Raymond Rouland
By Karen Zautyk
Observer Correspondent
KEARNY –
A man described as a “known career criminal” being sought in a June 3 burglary in Kearny was arrested four days later by East Rutherford authorities after he was caught allegedly using a stolen credit card at a mall in that borough, police said.
After the Kearny crime, a brazen daytime break-in at an East Midland Ave. apartment building, Kearny Police Chief John Dowie told The Observer that detectives, including lead investigator on the case, Det. Scott Traynor, had identified the potential suspect as a 45-year-old Elizabeth man.
Arrested June 7 in East Rutherford was Raymond Rouland, 45, of Elizabeth.
It marked his 11th arrest as an adult, Dowie said. East Rutherford was said to have linked Rouland to a May 8 burglary there and charged him with burglary, theft and fraudulent use of a credit card.
In Kearny, police reportedly have also tied Rouland to a May 28 burglary at a Schuyler Ave. apartment. “He likes apartment buildings,” the chief commented.
The same suspect had been arrested March 14 in Harrison, where he was charged with burglary, theft and possession of burglar tools, Dowie noted.
According to law enforcement records:
Rouland’s first adult arrest came in 1990 for alleged cocaine possession. Disposition of that case is not known.
• In 2005, he was arrested in Elizabeth for receiving stolen property, was fined and served a two-day jail term.
• In August 2006, again in Elizabeth, Rouland was charged with burglary and receiving stolen property. He was convicted that November, fined and placed on three years’ probation.
• In May 2007, he was arrested in Union for forgery and theft by deception. In January 2008, he appeared in court in that case, was fined and given a three-year prison sentence.
• In July 2007, prior to his court appearance on the Union charges, he was arrested in Rahway for alleged burglary with a weapon, theft and receiving stolen property. That resulted in another three-year jail term, authorities said.
• In December 2008, apparently already paroled from the term handed down that January, he was arrested in Montclair for burglary, theft and possession of burglar tools, and in Roselle Park for theft by deception, credit card theft and fraudulent use of a credit card. In February 2009, he was found guilty of the Montclair felonies and again sentenced to three years. For the Roselle Park, crimes, he had received a 30-day sentence and a monetary fine.
• In January 2009, prior to the Montclair sentencing, he was arrested in Springfield on charges of burglary, credit card theft and fraudulent use of a credit card. Disposition of that case is not known.
Last week, Dowie reported, Rouland was “a guest at the Bergen County Jail.”
