Middletown Man Charged With Illegal Dumping In Newark

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — A Middletown Township man was arrested Thursday and charged with illegally dumping gasoline in what appears to be an abandoned lot in Newark.

Newark Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose announced the arrest of Joseph Maluta, Jr., 59.

Shortly before 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, members of Newark's Illegal Dumping Task Force were conducting surveillance at 2052 McCarter Highway, which police say is a known illegal dumping location. They say they have a sign there warning people not to illegally dump trash. A man in a white uniform delivery truck was observed removing two large bags from the truck and placing them on the ground next to other refuse, Newark police said. The suspect, Joseph Maluta, Jr., was immediately arrested.

The illegally dumped bags contained two 5-gallon containers of gas. Members of the Newark Fire Division’s haz-mat and arson units responded to remove the containers.

Maluta is charged with illegal dumping and illegal transport of solid waste. The vehicle he was driving, for Domestic Uniform Rental of Belleville, was towed.

Newark is aggressively targeting illegal dumping in that city: Their Illegal Dumping Task Force has made over 50 arrests since its inception on June 12, 2017.

All photos released by the Newark Dept. of Public Safety.