The Verona Police Department logged a total of 397 assignments during the week of April 30–May 6, 2017. Responses included the following:
9 burglar alarms (8 residential, 1 commercial)
33 Rescue Squad dispatches
12 Fire Department dispatches
10 motor vehicle crash scenes
1 DWIs (driving while intoxicated)
7 Arrests
136 motor vehicle stops resulting in 73 traffic summonses and 71 warning notices being issued.
May 1, 2017
12:31 PM: Officer Ed Ruff took a report of trespassing at a Pompton Avenue business. The business owner reported that he has been finding trash and other items left in the parking lot in the evenings and on weekends. He also stated that customers have told him that they observed vehicles from a neighboring business in his lot when the business is closed. The business owner was advised to post no trespassing signs on the property.
1:19 PM: Officer William Frazee took a report of property damage at a Pompton Avenue business. The business manager reported that water soaked ceiling tiles fell to the floor. It was determined that the water line to the hot water tank burst. The water was shut off to the building. The Verona Fire Department responded and turned off the electricity in the area. The value of the damage is unknown at this time.
9:10 PM Officer Alyssa Kirby took a report of a fraud from a Jersey City resident. The complainant reported that they found an advertisement for an apartment on Craigslist and the number in the ad directed them to a realty company in Montclair. The agent that they contacted stated she would handle the lease agreement, and the complainant paid a deposit to the landlord, as well as giving a check to the realtor. Upon contacting the realtor’s office, the complainant was advised that there was no apartment for rent at the location they gave, and that the realtor that they spoke to does not work for them. The complainant will meet with the realty company in an attempt to get their money back.
May 2, 2017
1:30 AM: Officer Heriberto Carattini observed two individuals in the rear parking lot of a Bloomfield Avenue business. When the individuals observed the patrol vehicle, they ran through the parking lot and climbed a fence. Officers were able to apprehend one of the subjects after he was observed running across Bloomfield Avenue and through a parking lot. The subject was identified as a 17-year-old juvenile. The area was searched for the second subject with negative results. The juvenile was transported to police headquarters and turned over to his mother.
11:59 AM: Officers Giovanni Desomma, Brendan Huber and Bill Frazee responded along with the Verona Fire Department to a report of a house fire on Hillcrest Terrace. Upon their arrival, they observed smoke and flames coming from the southwest side of the house. Officers were able to assist the resident in exiting the house. Officers also attempted to locate the resident’s cat in the home with negative results. The fire department extinguished the fire and was able to locate the cat and return it to the resident. The cause if the fire is under investigation by the Fire Inspector. The value of the damage is unknown at this time.
4:56 PM: Officer Brian McMahon conducted a motor vehicle stop after a random check of the vehicle registration showed that it was expired. While checking the operators’ credentials, the officer discovered a warrant from the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department. The operator, Nina Damavandi of Belleville, was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters. After processing, Damavandi was turned over to the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department.
6 PM: D/Sgt Tim Banta interview a subject who was possibly involved in a fraud that occurred on April 26, 2017. During the interview, the individual admitted to taking a check from her employer and depositing it into her bank account. Taisha Webb of Paterson was placed under arrest and processed. Webb was charged with check fraud and released with a pending court date.
10:28 PM Officer Brian McMahon conducted a motor vehicle stop on Bloomfield Avenue for an observed violation. While checking the operator’s credentials, warrants were found from the Bloomfield, Newark and Jersey City Municipal Courts. The operator, Kevin Coleman of Montclair, was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters. After processing, Coleman was released with pending court dates.
May 3, 2017
10:42 AM: Officer Michael Barone took a report of a fraud from a Pease Avenue resident. The resident reported that her bank contacted her and advised her that her account had been fraudulently accessed. The resident reported she had ordered new checks but that the order was never delivered. The bank closed her account and reported that they are investigating the incident. The resident was advised to contact the credit reporting agencies.
2:57 PM: Officer Brian McMahon took a report of a larceny at a Hillcrest Terrace residence. The resident reported placing a ring in a box on a dresser earlier in the day and later discovered it missing. The resident reported numerous people had been working in the house throughout the day. The value of the ring is approximately $1000-$2000.
May 4, 2017
5:32 PM: Officer Brian McMahon conducted a motor vehicle stop after a random check of the vehicle license plate showed that the registered owner’s license was suspended. Upon checking the operator’s credentials a warrant from the Northfield Municipal Court was located. While checking the passenger’s credentials, a warrant from the West Caldwell Municipal Court was located. The subjects, Jonathan Fitzick of Ocean City and Jesse Simunovich of North Caldwell, were placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters. While securing the vehicle, officers observed a hypodermic syringe in plain sight on the driver’s door. A further search of the vehicle revealed additional paraphernalia and CDS. The operator was charged with charged with CDS and Paraphernalia. After processing, both were released with pending court dates.
May 5, 2017
10:41 PM: Officer Thomas Conroy, upon observing two vehicles turn onto Lakeside Avenue at a high rate of speed, turned around and attempted to follow the vehicles. With the vehicles continuing to accelerate at a high rate of speed, due to safety concerns, Officer Conroy discontinued his attempt to catch up to the vehicle. While still on Lakeside Ave, Officer Conroy observed an Essex County Sheriffs unit activate its lights, follow the vehicles and then stop on Pleasant Valley Way in West Orange. Officer Conroy then approached the area and observed that one of the vehicles had been involved in a motor vehicle accident. Officer Conroy stood by and assisted in securing the scene until West Orange officers arrived.
May 6, 2017
11:57 PM: Sgt. John Lecreux and Officer Robert Maguire responded to the area of Mt Prospect Avenue on a report of an off-duty police officer following a vehicle that was involved in a motor vehicle accident on Rt 280 in West Orange. Officer Maguire conducted a motor vehicle of the vehicle on Pompton Avenue. While speaking to the operator of the vehicle, the officer detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle. The operator was then asked to step from the vehicle and perform field sobriety tests. After completion of the tests, Sanjiv Parikh of Cedar Grove was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters. After processing, Parikh was released to a friend.
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.
