A Kearny man who was transporting a batch of Apple iPhones in his car was the target of robbers who relieved him of the devices and approximately $2,000 in cash, Kearny police reported.
Police said the crime report came in shortly after midnight on March 11. Officer Kevin Arnesman responded to the scene, at Oakwood Ave. and Devon St., where he interviewed the 26-year-old victim, who stated he had just parked his vehicle and, as he exited, was confronted by two men, one of them armed with a handgun.
The bandits forced the man to open the car trunk, in which there were approximately a dozen brand-new iPhones. The assailants reportedly took all of them, along with the victim’s personal cell phone, his car keys and the cash.
They then ran west on Oakwood and entered a waiting vehicle, which fled north on Devon.
During a search of the area, on foot and by car, police recovered the victim’s personal phone, which apparently had been thrown from the fleeing auto.
Police said the robbers were described as two black males, one tall and thin, one short and heavy-set. The getaway car was described only as a dark vehicle — no make, model or plate number. KPD detectives are following up and the investigation is ongoing.
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Other recent reports from the Kearny police blotter included the following:
March 10
At 3:30 p.m., Officers Sean Wilson and Chris Levchak went to a Quincy Ave. residence to take a burglary report. While interviewing the victim, they noticed in another part of the dwelling Mark Eager, 24, of Kearny, whom they knew to be the subject of a Kearny warrant for credit-card theft, police said. Eager was arrested, taken to headquarters and remanded to the Hudson County Jail.
March 13
At 7:30 p.m., units responded to reports of a fight involving several combatants at Kearny Ave. and Duke St. Upon the cops’ arrival, the crowd began to disperse, but in the presence of the officers, one individual reportedly shoved a female to the ground. Officer Stephen Podolski arrested Jose Fernandez, 23, of Lebanon, N.J., on a charge of disorderly conduct. After booking at HQ, he was released on a summons.
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Yet another fight was reported at 11 p.m. on Kearny Ave. near Halstead St. Police arrived to find no brawl, but they did see that the window of the Donegal Saloon had been broken. Officers obtained a description of the alleged culprit and resumed their patrol. A short time later, the KPD was told that the suspect was back in the area. Officer Podolski returned, interviewed Sean Kilcullen, 35, of Kearny, and arrested him on a charge of criminal mischief. Kilcullen was later released on a summons.
March 15
At 9:30 p.m., Officer Jon Dowie’s on-board computer alerted him that the owner of a 2002 Mercedes approaching the intersection of Bergen and Passaic Aves. had a suspended license and a $750 traffic warrant out of Newark. He stopped the car, confirmed the identity of driver Guadalupe Martinez, 24, of Newark, and arrested her on the warrant and charges of driving with a suspended license and suspended registration. Martinez was later released when the bail was posted.
March 16
Vice units, pursuant to an ongoing CDS-distribution investigation, were in the area of Davis and Central Aves. in Harrison at 2 p.m. when they observed Jon Verastegui, 27, of Kearny, in a vehicle on Davis. Police said they had recently sought, and Kearny Municipal Court Judge Thomas D. McKeon had granted, arrest warrants for him on charges of distribution of cocaine, distribution in a school zone and in a park zone and possession of the drug. Verastegui was taken into custody, booked at HQ and remanded to the Hudson County Jail on $25,000 bail, with no 10% option.
March 17
At 5:30 a.m., Officers Michael Alvarez and Jose Castillo were called to Duke St., where an individual had come out to his 2012 Jeep and saw someone inside.
Police said the someone turned out to be Diego Salirros, 25, of Kearny, who was asleep in the driver’s seat and who had no connection to the Jeep’s owner.
Salirros was booked on a charge of criminal trespass and was released on a summons.
