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Police Blotter - Oct. 10, 2008
(by Albina Sportelli, Editor - October 09, 2008)
Thefts
King Solomon Cemetery reported three more bronze name plaques stolen from graves between Sept. 28 and Oct. 2. Last week cemetery officials reported four of the bronze name plates stolen. The plaques, according to police reports, were pried off the stones.
Two men were arrested and charged with stealing cooking oil from metal containers in the rear parking lot of the Pathmark store on Ackerman Avenue on Oct. 4 at 8:04 a.m.
According to police reports, Officer Victor Reyes approached Nelson Nolasco-Rodriguez, 40, of Union City, and Oscar Reyes, 33, of West New York, who were removing the cooking oil from the containers and draining it into white plastic containers with a motorized pump. Detective Capt. Robert Rowan said he doesn’t know what the two were going to do with the oil, but said it has a market value because it’s recycled into bio-fuel.
Drugs
Rafel Mora-Reynoso, 18, of Clifton, and two juveniles, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old from Clifton, were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana on Sept. 23 at 9:14 p.m.
According to police reports, detectives Steven Berge and John Kavakich from the anti-crime unit were on patrol on Hope Avenue when they observed a teen approach a 1999 Toyota Corrola parked and occupied by two males. According to police records, the officers watched as the teen on foot reached into his pocket and removed a plastic bag, which he handed to the driver of the Corrola in exchange for cash. The officers approached and confiscated the marijuana, which the driver, Mora-Reynoso was attempting to chew and swallow.
The 17-year-old who sold the marijuana was charged with distribution of marijuana in a school zone and possession of marijuana. The other two were charged with possession of marijuana.
The officers then searched the 17-year-old’s home with his parents’ permission and found $894 in cash and several bags of marijuana.
Lester Morring, 26, of Paterson, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana on Oct. 5, at 9:37 p.m. According to police reports, Officer Rocco Locantore stopped Morring’s Buick Skylark on Main and Harding avenues because loud music was coming from his car. When the officer questioned Morring he learned of his two outstanding warrants and searched the vehicle finding a bag of marijuana, according to police reports. He was also issued a summons for being an unlicensed driver and failure to inspect and for playing loud music. He was additionally charged with having marijuana in a motor vehicle.
Burglaries
A Second Street home was reported broken into on Sept. 30, between 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. A window air conditioner unit was pushed in to gain access. Jewelry was reported stolen.
A Gregory Avenue home was reported broken into on Oct. 3. According to police reports, a 9-year-old child returned home from school to find the front door open and went to a neighbor to call 911. Officers arrived and searched the home, but found it empty. The Crime Scene Investigation unit from the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department responded and processed the scene for evidence. A neighbor told police three women had pulled up to the house in a dark-colored Honda and one of them had knocked on the door. The three women then left.
The Discount Liquors store on Ackerman Avenue and the Dollarmania store nearby were reported broke into overnight between Oct. 3 and Oct. 4. According to police reports, a piece of asphalt was thrown through the liquor store glass front door to smash it. A cash register containing cash was stolen and another was broken into. The Dollarmania store’s glass front door was also smashed by a rock and two cash register drawers reported stolen. According to police reports, a video surveillance camera captured the images of a "short dark-skinned male" breaking in and then leaving through the smashed door with the register drawers in his hands.
Burglaries to vehicles
A 2006 Honda Element was reported broken into on Sept. 29, between 2 and 2:45 p.m. while parked in the Stop & Shop parking lot on Kingsland Road. A global positioning system (GPS) was reported stolen and a satellite radio was removed from the dash but left in the car.
A 2005 Ford Explorer was reported broken into on Oct. 1 between 7 and 8 p.m. while parked in the LaQuinta parking lot hotel. A laptop computer and accessories worth about $2,000 was reported stolen,
A 2008 Nissan Rogue was reported broken into between Oct. 2 and Oct. 3 while parked on Rutherford Boulevard. A GPS was reported stolen along with an iPod engraved with the words "mommy and daddy’s little girl, Isabella."
