Cedar Grove Police Blotter

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

On Monday, Sept. 26 at 10:41 a.m., police responded to the Washington Academy on Pompton Avenue on a 9-1-1 reporting some sort of disturbance.  A subsequent investigation resulted in the detention of a 14 year-old student on charges that she had assaulted two staff members.  The juvenile defendant was processed at police headquarters and transported to the Essex County Juvenile Detention Facility pending Juvenile Court proceedings.  The two involved staff members sustained minor injury in the assault.  Ptl. Michael Grasso was the investigating officer.

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On Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 9:56 a.m., police responded to the Washington Academy on Pompton Avenue on a report of a theft.  Upon arrival, an Academy employee reported that her cell phone had been stolen from her desk sometime during the previous afternoon.  A subsequent investigation resulted in the detention of a 14 year-old student on charges relating to the theft of the cell phone.  The juvenile defendant was processed at police headquarters and turned over to his guardian pending Juvenile Court proceedings.  The stolen phone, valued at $488.00, was recovered.  Ptl. Michael Grasso was the investigating officer.

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On Thursday, Sept. 29 at 10:41 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 that the operator’s driving privileges were under suspension.  The 22 year-old operator, Natalia Scott of Newark, was arrested on the charge, processed at police headquarters and released pending a Municipal Court appearance.

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On Thursday, Sept. 29 at 8:57 p.m., police arrested a Verona man on charges that he was operating an unregistered, uninsured motorcycle, while his NJ driving privileges were under suspension.  The 35 year-old defendant, William T. Mueller, was also found to be wanted on an outstanding criminal warrant issued by the Newark Court.  Mueller was additionally charged with shoplifting after he was found to be in possession of merchandise that he had stolen from the CVS Pharmacy at 387 Pompton Avenue just prior to being stopped for the described motor vehicle offenses.  Mueller was processed on all charges and released pending court appearances in Newark and Cedar Grove.  The defendant’s motorcycle, a 2001 Ducati, was impounded.  Ptl. Dominick Buscio was the investigating officer.

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On Friday, Sept. 30 at 11:33 p.m., Ptl. Jason Rivers 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 38 year-old operator, Nakeisha Thomas of Newark, was arrested on the charge, processed at police headquarters and released pending a Municipal Court appearance.

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On the evening of Saturday, Oct. 1, police detained two groups of juveniles found in possession of alcoholic beverages while underage on Old Quarry Road in the area of Mills Reservation.  The first group, four 14 year-old juveniles from Montclair, were observed at 8:00 p.m. standing in a wooded area just off the roadway and were subsequently found to be in possession of a bottle of vodka and a bottle of rum.  The juveniles were transported to police headquarters and subsequently turned over to guardians pending a review by the Juvenile Officer.  The second group, six juveniles, ages 15-17 from Montclair, was observed in the same area at 9:39 p.m. and were found to be in possession of vodka, and several bottles of rum.  Those juveniles were transported to police headquarters and turned over to their guardians pending a review by the Juvenile Officer.  Police believe that both groups had possibly been in the area seeking to attend a house party that was in progress on Old Quarry Road.  Ptl. Carolyn Zajack, Ptl. Jason Wolfstirn and Ptl. Jason Rivers were the investigating officers.       

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On Sunday, Oct. 2 at 4:21 a.m., police and fire personnel responded to an Emory Court residence on a report that a tree had struck a house.  A subsequent investigation revealed that a tree on the east side of the home had been struck by lightning, causing the tree to splinter into pieces that hit the home.  Pieces of the tree punctured the roof of the home creating a two foot hole.  Other pieces punctured a hole in the rear deck and damaged the deck’s railing.  Following an investigation, the fire department determined that the home was structurally safe and assisted the resident covering the hole in the roof.  No injuries were reported in the incident.

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On Sunday, Oct. 2 at 11:26 p.m., police arrested a Clifton man after it was determined that he was wanted on an outstanding traffic warrant issued by the Montclair Court. The 23 year-old defendant, Abdullah Basci, was processed on the charge at police headquarters and released after posting the required bail.  Sgt. Edward Conlon 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.