Kearny police arrested a 43-year-old Pennsylvania woman last Thursday afternoon after she was involved in a three-vehicle accident on Harrison Ave.
She was allegedly driving while intoxicated – with a baby in the car.
Officers John Fabula and Luis Moran, responding to the 3:20 p.m. crash, began questioning the drivers, one of whom was identified as Regina Lejeune of Milford, Pa.
According to police, Lejeune, described as being unsteady on her feet and slurring her words, was holding an infant wrapped in a blanket. After failing field sobriety tests, she reportedly admitted to having consumed alcohol.
She was arrested and taken to headquarters, where she refused an Alcotest (Breathalyzer), Police Chief John Dowie said. She was charged with DWI, refusing the test, reckless driving and DWI with a minor in the vehicle.
Because Lejeune had been the sole care provider at the scene, Hudson County DYFS was notified and took custody of the baby. Dowie said apparently arrangements will be made by DYFS to have the child placed in care in Pennsylvania.
Other recent items from the Kearny PD blotter included the following:
Jan. 15
At 8:20 p.m., Vice Squad detectives in the area of Belgrove Drive and Midland Ave. spotted a passenger in a motor vehicle who they knew to have an outstanding warrant related to a prior drug arrest, Dowie said. After confirming that warrant, they stopped the car on Passaic Ave. and arrested Alfonso Parada, 22, of Kearny.
Jan. 16
At 1:45 a.m., Officers John Travelino, Tom Floyd, Chris Medina and Joe Martin responded to a report of a man with a gun at the gas station at Kearny and Woodland Aves. They were met at the scene by an off-duty Harrison police officer who confirmed that an individual in the station was possibly armed.
Police said apparently the suspect was involved in a dispute at the station, not attempting to rob it, and had threatened an employee and “indicated that he ‘was strapped’,” street lingo for “armed.”
Approached by the officers, the suspect reportedly became confrontational and began to fight when they attempted to frisk him. He was forcibly cuffed, and the object he had in his jacket pocket turned out to be a plastic bottle.
At headquarters, he was violent and profane and tried to damage the cellblock cameras, Dowie said.
Charged with resisting arrest and making terroristic threats was Paul Spana, 47, of Kearny, who was held for transfer to the Hudson County Jail.
At 10:20 p.m., Vice Squad detectives, pursuant to an ongoing drug distribution investigation, witnessed what they believed to be a handto- hand drug transaction on the 600 block of Devon St. After stopping the customer, who was said to be in possession of marijuana, the detectives confronted the alleged distributor at his residence, where they reportedly found several bags containing the suspected drug. Identified as Christian Garcia, 23, of Kearny, he was charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute and possession with intent to distribute in or near a school zone.
Jan. 17
Vice detectives on patrol at Highland and Woodland Aves. at 5 p.m. recognized a motorist whose motor vehicle privileges they knew to be suspended, police said. In addition, he was puffing on what appeared to be a marijuana cigar. Stopping the car, they smelled the odor of burnt marijuana, and the suspect turned the cigar over to them, Dowie said. Charged with operating a MV while suspended, possession of pot and paraphernalia and operating a MV while in possession of a CDS was Luis Castellanos, 23, of Union City.
