Cedar Grove Police Blotter - 10/25

On Monday, Oct. 25, the Staples store on Pompton Avenue reported an incident of theft. A store representative informed police that an electronic inventory revealed that approximately $3,000 of merchandise had been taken from the store, sometime between Oct. 19-21. The missing products included multiple items of printer toner and computer software. The matter was referred to the detective bureau for follow-up investigation. 

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At 5:08 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 26, police received a 9-1-1 call from a Yorkshire Drive resident reporting that she had just observed two suspicious individuals in her driveway. The caller reported that just prior to seeing the subjects, she heard her car door close and could see that the vehicle's interior dome light was still on. The caller last saw the subjects, described as males in dark clothing, walking down Eaton Place towards Pompton Avenue. While checking the area, Ptl. Jason Wolfstirn located two male subjects matching the caller's description walking on Birch Road. The subjects admitted being on Yorkshire Drive, but denied entering any vehicles. A subsequent check of the Automated Complaint System revealed that one of the individuals, identified as Timothy M. Daigger, 19, of Cedar Grove, was wanted on outstanding warrant issued by the Caldwell Court. During the arrest of Daigger on the warrant, the second subject, identified as Mark C. Grimyser, 19, of Cedar Grove, was also arrested on an obstruction charge, after he failed to follow police instructions to move away. Both subjects were transported to police headquarters for processing, where Daigger was released after posting bail and Grimyser was released pending a Municipal Court appearance. The 9-1-1 caller could not positively identify the subjects she saw in her driveway and reported that nothing appeared to be missing from her vehicle.

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At 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 26, police responded to Grove Avenue on a report of a motor vehicle crash involving a deer. A subsequent investigation revealed that the involved vehicle had been traveling north on Grove when the deer ran into the roadway resulting in a collision. Due to severe injuries suffered by the deer, it was necessary to destroy the animal. 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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At 12:17 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 27, Ptl. Jason Wolfstirn initiated a motor vehicle stop after observing a vehicle with a flat tire operating on its rim. As the officer interviewed the vehicle operator, 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 22-year-old operator, Morgan J. Hodgen of Cedar Grove, on a charge of driving while intoxicated.  Subsequent to arrest, Hodgen was also found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia (a glass pipe) and a small bag of marijuana (under 50 grams). The defendant was processed on all charges at police headquarters and released pending a Municipal Court appearance.      

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On Thursday, Oct. 28, a Lyndhurst contractor reported the theft of power tools from a Bergen Drive residence where he had been doing work. The victim reported that sometime during the overnight hours, unknown person(s) entered the currently unoccupied residence and removed the tools, which included four power saws, a screw gun and a hammer drill. There were no signs of forced entry to the residence and the matter was forwarded to the detective bureau for follow-up investigation. The aggregate value of the stolen property was approximately $1,500.

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At 7:17 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 29, police responded to 405 Little Falls Road on a report that vehicles parked on the property had been forcibly entered and numerous items of landscaping equipment had been stolen. A subsequent investigation revealed that sometime during the overnight hours, unknown person(s) had forcibly entered four separate trailers and upon entry had stolen multiple items including leaf blowers and power trimmers. The aggregate value of the stolen equipment was estimated at $4,900. The detective bureau is currently conducting a follow-up investigation into the incident.

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At 12:19 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 29, Ptl. Michael Grasso initiated a motor vehicle stop for observed violations. A subsequent check of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission computer revealed that the operator's N.J. driving privileges were under suspension. The 57-year-old operator, Adam H. Anik of Garrison, N.Y., was arrested on the charge and transported to headquarters for processing. A subsequent check of the Automated Traffic System revealed that Anik was also wanted on an outstanding warrant issued by the Bergenfield court. The defendant was processed on all charges and released after posting the required bail.

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At 10:08 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30, police responded to a residence on The Fairway on a criminal mischief report. The victim reported that upon investigating a noise near his front door, he observed a tall juvenile male subject on his front porch igniting toilet paper. The subject ran from the area and the victim was able to put out the small fire with some water. Officers searched the area but were unable to locate the involved subject. The matter was referred to the detective bureau for follow-up investigation. 

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At 11:31 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30, Ptl. Jose Rodriguez 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 44-year-old operator, Edward F. Halchak of Nutley, 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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An ongoing police investigation into two suspicious brush fires led to the identification of the two juvenile males responsible for lighting the fires.  The fires in question occurred on the afternoons of Monday, Oct. 25 and Tuesday, Oct. 26 in a wooded area near the intersection of Ridge Road and East Bradford Avenue.  A Wednesday, Oct. 27. surveillance of the area led to the detention of one of the involved juveniles, a 14-year-old Township boy, after he was observed playing with a lighter. A second juvenile, also a 14-year-old Township boy, was subsequently identified as an accomplice in the fires. The matter has been referred to the Juvenile Officer for the purpose of issuing Juvenile Complaints against the defendants. Both incidents required the response of the Cedar Grove Fire Department to extinguish the fires. No injuries were reported and damaged was limited to the scorched areas of brush where the fires had been burning. Lt. Joseph Cirasa, Det. Sgt. John Kennedy and Det. Andrew McPhail were the investigating officers.

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.