Below is the police blotter for Clifton, NJ for this week alone. A little different than the one posted above:
6-5 Police Blotter
Burglaries
- An apartment on Main Avenue was reported broken into on May 31 between noon and 4 p.m. Cameras, jewelry, cash, coins and medication was reported stolen. A plastic window panel near the front door was reported smashed to access the front door lock, according to police reports.
- A coin machine in the laundry room of an apartment on St. Andrew’s Boulevard was pried open and coins reported stolen between May 21 and May 26. Another coin machine in an apartment laundry room on Richland Court was also broken into sometime between May 21 and May 26. A pry tool was used in both to force the machines open.
- A self storage unit on Route 46 west was reported broken into on May 26. The overhead storage door was forced open and packages of cigarettes and aspirin were reported stolen.
- A Knapp Avenue apartment was reported burglarized on May 26. Jewelry worth $500 to $1,000 was reported stolen along with $150 in loose change, according to police who found pry marks near the front door.
- A West Third Street resident heard noises near his window at 4:40 a.m. on May 26 and went to investigate, scaring off a would-be burglar, according to police reports. The resident found the front door had been forced open and saw a silhouette of a man fleeing outside his front window.
Criminal mischief
A 2002 Nissan Pathfinder was reported vandalized while parked on Wisnev Street between May 29 and May 30. The window was smashed and paint scratched on both sides. Also, on the same night, a 2000 Chrysler and a 1992 Toyota Camry parked on nearby Davidson Street were also vandalized in the same manner.
Shoplifting
BARRY KING, 47, of Newark and Janell King, 18, of Newark , were arrested and charged with shoplifting at Kohl’s on May 26. According to police reports, security officers recognized Barry King for past shoplifting incidents after he removed a watch from its packaging and placed it in his pocket. He and his daughter Janell were stopped and stolen items removed from their possession and charged.
RUSSELL SCOTT, 46, of Orange and Candito Quiles, 38, of East Orange , were arrested and charged with shoplifting items from Kohl’s on Main Avenue on May 27. According to police reports, store security officers observed the two as they placed items by the rear fire exit door and recognized them from previous shoplifting incidents and approached. The men had electronics and other merchandise in their possession, according to police reports, and were charged.
HARRY JACKSON, 49, of Newark was arrested and charged with shoplifting from the CVS Pharmacy on Allwood Road on May 12. Officers Joshin Smith and David Petrillo responded to CVS and located the suspect walking across the parking lot and stopped him. When questioned, Jackson said it wasn’t him, but when searched he had items that had been reported stolen at CVS and, according to police reports, he was captured on the store’s video surveillance while shoplifting and was charged. During processing at police headquarters Jackson collapsed and suffered a seizure and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. He was charged with shoplifting and having eight outstanding warrants.
Amanda Hopper, 22, of Clifton , was arrested and charged with shoplifting $140 worth of items from the Quick Chek on Market Street on May 29. After picking out items, Hopper handed over a credit card to the clerk, but when the credit card did not work, she told the clerk she would retrieve another from her vehicle and left the store with the unpaid items. According to police reports, Hopper did not return to pay for the items, but the store clerk recognized her as a former Clifton High School student and reported the fact to police who apprehended Hopper at her home the next day. She was charged with shoplifting by officers Edward Holster and Robert Luciano.
Kenneth Harris, 54, of Passaic , was charged with shoplifting $87 worth of baby formula from the Pathmark on Paulison Avenue on May 30. According to police reports, Harris was stopped by security who observed him place the stolen items under his sweater. Harris was also charged with having four outstanding warrants.
Burglaries to vehicles
A 2005 DODGE van was reported burglarized between May 26 and May 27 while parked on
East Russell Street A GPS unit was reported stolen after a window was shattered.
A 2006 TOYOTA Camry was reported broken into on May 30 while parked in the St. John Kanty Church parking lot on Speer Avenue. The GPS unit was reported stolen after a window was smashed as the victim was attending Mass.
A 1997 Chevy was reported broken into while parked on Virginia Avenuebetween May 28 and May 30. Two purses were reported stolen along with cash, checkbooks and identification.
A 1998 Chevrolet van was reported broken into between May 31 and June 1 while parked on East Clifton Avenue. According to police reports, a GPS worth $140 and $180 in cash were reported stolen after the driver side window was smashed.
A 2005 Honda Civic parked on Parker Avenue was reported broken into on May 31. According to police reports, a GPS unit was reported stolen and a window was shattered.
A 2008 Mercedes Benz was reported burglarized on May 31 while parked on Van Houten Avenue. The windows had been left open and a camera was reported stolen.
