By Jeff Bahr
On Jan. at 2:57 p.m., in the area of Williams St. and Washington Ave., police noticed a man as he entered an apartment building where an unknown tenant confronted him. After the conversation, he continued walking north on Washington Ave. and raised his hood over his head. He then slipped down an alleyway at 252 Washington Ave. When he emerged at the other end of the alleyway, police stopped him.
They noticed that the man was covering an area near his stomach with his hands. When he removed his hands from his pockets, at least one of the cops saw that the man was carrying a gun in his waistband. After shouting “gun!” police took the would-be assailant down to the ground. The man, Joshua Rafael Price, 21, of Newark, was subsequently arrested and taken to headquarters. He was charged with possession of a handgun and possession of a controlled dangerous substance. He carried a $15,000 warrant out of Newark, and a no-bail-warrant from Essex County. He is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail at the county jail.
The retrieved gun, a Smith & Wesson 9mm, was reportedly stolen from Greensboro, N.C. It contained 10 rounds of live ammunition in its chambers.
In other Belleville Police happenings:
Jan. 19
At 8:37 a.m., a motor vehicle was reported stolen at 28 Naples Ave. The owner of the vehicle said that she had started her 2006 Toyota Corolla to warm it up. She then went back inside her house. When she returned, the car was gone. The vehicle also contained her purse and cell phone.
At 11:20 p.m. Police noticed a man pacing back and forth at the 550 block of Washington Ave. They observed the man approach a parked Jeep, stopping to speak with its driver and another occupant. After walking around for a spell, the man returned to the Jeep and the trio drove away. Police stopped the vehicle. Inside they found two bolt cutters, assorted screwdrivers and a metal saw. None of the occupants would admit to owning the tools. After an I.D. check, police discovered that the driver had a suspended license and carried active warrants. One of the passengers was found with marijuana in his possession. He also carried outstanding warrants. The three men, all from East Orange, were arrested and processed.
Kaif Jones, 25, was charged with possession of burglary tools and released.
Juan Kinchin, 19, was found to have a $133 warrant out of Newark. He was charged with possession of burglary tools and possession of marijuana. He was taken to the county jail where his bail was set at $2,500.
Earl Hale, 22, was found to carry a $1,000 warrant out of Newark. He was charged with possession of burglary tools and driving while suspended. He was also transported to the county jail where his bail was set at $2,500.
Jan. 18
At 9:10 p.m., police observed a man lingering near parked vehicles in the Franklin Ave. area. Cognizant of the rash of auto thefts that have occurred there recently, officers approached the man. As they were asking him questions, the man blurted out, “I did time for car (expletive) already… I don’t mess around anymore!”
When it was learned that the man carried a $258 warrant out of Newark, police attempted to arrest him but the man became agitated and began resisting. He swung and struck one officer several times with his fists before he was finally subdued. As a result of the scuffle, the officer sustained a laceration on one of his fingers. Victorio Rios, 30, of Newark, was charged with resisting arrest and aggravated assault on police. He is being held at the county jail in lieu of $15,000 bail.
Jan. 17
A man standing near parked cars at Watchung Ave. and Cross St. was stopped for questioning. He was found to have two outstanding warrants totaling $901 out of the Town of Englewood. Ramadeen Yancey, 37, of Newark, was turned over to Englewood authorities.
At 5:03 a.m., a victim at 24 Lloyd St. called police to report the theft of a 2001 gold Ford Taurus. Like the incident that occurred only two days before, the victim stated that the vehicle had been left unattended while it was warming up.
Jan. 16
At 9:52 a.m., police were driving down Watchung Ave. when they were flagged down by an apartment superintendant. He told police that a man he knew had stolen a coin box from a dryer. He also mentioned a previously unreported burglary of tools from the apartment’s tool room and said he suspected that the same man was responsible. As the superintendent gave his account, the man in question walked past the officers. Orlando Claudio, 41, of Newark, was arrested and charged with burglary, theft and receiving stolen property. He is being held on $10,000 bail at the county jail.
Jan. 15
When police performed a random plate check on a silver Mercedes Benz near 519 Washington Ave., the plates came back as belonging to a silver Jaguar. When officers pulled the car over and asked the man for his credentials, he replied that he “didn’t have them with him” and supplied police with a name that proved to be false. The man, 38-year-old Terrence L. Jones of Belleville was charged with hindering apprehension. He was also found to be carrying a $500 warrant out of Newark, and a $200 warrant out of Ocean County. He is being held at the county jail on undisclosed bail.
At 12:21 a.m., police pulled over a 2009 Mitsubishi at Newark Ave. and Rocco St. after they noticed that the driver wasn’t wearing a seat belt. A background check revealed that the man was driving with a revoked license and that he carried several outstanding warrants. Michael Nobre, 24, of Fairlawn, was arrested for warrants and issued several motor vehicle summonses. His vehicle was released to his girlfriend.
At 2:47 p.m., police were dispatched to the C&A Auto Shop at 127 Belleville Ave. where a burglar alarm had been tripped. When they arrived, they noticed that a garage door window was missing. Inside the building, a closet door and multiple drawers and cabinets had been opened. A window was found shattered, and a jar filled with change was found on the floor. The owner said he didn’t notice anything missing at this time.
At 10:24 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from 23 Brook St. It had been parked there only two hours earlier. The owner eventually found the car in Newark.
