Belleville Cops: Man Tried To Steal Parking Meter On Washington Avenue

BELLEVILLE, NJ — Belleville police arrested a Newark man after he allegedly tried to steal a parking meter on Washington Avenue last month, authorities say.

According to the Belleville Police Department, officers received a report about a man trying to swipe a parking meter on Washington Avenue around 12:08 a.m. on Feb. 26. On arrival, officers spoke with a witness who said he saw a male suspect in dark clothing remove a parking meter from its pole, place it in a backpack and take off running through a nearby parking lot.

Belleville officers soon found a male suspect fitting the witness description crouching behind a car in a nearby driveway. While speaking with the man, officers saw a backpack with the parking meter still inside nearby, authorities said.

Police arrested Michael Rouselle, 43, of Newark, and charged him with theft and possession of burglary tools.

Rouselle also had two outstanding warrants from other jurisdictions totaling $804, police stated.