Garbage Truck Fire, DWI Arrest, Naked Man At Hotel Pool Reported In Basking Ridge

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — An attic fire, garbage truck fire, DWI arrest, a report of a naked man at a hotel pool were all reported in July.

Bernards Township Police Department(BTPD) blotter for the month of July:

During July, officers responded to 33 motor vehicle crashes. There were eight injuries reported and 20 motor vehicle summonses issued.

On July 1: Patrol officers responded to Parkwood Lane for a report of property damage. Upon
arrival, officers learned a Somerset County Recycling Truck had accidentally damaged a mailbox. The mailbox was damaged while trash cans were being loaded onto the recycling truck. A report was made to document the incident.

On July 2 at around 1:23 p.m.: Patrol officers, Liberty Corner Fire Company, Lyons Veteran’s Affairs Fire Department, Atlantic EMS, and township officials responded to the 300 block of Potomac Drive for a structure fire. Upon arrival, officers and firemen learned a small fire was in the attic which was possibly caused by the soldering of a pipe by a contractor. The fire was quickly extinguished by LCFD and Lyons VAFD. Two plumbing contractors were treated on scene by Atlantic EMS. The building sustained only minor damage from the fire.

On July 4 at around 1:28 a.m.: Officer Bryson Buchanan saw a 2012 Ford Fusion traveling on Martinsville Road with an equipment violation. Buchanan conducted a motor vehicle stop on the vehicle and identified the driver as Jennifer Gallo, 36, from Somerset. A routine MVC check revealed an active NCIC warrant for Gallo from the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office. Gallo was arrested on the warrant and she was found in possession of a controlled dangerous substance and CDS paraphernalia. Buchanan charged Gallo with both CDS-related offenses and she was lodged in the Somerset County Jail on her outstanding warrant.

On July 4 at around 5:22 p.m.: Patrol officers responded to the Martinsville Exxon for a report of harassment. Upon arrival, officers learned the gas attendant was threatened by a customer over the pumping of gas. The confrontation started because the customer was unaware that the State of New Jersey is a full-service state where attendants pump gas. The incident did not become physical and the customer received gas. The customer left the gas station prior to the arrival of the police.

On July 7 at around 10 p.m.: Patrol officers responded to Mountain Park for a fire in a trash can. Officers quickly extinguished the fire with department-issued fire extinguishers. Liberty Corner Fire Company responded and watered down the area to prevent any spreading of the fire from smoldering embers. The cause of the fire is under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the police department.

On July 8 at around 1:30 a.m.: Sgt. Kevin Little saw a red 4-door BMW sedan driving at a high rate of speed northbound on Martinsville Road and Mt. Airy Road. Little stopped the vehicle and the vehicle fled the motor vehicle stop at a high rate of speed. A check of the vehicle’s Connecticut registration revealed the license plate to be fictitious. A short time later, the vehicle was later seen traveling again on Martinsville Road by patrol officers and Warren Police officers. Officers tried to stop the vehicle but the vehicle eluded officers traveling at a high rate of speed before entering Interstate 78 eastbound. Officers terminated the pursuit and this incident is under investigation by the Detective Bureau.

On July 11: Ofc. William Krajicek saw a 2019 gray Nissan Pathfinder commit a moving violation on Mt. Airy Road near Interstate 287. Krajicek stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as Bryan Robinson, 38, of Dover, Delaware. A routine check of Robinson’s license revealed an active NCIC warrant out of Delaware. Krajicek arrested Robinson on the active warrant and charged him with being a Fugitive from Justice. Robinson was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending extradition to Delaware.

On July 13 at around 1:20 a.m.: Somerset County Dispatch advised patrol officers of a possible DWI driver traveling on Mt. Airy Road. Ofc. Bryson Buchanan saw the vehicle traveling in the opposite lane of travel on Mt. Airy Rd. Buchanan stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as Abner Morales-Cabrera, 18, of Bernardsville. Morales-Cabrera was arrested for driving while intoxicated and taken to BTPD headquarters for processing. Morales-Cabrera was issued several motor vehicle summonses and released pending a municipal court appearance.

On July 13: Patrol officers responded to several residences on Spencer Road, Willow Avenue, and Walnut Circle for attempted motor vehicle burglaries. The suspects who were captured on home surveillance video were wearing all black and arrived on scene in a black Acura MDX which was later reported stolen out of Newark. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate the suspects. This incident is under investigation by the Detective Bureau.

On July 13 at around 9:50 p.m.: Patrol officers responded to the Martinsville Exxon for a dispute. Upon arrival, officers learned that the gas attendant and a customer got into a physical altercation over payment. Both parties were advised of complaint singing procedures in municipal court.

On July 16 at around 5:30 p.m.: Patrol officers and Liberty Corner Fire Company went to a residence on Honeyman Road for an oven fire. Upon arrival, the homeowner extinguished the fire and LCFC assisted with ventilating the residence.

On July 17 at around 7:53 a.m.: Patrol officers, Basking Ridge Fire Company, Bernards Township Public Works, and Bernards Township Fire Prevention went to the driveway of 211/219 Mt. Airy Road for a garbage truck fire. Prior to the police department’s arrival, the driver of the garbage truck, a 2005 Mack MR6 belonging to Active Disposal Service, had already dumped the waste into the roadway. BRFC arrived on scene and extinguished the fire. Bernards Twp DPW loaded the waste into a dumpster provided by Active Disposal Service. No injuries were reported.

On July 17: Patrol officers responded to a residence on Galloping Hill Road for a suspicious incident. The resident reported three bags of dog feces were left on the sidewalk in front of the residence. The caller believes the dog feces were purposely left because of a sign posted by the caller asking dog walkers to clean up after their animals. The caller was advised of complaint signing procedures if a dog walker is identified.

On July 19 at around 11:25 a.m.: Patrol officers responded to the Courtyard by Marriott on Martinsville Road for a complaint of indecent exposure at the pool. The reporting party stated a man came to the pool fully dressed then got naked and put on a bathing suit. The incident was reported to hotel management and the man left before officers arrived. This matter is being investigated by the Detective Bureau.

On July 22: Patrol officers responded to Mountain Park and Pleasant Valley Park for reports of
criminal mischief. Bernards Township DPW employees reported damage to the bathroom at Mountain Park and a broken window in the multipurpose room at Pleasant Valley Park. Both incidents are being investigated by the Detective Bureau.

On July 24: Patrol officers responded to a business on King George Road for a report of a
trespasser. Upon arrival officers learned a former employee had trespassed onto the business’s
property the day prior. Officers contacted the former employee and advised the person they were no longer allowed on the property.

On July 25: Patrol officers took a report of a possible theft from a resident of town. The resident
reported over a three-year period they suspected several items were stolen from their residence. This matter is being investigated by the Detective Bureau.

During July, police received approximately nine reports of identity theft and scams with around $41,870 in losses to Bernards Township residents.

The Bernard’s Township Police would like to continue to remind everyone to report suspicious activity observed by calling 908-766-1122. Please keep vehicles locked, without the keys in them and valuables out of sight. Please confirm all suspicious calls/emails/texts/messages requesting monetary payments with law enforcement or banking officials before sending funds.

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