Cedar Grove Police Blotter

The following reports were prepared by the Cedar Grove Police Department and do not necessarily indicate convictions.

On Monday, Feb. 6 at 5:53 p.m., police responded to the area of West Lindsley Road & Willow Ridge Court on a report of a motor vehicle crash involving a deer.  A subsequent investigation revealed that the involved vehicle, a 2009 Chevy Impala, had been traveling west on West Lindsley Road when a deer ran into the roadway resulting in a collision.  The vehicle sustained reportable property damage and the deer ran off into a wooded area following the crash.  * 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.

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On Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 8:33 a.m., police cited a Pompton Plains man for operating an uninsured motor vehicle bearing a suspended NJ registration.  The 32 year-old defendant, Philip J. DiGiorgio, was cited for the violations and released pending a Municipal Court appearance.  The defendant’s vehicle, a 2000 Dodge Dakota, was impounded.  Ptl. Jose Rodriguez was the investigating officer.

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On Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 3:50 p.m., police responded to the TD Bank on Pompton Avenue on a report of an attempted fraud.  A subsequent investigation revealed that a female subject had entered the bank and attempted to cash a $1,920.00 check.  Before cashing the check, the bank contacted the alleged issuer who reported that he had not issued the check.  As the bank contacted police, the woman left the bank walking towards the Staples Store.  Arriving officers checked the area, but were unable to locate the woman.  The fraudulent check, along with a fraudulent Georgia driver’s license left by the suspect, was recovered and the investigation was turned over to the detective bureau. 

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On Thursday, Feb. 9 at 9:48 a.m., Ptl. Michael Grasso initiated a motor vehicle stop for an observed violation.  A subsequent check of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) computer revealed that the operator’s driving and registration privileges were under suspension.  The 36 year-old operator, Ernesto Grillo of Montclair, was arrested on the charges and transported to police headquarters where he was processed and released pending a Municipal Court appearance.  The defendant’s vehicle, a 2002 Dodge Ram, was impounded.

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On Thursday, Feb. 9 at 7:41 p.m., Lt. Erik Hansson initiated a motor vehicle stop for an observed violation.  A subsequent investigation revealed that the operator’s NJ and NY driving privileges were under suspension and he was wanted on outstanding warrants issued by four different jurisdictions.  The 26 year-old defendant, Jamall Wofford of Jersey City, was arrested on the charges and transported to police headquarters for processing.  The defendant was processed and turned over to the Hudson County Sheriff’s Department on their warrant.

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On Friday, Feb. 10 at 11:15 p.m., Ptl. Dominick Buscio initiated a motor vehicle stop for an observed speeding violation.  As the officer secured the operator’s credentials, he detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage on the man’s breath, along with other signs of impairment.  Following a series of standardized field sobriety tests, the 45 year-old operator, Richard J. Morris Jr. of Wayne, was arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated.  Subsequent to arrest, the defendant was found to be in possession of the Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) cocaine, along with drug paraphernalia.  Morris was processed on all charges at police headquarters and released pending a February 16, 2012 Superior Court Arraignment in Newark.   

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On Saturday, Feb. 11 at 2:41 p.m., police responded to the area of Rt. 23 & Ridge Road on a report of two intoxicated males walking in the roadway.  Responding officers located the two individuals who reported that were attempting to locate a ride to Bloomfield.  A subsequent investigation resulted in the arrest of one of the men after he was found to be wanted on outstanding criminal and traffic warrants issued by the Newark Court.  The 42 year-old defendant, Peter Dolan of Bloomfield, was processed at police headquarters and later released pending court appearance in Newark.  Ptl. Jose Rodriguez was the arresting officer.

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On Sunday, Feb. 12 at 12:42 a.m., Ptl. Robert McDermott initiated a motor vehicle stop for an observed violation.  A subsequent check of the NJMVC computer revealed that the operator’s driving privileges were under suspension.  The 19 year-old operator, Megan E. Mincica of Teaneck, was arrested on the charge and transported to headquarters for processing.  It was also determined that Mincica was wanted on outstanding warrants issued by the Wayne and Paramus.  The defendant was processed on all charges and released pending court appearances in the involved courts.

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On Sunday, Feb. 12 at 1:41 a.m., Ptl. John Smigelsky initiated a motor vehicle stop after observing a vehicle being operated in an erratic manner.  As the officer secured the operator’s credentials, he detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage on the man’s breath, along with other signs of impairment.  Following a series of standardized field sobriety tests, the officer arrested the 27 year-old operator, Timothy S. Wisniewski, of Cedar Grove, on a charge of driving while intoxicated.  The defendant was processed on the charge at police headquarters and released pending a Municipal Court appearance.

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On Sunday, Feb. 12, police investigated a report of criminal mischief to property on Little Falls Road.  The reporting person informed police that sometime during the overnight hours, some unknown person(s) knocked down and damaged three mailboxes located at the front of the property.  Cost to repair the damage was unknown at the time of report.

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On Sunday, Feb. 12, a Mountainview Drive resident reported acts of criminal mischief to his residence and property.  The victim reported that some unknown person(s) had sprayed paint on the front of his residence, along with a fence on the property sometime during the overnight hours.  The matter was referred to the detective bureau for follow-up investigation.  Cost to repair the damage was unknown at the time of report.     

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The Cedar Grove Police Department requests that the public report all suspicious activity observed, as it occurs.  The police department telephone number is 973-239-4100 and in case of emergency 9-1-1.  All reports are investigated and all assistance is appreciated.

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All persons charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty.