aug. 16, 1996, Hicks was reported out of custody on July 7, 1999, according to the New Jersey Department of Corrections.
The officer died of a heart attack early on June 2, 1995 after a struggle with Hicks, then 35, of Rio Grande, when she allegedly resisted arrest after a car driven by her brother, Alan Miscavage, was stopped for erratic driving.
Hicks was charged at that time with manslaughter and aggravated assault. Hicks’ defense attorney, F. Gilbert Farr of Beach Haven, said that she should be exonerated since Miglio died of a heart attack.
Miglio had responded to a call for backup after Wildwood Police Officer Kenneth Phillips and Lower township Police Officer Ernest Macomber pulled Miscavage’s vehicle over in a restaurant parking lot at Miami and Bayview avenues at the Lower Township-Wildwood Crest border about 3:20 a.m. Police said that the car had been swerving and speeding.
Police said Miscavage tried to flee, and that Hicks intervened despite Wildwood Crest Officer William Kita ordering her to remain in the car. Kita subsequently caught Miscavage.
Hicks resisted attempts to force her into a patrol car and kicked Miglio in the head, according to police.
Miglio collapsed after the struggle and was taken to Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 4:25 a.m.
At that time, Miglio was the third Cape May County police officer to die in the line of duty. He had been a police officer since 1980 after working as a dispatcher for three years in Wildwood. He had also worked undercover with the Cape May County Narcotics Task Force.
Miglio left behind a wife and two children, his mother and two sisters.
Dennisville – As a parent of a Tech student it would be great if the school would update their staff directory. So many old staff still listed and no new teachers listed. What gives?
