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PEQUANNOCK - Citizens nab alleged thief
PEQUANNOCK - Police were called to the area of Commerce Bank on Jackson Avenue in Pompton Plains Oct. 19 for a reported theft that occurred from a female shopper at the A&P on Route 23 in Pompton Plains. The incident concluded with the victim’s son-in-law and a few citizens pursuing the actor and holding the man until police arrival in the Commerce Bank lot, Lt. Daniel Dooley reports.
He said the victim, a 57-year-old Pompton Plains woman, was shopping at the A&P with her purse in her shopping cart, when someone ran by and snatched the purse and exited the store, running past her 38-year-old son-in-law from Pompton Plains.
The individual fled through the lot toward Jackson Avenue, with the son-in-law, another citizen and a store employee in pursuit. The individual fell in the parking lot of the Commerce Bank, where the three pursuing citizens held him down until police arrived on scene.
The suspect was identified as John Space, 25, whose last known address was in Clifton. According to Dooley, after being taken into police custody, Space admitted to having a hypodermic needle in his pocket, which was safely secured. Also located in his possession were a few wax paper bags containing traces of a substance believed to be heroin, Dooley said.
Police further report that Space was exhibiting signs of being under the influence of drugs and was very incoherent, so he was transported to Chilton Memorial Hospital for medical evaluation and treatment.
Authorities charged Space with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (heroin), possession of hypodermic syringes, theft, and being under the influence of CDS. He was released to the treatment and care of the hospital pending Municipal Court.
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