You Can't Be Nude By Rahway River: Cranford Police Blotter

CRANFORD, NJ — The Cranford police recently released details of police reports for the last two weeks of last month. Here are some of the crimes:

On Aug. 27, Patrolman Robert Chamra arrested a 39-year-old Roselle man on North Union Avenue near Riverside Drive for lewdness. Police said that at 7:37 p.m., units were dispatched to the area on a report of an individual bathing in the water. A witness directed police to a man "who was observed to be fully nude on the riverbanks," police said. Following an investigation, the man was arrested for lewdness. He was processed and given a Municipal Court appearance date.

Also that day, police arrested George Brown, 63, of Elizabeth, on numerous charges. Police arrested him at 2:28 p.m. on North Avenue East. They said he "was located on a bicycle near the 400 block of North Avenue East and apprehended on two active criminal warrants out of Cranford for burglary and theft." Police said the bike was stolen. Ultimately Brown was arrested for receiving stolen property, possession of CDS Heroin, and possession of CDS paraphernalia, police said. He was remanded to the Union County Jail awaiting a detention hearing.

Additionally, Brown had appeared in a prior report: on July 23, at 1 a.m., police were dispatched to the area of Park Avenue and Orchard Street for a report of a man entering a resident’s backyard. Police located Brown, saying he "was crouched behind a vehicle on Park Avenue." He was arrested by Patrolman Folinusz and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia for allegedly having a crack pipe, police said. In addition, Brown was charged on multiple contempt warrants including a wanted persons warrant from the Union County Sheriff’s Office for a previous charge of burglary, police said. Brown was transferred to the custody of the Union County Sheriff’s Office.

DWI And Summonses

On Aug. 28 at 12:53 a.m., Patrolman Chamra arrested Sarah Barnum, 28, of East Orange at Eastman Street and Hampton Street, police said. She was charged with Driving While Intoxicated. Police said they stopped a car that was "observed operating erratically." Barnum was processed and provided with a Municipal Court appearance date, police said. She was also issued motor vehicle summonses for delaying traffic, careless driving, failure to keep right, failure to stop or yield, and having an obstructed windshield, police said.

Police also arrested Arthur Cirino, 20, of Newark that day, at 9:34 a.m., they said. Patrolman Brian Trotter arrested him at High Street near Chestnut Street, police said. They said police were dispatched to the area on a report of an improperly parked vehicle idling for three hours with its headlights on. Cirino was charged with DWI and being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance, police said. Cirino was processed and provided with a Municipal Court appearance date.

Other Recent Cranford And Union County Police Stories:

• Cranford Police Issue Warning About Rise In Burglaries
• Teen Arrested Twice For Westfield Car Thefts
• Westfield Residents Report 'Suspicious' People, Vehicles
• Summit Car Thefts For July
• Cars Are Being Stolen At Union County Country Clubs
• 3 Police Are Injured As Westfield Teen Is Charged In Car Thefts
• Running Mercedes With Top Down Is Swiped At Mountainside 7-11
• One Car, Two Bikes Reported Stolen In Westfield

Want updates on breaking news when it happens? You can sign up for occasional breaking news alerts in Cranford, or for a daily newsletter at 6 a.m. each morning with local news. Don't miss the stories your neighbors are talking about! Sign up with your preferences here.

Got news? Email caren.lissner@patch.com. Got photos? Please include express written permission from the photographer for us to use them. To be the first to get free news alerts with breaking stories in your town, or to get a free local newsletter each morning, sign up for Patch breaking news alerts or daily newsletters.