The Verona Police Department logged a total of 354 assignments during the week of March 19–25, 2017. Responses included the following:
9 burglar alarms (6 residential, 3 commercial)
33 rescue squad dispatches
9 fire department dispatches
8 motor vehicle crash scenes
2 DWI’s (driving while intoxicated)
7 Arrests
126 motor vehicle stops that resulted in 101 traffic summonses being 50 warning notices being issued.
March 20, 2017
8:05 AM: Officer Ed Ruff conducted a motor vehicle stop on Brookside Terrace for an observed violation. While speaking with the operator the officer, detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle. The operator was asked to step from the vehicle to perform field sobriety tests. After completing the tests, the operator, Melissa Longo of Nutley, was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters. After processing, she was released to a friend.
10:24 AM: Det. Anthony Condorelli took a report of a missing juvenile. The juvenile left her home in Verona after a “falling out” with her family and was believed to be staying with a friend in New York. The officer was able to make contact with the friend and advise her to have the juvenile return home or to contact the NYPD for assistance.
1:01 PM: Sgt. Dan Greco responded to a Claridge Drive residence on a report of an issue with a contractor who was replacing doors in the building. The resident was advised to contact building management if he has any issues with the contractors.
3:17 PM: Officer Justin Nielsen took a report of property damage from a Woodland Avenue resident. The resident reported that over the past several weeks, she has observed damage to her vehicle while it was parked on Fairview Avenue. The damage appears to be consistent with someone keying the vehicle. Damage was observed on the truck, hood and passenger side of the vehicle. The value of the damage is unknown at this time.
March 21, 2017
8:56 AM: Officer Brian McMahon conducted a motor vehicle stop after a random check of the vehicle’s license plate showed an active warrant for the vehicle owner. While checking the operators’ credentials, an active warrant was confirmed from the Aberdeen Municipal Court. The operator, Francois Prophete of Montclair, was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters. After processing, Prophete was turned over to the Aberdeen Police Department.
5:43 PM: Officer Steven Young responded along with the Verona Fire Department to a report of a vehicle on fire inside a detached garage on Lynwood Road. The fire department extinguished the fire, which caused extensive damage to the vehicle and garage. Damage also occurred to a fence and numerous tools and gardening equipment that was located in the garage. Damage was also reported to a neighbor’s detached garage and a fence. Value of the damage is unknown at this time. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
11:07 AM: Officer Brendan Huber took a report of a larceny from a Morningside Road resident. The resident reported that she discovered four fraudulent transactions on her bank account. The resident contacted the bank and they were able to stop two of the transactions but were unable to stop the others, resulting in over $6,000 being removed from her account. The resident was provided with identity theft information and was advised to monitor her accounts.
4:23 PM: Officer Stephanie Colon took a report of a fraud from a Gerdes Avenue resident. The resident reported receiving several letters from different loan companies. He also reported an unknown person attempted to file a tax return in his name. The resident has frozen all of his bank accounts and has notified the IRS. He was provided with identity theft information.
4:50 PM: Officer Thomas Conroy conducted a motor vehicle stop on Mt. Prospect Avenue for an observed violation. While speaking with the operator, the officer detected an odor of burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle. Officers also observed a plastic zip top baggie in the passenger door compartment. The operator was asked to step from the vehicle and was advised that due to the officer’s observations, the vehicle was going to be searched. A search was conducted with negative findings. The operator was issued several summonses and sent on his way.
5:41 PM: Officer Thomas Conroy conducted a motor vehicle stop on Bloomfield Avenue for an observed violation. While checking the operator’s credentials it was found that his driver’s license was suspended and that he had active warrants from the Roseland and Keansburg Municipal Courts. The operator, Teofilo Tapua of Glen Ridge was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters. After processing, Tapua posted bail and was released.
6:15 PM: Officer Stephanie Colon took a report of harassing phone calls at a Bloomfield Avenue business. The employee reported receiving several phone calls from a young male asking if the business had a particular product. When the employee stated they were sold out of the item the caller cursed at the employee and hung up. On the second phone call the caller stated to the employee that they were going to follow him to his car tonight. The business was able to provide a phone number that the calls were made from. A young male answered the phone and denied making the calls.
