Cedar Grove Police Blotter

The following reports were prepared by the Cedar Grove Police Department. They do not indicate a conviction.

On Tuesday, June 28, a Chapel Hill Court resident reported that sometime during the overnight hours, some unknown person(s) entered his parked vehicle and removed a black leather organizer containing the victim’s identification, credit cards and cash.  The detective bureau processed the scene and is conducting a follow-up investigation.  There was no forced entry observed to the victim’s vehicle.

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On Tuesday, June 28, police responded to the CVS Pharmacy at 1041 Pompton Avenue on a report of a theft.  The store manager reported that sometime during the overnight hours of June 21^st. into June 22, some unknown person(s) entered a locked outside storage area and removed 236 empty plastic tote containers being stored there.  The aggregate value of the stolen totes was $236.00. 

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On Wednesday, June 29 at 8:15 p.m., a Township woman reported an incident of lewdness.  The victim reported that she had been walking on Bowden Road at 4:30 p.m., when she observed a small SUV type motor vehicle turn onto Bowden from Highview Terrace.  The victim reported that as the vehicle passed her the operator, described as an older white male with graying hair, called out to her.  When the victim looked in the direction of the man, she observed that the subject had his private parts exposed.  The victim reported that after the incident, the vehicle continued traveling north on Bowden Road.  Police checked the area for the vehicle and occupant with negative results. 

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On Wednesday, June 29 at 10:26 p.m., police responded to Summit Avenue on a report of a suspicious occupied vehicle.  A subsequent investigation resulted in the arrest of the five vehicle occupants (3 adult, 2 juveniles) after they were found to be in possession of an alcoholic beverage while underage.  One of the adult defendants, Matthew D. Culbertson, 18, of Montclair, was also found to be possession of CDS marijuana (under 50g) and drug paraphernalia (3 pipes). Culbertson was processed on all charges at police headquarters and released pending a Municipal Court appearance.  The other two adult defendants, Jacques A. Foushee II, 18, of East Orange, and Ian Mathisen, 18, of Montclair, were processed and released pending a Municipal Court appearance.  The two juveniles, ages 17 and 15, were processed and turned over to their guardians pending Juvenile Court proceedings.  Ptl. Jason Rivers and Lt. Erik Hansson were the investigating officers.  

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On Thursday, June 30^th. at 11:08 p.m., police stopped to investigate an unoccupied suspicious motor vehicle parked on Mills Reservation property after the posted curfew.  While checking the area, officers located two subjects walking out of a wooded area adjacent to the Newark Reservoir property.  A subsequent investigation resulted in the arrest of one of the subjects after it was determined that he had trespassed inside the fenced-in portion of the reservoir property that is prominently marked with No Trespassing signs.  The 19 year-old defendant, Evan F. Miles of Montclair, was processed on a charge of Defiant Trespass at police headquarters and released pending a Municipal Court appearance.  Ptl. Carolyn Zajack was the arresting officer. 

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On Thursday, June 30 at 11:32 p.m., police responded to the area of 1201 Pompton Avenue on a report of a motor vehicle crash involving a deer.  A subsequent investigation revealed that the involved vehicle, a 2005 Cadillac, had been traveling north on Pompton when a deer ran into the roadway resulting in a collision.  The vehicle sustained reportable property damage and the deer was killed in 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 Friday, July 1 at 5:29 p.m., police responded to the area of 206 Cedar Street on multiple 9-1-1 reports that a pedestrian had been struck by a motor vehicle.  Upon arrival, police located the injured pedestrian and determined that he had been suffered a head injury after being struck by the involved vehicle, a 2006 Honda that was being operated by a 17 year-old Township girl.  A subsequent investigation revealed the pedestrian, a 46 year-old Township man, was standing in the street alongside a parked vehicle, when the Honda, which had been traveling west on Cedar Street, sideswiped both the pedestrian and the parked vehicle.  The pedestrian, who fell to the ground after the crash, was treated at the scene by the Cedar Grove Ambulance & Rescue Squad and transported to Mountainside Hospital for treatment.  His injuries were not believed to be life threatening.  The operator of the Honda told police that she believed that she misjudged the distance between her vehicle and the pedestrian and parked vehicle.  She was issued a summons for careless driving that is answerable in Municipal Court.  Sgt. Frank Pumphrey was the investigating officer.      

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On Saturday, July 2^nd. at 5:07 a.m., police arrested a Verona man on a charge that he was operating a motor vehicle while his NJ driving privileges were under suspension.  The 45 year-old defendant, Anthony Viganola,was processed on the charge at police headquarters and released pending a Municipal Court appearance.  Ptl. Jose Rodriguez was the arresting officer.

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On Saturday, July 2, a resident turned in a woman’s ring that found in the area of East Bradford Avenue and Yorkshire Drive.  The ring is being kept at police headquarters pending the location of its owner.

Also on Saturday, July 2^nd. at 8:14 p.m., Ptl. Eileen O’Toole 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 privileges were under suspension.  The 34 year-old operator, Jeremy B. Barcoski of Lincoln Park, was cited for the violation and released pending a Municipal Court appearance.

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On Saturday, July 2 at 9:36 p.m., police arrested a West Orange man on a charge that he was operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant. The 48 year-old defendant, Richard R. Porter, was additionally charged with operating while his NJ driving privileges were both expired and suspended, speeding, careless driving and failure to yield to an emergency vehicle.  Porter was also found to be wanted on outstanding warrants issued by Boonton, Caldwell, West Caldwell and West Orange Courts.  The defendant was processed on all charges at police headquarters and turned over to the Boonton Police on their warrant.  Ptl. Eileen O’Toole and Ptl. Dominick Buscio were the investigating officers.  

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On Sunday, July 3 at 3:26 a.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 his Georgia driving privileges were under suspension.  The 34 year-old defendant, Alexandro Saraceno of Marietta, GA, was also found to be wanted on an outstanding traffic warrant issued by the Caldwell Court.  Saraceno was processed on all charges and released pending court dates in Cedar Grove and Caldwell.

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On Sunday, July 3 at 10:26 p.m., police arrested a Clifton man on a charge that he was operating a motor vehicle while his NJ driving privileges were under suspension.  The 42 year-old operator, Nicholas Stefanelli, was processed on the charge at police headquarters and released pending a Municipal Court appearance.  Ptl. Jose Rodriguez was the arresting officer.

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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.