On Dec. 1, Officers Tom Sumowski and Steve Hroncich, responding to a 3:30 a.m. report of a disorderly person in the area of Devon and Hoyt Sts., encountered an apparently intoxicated man holding a large black backpack that was “overflowing” with candy bars, KPD Chief John Dowie reported.
Scattered on the sidewalk were at least 10 more candy bars, Dowie said. And the pack reportedly contained parts from a vending machine, including the coin storage unit and a “substantial amount of change”: 53 quarters, 94 dimes and 30 nickels.
After learning that the man worked in the area, Dowie said, Officer John Travelino visited the company and found a damaged candy-vending machine, missing both its coin unit and a lot of candy.
Since no one saw the suspect, Geronimo Ramirez, 24, of Kearny, actually breaking into the machine, he was charged only with possession of the stolen property. However, he was also charged with illegal possession of a prescription drug, due to the 25 Xanax tablets allegedly in the backpack with the candy. And there was more to come.
While housed in a cell at headquarters, Ramirez reportedly broke the handle on a toilet and tore apart a mattress, resulting in a charge of criminal mischief.
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Other recent reports from the Kearny police blotter included the following:
Nov. 24
On patrol in South Kearny at 8 p.m., Officers Brian Wisely and Rich Pawlowski spotted a Lincoln livery car in the weeds off Central Ave. The driver, Joseph Leon, 22, of Jersey City, who reportedly was seeking a secure place for a rendezvous, instead found a secure place at KPD headquarters after he was arrested on two outstanding Jersey City warrants.
Nov. 25
Vice officers, patrolling at Kearny and Midland Aves. at 4:30 p.m., saw Joseph Calleja, 24, of Kearny, alight from a bus, did a warrant check and confirmed he was wanted on one each from North Arlington and Newark. He was booked and turned over to the North Arlington PD.
Nov. 26
At 5 p.m., a man called HQ to report he had been hit in the face with a snowball at Johnston and Passaic Aves. Officer Wisely checked the area for the two suspects and, near ShopRite, reportedly saw one of them hurl a snowball at a passing car, causing the driver to swerve when the auto was hit. Alexander Nekrasow, 32, of Wayne, was arrested on a charge of interfering with transportation.
Nov. 28
Just before midnight, Officers Jack Corbett and Dean Gasser responded to a two-vehicle accident in South Kearny and found a heavily damaged Mazda on the center divider of Rts. 1/9, where it had ended up after apparently hitting a Freightliner truck. The driver of the car, Shamsunda Singh, 58, of Jersey City, was charged with DWI, careless driving and refusal to take an Alcotest.
Nov. 30
At midnight, Officer Jordenson Jean was dispatched to investigate a report that a loud party was taking place in an abandoned dwelling on Hillside Ave. Inside, he found a number of juveniles, empty beer cans/ bottles and the strong odor of marijuana. Several of the partiers fled, but he managed to corral seven, all of whom were charged with criminal trespass, underage possession of alcohol and curfew violations. The youths included three 17-year-old males, from Kearny, Harrison and Newark; two 16-year-old males, from Kearny and Harrison, and two 16-yearold Kearny females. All were turned over to their parents or guardians.
Dec. 2
The KPD — which has increased traffic enforcement near Franklin School following “numerous complaints” of speeding, illegal parking, jaywalking, and parents dropping off kids in the roadway — was on site again at 9 a.m., when Sgt. John Taylor reportedly saw a driver double-park and discharge a child into the street. When approached by the officer, motorist Luis Mayorga, 33, of Hopatcong, was unable to produce a driver’s license and was subsequently charged with driving while suspended and improper discharge of a passenger.
Police said he also had two outstanding warrants from Newark.
Dec. 3
Officer Damon Pein responded at 9:45 a.m. to a business on the 1200 block of Harrison Ave. and was advised by the manager that the front-gate lock had been cut and the building broken into. Stolen were 2,000 pounds of brass plumbing fixtures and several hundred feet of copper tubing. Also missing, from a trailer parked on the lot, was a substantial amount of work clothes. The total loss was estimated at $13,000. The case is under investigation by Det. Bryant Obie.
– Karen Zautyk