March 23, 2017
1:27 AM: Officer Robert Juliano conducted a motor vehicle stop on Pompton Avenue for an observed violation. While approaching the vehicle, the officer detected an odor of burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle. The owner was advised that due to the officer’s observation the vehicle was going to be searched. The vehicle was searched with negative findings. While checking the credentials of the occupants an active warrant from the Irvington Municipal Court was located for the operator. The operator, Aldaquan Hall of Newark was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters. After processing, Hall posted bail and was released.
6:37 PM: Officer Chris Scheper responded to Grove Ave and Dodd Terrace on a report of an intoxicated male who needed assistance. After speaking with the male, it was decided that he would be transported to Mountainside Hospital for further evaluation. The Verona Rescue Squad was contacted and transported him to the hospital.
March 24, 2017
12:17 AM: Officer Robert Juliano conducted a motor vehicle stop on Bloomfield Avenue for an observed violation. While checking the operators’ credentials, an active warrant from the Bloomfield Municipal Court was located. The operator, Maryna Valerny Pykhalenko of Caldwell, was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters. After processing, Pykhalenko posted bail and was released.
1:01 PM: Officer Michael Barone took a report of a shoplifting from a Pompton Avenue business. The store manager reported that on the previous day a black male was observed removing an unknown amount of aspirin from the shelf. The male was then observed leaving the store and walking north on Pompton Avenue. The store manager will provide a list of missing items as well as a copy of the store video to the detective bureau. Value of the missing items is unknown at this time.
8:36 PM: Officers Steven Young and Jordan Descafano responded to a motor vehicle crash located on Grove Ave just north of Bloomfield Ave. While investigating the crash, officer suspected one of the drivers to be under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicant. After interviewing and field-testing, Dianna Verniero of Verona was placed under arrest, transported to and processed at police headquarters. After processing, Verniero was issued several traffic summonses and was released into the custody of another adult.
9:57 PM: Sgt. David Wardrope and Officers Steven Young, Thomas Conroy and Stephanie Colon responded to the area of 100 White Rock Road after headquarters received a report of three juvenile females walking in the area, one of which appeared to be ill. Upon arrival officers discovered one of the juvenile females to be ill and appeared intoxicated. The Verona Rescue Squad and the parents of the juvenile were requested to respond to the scene. After evaluation, the juvenile was transported to Mountainside Hospital for evaluation and treatment. While on the scene, officers also located two partially consumed bottles of alcohol. All remaining juveniles at the scene were released to parents/guardians.
March 25, 2017
2:33 AM: Officer Robert Juliano conducted a check of a suspicious vehicle parked in a Bloomfield Avenue parking lot. A check of the vehicle and operator’s credentials revealed an active warrant from the Caldwell Municipal Court. The operator, Felicia Inez Chevalier of New Milford, was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters. After processing Chevalier was released with a new court date for the Caldwell Municipal Court.
1:51 PM: Officer Ed Ruff took a report of a burglary from an Afterglow Avenue resident. The resident reported that while she was away during the past week, she believed someone might have entered her home. The resident reported that her alarm was unplugged and several items inside the house were moved. There were no signs of forced entry and nothing appears to be missing at this time.
10:45 PM: Officers Maguire, Conroy and Scheper responded to an activated fire alarm at an Overlook Parkway residence. While en route, officers observed a large group of juveniles running and screaming in the roadway. Officers also observed numerous beer cans strewn about the area and could smell the odor of burning marijuana in the air. While investigating the situation, officers located a juvenile male that appeared to be highly intoxicated. The mother of the juvenile was notified, responded and took custody of her child. Parents of other juveniles located on scene were notified and responded to pick up their children. The incident is under further investigation by Det. Joel Martin and may result in criminal charges being filed.
Any individual named in these reports is presumed innocent until a decision is rendered by the courts. MyVeronaNJ.com updates police blotter reports with the disposition of the case upon request and with submission of documentary proof. We do not remove stories or delete names based on an expungement.
