Police Blotter: Fallen Trees Explained

If you've noticed something missing in the median of E. Northfield Road, but can't place your finger on it, a police accident report has the answer: trees.

On Friday, April 16 at about 9:30 p.m., an elderly driver from West Orange was driving eastbound on the road when she veered off the street onto the median, knocking down several trees in the grassy divide before she stopped.  Fortunately, no one was injured in the accident.  New trees, however, will have to be planted.

On the blotter:

• April 15—At about 11:30 a.m. police responded to a call from a worker at CVS, located at 277 Eisenhower Parkway, who reported that someone had attempted to pass what appeared to be a counterfeit $50 bill.  The CVS employee reported to the police that the subject — who was described as a black male, bald with a beard and wearing a black striped shirt—had left the store. Police then spotted a man who fit that description seated in the rear seat of a Chrysler 300M vehicle that was in the parking lot of CVS. Police stopped the vehicle and officers noticed that the driver appeared to be hiding money bills. Police placed both the driver, Michael McKenzie, 40, of Paterson, and the man seated in the rear, Stevie Bease, 48, of Hackensack, under arrest. Both are charged with theft by deception, uttering a false document and conspiracy. They were taken to Essex County Jail, each on $20,000 bail.
• April 23—Seven West Caldwell teenagers ranging from 15  to 17 years old (names withheld because of age) were taken into custody by Livingston Police after a detective patrolling the grounds of Riker Hill Art Park at about 8:30 p.m. found illegal substances in the two cars in which the teens were seated. In one vehicle, the police observed marijuana placed in a bottle and also found marijuana in a pipe. In the other car, open containers of alcohol were found. Parents were notified and juvenile complaints were filed.