Editor’s note: This section is based on facts provided to Pascack Press weekly by neighborhood police departments. Due to pending court appearances and other variations, the following information should be read in “press time” context.[slideshow_deploy id=’899′]
BERGEN COUNTY
Car theft ‘crime spree’ update — While there have been no recent incidents reported in Pascack Valley communities, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office said on Nov. 27 that a “crime spree” of high-end luxury car thefts is underway—mostly in instances where owners did not lock and left keys inside cars.
At that time, the prosecutor’s office said there were 30 incidents in the last month. Since then, Norwood police reported three stolen cars on Dec. 2, all left unlocked with keys inside.
Englewood Cliffs Police reported they caught a man hiding in a borough car with proceeds from burglaries of other nearby cars, after an officer tried to check out suspicious vehicle and it took off at a high rate of speed, evading capture.
Reduce your risk of becoming a victim, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir Grewal said: don’t leave keys, or remote key fobs in an unattended vehicle; lock your vehicles; and don’t leave any valuable items in plain view inside the vehicle.
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PARK RIDGE
Missed stop sign leads to DWI arrest — On Nov. 25 at 5:08 p.m., Park Ridge patrolman Gregory Stalb was heading east on Broadway and noticed a 2007 blue Ford pickup truck failed to stop at a stop sign. Following the vehicle into the Staples parking lot, the officer observed the driver—a 66-year-old male from Nanuet, N.Y.—exit the vehicle and “a stream of urine running away from where he was standing,” according to his report.
The officer noticed an open 18-ounce can of Budweiser on the center console, an odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle, and the driver’s slurred speech. After the driver failed field sobriety tests, he was placed under arrest for DWI.
The driver refused to provide a breath sample and was released to his grandson at 8:35 p.m. The vehicle was towed from the parking lot to a towing company impound lot in Upper Saddle River.
The driver was issued summonses for DWI, failure to stop or yield, failure to yield right of way at an intersection, no registration, driver license or insurance card in possession, open container of alcohol, and refusal to provide breath samples. He was also issued an ordinance violation for disorderly conduct. A court date was set for Jan. 10, 2018, 4 p.m., in Pascack Joint Municipal Court.
Necklaces stolen on Colony Avenue — On Nov. 30 at about 4:45 p.m., a resident of Colony Avenue reported a package delivered to her home was apparently stolen. The package contained necklaces valued at approximately $350.
Resident reports phone missing after delivery — On Dec. 2 at about 9:08 a.m., a 43-year-old Rock Avenue resident reported an iPhone X was stolen from his doorstep on Dec. 1. The resident said he received an email confirming delivery at 1:47 p.m. Dec. 1, and he arrived home at 3 p.m. and was not able to locate the package. He contacted FedEx and AT&T to report the item stolen. AT&T told the resident another phone would be sent at no charge and an electronic signature would be required. Patrolman John Gleason took the report.
Bogus charges to previous address — On Dec. 2 at about 2:20 p.m., a 26-year-old resident visited headquarters to report an apparent identity theft. She said she received a debt collection notice from Sears for $2,169.90 for hardware and tools that she did not purchase. She said she was informed by the collection service that a previous address in Edgewater was used for the fraudulent charges. She reported no other suspicious activity. Sgt. James Babcock handled her fraud complaint.
Nine summonses issued during ‘decoy’ operation- On Nov. 28 at about 3:41 p.m., Officers Scott Laughton and John Gleason, along with Sgt. James Babcock, conducted a “pedestrian decoy detail” at the intersection of Ridge Avenue and Pascack Road. Babcock wore a bright blue jacket as the pedestrian using the crosswalk. Nine summonses and six warnings were issued during the decoy operation.
Summonses included: three for failure to yield to pedestrian in a crosswalk; one for an unlicensed driver; one for lamp maintenance; one for failure to provide proof of insurance; one for view obstruction; one for unclear plates; and one for allowing an unlicensed driver to operate a vehicle.
Warnings included: five for failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk; and one for failure to produce proof of insurance.
Mechanic’s leg run over, fibula broken — On Nov. 30 at about 6:12 p.m., a 58-year-old mechanic from Westwood working at the Delta gas station at 122 Kinderkamack Road appeared at headquarters to report an accident that occurred the previous day. The mechanic said while working on a vehicle at the station, his right leg was run over by a customer moving his car.
He reported that he went to Hackensack North Hospital (Hackensack Meridian Health Pascack Valley Medical Center) in Westwood later on Nov. 29, where doctors informed him that his right fibula was broken.
The mechanic reported he had exchanged insurance information with the vehicle’s driver following the accident.
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TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON
Shoplifters arrested on warrants — On Wednesday, Nov. 29, a dispatcher received a call from the manager of Foodtown on Pascack Road, who said three males were possibly shoplifting and had left the store.
Lt. Skinner, Sgt. Glock, Cpl. Reidel and Officer Ferrarini were dispatched.
Upon arrival, they were told by employees that the parties were running across Pascack Road toward a red four-door vehicle.
Officers located the vehicle, with three people inside. On investigation, including a check by the dispatcher, the officers arrested the suspects.
The first male, out of Paterson, was taken into custody on an active warrant out of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department.
The second, also out of Paterson, was charged with hindering apprehension and an active warrant out of the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department.
The third, out of Hackensack, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.
Additional complaints are pending.
Slumped over the wheel, soon arrested over opioids — According to police on Dec. 1, a caller recently reported that in the rear parking lot of the Valley Bible Church on Pascack Road there was a suspicious vehicle, with a male occupant slumped over the wheel, and the engine running.
A patrol was detailed with Hillsdale Basic Life Support. Cpl. Steven Reidel and Officer Jason Gugger arrived on scene. The patient was said to have possibly overdosed on an opioid.
Advanced Life Support was dispatched accordingly. Hillsdale and Advanced Life Support-401 arrived on scene and reported that the patient, a 49-year-old township man, refused further medical attention.
Cpl. Riedel arrested the man and transported him back to headquarters, where he was charged with drug offenses.
He was also issued motor vehicle summonses.