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POLICE BLOTTER - 11/26/2008
(by Donna Rolando and Rebecca Scanlon - Staff Writers - November 26, 2008)
LINCOLN PARK
Police warn of scam
Police Chief Sean Canning issued a warning to borough residents regarding a recent incident in a neighboring town involving a "grandparents scam."
Canning said that in this scam, a senior citizen is targeted in a community and someone pretending to be a daughter, son or other relative in trouble calls him or her. The senior citizen is then convinced that the only way to help their loved one get out of jail or other dire circumstance is to immediately wire an amount of money to cover bail or another emergency expense.
If you are faced with this circumstance, borough police recommend the following: Ask the caller for a callback number and call your son or daughter on their regular phone numbers and attempt to verify their whereabouts and whether they are actually in any trouble.
What has often happened is that the son or daughter is contacted after the money has been wired and the concerned parent or grandparents find that their loved ones are safe and they have been duped.
For more information on this scam, visit consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/11/grandparents_scam.htm.
RIVERDALE
Three men on a bench
Police ticketed both the driver and the owner of a Ford van after spotting three men sitting on a wooden bench behind the motorist, who happened to be unlicensed, Capt. John Peine reports.
On the morning of Nov. 17, Patrolman Anthony Famularo was in the area of Interstate 287 North when he saw the improperly seated passengers, police said, and therefore pulled the van over.
Through his investigation, Patrolman Famularo determined that the operator, Selvin Francisco, 31, of Bloomfield, had valid registration and insurance but no driver’s license, according to police.
He was cited for no license, no seatbelt and riding passengers on improper seats. The owner, identified only as Paul Sanchez, was cited for allegedly allowing an unlicensed driver to take the wheel shortly after 8 a.m.
A December date has been set in Municipal Court.
Vehicle impounded
A random motor vehicle check led police to discover that a Pompton Lakes man was driving with suspended registration and no insurance on the night of Nov. 16, the blotter states.
According to police, Sgt. Kevin Smith ran a check on a vehicle with a Georgia registration and learned that the vehicle fell short of requirements.
Consequently, the motorist, identified as Matthew Schall, 18, was ticketed on both counts and a November date set for Municipal Court. His vehicle was also impounded.
Cell phone tip
Patrolman Patrick Harden set to work on finding an older model Jeep Cherokee after it reportedly almost hit an off-duty borough police officer’s vehicle on Route 23 the morning of Nov. 16.
Capt. John Peine reports that the officer got word of a wayward vehicle that nearly caused an accident on Route 23 at 3:40 a.m. while also driving all over the road.
The Jeep turned up at the intersection of Newark Pompton Turnpike and Route 23, matching the description provided by off-duty officer Eric Hollenstein, Peine said.
Harden observed the Jeep for a short distance and then pulled it over, detecting signs of intoxication during his encounter with motorist, Victor Mesa, 47, of Paterson. Police report that the strong odor of alcohol resulted in both field sobriety and an alcohol-breath test.
Mesa was cited for alleged driving while intoxicated, careless driving and no license, Peine said.
Crash prompts charge
A Newfoundland woman was accused of driving with a suspended license when she allegedly bumped the back of a vehicle that had slowed down in the area of Route 23 South and Interstate 287 on the morning of Nov. 16. No one was hurt in the accident.
The blotter states that Patrolman Travis Roemmele responded to the scene at almost 11:30 a.m. and discerned that Susan Hopper, 32, of the Newfoundland section of West Milford was driving with a suspended license. A Municipal Court date was scheduled for December.
Drunken driving complaint
While on patrol, Patrolman Patrick Harden took note of the alleged excessive speed of a vehicle, prompting him to pull it over on Route 23 South.
Further investigation on that date of Nov. 11 resulted in a drunken driving complaint against James Alvarado, 35, of Wanaque. Police said Alvarado smelled like alcohol, which resulted in testing and ultimately the charge, as well as a speeding ticket.
A Municipal Court appearance on Nov. 18 was set.
PEQUANNOCK
Alleged wakeup call
Patrolman Jeffrey Jones was on patrol Nov. 19 at the Route 23 and Jackson Avenue intersection in Pompton Plains when he saw a dark minivan that got his attention. The van was in the right northbound lane, stopped with a headlight out, while the traffic signal for Route 23 was green.
