A Clifton man accused of beating up a Nutley resident in the resident’s apartment last week has been arrested, according to Nutley PD.
Police gave this account: At 11 p.m. last Tuesday, Jan. 27, a patrol officer spotted a man on Church St. who had injuries to his body and face.
The victim was taken to an area hospital where detectives questioned him about his injuries, including a broken nose, police said. The man told them that while he was home sleeping earlier that night, a man he described as his girlfriend’s daughter’s boyfriend allegedly entered his apartment and assaulted him with his fists and made threats to his life.
Police said the man identified his alleged attacker as Andrew Duval, 20, of Clifton.
Police said Duval subsequently came to police HQ where he was booked on charges of burglary, terroristic threats, aggravated assault and robbery of a set of keys to the victim’s apartment and a local gas station where the victim works.
Duval was then transported to Essex County Jail after failing to post $75,000 bail. Police said the keys weren’t recovered.
Police Chief Thomas Strumolo said that, based on an investigation, police suspect that Duval was defending the victim’s live-in girlfriend after the victim and girlfriend reportedly had a prior argument. Between Jan. 24 and 30, Nutley PD said they responded to 16 motor vehicle accidents, 13 disputes, four burglaries, 39 medical calls and these incidents:
Jan. 24
Two residents called police to report wires down on Spring Garden Ave. and Freeman Place. No one was hurt and utility companies responded to repair the downed lines, police said.
Jan. 25
A Franklin Ave. business reported a shoplifting incident and police said that three females were seen on the store’s surveillance camera removing the contents of a Coricidin HBP box – about 15 tablets – and walking out of the store.
Jan. 26
Police responded to a Park Ave. residence on a burglary report. The owner told officers that when they returned home at about 5 p.m., they noticed pry marks to the front door. Detectives are investigating.
Jan. 27
A Vine St. resident reported the theft of thousands of dollars worth of tools. Police said they found no signs of forced entry to the building. Detectives are investigating.
Jan. 29
Police issued township ordinance tickets to two residents, one on Walnut St. and another on Nutley Ave., charging them with failing to have their sidewalks shoveled of snow in the proper amount of time.
Jan. 30
A Glendale St. resident and a Bloomfield Ave. resident were ticketed on the charge of failing to have their sidewalks cleared of snow in the proper amount of time.
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A Franklin Ave. store owner reported an attempted burglary. The owner told police that someone had tampered with the vent cover to the boiler room and officers who responded verified that was the case. Detectives are investigating.
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Detectives are checking into the report of a burglary at a Rhoda Ave. residence whose occupants told police they’d returned home at about 4 p.m., only to discover that someone had entered the house.
– Ron Leir
