March 15
At 11:17 a.m., police responded to a Park Ave. location on a report of illegal dumping. Police were advised by residents that someone had left an old end table on the sidewalk in front of their home, blocking the front door and that, previously, someone had deposited an old chair cushion in the same spot. Both incidents happened in the late evening or early morning, the residents said.
March 16
Officers on patrol on Hillside Ave., at 2:23 p.m., stopped a Plymouth minivan with its rear passenger window missing. Police said they learned that the driver, Ralph Adubato, 50, of North Arlington, had an outstanding warrant from Nutley. He was arrested on the warrant and then released with a new court date.
March 17
At 1:10 p.m., police and firefighters were dispatched to a house on Burnett Place on a report of water flowing from the building. Upon arrival, police said they observed an open hose spigot with water streaming from it. They shut it off. Police said the side door was unsecured and the house was empty. Police learned that the house is owned by a bank and that a contractor for the bank was at the location.
March 20
Police executed a motor vehicle stop at a Centre St. location, at 1:44 a.m., and arrested the driver, Marvin Torres, 19, and his passenger, Brian Rosas, 19, both of Belleville. Torres was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia (a crack pipe), ticketed on a charge of failing to signal a turn and released pending a court appearance. Rosas was charged with possession of suspected cocaine (several small white, rock-like substances which, police said, were found in a small plastic bag in his sock), possession of heroin (five glassine envelopes labeled “Brown Magic” containing brown powder that, police said, tested positive for heroin) and possession of suspected marijuana under 50 grams (the remainder of a marijuana cigar). Both were released pending court dates.
At 5:25 a.m., police went to a Hickory Road location on a report of property damage. There, a resident told police they heard a loud noise in their backyard and, looking outside, noticed that the neighbor’s retaining wall and fence had fallen into their property causing damage to the lawn and part of the rear chain link fence. A Faber Place homeowner told police they also heard a loud noise, and, looking out their window, saw that their entire rear fence and wall were gone.
At 10:05 a.m., police responded to a Bloomfield Ave. location on a report of a theft. Police were told that someone had stolen a stainless steel double sink, valued at $300, from a parking lot. Detectives are reviewing video surveillance.
A fraud victim came to headquarters to report they found three unauthorized charges totaling more than $500 on their bank card, from various locations in New York. Their financial institution has closed the account and is investigating, police said.
March 21
At 11:24 a.m., police received a report of a theft. The victim told police that while shopping at a Franklin Ave. grocery, someone took their wallet from their purse. The wallet contained cash, credit cards and personal items, the victim told police. Security personnel are reviewing surveillance tape for possible clues.
At 11:55 a.m., the manager of a Centre St. business reported criminal mischief to the front door of the property. Police said it appears that someone put something like Crazy Glue in the front door lock. The manager told police that the front door lock to the entrance of the closed restaurant, which is attached to the business, was also “glued.” Police said that surveillance video will be screened for potential clues.
– Ron Leir