According to police, Patrolman Jones attempted to gain the driver’s attention and eventually had to pull next to the vehicle and knock on the passenger window, while the motorist stared straight ahead.
After a short time, the driver finally put the window down and Patrolman Jones ordered him to the side of the road shortly after 3 a.m. As Patrolman Jones returned to his patrol vehicle, he observed that the vehicle was not pulling over and continued several hundred feet up the roadway, where Jones needed to use the patrol vehicle’s airhorn to get the driver’s attention.
Police report that the vehicle finally stopped and the driver was in the process of reaching for his license, when he took his foot off the brake and the vehicle began traveling up the roadway, at which point Patrolman Jones reached into the vehicle and the driver stopped.
In speaking with the operator, identified as Sangwoo Kang, 34, of Wayne, the officer smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from the passenger compartment. Kang exhibited signs of intoxication and was asked to perform roadside sobriety tests and eventually was placed under arrest, Lt. Daniel Dooley said.
After breath-alcohol testing, Kang was charged with driving while intoxicated, refusing to submit breath-alcohol samples, improper maintenance of lamps and obstructing the passage of other vehicles. He was released to a family member pending Municipal Court.
POMPTON LAKES
Warrant arrest
During a motor vehicle stop on Wanaque Avenue, Patrolman Jonathan Williams arrested Daniel Stalter, 23, of the Hewitt section of West Milford on a warrant. Statler had been at the wheel of a 2005 Chevy when detained by the officer on Nov. 5. He was released to the Ringwood Police Department.
Bicycle stolen
Responding to a report of a stolen bike, Patrolman Jonathan Williams arrived at a Ringwood Avenue address where he met the homeowner and her son on the afternoon of Nov. 10. The son stated that after school he went to the bicycle rack to retrieve his bike but changed his mind and went walking with his friends. Prior to leaving on foot, the victim stated that he saw his bike resting on the racks. When he returned at 4 p.m., his bicycle was missing.
The bicycle is described as a black X-Games brand containing the words X-Games on the seat, a gray rim and a black plastic rim. Police planned to look at the school’s surveillance camera for a clue to who took the bike and also to check with Pompton Lakes High School.
On Nov. 11, Patrolman Williams had the opportunity to speak to the school’s vice principal about the surveillance video. Police report that the video showed a possible suspect, riding off on a bicycle that resembled the stolen one. School officials were working with police to identify the suspect.
Criminal mischief
A report of criminal mischief consisting of damage to a fence brought Patrolman Derek Clark to Ramapo Avenue on the morning of Nov. 6.
The homeowner reported that he discovered bullet holes in his back fence while cleaning his yard. The officer saw multiple holes in the fence with three damaged panels. According to police, the size of the holes was consistent with that of a pellet/BB gun or a .22 caliber rifle. A BB hole was discovered later in the vinyl siding of the house.
Police looked over the fence and saw two males in a neighboring backyard on Arcadia Road and went over to talk to them about the damage. A 17-year-old male at the residence reportedly admitted to Patrolman Jonathan Williams that he did shoot his friend’s BB gun at a squirrel on the fence.
A criminal complaint was signed for alleged fourth-degree juvenile delinquency in relation to the damage, police said.
Recycling center theft alleged
While on patrol, Sgt. Ronald Thomas observed a black Jeep parked against the gates of the Pompton Lakes Recycling Center on Ivy Street during the night of Nov. 20. The vehicle drew concern because the recycling center has been the target of recent thefts.
As the officer approached, the Jeep traveled north on Grove Street toward Wanaque Avenue, the blotter states. The officer jotted down the license-plate number of the 2000 Jeep SUV and was able to track it to the area of A&P supermarket on Wanaque Avenue, according to police.
Following the Jeep, the patrol vehicle pulled it over on Ringwood Avenue and spoke to the driver, Jason Osborne, 27, of Butler, who reportedly indicated that he had just dropped off three car batteries by the recycling center gate, authorities said.
A check was made of the recycling center, which revealed that the chain to the gates had been shifted and batteries taken from the storage area.
As a result of this investigation, Osborne was charged with trespassing and theft.
All persons charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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