May 17
At 2:05 p.m., a River Road business owner reported the theft of a 4-foot floor fan, TV parts, car batteries, a propane cylinder and ladder poles from their building. Detectives are investigating.
May 16
A resident told police that twice this week, someone slashed a front tire on their vehicle while it was parked on Vincent Place.
May 15
At 6:45 p.m., a River Road property owner reported that when they returned home from work, it appeared that someone had forced open their door and had rummaged through a bedroom closet and dresser drawers. Several items, including jewelry and electronics, were missing, the resident told police.
May 13
A suspected report of fraud was received by police from an individual who told police they’d received a delivery of several credit cards, each with their name on them, without their prior authorization. Police said two of the cards were used in Maryland to charge items. All the cards have been closed and discarded, police said.
• Another fraud victim reported to police that while checking their bank statements, they found two ATM check deposits, a purchase from a store and an ATM transaction, along with several bank fee charges related to these transactions. The victim told police they misplaced their bank card at some point. The card has been suspended, police said.
• A third fraud victim told police they’d received in the mail a Sears credit card for which they’d never applied. Police said the card was, thereafter, canceled.
• At 2:37 a.m., after Passaic P.D. had alerted Nutley P.D. they were pursuing a stolen vehicle out of Newark, Nutley P.D. spotted the vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on Rt. 21 South. Officers activated their overhead lights but police said the driver refused to stop, instead, speeding up. Officers pursued the car into Newark where, police said, the driver tried to elude them by making sharp, fast turns down side streets. Police said the driver finally stopped on Lexington St. in Newark and ran through backyards. Officers broadcast the driver’s description as a black man, wearing a black jacket, white T-shirt and black jeans with hair styled in dreadlocks. As the chase continued on foot, police said a Newark police officer found the suspect hiding under a truck at Fleming Ave. and Mott St. where he was arrested and a search revealed marijuana rolled into a “blunt” with cigar shavings. The suspect, Yusef Gresham, 34, of Hillsdale, was charged with receiving stolen property, eluding, hindering apprehension and possession of drugs. He was also issued summonses charging him with possession of drugs in a motor vehicle, failure to wear a seat belt, suspended license, reckless driving, speeding, failure to maintain lane and failure to give proper signal. He was ordered held at the Essex County Jail.
May 12
A motor vehicle stop on Kingsland St., at 1:36 a.m., resulted in the arrest of Douglas Schmidt, 38, of Nutley, on a DWI charge, police said. He was released pending a court appearance.
May 11
At 9:53 a.m., police responded to a Harrison St. business on a report about a man asking patrons going in and out of the store for money. Upon arrival, officers found the man asking people for cash, police said. After learning that the man had an outstanding warrant from Newark, police arrested him. William Spano, 49, of Belleville, was taken to headquarters to be turned over to Newark P.D. for processing.
