In Cedar Grove: Drinking in Mills Reservation, DWI, Motor Vehicle Violations

Editor’s Note: The following incidents are taken directly from the Cedar Grove Police Blotter, which may not include the full scope of police activity in the area. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

On Thursday, June 4, at 11:12 a.m., Ptl. Jose Rodriguez initiated a motor vehicle stop after observing a vehicle being operated in an erratic manner. A subsequent investigation resulted in the arrest of the 28 year-old operator, Luke Benoit of Newark, on charges he was operating the vehicle while his NJ driving privileges were under suspension, in addition to being wanted on multiple outstanding warrants, including a non-support warrant issued by the Essex County Sheriff’s Department. The defendant was processed on all charges at police headquarters and turned over to the Essex County Sheriff’s Department on their warrant.

On Thursday, June 4, at 10:06 p.m., Ptl. Raymond Cassella stopped to investigate a vehicle improperly parked along the shoulder of Ridge Road near Cedar Ridge Drive. The vehicle was occupied and running and as the officer spoke to the operator, he detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage on the man’s breath, along with signs of impairment. Following a series of standardized field sobriety tests, the officer arrested the 51 year-old operator, Gene A. Johnson Jr. of Paterson, on a charge of driving while intoxicated. Johnson, who was also charged with having an open container of an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle, was processed at police headquarters and released pending a Municipal Court appearance.

On Friday, June 5, at 8:40 p.m., Ptl. Jason Wolfstirn initiated a motor vehicle stop for an observed violation. A subsequent check of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) computer revealed the operator’s driving privileges were under suspension. The 27 year-old operator, Douglas E. Job of Lodi, was arrested on the charge, processed at police headquarters and released pending a Municipal Court appearance.

On Saturday, June 6, at 4:51 p.m., Ptl. Robert McDermott initiated a motor vehicle stop after observing a motorist using a cell phone while driving. A subsequent investigation resulted in the arrest of the 24 year-old operator, Danielle M. Hill of Garnerville, NY, on a charge she was operating while her NY driving privileges were under suspension. Hill was processed on the charge at police headquarters and released pending a Municipal Court appearance.

On Saturday, June 6, at 8:16 p.m., police arrested an East Orange woman on a charge she was operating a motor vehicle while her NJ driving privileges were under suspension. The 30 year-old defendant, Damaris Morales, was processed on the charge at police headquarters and released pending a Municipal Court appearance. Ptl. Michael Passafiume was the arresting officer.

On Saturday, June 6, at 9:21 p.m., Ptl. Jason Rivers stopped to investigate a motor vehicle parked on Mills Reservation property after the posted curfew. The officer subsequently located the four vehicle occupants and determined they were in the reservation after curfew and had been consuming alcoholic beverages in the park in violation of Essex County Ordinance. The four subjects, Omar D. Buendia-Castillo, 22, of Belleville, Jefferson G. Jiminez, 23, of Belleville, Christopher Straube, 21, of Newark and Angela J. Rallo, 20, of Parsippany were all issued summonses for the violations answerable in Municipal Court. Buendia-Castillo was arrested after he was found to be wanted on an outstanding traffic warrant issued by East Windsor Court. He was processed at police headquarters and released after posting the required bail.