Among the items on the Montclair crime report this week were the theft of a flat screen TV, Macbook, and pink piggy bank; the vandalism of Watchung Train Station, and arrests for marijuana possession, burglary, and eluding police.
The following report was provided by Detective Lieutenant Angel L. Roman Jr., Detective Bureau Commander, Montclair Police Department.
Week of 02/26/2013
Thefts:
On 02/18/2013, at 1757 hours, Officers responded to a Midland Avenue address on a report of a theft. The caller stated that sometime between 1200 hours on 2/16 1000 hours on 2/18 her passenger side amber factory blinker cover was stolen. The vehicle was a green 1999 Acura Integra and was parked in her driveway.
Burglaries:
On 02/19/2013 at 1645 hours, officers responded to a Pine Street address on a report of a burglary. Officers were informed by the caller that between 0800 hours and 1630 hours someone burglarized her apartment. Officers were shown visible pry marks on the door and door jamb to the apartment. Caller returned to her apartment at 1630 and found all of her lights on. Her jewelry boxes, which were kept in a hallway closet, were found on the kitchen table. Stolen were the following items;
– White Apple Macbook 13″
– Black 16GB iPod 4th gen. and charger.
– Pink piggy bank with approx ($30) in US coins, ($12) in US bills
– Two pairs of sunglasses
Anyone with information contact Det. Cunningham at 973 509 4716.
On 02/20/2013 at 2123 hours, officers responded to Gordonhurst Avenue address on a report of a burglary. The caller informed officers that between 0800 and 2120 hours someone entered and burglarized his apartment. Entry was gained through an unlocked southeast corner bedroom window. The caller stated the window was closed when he left. Stolen were the following items;
– Vizio 37 inch flat screen television color black
– Lenovo Think Pad lap top color black
– Targis black canvass case for the lap top
A note left to him by his cleaning lady stated that she found the window open. She was unable to close the window. This was at approx 1300 hours and she stated to the caller that all items that were missing were present when she cleaned the apartment. She also dead bolted the doors. The caller found the dead bolts in the open position. Anyone with information contact Det. Turner at 973 509 4724.
Vandalism:
On 02/20/2013 at 1045 hours, officers responded to the Watchung Street Train Station on a report of vandalism. Officers were informed that the train station was last seen intact on Friday 02/15 at 1300 hours. The damage discovered on 02/20 at 1030 hours. Officers were shown inside were pizza and pizza sauce had been thrown and smeared on the walls. A small office adjacent to the waiting room, which had a desk type wall unit, had all the drawers pulled out and the bottoms broken.
Arrests:
On 02/18/2013 at 1941 hours, officers patrolling the area of Nishuane Park observed a red 2002 Ford Escort parked on the south side of Oak Street. Five occupants were in the vehicle, the engine running and the entire cabin was full of smoke. Officers approached the vehicle and when the driver lowered her window to speak to police they immediately smelled a strong odor of Marijuana. They also immediately observed in plain view a lit cigar paper rolled cigarette near the feet of the front seat passenger. The passenger, 19 year old Darin Davis of Montclair, told officers the item belonged to him. He was placed under arrest for possession of Marijuana (under 50 grams), summonsed and released. All other parties were checked for warrants and released at the scene.
On 02/18/2013 at 2055 hours, police responded to 51 Elmwood Avenue on a report of a motor vehicle accident. The caller stated that a parked BMW wagon was struck by a Honda which left the scene with heavy front end damage. The caller provided the license plate and informed officers that he did not witness the accident but did see the Honda fleeing the scene. Officers followed a trail of fluid and debris from the scene to the dead end area of New Street where they came upon the gold Honda Accord that had been involved in the accident. The vehicle had heavy front side damage, the horn still sounding and the air bags already deployed. The vehicle owner was standing near the vehicle. She could not remember where or what caused the accident. Officers speaking to her detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from her breath. After failing several on scene sobriety tests, forty six year old Sheamin Reeves of Montclair, was placed under arrest for DWI. She was also issued traffics summonses for Careless Driving, DWI within a 1,000ft of a school zone, leaving the scene of an accident and failure to report an accident.
