Police Make Three Arrests for Disorderly Conduct

It was a very busy week for the Maplewood Police Department, with eight items on the weekly blotter (see below). The major incident of the week was a street fight that was taking place near the Irvington border on Tuesday, July 27, resulting in three arrests—two young men from Irvington and one young man from Maplewood.

The police also responded to two attempted vehicle thefts—driver side doors and ignition columns were damanaged—and one actual theft from auto in disparate parts of town.

The blotter does not contain additional information about the 82-year-old Alzheimer's sufferer who left home on Saturday morning and was picked up by Irvington Police in Irvington on Sunday afternoon.

Here, courtesy of Sgt. Dean Naddeo, is your Maplewood Police blotter for the week of July 27 to August 3, 2010:

July 27, 2010: Disorderly Conduct Arrests. Patrols responded to the area of Springfield Ave. and Jacoby Street on a report of a large group of individuals acting in a disorderly fashion. Upon arrival, officers observed a group of 15-20 individuals loitering in a bank parking lot, and gave orders to disperse. According to reports, a 19-year-old resident of Berkeley St., Maplewood, began yelling, cursing and causing a large disturbance in the roadway while flailing his arms in an aggressive manner. He was subsequently arrested. Despite the officers' orders, a large group of people remained in the area and refused to disperse. One unidentified male in the crowd became extremely aggressive. Officers attempted to place him in custody, however he became physically aggressive and assaulted an officer while resisting arrest. Officers utilized O.C. spray to stop his aggressive and threatening behavior, but he was able to flee the scene as a large group approached the officers attempting to make the arrest. Another 21-year-old male of Springfield Avenue in Irvington, NJ removed his shirt, and started yelling "Now it's on!" to officers. Officer's placed him into custody despite his efforts to resist arrest. While placing him in custody, his brother, age 20, and also of Springfield Ave., Irvington, NJ attempted to prevent officers from making the arrest. He was placed in custody as well.

July 27, 2010: Theft from Auto. A visitor to a Rutgers Street business reported that an unknown person or persons entered into his 2000 GMC truck and removed various masonry tools worth approximately $2,100.00.

July 27, 2010: Attempted Vehicle Theft. On 07/27/10, officers responded to a Tuscan Street apartment building on a report of an attempted vehicle theft of a 1997 Ford Taurus. The suspects damaged the driver's side door lock and ignition cylinder in their attempt.

July 27, 2010: Possession of Alcohol by a Minor. On 07/27/10, officers were conducting an inspection of Memorial Park. Officers contacted an 18-year-old resident of Bowdoin St., Maplewood, who admitted that he had consumed from of a bottle of Budweiser beer that he had placed on the ground near a stage. The teen was subsequently transported to police headquarters and charged with consumption of alcohol by a minor as well as two Township Ordinance violations.

July 28, 2010: Burglary. On 07/28/10, an Essex Avenue resident reported a burglary to the home occurring between 7:45 am and 2:30 pm. The suspect(s) apparently pushed an air conditioner through a rear basement window. Nothing was reported missing at the time of the report, although items appeared to have been moved. The Detective Bureau is investigating.

July 29, 2010: Theft from Auto. On 07/29/10, a Virginia resident reported that between the hours of 11:30 pm the prior night and 11:51 am that date, unknown suspect(s) broke into his vehicle while it was parked on Midland Blvd. and removed a first aid kit and an emergency kit.

July 29, 2010: Bicycle Theft. On 07/29/10, a seventeen-year-old reported that his unsecured bike was stolen from the bushes of Columbia High School between the hours of 10:45 am and 1:15 pm.

July 31, 2010: Attempted Vehicle Theft. On 07/31/10, officers responded to a Burnett Avenue business report of an attempted vehicle theft of a 1993 Volvo. The
suspects damaged the passenger's window and ignition cylinder in their attempt.