Recovered stolen vehicles
A 2000 Honda Civic reported stolen in the parking lot of Rutgers University in New Brunswick on Sept. 18 was found in the Coscto parking lot on Bridewell Place on Oct. 2.
A 1991 Toyota Camry reported stolen in Clifton on Nov. 21, 2006 was found in Connecticut on Aug. 29.
A 2005 Mercury Montego reported stolen in Clifton on Sept. 20 was found in Newark on Oct. 2.
Ruben DeJesus, 26, of Passaic was arrested and charged with possession of a stolen vehicle on Oct. 2. According to police reports, Officer Steven Farrell stopped a 1993 Buick Lesabre on Paulison and Lakeview avenues and when he ran a license plate check he discovered it had been reported stolen in Wallington on Sept. 16.
A 2006 Mazda reported stolen in Passaic on July 9 was found on East Sixth Street at 11:56 p.m. by police officer Jose Padilla. According to police reports, the officer found the car left on the side of the road with a damaged exterior, a ripped steering column and a damaged interior. No suspects were arrested.
A 1990 Buick reported stolen in Clifton on Sept. 26 was recovered in Orange on Oct. 6.
A 1995 Mercury Villager reported stolen from Knapp Avenue on Oct. 5 and was recovered the same day in Bloomfield after the driver was involved in a motor vehicle accident and fled the area on foot. No arrests were made.
A 2002 Nissan Maxima reported stolen in Garfield on July 1 was found in Clifton on Frances Street on Sept. 26.
A 1997 Dodge Caravan reported stolen from the Costco parking lot on Bridewell Place on Sept. 26 was found in Edison on the same day.
Stolen Vehicles
A 1988 Chevrolet was reported stolen between Sept. 29 and Sept. 30 while parked on East Third Street and Curie Avenue.
A 2008 Ford Edge was reported stolen on Sept. 29 while parked in the Sports Authority parking lot in Clifton Commons on Route 3 east.
A Ford Econoline van containing two motorcycles was reported stolen while parked on Bridewell Place on Sept. 30 at 2 p.m. Store surveillance camera footage shows a white Ford car pulled into the parking lot and parked next to the van and several minutes later the van and the car drove off and out of the parking lot.
A 1992 Buick Century was reported stolen on Oct. 1 while parked on Merselis Avenue.
A 1999 Chrysler was reported stolen on Oct. 1 while parked in the Styertowne parking lot at Bloomfield Avenue and Allwood Road.
Criminal mischief
Osun Choi, 22, of Clifton, was arrested and charged with criminal mischief and interfering with transportation on Oct. 1 at 5:17 p.m.
According to police reports, several victims and witnesses reported Choi was throwing rocks at passing vehicles while screaming at the drivers. Reports show that when one driver stopped after his vehicle was hit, Choi began kicking his van.
Weapons possession
Ernesto Tegas-Garcia, 23, of Clifton, was arrested and charged with possession of a weapon on Oct. 2 at 12:32 a.m. According to police reports, Garcia asked for a drink at La Officina bar on Lexington Avenue, but the bartender refused to serve him because he believed him to be intoxicated and asked him to leave. While standing outside, reports show Garcia took a box cutter knife out of his pocket. At that point the bar management locked the door and called police. Officers Steven Farrell, Robert Suhey, Robert Anderson and Jason Engargiola responded and found Garcia outside of the bar. The officers learned Garcia was an illegal immigrant and notified immigration officials. He was charged with possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes.
Shoplifting
Elisabeth Freeman, 46, of Passaic, was arrested and charged with shoplifting $194 worth of items from the Stop & Shop on Kingsland Road on Sept. 30, at 10:30 p.m.
Patrick Matthews, 32, with no known address, was arrested and charged with shoplifting from the CVS on Allwood Road on Oct. 2.
Nikhael Abbot, 30, of New York, N.Y., was arrested and charged with shoplifting DVDs from the Costco store on Bridewell Place on Oct. 4, at 4:25 p.m.
By Albina Sportelli
Editor
Sportelli@northjersey.com
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