On 02/20/2013 at approx 1215 hours, 19 year old Kshone Taylor of Montclair was arrested by Detectives for a burglary to a vehicle that occurred on a 07/08/2011. Detectives were able to obtain fingerprints from 2009 Toyota Prius. As a result of their investigation Detectives charged Kshone Taylor with Burglary and theft of Moveable Property. He was released on his own recognizance.
On 02/22/2013 at 0943 hours, police received a call about a Marrell Sutton of Montclair (28yrs old) wanted by the East Orange Police Department. The warrant was for a theft and the actor was said to be in the area of Bloomfield Avenue and Mission Street. Officers were viewing the actor on camera from the dispatch area and confirmed Mr. Sutton was on the corner of Mission and Bloomfield Avenue. Officers stopped Mr. Sutton and confirmed the warrants. He was placed under arrest. Mr. Sutton was found to be in possession of a 3 inch kitchen knife and was charged accordingly.
On 02/23/2013 at 1708 hours, police patrolling the area of Park Street and Bloomfield Avenue observed a black four door Buick traveling southbound on Park Street with an expired inspection sticker. A license plate check revealed the registration to be suspended. A motor vehicle stop was conducted on Bloomfield Avenue near Seymour Street. The operator of the vehicle, 31 yr old Aquil Cromwell of East Orange, was found to have his license suspended as well as a criminal warrant ($810) out of East Orange. Mr. Cromwell was placed under arrest and processed accordingly. He was issued several motor vehicle summonses and released after posting the $810.
On 02/23/2013 at 2343 hours, police were dispatched to 73 Valley Road on a motor vehicle accident. The driver of a Grey Cadillac stated to officers that he struck a black BMW 325 in the rear as a result of being on his cell phone. A Ford F150 was also struck in the rear as a result the BMW being set in motion from the original impact. Officers detected slurred speech and an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the operator of the Cadillac. After failing several on scene sobriety tests, 26 yr old Kurt Birchler of West Orange, was placed under arrest for DWI. He was also issued summonses for use of cell phone, Careless Driving and DWI within a school zone.
Wanted Person:
On 02/21/2013 at 0202 hours, police patrolling near the intersection Fulton Street and Miller Street observed a tan Buick Regal turn westbound onto Fulton Street and stop in the middle of the roadway. The driver exited, grabbed a broken piece of cinder block from the south side of the street, and threw it at a parked silver Jeep Grand Cherokee. Officers then pulled up and confronted the actor who jumped back into his own vehicle and fled the scene. The actor led police on a pursuit through town disregarding several stop signs and traffic lights and almost striking a police cruiser head on. The pursuit was terminated as the suspect was identified by officers as 22 yr old William Barba of Montclair. The vehicle was last seen heading east on Main Street in West Orange. Barba was charged with eluding police, criminal mischief (damage to parked motor vehicle which consisted of damage to roof and roof rack as well as scratches to the rear side window) and issued several summonses for motor vehicle infractions. William Barba is wanted on a 75,000 warrant set by Judge Insley.
Suspicious vehicle:
On 02/22/2013 at 1221 hours, police responded to Ferrara’s auto body shop on Orange Road on report of a suspicious vehicle. Officers were advised by the shop owner that minutes earlier he observed a silver Volvo occupied by two black males in their twenties, the driver with dread locks, drive onto the property toward the back lot. They made a k-turn and then exited the lot heading toward Bloomfield Avenue. The plate given to police came back as a stolen vehicle out of Elizabeth New Jersey. Dominick’s auto body reported to a passing patrol car that the same vehicle was near their shop a bit earlier. Several of his cars were rummaged through. A check of the area for the vehicle came up negative.