KEARNY –
The Kearny Police Department is asking residents to be aware that, with the arrival of summer, there is generally an increase in burglaries “given that more people are away on vacation, more windows are left open, and the noise of air conditioners masks the noise made by those committing crimes.” In addition, when newspapers and mail pile up, it’s indicative of an unoccupied home.
The KPD “has always and is continuing to offer a Vacant House Check while a resident is away,” the department notes.
Residents can easily register for this service and talk to an officer about crime prevention tips by contacting the Community Police Unit at 201-998- 1313 , ext. 2825.
Meanwhile, the KPD remains busily occupied. Recent reports from the police blotter included, but were not limited to, the following:
June 27
At 4:40 p.m., Vice Unit detectives reportedly observed a known drug offender engage in a hand-to-hand transaction with another individual in an out-of-town location. They subsequently followed the offender into Kearny to Schuyler and Bergen Aves., where they stopped his vehicle and advised him of their earlier observation.
They also reportedly observed him attempt to hide something in the vehicle’s door pocket. Police said this turned out to be six bags of suspected heroin.
Placed under arrest was 23-year-old Kearny resident Janusz Chytla, charged with possession of a CDS, possession of paraphernalia and operating a motor vehicle while in possession of a CDS.
June 30
At 10 p.m., Officer Tom Pontrella took a burglary report from a resident in the 200 block of Maple St., who said a Samsung computer and an iPad were missing from her apartment.
Det. Scott Traynor was assigned to do the follow-up and canvass the area, and he developed as a suspect 32-year-old Kearny resident Vanessa Pagan, who was already wanted on an outstanding warrant from Newark, police said.
Traynor arrested Pagan at her home on the warrant, and while so doing reportedly recovered the items stolen in the Maple St. incident.
She was charged with burglary and theft of moveable property and held for transportation to the county jail.
July 2
At 8 a.m., Det. Mike Gonzalez was utilizing the N.J. State Police Corr-Stat system, which provides information regarding wanted persons from the area, when he recognized a fugitive he had seen frequenting Kearny in the recent past.
At 3:30 that afternoon, Gonzalez located the suspect, Fabio Laguer, 20, of Newark, on Passaic Ave. There, Gonzalez and Officer Brian Wisely took him into custody on the Newark fugitive warrant and after processing at HQ , turned him over to the Newark PD.
July 5
At 4 p.m., Officer Jason Ward took a report from a Madison Ave. resident that her home had been burglarized and that a laptop computer was missing. Det. Scott Traynor is conducting the investigation.
July 7
Just prior to 1 a.m., police units responded to a report of a fight in the area of Stewart Ave. and Forest St. and upon arrival reportedly found a shirtless and apparently heavily intoxicated 17-year -old male screaming and acting aggressively in the middle of the street.
When Officer Tom Sumowski alighted from his patrol car, the teenager began shouting obscenities at him, demanded to be arrested and began punching the car, police said.
After being told he was indeed under arrest, and as Sumowski began to take him into custody, the youth started “swinging wildly” until he was eventually handcuffed and placed in the rear of the patrol unit, whereupon he began to bang his head against the interior of the car, police said. Transported to HQ, he was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and underage consumption of alcohol, and an ambulance was summoned to offer medical attention.The teen’s mother was contacted and he was released to her custody with his charges referred to the Juvenile Unit.
– Karen Zautyk
