Police Blotter: Officer Arrests 'Wanted Fugitive' From Clark

Feb. 27

• At 10:06 p.m., Officer Christopher DiFabio stopped a 2005 Chevy Malibu for having an inoperable tail light in the area of Centennial Avenue and the Cayuga Road jug handle. After a brief investigation on the scene, Officer DiFabio arrested and charged the driver, Terrell D. Thomas, 25, Antoine T. King, 26 and Yaashiek J. Benjamin, 23, all of Paterson, for possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of controlled dangerous substance paraphernalia. Thomas was also issued motor vehicle summonses for failure to maintain lamps and possession of CDS in a motor vehicle. All were released with Cranford Municipal Court proceedings pending.

March 1

• At 12:42 a.m., Officer Nelson Hearns stopped a 1999 Saturn for having driving without head lights in the area of Walnut and Lincoln avenues. After a brief investigation on scene, Officer Hearns arrested and charged Aaron McConnaughey, 32, of Plainfield with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of controlled dangerous substance paraphernalia. McConnaughey was also issued motor vehicle summonses for driving without head lights and possession of CDS in a motor vehicle. McConnaughey was released with Cranford Municipal Court proceedings pending.

• At 1:48 a.m., Officer Brian Lopez stopped a 1995 Honda for a motor vehicle infraction in the area of Centennial Ave and Raritan Rd. After a brief investigation at the scene, it was determined that Ahmed TJ. Williams, 33, of Roselle, had outstanding warrants for his arrest out of Edison and Woodbridge totaling $1,450. Williams was turned over to Edison Police Department.

• At 1:33 p.m., Officer John Rattigan stopped a 2000 Audi A4 in the area of Raritan and Cherokee roads when he observed the front seat passenger not wearing a seatbelt. After a brief on scene investigation Officer Rattigan determined that the passenger, Anthony J. Sanchez Jr., 29, of Linden had outstanding warrants for his arrest out of Clark, Elizabeth and North Brunswick totaling $1,584. Subsequent to placing Sanchez under arrest for those warrants, Officer Rattigan located an amount of suspected marijuana on Sanchez at which time he was further charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of CDS paraphernalia. Sanchez was also issued motor vehicle summonses for not wearing a seatbelt. Sanchez was released after posting bail with Cranford Municipal Court proceedings pending.

March 2

• At 2:56 p.m., Officer Spencer Durkin stopped a 1999 Dodge Neon for driving carelessly while traveling on Raritan Road near Centennial Avenue. After obtaining information from the three occupants of the vehicle, it was determined that the front seat passenger was providing a false name to Officer Durkin. After a brief investigation, the individual was identified as John D. Gallicchio, 48, of Clark, and that he had outstanding warrants for his arrest out of Cranford, Linden and Garwood totaling $2,035 and that he was a wanted fugitive out of the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office. Gallicchio was arrested and charged with hindering apprehension and contempt of court and subsequently turned over to the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office pending Superior Court proceedings.

March 3

• At 2:03 a.m., Officer Thomas Stiansen stopped a 2000 Pontiac on South Union and Lincoln avenues for not having a front license plate. While conducting a roadside investigation, Officer Stiansen located an open bottle of alcohol within the vehicle. When the occupants were questioned about the alcohol, Chrisopher P. Zarrelli Jr., 18, of Cranford, admitted it was his at which time he was arrested and charged with underage possession of alcohol and having an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle. Zarrelli was released with Cranford Municipal Court proceedings pending.