June 6
At 7:15 p.m. police stopped a vehicle with an expired registration on Franklin Ave. and ticketed the driver, Orlando Pena, 46, of East Orange, for driving an unregistered and insured vehicle and driving while suspended. He was held for outstanding warrants totaling $100 from East Orange and Wayne and, later, turned over to Wayne P.D. Pena’s passenger, Claire Dotoli, 27, of Nutley, was arrested for an outstanding warrant from Saddle Brook for $300 and on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. She was given a summons and released. A Centre St. ice cream vendor called police at 2:43 p.m. to report that a customer had paid for ice cream with a fake $20 bill. Police searched the area but couldn’t find the culprit.
At 1:35 p.m. police pulled over a car on Franklin Ave. after they said they saw the driver using a cellular phone. Police towed the vehicle after finding that it was unregistered and ticketed the driver who wasn’t identified.
At 12:29 p.m. the owner of a Franklin Ave. business reported that a customer had stolen two packs of gum and left the store without paying. After reviewing the store’s video surveillance, police said they identified the accused shoplifter as Marc Senatore, 18, of Nutley, and issued him a summons.
A Garfield motorist landed in trouble while traveling on Rt. 21. First, Jose Hernandez, 28, ran out of gas. Then, when police came on the scene, at 9:24 a.m., they learned that his license was suspended and that he had an outstanding warrant from Garfield for $350. He was issued summonses and released to Garfield P.D.’s custody.
Someone kicked in the front door of a storage shed being rented by a Belleville resident in the rear of a Park Ave. apartment building and burglarized the unit where the resident was storing furniture and tools. Police said the incident, which was logged at 8:10 a.m., happened between June 4 and 6.
When police stopped a vehicle driven on Rt. 21 for alleged speeding at 3:26 a.m., they said the driver gave them a false name to avoid arrest on three outstanding warrants. Police issued the driver, Brayan Guevara, 22, of West New York, four summonses, including no license, and was released after posting bail.
June 5
A report of vandalism brought police to a Bayard St. home at 6:12 p.m. The homeowner reported that someone spray painted the letter “P” on her shed and also sprayed her grass and a tree with the paint. Police also noticed that the adjacent Little League field on Hancox Ave. also had spray paint on the trees and grass area. Police are investigating.
A Rhoda Ave. resident called police at 6:23 a.m. to report that his unlocked car was burglarized overnight. The resident told police he found the doors ajar and that change and a Leatherman tool were missing from the vehicle.
June 4
A spectator attempting to take pictures at a Little League game from an area restricted to players triggered a verbal dispute between the spectator and an umpire which was diffused by an off-duty Nutley police officer who was at the game, police said. After the officer asked the individual several times to leave the area, the spectator complied. The incident was logged at 6 p.m.
Police stopped a vehicle driven by Francis Nina of Nutley for alleged speeding at 6:56 a.m. on Milton Ave. and ticketed Nina for speeding and a suspended license. Nina was arrested for having outstanding warrants from Woodbridge totaling $179 but later released after posting bail.
Someone pried open the side door to a North Road house while the owner was out and removed a laptop computer, GPS, digital camera and gold. Detectives are investigating.
June 3
Darnel Murphy, of Newark, was a passenger in a vehicle stopped at 10:26 p.m. on Brookfield Ave. who was arrested on five outstanding warrants out of Bridgewater totaling $2,100. Bridgewater P.D. took him into custody.
Police were called to a Washington Ave. business at 7:07 p.m. where a customer told them he wasn’t happy with the service and wanted his money back. Police said they restored order and the customer was asked to leave.
A neighborhood dispute over parked cars brought police to William St. at 6:46 p.m. Police advised the disputants they could sign harassment complaints if they wished.
Police and fire units responded to a car fire in a driveway on Conover Ave. at 7 a.m. Fire officials are investigating.
A hit and run accident brought police to a River Road location at 3 a.m. and a vehicle believed to be involved in the accident was located, abandoned and with heavy front end damage, on Washington Ave. Police towed the vehicle to headquarters for further investigation.
June 2
A report of juveniles playing on the roof resulted in officers responding to the Radcliffe School at 10:37 p.m. Police removed the youths from the roof and called their parents to pick them up. Police said they found no damage done to the roof.
An Ernest St. resident reported an attempted burglary at 2 p.m. Police found fingerprints on a kitchen window which was ajar. No entry was gained, it appeared, according to police. An investigation is continuing.
-Ron Leir
