Lakewood Man Charged After He's Found Driving Stolen Vehicle: Police

FAIRFIELD, NJ — A Lakewood man has been arrested after a license plate reader flagged the vehicle he was driving as stolen, Fairfield police said Wednesday.

Charles N. Letizia, 59, has been charged with receiving stolen property and possession of a controlled dangerous substance after his arrest early Tuesday in Fairfield, police said.

At 11:56 p.m. Monday officers were alerted by a Fairfield automated license plate reader to the presence of a stolen 2008 black Ford Escape, police said. Shortly afterward, a police officer saw the Ford Escape in the parking lot of the Target store at 632 Route 46 East.

Police officers pulled the vehicle over and found Letizia behind the wheel, police said. He told police he had borrowed the Ford from a roommate, but Fairfield police confirmed that it was reported stolen and was still listed as stolen.

When Letizia was arrested, officers found suspected oxycodone tablets in his possession, police said.

Letizia was eventually released on his own recognizance pending an appearance in the Superior Court in Newark, and was turned over to the Passaic County Sheriff's Department after he was found to have an outstanding warrant in that county, Fairfield police said.