Feb. 15
At 8:40 a.m., police responded to a report of criminal mischief at a Harrison St. location. The victim told police they’d parked their vehicle in a lot and, upon returning, found on the windshield a piece of cardboard on which someone had written, “I will be back, do not park here.” There was a crack in the windshield and in the covering to the driver’s side window. Spaces in the lot are not assigned, the victim said.
Feb. 17
At 6:18 p.m., police were sent to a Warren St. location on a report of an animal complaint. Police said a resident was walking their leashed dog when they were approached by two unleashed dogs, one of which attacked, causing injuries to the leashed dog’s left eye and snout. The aggressor dog’s owner was issued a summons for dog at large, police said.
Police received separate reports of suspected fraud:
In one incident, police said a $9,000 check, purportedly from the IRS, was sent to a resident’s home but addressed to someone who has never lived and numerous taxslayer.com advertisements have also been sent to that location. Police said the resident’s credit report is being checked for any accounts that may have been compromised.
In the other matter, police said a Washington Ave. resident reported receiving phone calls on their cellular phone from an 876 exchange with a Jamaica caller ID for several months. The male caller tells the resident, either that he has a package for them or that they won money. Police said the resident tells the caller this is a scam, only to be threatened.
Feb. 18
Police said an investigation into the discovery of a plastic bag containing narcotics behind a home bordering Rheinheimer Park resulted in the arrest, at 10:45 p.m., of Perry Santos, 23, of Newark, on charges of possession of drugs, possession of marijuana and two counts of distribution of drugs. Santos was issued summonses and released, pending a court appearance.
Feb. 19
Police reported receiving a customer fraud complaint. A local business representative told police their firm delivered two refrigerators, one priced at $1,926 and the other at $3,806, to a customer in the Bronx, N.Y., and got paid with separate credit cards. However, a bank notified the company that both payments were “fraudulent transactions.” The business representative told police that when they phoned the customer, the call goes directly to voice mail.
Feb. 20
At 2:09 a.m., police responded to a Passaic Ave. location on a noise complaint where they said officers could hear loud music from a vehicle in a parking lot in the rear of a building. As they approached the vehicle, police said officers detected an odor suspected to be marijuana smoke drifting from inside the vehicle. Police said the driver, Thomas Giaimo, 31, of Nutley, handed over a glass pipe and grinder. Police said a search revealed two more glass pipes with suspected marijuana residue and a small clear plastic container with marijuana. Giamo was charged with possession of drugs and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and released pending a court date.
Feb. 21
At 10:13 a.m., police received a report of weather-related property damage to a Howard Place residence. Police said large pieces of ice pulled down rear gutters and returns, breaking a spotlight and hose reel and damaging a water spigot.
At 10:24 a.m., an activated burglar alarm brought police to a River Road residence where they spotted an open door showing signs of forced entry. Police said they found shoe prints on the front door and they suspected that someone had kicked open the door and broken the frame. Inside, police said, several drawers in an upstairs bedroom had been rummaged through. Police said the homeowner, who arrived after being contacted by police, told them it appeared that nothing had been taken. Detectives are investigating. – Ron Leir
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Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, a place where he has served on and off since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on Facebook Live, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to West Hudson to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.