Police intervention prevented a suspected drug-induced fatality, Nutley Police Chief Thomas Strumolo said. A Nutley PD press release said that police responded to a 911 medical call for help on Sunday, March 15, at 11:15 a.m., and, upon arrival, they found a 48-year-old Hillside Ave. man unconscious.
The release said that Officer Ted Duran determined “a possible overdose of prescribed medications and administered Naloxone (also known as Narcon), the intranasal spray which the NPD equipped officers with this year.”
The release said the victim was taken to an area hospital for further treatment. His identify was not provided.
Strumolo commended Durand for his quick action and noted that this incident marked the first such use of Narcan by Nutley PD. He said that police in several communities, similarly equipped with the spray, have saved numerous lives with it.
Mayor/Police Director Alphonse Petracco said that Narcon has great value, adding that now first responders – along with medics and doctors – can offer overdose victims a higher chance at survival.
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Between March 21 and 27, the NPD responded to 28 medical calls, 15 motor vehicle accidents, 15 disputes, 16 suspicious incidents and the following:
March 21
The manager of a Harrison St. business reported an attempted fraud by a Latino who reportedly tried to buy Visa gift cards by using several different credit cards for which he could not produce ID. The customer then fled, leaving a credit card and a wallet with the identification of its owner who later told police that the wallet had been stolen earlier that day from a gym in Clifton. Detectives are following up.
March 22
Police responded to a Park Ave. location on a report of a low-hanging fire escape ladder. The victim told police they were walking east on Park when they hit their head on the ladder. Police managed to push the ladder up and secure it.
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A Centre St. resident reported they had received a call from their neighbor that their apartment door was damaged and forced open. Police asked the resident to check if anything was missing. Detectives are investigating.
March 24
Anibal Nieves, 34, of Newark, was stopped after he was reportedly driving erratically on a local street. Nieves was arrested on a DUI charge and taken to HQ where officers learned he had an active warrant from Newark. Before he was released to Newark PD, Nieves was issued additional summonses also charging him with refusal to take an Alcotest, careless driving and improper passing a double yellow line.
March 25
A Hillside Ave. resident reported receiving a voicemail from someone claiming to be an IRS representative giving them final notice before being penalized monetarily for unpaid taxes. Police were unable to contact the caller.
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The owner of a vehicle parked on Clement St. reported that someone entered their vehicle and removed a plastic jar containing change.
March 26
Police responded to a Washington Ave. location on a report that a man wearing a tan Seahawks jacket and blue jeans was seen walking out of a neighbor’s driveway. Police arrested Edward Pancaro, 45, of Newark, after learning he was wanted on an active warrant from Clifton. Pancaro was turned over to Clifton PD.
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Police were dispatched to a Washington Ave. business after a caller reported seeing two men in a white Ford van at the property. Police pulled over the van and, in questioning the pair, discovered that the driver, Danny Earp, 54, of Newark, was wanted on three warrants from Newark, one from Belleville and one from Parsippany. Earp was also given summonses for failure to exhibit a license and driving while suspended/revoked. He was turned over to Belleville PD.
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Police conducted a motor vehicle check on Centre St. and arrested the driver, Geraldine Oquendo, 26, of Clifton, on charges of suspended license, expired registration and active warrant from Elizabeth. She was released after posting bail pending court dates.
March 27
Police performed a traffic stop on River Road of a vehicle that came up as having an expired N.J. registration. Aldo Duran, 51, of Newark, was ticketed for driving without a license and expired registration. Police said he had two active warrants from North Bergen. He was released after posting bail pending court appearances.
– Ron Leir
