In Cedar Grove: Man tries to head butt police officer, Cars hit deer, Prescription fraud, Home burglary

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.

During the week of March 23, police responded to two deer related motor vehicle crashes. The first crash was on Monday, March 23rd. at 7:56 p.m. on East Bradford Avenue near Devonshire Road. The involved motorist had been traveling west on East Bradford when a deer ran into the roadway resulting in a collision. The vehicle, a 2005 Acura, sustained front-end damage. The badly injured deer was put down by police.

The second crash occurred on Thursday, March 26th. at 6:48 a.m. The involved vehicle was traveling north on Pompton Avenue near Harper Terrace when a deer ran in front of his vehicle resulting in a collision. The vehicle, a 2014 Kia, sustained front end damage and the deer ran from the scene.

Due to the large deer population in the area, motorists are urged to use caution when operating near wooded areas, especially between dusk and dawn.

On Monday, March 23, police arrested a Lyndhurst man on charges relating to two incidents of attempted prescription fraud. The arrest of 23 year-old Liridon S. Sahiti followed a detective bureau investigation into a March 16, 2015 report made by the CVS Pharmacy located at 387 Pompton Avenue. The store pharmacist reported an individual, subsequently identified as Sahiti, had attempted to fill two forged prescriptions for the Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) Oxycodone on February 28, 2015 and again on March 16th. It was also determined the prescription blanks Sahiti used in the fraud had been stolen. The defendant was charged with two counts of attempting to obtain CDS by fraud, two counts of forgery, and two counts of possessing stolen property. He was processed on all charges at police headquarters and released pending an April 1, 2015 Superior Court Arraignment in Newark. Det. Michael Tower was the investigating detective.

On Monday, March 23, a Franklin Street resident reported his home had been burglarized sometime between 7:45 a.m. and 5:40 p.m. A subsequent investigation revealed some unknown person(s) forcibly entered the home by breaking and entering from a basement window. Upon entry, the suspect(s) ransacked several rooms in the house. The victim immediately noticed at least one item of jewelry had been stolen. During a canvass of the area, a neighbor reported that around 11:30 a.m., he observed a green or black 4 door Hyundai sedan with a white male operator idling in front of his house for about fifteen minutes. The detective bureau processed the scene for physical evidence and is now conducting a follow-up investigation.

On Wednesday, March 25, at 8:23 a.m., Ptl. Jose Rodriguez 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 38 year-old operator, Ozkan Cengiz of Butler, was arrested on the charge, processed at police headquarters and released pending a Municipal Court appearance.

On Wednesday, March 25, at 5:59 p.m., Ptl. Raymond Cassella initiated a motor vehicle stop for observed violations. A subsequent investigation resulted in the arrest of the 35 year-old operator, Ray R. Dawan of Glen Ridge, on charges he was operating the vehicle while his NJ driving privileges were under suspension, in addition to being wanted on an outstanding warrant issued by the Pennsylvania State Police. Dawan was processed at police headquarters and transported to the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark pending extradition to Pennsylvania.

On Wednesday, March 25, police arrested a Township man on charges he assaulted a police officer and resisted arrest. The events leading to the arrest of 46 year-old Todd R. Green initiated at 7:14 p.m. after police responded to the defendant’s home for the second time on reports Green was intoxicated and out of control. As an officer attempted to speak to Green, he first pushed a door into the officer’s shoulder and then attempted to close the door on his arm. After being informed he was under arrest, Green forcefully pushed the officer and actively resisted arrest. After being transported to police headquarters, Green continued to bump the officer with his shoulder and attempted to head-butt him. During the course of his processing Green spit at officers and damaged a desk in the holding room. Due to his level of intoxication and behavior, Green was transported to Mountainside Hospital for treatment. He is scheduled to appear in Newark for a Superior Court Arraignment on April 2, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. Ptl. Dominick Buscio was the arresting officer.

On Thursday, March 26, at 11:39 p.m., Lt. John Kennedy initiated a motor vehicle stop after observing a vehicle being operated in an erratic manner. As the officer secured the operator’s credentials, he observed the man was displaying signs of impairment. A subsequent investigation, which included observations made by a certified Drug Recognition Expert (DRE), resulted in the arrest of the 21 year-old operator, George N. Saad of Fairfield, on charges he was under the influence of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) and driving while under the influence of an intoxicant. Saad was processed on the charges at police headquarters and released pending a Municipal Court appearance. Ptl. Raymond Cassella and Ptl. Dominick Buscio assisted in the investigation.

On Saturday, March 28 at 2:43 a.m., Ptl. Jason Rivers initiated a motor vehicle stop after observing a vehicle operated in an erratic manner. As the officer secured the operator’s credentials, he detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage on the woman’s breath, along with signs of impairment. Following a series of standardized field sobriety tests, the officer arrested the 29 year-old operator, Briana L. Miller of Fair Lawn, 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 Saturday, March 28, at 7:04 p.m., police arrested a Montclair man on a charge he was operating a motor vehicle while his NJ driving privileges were under suspension. The 32 year-old defendant, Todd A. Johnson, was processed on the charge at police headquarters and released pending a Municipal Court appearance. Ptl. Jason Wolfstirn was the arresting officer.

On Sunday, March 29, at 12:14 a.m., police arrested a West Caldwell man on a charge he was operating a motor vehicle while his NJ driving privileges were under suspension. The 35 year-old defendant, Marvin H. Adrichem, was processed on the charge at police headquarters and released pending a Municipal Court appearance. Ptl. Jason Wolfstirn was the arresting officer.

On Sunday, March 29, at 6:51 p.m., Ptl. Jason Wolfstirn initiated a motor vehicle stop for an observed violation. A subsequent investigation revealed the operator was unlicensed and her NJ driving privileges were under suspension. The 42 year-old operator, Celia C. Morocho, of West Orange, was arrested on the charges, processed at police headquarters and released pending a Municipal Court appearance.