A 2009 Honda Accord was reported broken into while parked on Doremus Avenueon May 31. A Garmin GPS was reported stolen.
Theft
A wallet was reported stolen from a Costco customer on May 27 at 5:28 p.m. According to police reports, the victim placed his wallet on the pharmacy counter while conducting business then began walking away, but returned quickly when he realized he had forgotten his wallet. Reports show that by the time he returned the wallet had already been stolen. According to police reports, the victim told police he saw an Asian man about 50 to 55 years old, standing next to the counter at the time the wallet was stolen. The man was described as being 5 feet 8 inches tall, 140 pounds, wearing a brown checkered shirt, jeans and glasses with pink shades with blue rims.
Hubcaps were reported stolen from a 2007 Ford van parked on Lexington Avenue’s Epic Auto between May 25 and May 26. Along with the eight hubcaps, several Ford logos were broken off vehicles parked in the same lot.
Drugs
Jenna Errico, 25, of Clifton , was arrested and charged with possession of prescription medications without prescription on May 29 at 3:27 a.m. According to police reports, Officer Darren Brodie responded to Tremont Avenueon a report of a suspicious vehicle. At the scene the officers questioned Errico and her passenger Nathaneal Domena, 25, of North Bergen , who was charged with having three outstanding warrants. Reports show that Errico was told to stay out of the vehicle, but she refused, entering the car to retrieve her purse and her cigarettes. According to police reports, while Errico was retrieving her cigarettes the officer saw two containers of prescription pills and upon inspection noticed that the name on the containers was not Errico’s. When questioned, Errico told the officer she took her brother’s medication following an incident. She was charged with theft of movable property and possession of prescription drugs.
Alexander Rodriguez, 28, of Paterson, Jose Vargas, 20, of Paterson, and Hendryck Acosta, 18, of Paterson , were all arrested and charged with possession of marijuana on May 29, at 2 a.m. According to police reports, officers Scott Gibson and Joseph Pichnarcik, stopped a 2007 Honda Civic on Route 21 south for a non-working light. When questioning the driver, Rodriguez, the officers saw marijuana and an open container of cognac in the vehicle. Following questions and an investigation, the officers also charged Rodriguez with possession of an open container of alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle and failure to maintain lights. Vargas was also charged with having an outstanding warrant and Acosta with possession of drug paraphernalia.
Juan Mendez, 44, of Clifton , was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana on May 26 at 11:17 a.m. According to police reports, detective Randy Colondres of the Anti Crime Unit was in the Highland and Parker avenues areas and observed Mendez acting suspiciously and approached. While speaking with him, the officer asked Mendez to remove his hand from his pocket, and according to police reports, Mendez replied that he did not have a weapon, only marijuana. The officer searched and located marijuana and a dollar bill, rolled up with cocaine residue on one end, reports show. Mendez was additionally charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.
Julio Rivera, 32, of Clifton , was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana on May 27, at 6:07 p.m. According to police reports, Officer Steven Maza and det. Paul Hasselberger stopped Rivera at Lake and Van Wnkle avenues. While speaking with him, the officers noticed Rivera appeared nervous, following questions and a search, the officers located marijuana in his pocket.
Joseph Alberts, 21, of Nutley , was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana on May 27, at 3:28 a.m. According to police reports, officers Richard DiBello and Ryan Maloney stopped a 2000 Honda Accord on Main Avenue for not having working headlights. During questioning the officers detected the odor of burned marijuana and a search turned up marijuana, according to police reports.
Justin Gilroy, 25, of Butler , was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana on May 26 at 7:46 p.m. According to police reports, detective Stephen Berge stopped a 2001 Honda Accord and while questioning the driver detected the odor of burned marijuana. Following questions, the officer found a marijuana cigarette and four bags of marijuana in the vehicle, according to police records.
Derek Jones, 21, of Passaic , was charged with possession and distribution of narcotics while in possession of a handgun on May 27, at 9:02 a.m. According to police reports, Derek Jones and his wife Wendy were in a 2004 Saturn parked on Hobart Placewhen they were approached by detectives Michael Panepinto and Samuel Skidmore. The detectives detected the odor of burned marijuana and when they saw Derek Jones throw out a cigar as they approached, they decided to investigate, reports show. When the couple saw the officers approaching, they attempted to drive away, but were stopped, said detective Capt. Robert Rowan. The detectives located marijuana separated in 20 small bags and a fully loaded automatic handgun in the glove box, Rowan said. When questioned, the wife said “I’m no drug dealer.” The detectives charged Derek Jones with possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, possession of a weapon while committing a drug offense and possession of a gun by “certain persons not to have weapons.”
Wendy Jones, 36, of Passaic , was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of a CDS in a motor vehicle.
