Sept. 29
At 9 a.m., Officer Jay Ward was on patrol on Schuyler Ave. when he found a vehicle stopped in the road near Dukes St. with the motor running and the driver apparently asleep at the wheel. Police said Ward awakened him, the man went back to sleep, Ward awakened him again and conducted field sobriety tests, and Jonathan Duenas, 20, of North Arlington, was charged with DWI and reckless driving.
Sept. 30
Pursuant to an investigation into the sale of marijuana, the Vice Unit executed a search warrant at 4:30 p.m. at a home near Woodland Ave. and Chestnut St. The officers reportedly found 13 plastic bags of suspected pot packaged for sale, a ledger book listing customers and money owed, a digital scale and $976 in cash. Kearny resident Janet Sobota, 43, was charged with possession of marijuana, possession with intent to distribute, and intent to distribute in a school zone and a park zone.
Officer Chris Levchak, responding to a 9:20 p.m. report of a dispute at Kearny Ave. and Afton St., was flagged down by a group of juveniles who said that a man leaning against a nearby car had nearly run them down. Police said the man was swaying, had a strong odor of alcohol and admitted he had been involved in an altercation with the youths. Levchak conducted field sobriety tests, and Mahendra Sawh, 63, of Kearny was taken to headquarters and charged with DWI. Police said he also had two outstanding warrants from Newark.
Oct. 1
At 5 p.m., at Kearny and Pavonia Aves., Officer Brian Wisely spotted a man who he was aware was the subject of outstanding warrants. After confirming these, Wisely arrested 43-year-old John Duffy, who was wanted by Kearny and Woodbridge.
Officer Wisely, checking the parking garage at Bergen Ave. and Elm St. at 7:30 p.m., saw two individuals — known to him from what police called “numerous past encounters” — running from the premises. After a foot pursuit, he overtook one, Brandon Tice, 19, of Elizabeth, who was charged with defiant trespass and resisting arrest. Police said Tice was also wanted on a disorderly- conduct warrant out of Seaside Heights.
Wisely had recognized the second runner as Scott Huaman, 23, of Kearny, who later conveniently phoned HQ to ask if he could come in and pick up a cell phone he had dropped, police said. When he arrived, he was arrested on charges of defiant trespass and resisting arrest.
Oct. 2
Officer Pat Becker responded to the report of a suspicious person at Morgan Place and Bennett Ave. at 9:30 p.m. Becker, along with backup officers Giovanni Rodriguez and Chris Medina, searched the area, and a suspect fitting the description was found at Stuyvesant and Kearny Aves. Detained for questioning and checked for warrants, 41-yearold North Arlington resident Richard McKoy was found to be wanted by Jersey City, police said.
Oct. 3
At 4:30 p.m., on Devon St. near West Hudson Park, Officer John Fabula encountered Arthur Smith, 49, who has no known address but was known to have warrants. After confirming that there were four issued by Harrison, Fabula held him at the scene and turned him over to Harrison police.
– Karen Zautyk
