March 22
At 2 a.m., at the intersection of Hackensack Ave. and Routes 1 & 9 in South Kearny, Officers Joseph Martin and Chris Medina responded to an accident involving a BMW that had apparently struck the rear of a tractor-trailer.
After checking the drivers for injuries, Martin interviewed the operator of the severely damaged BMW and reportedly detected a strong odor of alcohol. The motorist also was fumbling when trying to locate the vehicle paperwork and was unable to produce his driver’s license, police said. After reportedly failing a field sobriety test, 30- year old Jersey City resident Elvin Paez was placed under arrest, taken to headquarters and given an Alcotest. He was charged with driving while intoxicated, careless driving and failing to have a license in his possession.
March 23
Officer Ben Wuelfing was on patrol on Davis Ave. at 11:20 p.m. when he observed a 2006 Acura with some equipment violations. A check of the vehicle registration revealed that it was unregistered. Wuelfing stopped the auto in the area of Devon St. and Garfield Ave. and, while interviewing the driver and passenger, reportedly detected a strong odor of marijuana.
The passenger was found to have a small bag containing suspected marijuana in his pocket, and a further search of the common area of the vehicle uncovered more marijuana in plain view, in and around the console area, police said.
Placed under arrest were the driver, Michael Fernandes, 26, and his passenger, Hugo Villanueva, 21, both of Kearny. Fernandes was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle and operating an unregistered vehicle; Villanueva, with possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.
March 24
Officer Wuelfing was on patrol at Midland Ave. and Devon St. at 3:45 a.m. when he heard a car alarm going off. Given the recent rash of vehicle break-ins, Wuelfing checked the area on foot and observed an individual running south on Devon. He caught the runner and, during a pat-down for weapons, discovered an excessive amount of change and various items bulging from the man’s pockets, police said.
Officer Brian Wisely arrived as back up, and when the two officers requested identification they observed identification not belonging to the suspect. After placing him under arrest, a struggle ensued. They subdued the suspect and took him to headquarters, where he allegedly continued to be combative and uncooperative.
The man was placed in a holding cell, which he reportedly flooded by stuffing articles of clothing in the toilet. He was then escorted to another cell where he proceeded to break the security camera, police said.
They also reported that the suspect’s clothing, property and belongings included numerous items believed to have been stolen recently from motor vehicles.
Charged with receiving stolen property, theft of property lost or mislaid, criminal attempt and criminal mischief was 31-year-old Kearny resident Orlando Fabiani.
Dets. Michael Gonzalez and John Plaugic were assigned the follow-up investigation to determine the origin of the property recovered from the suspect.
March 25
At 4:30 p.m., Officer Dean Gasser and Det. Ray Lopez responded to a Davis Ave. delicatessen on a report of a robbery and arrived to find that a 16-year-old Kearny male had entered the store wearing a facemask and was observed stealing a box of cigars. When he was confronted by the proprietor, a scuffle ensued and several racks of merchandise were strewn about the store. Taken into the custody, the teen was also found to have a bottle of cough medicine in his possession. He was charged with robbery and released to the custody of his father.
At 6:30 p.m., Officer Jay Ward was on patrol in a Bergen Ave. parking facility when he observed an individual known to him from past police encounters loitering there. Ward reportedly detected the odor of burnt marijuana and observed the male to be holding a water bottle and a cigarette lighter, which were thrown to the ground. A foot chase followed, and the suspect was subdued. Ward placed the individual under arrest and determined that the water bottle had been fashioned to facilitate the use of marijuana, police said. Kearny resident Christopher Henry, 18, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest.
At 8 p.m., vice detectives were conducting an ABC investigation at an Elm St. liquor store when they observed an individual behind the counter who they knew was not licensed to work in an ABC establishment in Kearny and who also was the subject of outstanding warrants. Placed under arrest was 30-year-old Kearny resident Timothy Hall, charged with outstanding warrants from East Orange and Metuchen as well as the ABC violation.
March 27
Officer Brian Wisely was on patrol on Schuyler Ave. at 5:30 p.m. when he conducted a motor vehicle stop after having observed the driver throw something from the car. The motorist was placed under arrest for driving with a suspended license, and a search uncovered a metal pipe and two bags of suspected marijuana, police said. Suspect is 35-year-old Newark resident Iris Gallagher.
