Nutley P.D. responded to Washington Ave. and Rutgers Place at 3:59 p.m. on Jan. 28 on a report of a robbery. The victim told police he was assaulted by three individuals who punched him, hit him in the head with a tree branch and then stole his two cellular phones, a Motorola Droid 4 and a Motorola Droid X valued at about $600 apiece.
Police said the victim – who was treated by the Nutley Rescue Squad – described his alleged attackers as three black juveniles between ages 15 and 17 and wearing North Face black puffy coats and black knitted winter hats.
One was listed as about 5-feet-seven and 175 pounds; another was described as about 5-feet-five and 130 pounds; and the other, also as about 5-feet-five and 130 pounds and wearing shoes with orange markings.
Police said an individual matching a description of one of the suspects was arrested at River Road and Grant Ave. and taken to the Essex County Corrections Facility after processing.
Police said they recovered the victim’s cellular phones in a nearby rear yard.
Detectives were continuing an investigation of the incident.
In other activities logged by Nutley P.D. during the past week:
Feb. 1
At 12:53 p.m. police responded to an E. Centre St. residential location where the property manager showed them the glass entry door had been damaged: the door was smashed and door frame partly bent, as though someone had repeatedly kicked the door, probably sometime during the past 12 hours.
At 3:06 a.m. police conducted a motor vehicle stop at Wayne Place after a random license plate check disclosed that the vehicle’s registration was expired. Further checking revealed that the driver, Jeremy E. Delvalle, had active warrants from Wood-Ridge for $551, from Pequannock for $500, and from Essex Fells for $133. Nutley P.D. released Delvalle to Wood-Ridge P.D. after issuing him tickets charging him with driving an unregistered vehicle and driving while suspended.
A Barclay Drive resident reported a possible scam to police. The resident told officers he got a phone call from a man who identified himself as “Miguel Lopez” from the “disconnection department” of an alleged utility company who informed him that unless he paid $200 by 6 p.m., his power would be shut off. After checking with PSE&G, the resident said he was told that his account was in good standing and his power would remain. Police said the resident then called back the original caller and spoke to a “David Rodriguez” and told him he wouldn’t be making any payment. In the presence of Nutley P.D., the resident called the number back but, this time, got a recording saying: “You have reached the disconnect department. Leave your name, number, and we will get back to you.” No company name was mentioned on the recording, police said.
Jan. 31
Police responded to an Edgewood Ave. residence at 8:49 a.m. on an activated alarm. Police said the outside appeared secure but they spotted what appeared to be semi-fresh pry marks near the door handle and dead bolt on the rear entry door. The owner, who’d left the house a few minutes before the alarm sounded, was contacted by police.
Jan. 30
At 11:43 p.m. police responded to a Rhoda Ave. residence after getting a call from a neighbor about a hazardous condition at that residence. After gaining access to the house, police said they saw water running down from the second floor into the basement. The owner was advised of the problem and Nutley Fire Department shut off all utilities.
Jan. 29
At 8:18 p.m. a Cambridge Heights resident returned home but couldn’t get inside, police said. It was learned that a property company had winterized the house and changed the locks but after being informed of the situation, police said the company realized it had serviced the wrong home. After the company came to the location and let the owner inside, police said the owner told them that an expensive necklace was missing. Police said they found no sign of forced entry. Detectives are investigating.
Jan. 28
At 4 p.m. police responded to a River Road apartment on a report of a burglary. The occupant told police they’d secured only the bottom lock on their door when they left in the morning and, upon returning, found the closet doors and drawers open and various items taken: an iPad, a red laptop, about $10 in change and several pieces of jewelry.
At 10:19 a.m. a Cathedral Ave. resident called police to report that someone had stolen their Honda Civic sometime after having parked it on Kingsland St. at 9:30 p.m. the previous night. The owner said that a pair of keys were left under the driver’s seat. Also inside were a pair of snowboard boots and a “boom box’’ subwoofer.
At 2:04 a.m. police spotted a large amount of water pouring from an E. Centre St. residence. Nutley Fire Department responded, gained entry and shut off the water but not before the building had sustained much damage, police said. After being unable to reach the property owner, police summoned Nutley Water Department who were unable to turn off the main into the building at that time. Later, the owner was contacted and Nutley Code Enforcement was notified.
Jan. 26
At 3:53 p.m. police responded to a Hancox Ave. residence on the report of a theft. The victims told police their laptop computer, a Compaq 2010 valued at about $500, and charger were gone. Police said they found no sign of forced entry.
