Police Blotter: Arrests for Auto Theft, Aggravated Assault

Friday, Nov. 20:

• A vehicle driven by Robert Santimone, 20, of Newark, was stopped by Officer Adrian Acevedo, who detected the aroma of marijuana at a DUI checkpoint on South Orange Avenue. Santimone was instructed to exit the vehicle, at which point a marijuana blunt and a flathead screwdriver were found on the floor of the vehicle. A license plate check showed that the vehicle was stolen, and forensic evidence recovered from inside the car by Det. Steven Davenport linked Santimone to an auto theft in South Orange earlier this year. Santimone was charged with various criminal offenses, including a DUI.

Monday, Nov. 23:

• An unlocked 2002 Acura MDX parked in a Charlton Avenue driveway was burglarized, and an iPod was taken from the glove compartment.

Tuesday, Nov. 24:

• At around 1:30 p.m., Det. Lt. Jim Aiosa and Det. Brian McGuire were driving north on Vose Avenue in Orange in an unmarked car when they spotted a silver 2009 Audi A5 that they recognized as having been stolen from a Montrose Avenue driveway the previous day. They called headquarters and requested backup to assist with surveillance. About 30 minutes later, they observed two men enter the car and identified themselves with badges and told the suspects to show their hands. The passenger later identified as Alsomod Brown, 19, of Orange, exited the vehicle and fled north but was ultimately wrestled to the ground by Det. McGuire, Chief Jim Chelel and Officer Zorada McFadden on Valley Street. Meanwhile, the stolen car's driver, identified as Keith Fillmore, 37, of Newark, had struck several unmarked police vehicles while trying to flee. He subsequently refused to exit the vehicle, and pepper spray was used to subdue him, though it had no effect. Officers forcibly removed him from the car, handcuffed him, and place him under arrest. Fillmore was charged with receiving stolen property, resisting arrest, three counts of aggravated assault on police officers, possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose; his bail was set at $200,000. Brown's bail was set at $50,000, and he was charged with receiving stolen property and resisting arrest.

Saturday, Nov. 28:

• The rear window of a 2000 Honda wagon parked in a Holland Road driveway was smashed at about 4:30 p.m.