Five individuals – three juveniles and two adults – have been arrested in connection with the armed robbery of two Belleville residents in Nutley last Wednesday, Oct. 9.
Nutley P.D. said the residents were walking on Passaic Ave., near Florence St., at around 1:45 a.m., when a blue Chevrolet Equinox pulled up and three males – all juveniles – exited and sprinted toward them.
One of the trio pointed a silver revolver at the pair and demanded what they had on them – a purse, two Galaxy android cellular phones, $245 in cash, house keys and car keys, police said.
Pocketing those items, police said the three bandits returned to the Chevy and took off north on Passaic Ave., then east on Centre St.
The residents weren’t physically harmed, police said.
After arriving on the scene, Nutley P.D. broadcast a description of the vehicle via SPEN to police in surrounding municipalities and soon after, police said Belleville P.D. spotted a car matching that description, which they stopped at Franklin and Liberty Aves.
Police said the residents made a positive ID of the three juveniles in the car, from which police said they recovered a silver .22 caliber Ruger revolver, and the juveniles – all age 17 and all from Irvington – were charged with robbery, theft, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon and defaced firearm.
The teens were taken to the Essex County Youth Detention Center to await a juvenile court hearing.
Additionally, police said, two adult suspects believed to have been waiting in the car during the robbery were arrested. Shane Anderson, 19, and Michael Williams, 22, both of Irvington, were charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, promoting a juvenile in a crime, possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose and a defaced firearm.
Anderson and Williams were ordered held at Essex County Jail on $250,000 bail each.
Nutley Mayor/Police Director Alphonse Petracco and Chief John Holland credited the quick response by Nutley officers and the alert Belleville officers in making the arrest.
Other incidents logged by Nutley P.D. during the past week included these:
Oct. 11
A motor vehicle stop, at 2:40 a.m., on Vreeland Ave. led to the arrest of Jeremy Schaefer, 19, of Lyndhurst, on a DWI charge. He was also ticketed on charges of driving while intoxicated while being under the legal age to purchase alcohol and failing to wear a seat belt. He was released to a family member pending a court appearance.
Police said they found three men standing behind a trailer parked in a Dodd St. resident’s driveway at 1:27 a.m. and, as they approached, the men ran into the rear yard. A pursuit resulted in police stopping one of the men who was found to have an outstanding warrant from Hackensack. That man, Christopher Hoff, 21, of Lyndhurst, was taken to headquarters where he posted bail and was released pending his new court date, police said.
Oct. 9
Police received two separate reports of fraud. One victim told police that someone used their personal information to buy three I-phones at a store in the Bronx, N.Y., charging more than $480 to their account. Verizon has suspended the three lines, police said. Another victim said they were notified by their bank that six fraudulent transactions totaling $190 had been made through their debit card which the victim had lost. The account was closed, police said.
Oct. 8
At 7:57 p.m., police arrested Vincent Rondinella, 25, of Nutley, on an outstanding warrant from Wayne. Rondinella was released after posting bail, pending a court date.
Police received a report of credit card fraud from a victim who told them that someone had tried to purchase items on their credit card on two occasions without their authorization. However, the victim card company to stop the purchases, police said.
Oct. 7
A report of a car fire on Rt. 21 South, at 2:54 p.m., brought police to that location where officers said they observed a vehicle in the median of an exit fully engulfed in flames. No one was inside the vehicle, they said. Police stopped traffic to await the arrival of the Nutley Fire Department which put out the fire. Police said a vehicle was attempting to tow another vehicle when it caught fire. Police ticketed the owner of the vehicle that caught fire for driving an unsafe vehicle, reckless driving, disabling a vehicle to obstruct traffic, riding on parts not intended for passengers and failure to exhibit insurance. The owner of the towing vehicle was ticketed for reckless driving, unsafe vehicle and disabling a vehicle to obstruct traffic.
Oct. 6
A Spruce St. resident called police at 4:24 p.m. to report a theft. The resident told police that someone had siphoned about a quarter tank of gas from the fuel tank of their Toyota while it was parked in their driveway. Upon arrival, police said they found the gas tank open and the gas cap removed.
A Clover St. resident reported a case of criminal mischief. Police said the resident told them that during the night, someone stole one of their inflatable Halloween lawn decorations and damaged another. The resident placed the value of the decorations at about $150.
Oct. 5
Police said a Centre St. resident called at 5:53 a.m. to report that someone had stolen their Honda Civic from its parking space during the evening. The resident told them they had locked the car when they parked it. Police said they found no broken glass or sign of forced entry.
At 2:56 a.m., police said they responded to a vehicle stuck on the railroad tracks at Kingsland and Bloomfield Aves. After investigation, police arrested the driver, Sergio Alpizar, 25, of Paterson, on a DWI charge. He was also ticketed for careless driving. Alpizar was released to a relative pending a court appearance.
– Ron Leir
