Cedar Grove Police Blotter

On Monday, April 4 at 8:11 a.m., police responded to the intersection of Rt. 23 and Franklin Street on a report of a motor vehicle crash. A subsequent investigation resulted in the arrest of one of the involved operators after it was determined that her NJ driving privileges were under suspension. The 22 year-old defendant, Natalie Weirzchowski of Caldwell, was arrested on the charge, processed at police headquarters and released pending a Municipal Court appearance.  Ptl. Michael Tower was the investigating officer.

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On Monday, April 4 at 2:15 p.m., police received a 9-1-1 call from the Memorial Middle School reporting a smoke condition in the building. School authorities were advised to evacuate the building and police and fire personnel were dispatched. A subsequent investigation revealed that the smoke was emanating from a malfunctioning rooftop heating unit. The fire department was able to disable the heating unit and the scene was declared safe at 2:57 p.m. There were no injuries and no other property damage was reported.

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On Monday, April 4 at 10:50 p.m., Ptl. Jose Rodriguez initiated a motor vehicle stop for an observed violation.  A subsequent investigation resulted in the arrest of the vehicle operator after it was determined that he was wanted on an outstanding traffic warrant issued by the Little Falls Court.  The 19 year-old defendant, Mark L. Thornton Jr. of Montclair, was processed at police headquarters and released after posting the required bail.

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On Tuesday, April 5 at 6:10 p.m., police responded to the Cedar Grove High School on a report of a theft.  A subsequent investigation revealed that sometime during the day, some unknown person(s) had entered the Band Room and removed currency from the pocketbooks of two students.  The aggregate amount of stolen money was $190.00.     

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On Wednesday, April 6, police responded to the Bradford Arms Apartments and the Ridge Garden Apartments on reports that some unknown person(s) had entered laundry rooms in both complexes and damaged appliances in an apparent effort to steal money from the appliances. The washing machine in the Bradford Arms, which are debit card and not coin-operated, suffered damage to an electronic card reader attached to the machine.  Two machines in the Ridge Gardens suffered damage when the actor(s) broke open a coin machine on a washer and a dryer.  The detective bureau processed the Ridge Garden scene for physical evidence and is now conducting a follow-up investigation.

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On Wednesday, April 6 at 2:34 p.m., police investigated a motor vehicle crash involving a bicyclist.  A subsequent investigation revealed that the involved vehicle, a 2008 BMW, had been traveling north on Pompton Avenue in the outside lane of traffic and the bicyclist was traveling north behind the BMW.  As the driver of the BMW began to slow and move farther to the right, preparing to make a right turn into the St. Catherine of Siena Church driveway, the bicyclist attempted to pass the vehicle on the right.  At that time the bicyclist’s front tire made contact with the right front tire of the BMW.  After making contact, the bicyclist continued north past the BMW, at which time the bicycle operator lost control of the bicycle and was ultimately ejected, landing on a grassy area of the church property.  The bicyclist, identified as Ratzmann Konrad, 21, of North Arlington, suffered a broken collar bone and abrasions to his knee and hand.  Konrad was treated at the scene by the Cedar Grove Ambulance & Rescue Squad and transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital.  His injuries were not believed to be life threatening.  The operator of the BMW, a 43 year-old Belleville woman, was determined to have not been at fault and no charges were filed.  Ptl. Michael Grasso was the investigating officer.

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On Thursday, April 7 at 3:07 p.m., police responded to the Staples Store on Pompton Avenue on a report of an attempted shoplifting.  Upon arrival, store personnel reported that at approximately 2:15 p.m., two males entered the store and proceeded to place 15 ink jet cartridges, valued at $1,848.80, in a shopping cart.  The males then walked to the rear of the store where they placed the cartridges into a box that a filing cabinet had been in.  They then took the box to front register seeking to pay for the value of the filing cabinet.  When store personnel opened the box to reveal the ink jet cartridges, the subjects fled the store.  The subjects were described as being white, olive skinned males approximately 20 to 30 years-old.  The detective bureau also responded, processed the scene for physical evidence, and is now conducting a follow-up investigation.         

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On Friday, April 8 at 3:26 a.m., police responded to a 9-1-1 call from a Harper Terrance resident reporting a burglary.  The residents reported that they were awakened when their dog starting barking wildly and ran down the stairs to the basement.  The resident subsequently observed an open window in the basement and a muddy wet shoeprint on the floor in front of the same window.  Responding officers conducted a premise check and an area search for possible suspects with negative results.  The detective bureau also responded and processed the scene for physical evidence.  Any person that may have witnessed suspicious activity in the area is asked to contact detectives at 973-239-4100.

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On Friday, April 8 at 8:56 a.m., police investigated a report of criminal mischief graffiti at the Burger King on Pompton Avenue.  A restaurant employee reported that some unknown person(s) had spray painted graffiti on the rear wall of the building.  The graffiti was photographed and the matter was referred to the detective bureau for follow-up investigation.  The cost to remove the graffiti was unknown at the time of report. 

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On Friday, April 8 at 11:24 p.m., Ptl. Dominick Buscio attempted to initiate a motor vehicle stop after observing a motorcycle being operated with no tail light and no license plate.  As the officer signaled the motorcycle operator to stop, the operator began to accelerate the motorcycle, refusing to stop.  The officer continued his attempt to stop the motorcycle as the vehicle continued north on Rt. 23.  When the motorcycle reached the Rt. 23/Rt. 46/Rt. 80 exchange, the officer discontinued his attempt to stop the vehicle and last observed it traveling north on Rt. 23 into Wayne. Butler Police subsequently reported that they observed and attempted to stop the same motorcycle, at which time the operator drove the vehicle into a wooded area and abandoned it. An area search was then conducted but the subject could not be located at the time of the incident. The recovered motorcycle was impounded by the Butler Police and the matter has been referred to the detective bureau for follow-up investigation.  

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On Saturday, April 9 at 9:15 a.m., police arrested an Oneida, NY woman after she was found to be wanted on an outstanding traffic warrant issued by the Cedar Grove Court.  The 40 year-old defendant, Michelle L. Kimball, was processed at police headquarters and released after posting the required bail.  Ptl. Scott Moody was the arresting officer.

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On Saturday, April 9 at 7:40 p.m., police arrested a Montclair man on a charge that he was operating a motor vehicle while his NJ driving privileges were under suspension.  The 23 year-old defendant, Nathanael X. Hillman, was processed on the charge at police headquarters and released pending a Municipal Court appearance.  Ptl. Dominick Buscio was the arresting officer.

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On Sunday, April 10 at 2:26 a.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 officer arrested the 27 year-old operator, Jason T. Yucha of Montclair, on a charge of driving while intoxicated.  The defendant was transported to headquarters where he was processed on the charge and released pending a Municipal Court appearance.

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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.

All persons charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty.