Belleville Police responded to a forged check call at The Bank of America, 321 Franklin Ave., at 12:19 p.m. on March 20. Upon arrival, the bank manger told police that a man had entered the bank with a check made out in his name in the amount of $3500. The man, who seemed quite nervous, piqued the teller’s suspicions and the bank manager was then notified. Upon closer examination, the manager noticed a “discrepancy in the ink” on the check. When the bank called the listed account holder, they were told that he didn’t know the man and had never made out a check for $3500. He also said that a cleaning service had been inside his home in Brielle, N.J. the previous day, and that someone might have stolen one of his checks at that time. Police asked the suspect where he had gotten the check. He finally cracked and stated, “Some girl (named) Angela was going to give him $500 dollars if he cashed that check” and added, “She left in a cab outside.” The suspect also mentioned that the woman “worked for a cleaning service.” The man, Selionel Orama, 19, of Bloomfield was charged with forgery and receiving stolen property. He posted bond on a $5000 bail and was released.
In other Belleville police happenings:
March 23
At 3:33 a.m., officers on patrol observed two males standing on the side of a used car dealership at 79 Washington Ave. When they asked the men their reason for being there, they became agitated, defensive and loud toward the officers. After they calmed down they told police they were headed for McDonalds, which sounded suspicious since it’s located at the other end of the avenue. As police continued to question the two, one of the men became irate and started screaming and yelling while walking away. The other began to videotape the stop on his IPod. At this point, one of the officers noticed a large bulge near the right pocket of one of the men. He asked the men to place their hands on the vehicle. Neither complied and their disorderly demeanor continued. The pair, Fabio Fabian Laguer, 18, and Elio S. Valentine, 18, both from Belleville were arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest and transported to headquarters. They were later released on their own recognizance.
March 22
Officers were patrolling the area around Belleville Ave. and Union Ave. at 10:55 when they spotted an individual walking along Belleville Ave. near Williams St. whom they had first encountered on March 19. During their original meeting, the individual had used an alias. Afterwards, police discovered the man’s real name and learned that he had several outstanding warrants. When the man was stopped this time, he was also found to be in possession of a metal dagger. James Lios, 45, of Belleville was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon. His warrants included the following: Irvington $1,058, Rahway $780, South Bound Brook $285, and Newark $145.
March 21
During a patrol of Washington Ave. at 11:46 a.m., officers noticed a man and a woman arguing. The woman was then seen peering into vehicles parked along the avenue as the man stood behind her. Police stopped the two near 196 Washington Ave. and asked them for identification. They noticed that both began shaking and were hesitant to make eye contact. When police spoke with the female, her nervousness escalated and she appeared to hide something in her handbag. When officers asked what she had placed inside, the woman said, “Oh nothing, I just have a few things.” When she again reached into her purse, police stopped her. They uncovered eighteen wax folds commonly used to distribute controlled dangerous substances (C.D.S.). The woman was placed under arrest for possession of C.D.S. The man checked out clean and was released. While processing the woman at headquarters, 20 more wax folds were found on her person, along with four glass vials filled with a white rocky substance believed to be crack cocaine. The woman also carried a warrant out of Hackensack for $1500. Kimberly Ann Elcheikhali, 29, of Lyndhurst was charged with possession of C.D.S. (heroin) and possession of C.D.S. (crack cocaine) and possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bail was set at $5000.
Police were sent to 75 Mt. Prospect Ave. at 5:51 p.m. on a burglary and theft call. Upon arrival the woman told them that sometime between Saturday March 17 and Sunday March 18 her apartment had been burglarized. Police couldn’t find any signs of forced entry. A Bank of American envelope containing $2300 was found missing from the woman’s dresser. She later noticed that two gold rings were missing from her nightstand. Police are investigating.
March 20
A stolen 2001 green Honda Civic was recovered at 10 Cuozzo St. at 12:47 p.m. The car had been reported stolen from Belleville.
March 19
A woman admitted to Clara Maass Hospital at 8:19 p.m. as an overdose patient was found to be in possession of C.D.S. when a nurse discovered a “clear plastic bag protruding from her vagina.” Upon further investigation, the bag was found to contain a chalky powder residue and loose pills believed to be Xanax. The woman, Evette Mercado, 35, of Newark was charged with possession of C.D.S. and released on her own recognizance.
Jeff Bahr
