In Cedar Grove: Forged Prescription, Car Fire, DWI and Speeding

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 Tuesday, April 14, at 9:11 a.m., Ptl. Jose Rodriguez initiated a motor vehicle stop for observed violations. A subsequent check of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) computer revealed the operator’s driving privileges were under suspension. The 32 year-old operator, Kristen A. Schofield of Passaic, was arrested on the charge and transported to headquarters for processing. A check of the Automated Traffic System (ATS) revealed Schofield was also wanted on an outstanding warrant issued by the City of Passaic Court. The defendant was processed and released after posting the required bail.

On Tuesday, April 14, at 4:58 p.m., Ptl. Kristian Schneider initiated a motor vehicle stop for an observed speeding violation. A subsequent investigation revealed the vehicle was unregistered and the operator’s NJ driving privileges were under suspension. The 21 year-old operator, Herzilian Lamerce of Irvington, was arrested on the charges, processed at police headquarters and released pending a Municipal Court appearance.

On Tuesday, April 14, at 9:03 p.m., police responded to the CVS Pharmacy at 387 Pompton Avenue on a report of an attempted prescription fraud in progress. A subsequent investigation resulted in the arrest of 25 year-old Jason T. Duffy of Newark on charges he attempted to obtain the Controlled Dangerous Substance Prothethazine with Codeine by means of a forged fraudulent prescription. During processing, it was also determined that Duffy was wanted on an outstanding warrant issued by the Union Township Court. The defendant was processed on all charges and released pending an April 23, 2015 Superior Court Arraignment in Newark. Ptl. John Smigelsky was the arresting officer.

On Wednesday, April 15, at 9:16 p.m., Ptl. Jason Rivers initiated a motor vehicle stop for an observed violation. A subsequent investigation revealed the 25 year-old vehicle operator, Melissa G. Hernandez of Cedar Grove, was wanted on an outstanding traffic warrant issued by the Cedar Grove Court. Hernandez was arrested on the warrant, processed at police headquarters and released after posting the required bail.

On Friday, April 17, at 9:37 a.m., Ptl. Jose Rodriguez initiated a motor vehicle stop for an observed violation. A subsequent check of the NJMVC computer revealed the operator was unlicensed and his driving privileges were under suspension. The 37 year-old operator, Carlos A. Diaz of Orange, was arrested on the charges, processed at police headquarters and released pending a Municipal Court appearance.

On Saturday, April 18, at 2:56 a.m., Ptl. Raymond Cassella initiated a motor vehicle stop for observed violations. A subsequent check of the NJMVC computer revealed the operator’s driving privileges were under suspension. The 27 year-old operator, Stephen B. Koontz of Montclair, was arrested on the charge, processed at police headquarters and released pending a Municipal Court appearance.

On Saturday, April 18, at 11:41 a.m., police responded to Montclair Avenue on a report of a disabled motor vehicle that was smoking. Upon arrival, Ptl. Joseph Russomanno determined there was a fire in the vehicle’s engine compartment. After requesting the fire department, the officer was able to extinguish the fire with his handheld dry chemical fire extinguisher and the arriving fire department confirmed the fire. The vehicle, a 2006 Lincoln, was towed from the scene. The cause of the fire appeared to be mechanical in nature and no injuries were reported.

On Monday, April 20, at 1:35 a.m., Ptl. Nicole O’Halloran observed a motor vehicle stopped halfway up on the curb on Pompton Avenue near Beech Street. Upon speaking to the operator, the officer 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 40 year-old operator, Kleiner W. Macias-Zambrano of Peekskill, NY, on a charge of driving while intoxicated. The defendant was processed on the charge at police headquarters and released pending a Municipal Court appearance.

On Monday, April 20, at 7:21 a.m., police arrested a Queens, NY, man on charges he was operating a motor vehicle bearing a suspended NY registration while his NJ driving privileges were under suspension. The 52 year-old defendant, Dave J. Zarnesky, was transported to headquarters for processing where a check of the Automated Complaint System (ACS) revealed he was also wanted on an outstanding warrant issued by the Franklin Borough Court. The defendant was processed on all charges and released pending court appearances in Cedar Grove and Franklin Borough. His vehicle, a 2009 Nissan, was impounded.

On Monday, April 20, at 7:56 a.m., police responded to Grove Avenue near Pompton Avenue on a report of a motor vehicle crash. Upon arrival, officers observed one of the involved operators had an odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and appeared to be intoxicated. Following an investigation, police arrested the man, identified as 37 year-old Jeffrey T. Barker of Verona, on a charge of driving while intoxicated. Barker was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and released pending a Municipal Court appearance. The crash investigation revealed Barker had rear-ended a vehicle stopped in front of him at the Grove Avenue stop sign at Pompton. No injuries were reported in the crash. Ptl. Michael Grasso and Sgt. Eileen O’Toole were the investigating officers.