Police: Drug, Leaving the Scene Charges For North Haledon Man

[Updated: Tuesday, March 26 11:00 a.m.]

Verona police searched without success on Thursday, March 21 for Ronald McManus at a West Caldwell business where he works to ticket him for leaving the scene of an accident earlier in the day and driving with a suspended license.

But, according to Verona police, that was just the beginning of the North Haledon resident’s troubles.

In the accident, police said McManus was driving on Bloomfield Avenue around 4 p.m. when he allegedly hit a car at the intersection of Bloomfield and Fairview avenues and then left the scene.

The alert driver of the struck vehicle was able to provide a description of the van McManus was allegedly driving. He told police “Valente Plumbing and Heating” was scrawled across the side of the van that hit him.

While police could not find the driver at his job, they did identify him as McManus, officials said.

McManus began working with the company six months ago, company owner Joe Valente told Verona-Cedar Grove Patch on Monday.

“We are on the road 40 hours a week,” he said. “He's a nice guy and everybody makes mistakes.”

McManus' license was suspended for an issue regarding child support payments, said Valente.

“It was a minor little thing,” he said. “He took care of it Friday, got his license back and was back to work on Saturday.”

“It's over and done with, nobody got hurt,” he added. “I'm not gonna let him go,” he said, “It was an accident.”

A short time later, however, police were informed McManus had an outstanding warrant from the Paterson Municipal Court and returned to the business.

As officers were on their way back to Valente Plumbing and Heating, they spotted McManus in a vehicle traveling on Bloomfield Avenue.

He was stopped on Fairview Avenue and placed under arrest for the outstanding warrant, police said.

He was issued summonses for leaving the scene of an accident and driving while suspended at that time, officials said.

Officers then searched the vehicle and reported finding six syringes, police said.

In the second incident, McManus was charged with two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, said Verona Chief of Police Douglas Huber.

He was processed at Verona police headquarters and released with court dates in Verona and Paterson.