Jaleesa Torres
At approximately 9 p.m. on Jan 2, Officer Jason Rodrigues responded to Walmart to take into custody an alleged shoplifter who had been detained by store security. Police said a warrant check revealed that the suspect, Jaleesa Torres, 26, of Bloomfield, was wanted in seven jurisdictions.
Her warrants, they said, ranged from $100 out of East Newark to $5,000 from Newark. The others were issued by: Millburn, $2,500; Edison, $1,000; Kearny, $500; Elizabeth, $500, and Summit, $500.
In addition, the KPD reported, at the time of her arrest she was found to be in possession of: a TD Bank card not in her name; a N.Y. State I.D. card not in her name; a Bank of America payroll check not in her name, and two Wells Fargo checks “she could not account for.”
Torres was charged on the warrants, with shoplifting and with theft of property lost or mislaid and was held at headquarters pending transfer to the Hudson County Jail.
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Other recent reports from the Kearny police blotter included the following:
Dec. 28
The KPD, conducting a DWI checkpoint at Passaic Ave. and Ross Lane, ordered a 2009 Toyota to pull over, but as Officer Ben Wuelfing approached the car, it reportedly accelerated and fled south on Passaic at a high rate of speed. Wuelfing, Officer Dominic Dominguez and Capt. Scott Macfie pursued the auto but ended the chase at the East Newark border, deeming it too dangerous to continue.
Police had obtained the plate number and found that the vehicle was registered to a Montclair woman. With the help of the Montclair PD, it was determined that the driver had been William Rogers, 45, of Montclair, who had a suspended license, police said. Rogers was contacted and directed to turn himself in at KPD headquarters, which he did the evening of Dec. 29. He was charged criminally with eluding police and was issued summonses for the license offense, reckless driving and failure to obey an officer directing traffic.
Dec. 29
Det. Michael Andrews, on uniformed patrol at Garfield and Schuyler Aves., at 3:30 a.m., observed a 2008 Dodge enter a condo parking lot, but the driver “never exited the vehicle.” Andrews ran a registration check and took into custody Bruno Mendes, 37, of Kearny, for driving with a suspended license.
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A stolen cell phone reportedly led to a fight in the street at Maple and Patterson Sts. shortly after noon. When Officer Derek Hemphill arrived at the scene, the battle had ceased, but the three combatants were still in the area. Police said one of them stated he suspected another of having taken the phone. After a follow-up investigation by Officer Daniel Esteves, the phone was located in the area and Alex Lado, 20, of Kearny, was charged with receiving stolen property. He was released on a summons.
Dec. 31
Shortly after midnight, Of ficer Wuelfing, on patrol near Belgrove Drive and Afton St., stopped a 2005 Buick for making an illegal turn and determined that the driver had a suspended license and a $500 warrant from Nutley, police said. Ernesto Valle, 29, of Kearny, was arrested and taken to HQ.
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At 4 p.m., Officer Jonathan Dowie stopped a 2003 Chevy truck that was reportedly being driven erratically at Kearny and Laurel Aves. Police said that driver, Robert Eastman, 51, of Enfield, Conn., had a suspended license and an Elmwood Park traffic warrant. He was arrested for those offenses and careless driving.
Jan. 2
Officer Dominguez, conducting random registration checks at Bergen and Schuyler Aves. at 4:30 p.m., was advised that the driver of a passing 2004 Honda had a suspended license and was wanted. Stopping the car on Harrison Ave., he confirmed that the operator was Jose Delgado, 41, of Jersey City, who had a $7,500 criminal warrant out of Jersey City and a $6,100 contempt warrant from the Hudson County Sheriff ’s Office. Delgado was arrested on those warrants, was issued summonses for driving while suspended and failure to surrender a suspended license, and was held at HQ awaiting pickup by the HCSO.
Jan. 3
Officer Philip Finch, sent to Walmart at 7 p.m. to take a lost-property report, was advised by security that there was a shoplifter in the store. When Finch attempted to detain the suspect, Joseph Stewart, 52, of Plainfield, the man reportedly began flailing and repeatedly tried to push past the officer, until Finch warned that he would use OC spray. Police said a search incident to arrest found Stewart’s backpack filled with $65 worth of stolen boxer shorts, T-shirts and socks.
Stewart was charged with robbery and resisting arrest and on a $215 Irvington warrant. He was remanded to the Hudson County Jail on $50,000 bail, no 10% option, set by Kearny Municipal Judge Thomas D. McKeon.
Jan. 6
At 6:40 p.m., Officers Chris Levchak and Jose Castillo stopped a 2014 Honda for making an illegal U-turn at Kearny and Quincy Aves. and were advised by dispatch that the driver, Pedro Flores, 51, of Belleville, had a suspended license.
He was brought to HQ for processing on both offenses.
– Karen Zautyk
