A motorist got more than he bargained for on Sept. 28 after he went to his car on Whitford Ave, the Nutley Police Department said. Police said the victim noticed the brake lights to his car were on, so he unlocked the car from a distance. As he got to within 10-feet of his car, the victim told police a black man, in his 40s, wearing a blue track top, jeans and white sneakers exited the vehicle and told him to “put your hands up.”
The victim complied, and the suspect then ran away, the NPD said. Details about the suspect were given to surrounding towns, but the suspect wasn’t found The NPD Detective Bureau is investigating.
Meanwhile, the NPD released the following reports they logged between Sept. 26 and Oct. 2:
Sept. 26
A company providing rides to a local festival on Brookline Ave. reported the theft of five, 100-foot copper electric lead lines that provide power to carnival rides.
The wires were valued at around $5,000, the NPD said.
Sept. 27
A New York City cabbie told police he was ripped off by a patron who took him for a ride. The cabbie told police he drove his passenger from New York to Flora Louden Park in Nutley but ended up getting stiffed.
The cabbie told police the suspect, a white man in his 40s, jumped out of his taxi without paying the fare and was last seen running southbound on Passaic Ave. near Harrison St. The Belleville Police Department helped the NPD look for the suspect to no avail.
Sept. 28
A resident told police someone had used his credit card to buy things at Home Depot and several other stores without authorization.
The victim’s bank notified him about the unauthorized charges and the account was canceled.
Sept. 29
A disabled motor-vehicle call led to the arrest of the car’s driver on drunken-driving charges, the NPD said.
When police responded to the call on Kingsland Ave., they found Ibrahim Small, 29, of East Orange, in a drunken state. He was additionally charged with careless driving, and refusing to submit to breath tests. He was released on his own recognizance, pending a mandatory court date.
• • •
A 30-year-old Nutley woman was arrested on shoplifting charges at a Harrison St. business.
Police said Claire Dotoli allegedly went into an employees- only room at the business with several stolen items in tow. When she exited the room, a store employee told police Dotoli had bulging pockets and a bulging purse — but nothing in-hand.
Dotoli was released on her own recognizance, pending a mandatory court appearance.
Sept. 30
A Franklin Ave. resident told police he had two separate deliveries stolen from his front porch. The mail carrier confirmed delivery of the two disappearing packages, which were valued at $12 combined.
Oct. 1
A 30-year-old Nutley woman was arrested and charged with criminal attempted burglary, burglary to auto and theft after police say they caught her trying to climb into the window of a Valley Road home.
A caller to police said they’d seen Mallory Kainey entering a parked car initially, the NPD said.
Kainey was released on her own recognizance, pending a mandatory court appearance.
Oct. 2
Jonathan Cradona, 29, of Passaic, was arrested on Rt. 21 North after a traffic stop and was charged with drunken driving, speeding, careless driving, driving on a suspended driver’s license and driving an uninsured vehicle, the NPD said.
Cardona was released on his own recognizance, pending mandatory court, police said.
– Kevin Canessa Jr.
Learn more about the writer ...
Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, an organization he has served since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on social media channels such as YouTube, Facebook, and X, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to Kearny to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.