Feb. 17
A man came to Harrison police HQ to report that someone had broken into his blue 2001 Ford Van while it was parked in the municipal lot at Central and Kingsland Aves. He said he’d parked it there at 4 p.m. the day before and when he returned the next day at 8:30 a.m., he found its rear window smashed in and a portable power generator removed from the van. He also reported that his second work van that he’d parked there the day prior was missing.
Feb. 19
Police responded to a report of a theft from a motor vehicle at S. Fifth and Sussex Sts. Upon arrival, the victim told officers that he’d parked his Audi S4 on the 500 block of Sussex St. at 9:30 p.m. overnight and that when he returned at 8:33 a.m. this day, he discovered that someone had broken into the vehicle and took a Pioneer touch screen radio valued at $700, a Pioneer sub woofer worth $400 and a $100 MP3 player. He also found that the steering wheel column had been damaged, apparently in an attempt by the burglar to steal the car.
Feb. 22
At 1:41 a.m., HQ received a call about a two-car accident on Cleveland Ave. and dispatched officers to investigate. At the location, police said they observed a man behind the steering wheel trying to move a vehicle which looked like it had been in a collision with another vehicle. Police said the driver, Luis Lescanoguzman, 35, of Kearny, was revving the vehicle but it would not move while in drive. As the driver tried to speak to the officers, police said the officers detected the odor of alcohol coming from him. When he was asked to exit the vehicle, the driver could barely open the door because of extensive damage to the front wheel and quarter panel, police said. Using the vehicle for support, the driver tried to move away from it but, in doing so, lost his balance and fell. Lescanoguzman was charged with DWI and given additional summonses.
Feb. 23
At 3:10 a.m., police said an officer on patrol spotted a parked vehicle straddling the sidewalk and the street near Frank E. Rodgers Blvd. and Riverbend Drive. Activating emergency lights, the officer pulled up behind the vehicle, a 2012 gray Jeep Liberty, exited his patrol car and approached the driver’s side where he observed the driver asleep behind the wheel with the vehicle in drive. Police said the officer knocked on the window but, after getting no response, opened the door and saw that the driver had vomited on the driver’s door and could detect the odor of alcohol. Eventually, police said, the officer roused the driver, Jorge Torres-Monteverde, 24, of Newark, and ticketed him for DWI and other motor vehicle violations.
– Ron Leir
