By Karen Zautyk
NUTLEY –
As Halloween approaches, mischief-makers have been out in force, and the police are advising them that it is illegal to harass township residents by ringing doorbells and running away.
Additionally, there have been several reports filed regarding damaged or stolen pumpkins and lawn ornaments. And several homes have been T.P’d – meaning littered with toilet paper (which is a special nuisance if there’s rain). But more than a nuisance, it is criminal mischief.
In addition to inherent safety risks, such as when running through private properties in the dark, juveniles may be charged with trespassing, harassment and or criminal mischief.
Have fun, but do so lawfully, please.
In other news from the Nutley police, blotter items for the week ending Oct. 21 included, but were not limited to, the following:
Oct. 14
11:25 a.m. – Police took a report from a 17-year-old North Arlington youth who said he was assaulted in Nutley. After interviewing the teen and his mother, detectives found inconsistencies and determined the incident never happened. The youth was transported to a crisis center for evaluation. Charges for false reporting are pending.
4:23 p.m. – Police responded to Humbert St. in response to a report of security boards having been removed from a vacant house. Police contacted code enforcement to ensure the home was secured to keep trespassers from entering.
10:07 p.m. – Police were called to a Brookline Ave residence in response to a juvenile who had consumed too much alcohol. EMS transported the 14-year-old girl to a nearby hospital for evaluation. The Nutley Juvenile Bureau is handling the matter.
Oct. 15
3:43 a.m. – A Kingsland Ave. resident reported that his 2006 Chrysler wagon was missing from his driveway. Parked on the same street, a few doors down, police discovered another stolen vehicle, with its ignition cylinder missing. That car presumably was left behind by the thief prior to taking the Nutley resident’s wagon.
9:36 a.m. – A Rutgers Place resident reported his car’s window had been smashed and items stolen from within.
10:37 a.m. – A Franklin Ave. resident reported that someone had fraudulently withdrawn more than $1,500 from his bank account. Police are investigating.
11:15 a.m. – A Milton Ave resident reported that his car had been damaged and someone had gained entry and stolen several items.
12:34 p.m. – A Crestwood Ave. resident who had taken in two 4-month-old stray kittens, had them two spayed and was keeping them in a cage in her garage, discovered the cage unlatched and the kittens gone. Police are investigating.
1:08 p.m. – A Bloomfield Ave. resident reported that a car parked behind his complex for close to four months because the primary driver had been deployed by the military showed signs of being used, including a broken transmission and low fuel. The owner will sign complaints when the culprit is located.
10:36 p.m. – Police went to Ernest St. in response to a noise complaint. Officers observed several juveniles as well as alcoholic beverages. Police secured the area and summoned all parents to respond to the scene to assume custody of their children. Underage-consumption charges are pending.
11:01 p.m. – A traffic stop on Grant Ave. found the driver, Fernando Ramos, 57, of Newark, to have an outstanding warrant. He was issued a summons, posted bail and was released.
Oct. 16
8:37 p.m. – Police responded to a Prospect St. residence after 31-year-old Kevin Pugliese reported that he had been involved in an accident that night but had left the scene. Pugliese was arrested for driving while under the influence. His vehicle was impounded and he was later released to the custody of a family member.
Oct. 17
9:28 a.m. – A River Road resident reported that several inflatable witches had been stolen from his front lawn.
11:29 a.m. – Police responded to Washington Elementary School after two students reported having seen a gun on their way to school. Detectives found a toy gun near the Yale St. apartment complex and commended the children for not touching it and for reporting it to school officials.
Oct. 18
8:48 a.m. – Police issued a summons to a Fernwood Ave. resident who had a vehicle parked on his front lawn.
10:42 a.m. – Police received information that a Belleville High School student had made threats on Facebook about possibly harming himself. Police ascertained his identity of the student and notified Belleville, which responded quickly and provided the student with assistance.
Oct. 19
1:20 a.m. – Police went to a Passaic Ave. residence on a noise complaint and found an intoxicated 18-year-old woman kneeling in the driveway. She was transported to an area hospital. The owner of the residence was issued several summonses, including providing alcohol to an underage person.
9:06 a.m. – A Humbert St. resident reported that he received several emails from the Federal Ministry of Finance of the Benin Republic requesting that he send them $85 a day for 266 days via Western Union so the president could release $1,200,000 to him. He notified police and did not send the requested funds.
11:20 a.m. – A falling tree limb struck a car traveling down Passaic Ave. at Oak Ridge Ave. The driver was not hurt, but the auto sustained damage.
6:54 p.m. – A tree limb fell on a vehicle parked on Washington Ave., smashing the window and causing body damage.
8:13 p.m. – A Bloomfield Ave. resident reported that juveniles spread toilet paper all over the front of his home.
Oct. 20
7:12 a.m. – A Romano St resident reported his car tire was slashed and the vehicle damaged after being parked overnight.
7:20 p.m. – Detectives observed suspicious activity in the area of Grant Ave. and Quarry St. and found James DeMarco, 30, of Lodi apparently attempting to sell prescription drugs to a Nutley woman. The woman, Michelle Lucas, 31, denied involvement but was found to have active warrants out of North Bergen for $255. She was arrested and later released after posting bail. DeMarco charged with possession and distribution of prescription medication and was later released with a mandatory court appearance scheduled.
Oct. 21
1:30 a.m. – Officers went to the Bloomfield Police Department to assume custody of 21-year-old David Bell of East Orange, who had an active warrant out of Nutley. Bell was unable to post the required bail and was transported to the Essex County Jail pending a hearing.
