Alleged Garden Tool Theft Lands Branchburg Man in Jail

The alleged theft of a post hole differ landed Branchburg man in Somerset County Jail last month.

Jose Villanueva, 35, of Branchburg, was charged with theft on Jan. 24 for allegedly stealing an $1,800 post hole digger and $200 worth of irrigation pipe from an Orchard Drive residence, Hillsborough Police said.

Villanueva was lodged in the Somerset County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail, with a 10 percent option and an Immigration and Customs detainer.

Other Items in the Hillsborough Police's Blotter include:

David Chopay, 44, of Hillsborough, was charged with driving while intoxicated Feb. 5 on New Center Road at 7:08 p.m., while operating a brown Saturn. Chopay allegedly obtained breath test results of .12 percent blood alcohol and was released after processing, police said.

Bartlomie Sledziewski, 32, and Lukasz Zborowski, 27, both of Trenton, were charged with providing false information to police on Feb. 2.  According to police, the two men allegedly provided erroneous information regarding a motor vehicle crash that an acquaintance of Zborowski's had been involved in.  Both were released after processing.

Arkadiusz Gnap and Lewis Lazoda, both 19 and of Hillsborough, were charged with possession of under 50 grams of marijuana Jan. 31 at 10:52 p.m. According to police, an officer on a routine patrol located a vehicle parked in an Eves Drive parking lot and allegedly discovered the two individuals. Both were released after processing.

Zachery Reinson, 19, of Hillsborough, was charged with possession of under 50 grams of marijuana following a traffic stop Jan. 27 on Auten Road at 9:59 p.m., police said. Reinson was released after also being charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, use of a wireless cell phone while driving, failing to produce a registration card and driving while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance.

A Gemini Drive resident reported that her purse, which contained her wallet and cell phone, was allegedly taken from her unlocked vehicle on Jan. 9.  The vehicle was parked in front of 7-11 on Route 206 at 5:15 a.m. at the time of the alleged theft, police said.