DWI
Joseph Timpanaro, 28, of West Caldwell was arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) on May 20, at 1:06 p.m. According to police reports, Officer William Bais responded to Randolph and Cheever avenues on a report of a motor vehicle accident. At the scene the officer located the driver, Timpanaro, who told the officer he did not remember the crash or what he was doing at that location. Following a blood test, Timpanaro was charged with DUI and use of Special-K or ketamine, a horse tranquilizer.
Richard Bezeg, 55, of Old Bridge , was charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) on May 26, at 3:14 p.m. According to police reports, detectives Jack Stianche and Edgar Ruiz stopped a 1994 Chevy Lumina with flat tires and extensive front end damage following a hit and run accident on
Valley Road. While questioning Bezeg, the officers detected signs of intoxication and administered roadside sobriety tests, which police reports show he did not pass. Bezeg was arrested and transported to police headquarters where he was charged with DWI after posting a .27 on the breath alcohol test. (Results of .08 and higher show legal intoxication.) Bezeg was also charged with possession of open containers of alcoholic beverages in a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident. He was issued motor vehicle summonses for driving an unregistered vehicle and careless driving.
Fernando Avi, 49, of Clifton , was arrested and charged with DWI on May 30, at 2:33 a.m. According to police reports, Officer Darren Brodie stopped Avi at Piaget Avenue and Seventh Street for driving erratically. While questioning him, the officer detected signs of intoxication and administered roadside sobriety tests, which reports show Avi did not pass and was arrested. At police headquarters Avi was charged with DWI after posting results of .13 on the breath alcohol test, according to police reports.
Carlos Asmat-Baygria, 30, of Rahway , was arrested and charged with DWI on May 30 at 4:39 p.m. According to police reports, Officer Scott Gibson stopped Baygria for failing to yield to police at an accident scene on Route 21 north at Route 3 where a motorist was killed in a motor vehicle accident earlier.While speaking to Asmat-Baygria, the officer detected signs of intoxication and administered roadside sobriety tests. Asmat-Baygria was arrested and transported to police headquarters where he failed the field tests and was charged with DWI and refusal to take the breath test. He was also given motor vehicle summonses.
Jodi Convit, 51, of Clifton , was arrested and charged with DWI on May 30 at 9:07 p.m.According to police reports, officers Charles Kling and Juan Velez stopped Convit on Clifton Avenue near St. Andrew’s Boulevard and while speaking with him detected signs of intoxication. Following failed field sobriety tests, Convit was arrested and taken to police headquarters where he was charged with DWI after posting results of .13 on the breath alcohol test. He was also issued a motor vehicle summons.
Steven Petersen, 24, of Clifton , was arrested and charged with DWI on May 31, at 3:27 a.m.According to police reports, officers responded to a motor vehicle accident at Clifton and Paulison avenues, and at the scene found Petersen asleep behind the wheel of his 2004 Nissan Sentra. While speaking to Peterson after they woke him up, officers detected signs of intoxication and administered field sobriety tests, which reports show he failed and was arrested. Petersen was charged with DWI after posting a .18 on his breath alcohol test. He was also issued motor vehicle violations.
Theft of service
Estanislao Oliverz-Garcia, 23, of Clifton , was charged with theft of service after refusing to pay a cab driver for a ride on May 26 at 11:44 p.m. According to police reports, the taxi driver telephoned police and when Officer Darren Kester responded he found Oliverz-Garcia asleep in the back of the cab. The officer, reports show, instructed Oliverz-Garcia to pay the tab, but when he refused he was charged with theft of services and disorderly conduct.
Robberies
A 58-year-old Clifton man was walking home from work along Hazel Streeton May 30 at 12:20 a.m. when he was approached by two white men from behind, and while one held a knife to his neck, the other took his bag, wallet and medications, said detective Capt. Robert Rowan. The suspects fled east on
Hazel Street. Both men were described as wearing white T-shirts and one had on a baseball cap.
A 19-year-old man walking on Van Riper Avenuewith his girlfriend was attacked and robbed by two men, one yielding a hammer on May 30, at 3:08 a.m. According to police reports, one of the suspects swung the hammer and hit the victim in the left arm and the other rifled through his pockets and both fled once they had his cell phone and his wallet, Rowan said, adding the victim’s girlfriend fled during the attack. The victim, reports show, told police the suspects were wearing red shirts and jeans, had long black hair and believed them to be Dominicans.
Stolen vehicle
A 1998 DODGE Caravan was reported stolen on May 30 while parked in the Costco parking lot on
Bridewell Place. According to police reports the victim returned from the store with groceries to find her vehicle was gone.
