Notes from the KPD blotter

KPD Stuart Bradley
KPD
Stuart Bradley

A man wanted on a child-neglect warrant ended up in the Hudson County Jail last week after arresting officers found a handgun in his East Newark apartment, Kearny police reported.

At 5:40 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, Kearny Det. Michael Farinola, conducting a cooperative investigation with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, spotted 37-year-old Stuart Bradley on Grant Ave. in East Newark. Bradley, police said, was wanted on the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office warrant. During a consent search of his residence, investigators reportedly found the weapon.

Bradley was remanded to the jail on $100,000 bail on the warrant and on a charge of “certain persons not to have weapons.” The latter, police said, was because of “his extensive criminal record,” including “several felony convictions.”

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Other recent reports from the Kearny police blotter included the following:

July 31 

At 5:30 p.m., Vice detectives reportedly observed a man sitting on a stoop near Devon St. and Midland Ave., puffing on a glass pipe — which, Chief John Dowie explained, “is a familiar way to smoke crack cocaine.” After confirming their suspicions, police said, they arrested Douglas Welfl, 29, of Kearny, for possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia and for being under the influence of a CDS.

Aug. 4 

At 1 a.m., a 21-year-old Kearny woman notified police that she was receiving text messages threatening her with bodily harm — and death. Officer Derek Hemphill responded to her Schuyler Ave. residence, reviewed the texts, confirmed the threats and developed as a suspect Rosa Santiago, 21, of Newark.

He also learned that Santiago might be in the area, driving a 2004 black Hyundai.

Hemphill began a patrol, spotted the car (containing several people) within a block of the victim’s home and followed it down Laurel Ave. to Forest St., where he conducted an MV stop. Santiago was the driver, and she turned out to have a suspended license, police said.

The officer also requested IDs from the passengers, one of whom – Natasha Echevarria, 24, of Kearny — initially provided a fictitious name, police said.

Echevarria and Santiago were allegedly co-conspirators in the texting and both were charged with making terroristic threats. Additionally, Echevarria was charged with hindering apprehension; Santiago, with driving while suspended and on an outstanding warrant from Newark.

• • •

Sgt. Charles Smith and Officer Pat Becker responded at 5:30 p.m. to citizens’ complaints of possible drug use taking place inside a Pennsylvania-registered black Honda on the 100 block of Dukes St. Its occupants, Kevin Gonzales-Narvarro, 19, of Passaic, and Jian Peralta, 18, of Kearny, were charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Gonzales- Narvarro also received an MV summons for operating a car while in possession of a CDS.

Aug. 5 

At 7:45 p.m., Officers Becker and Giovanni Rodriguez were called to Walmart after store security apprehended Kenny Garcia, 37, of Paterson, for allegedly trying to abscond with $431 worth of Fusion razors. A co-conspirator, identified as Christopher Ferrante, 35, of Jupiter, Fla., apparently fled in a 2015 white Mazda — which the officers spotted as they were transporting Garcia to KPD headquarters. They stopped the Mazda, security reportedly ID’d Ferrante, and both men were taken to HQ on charges of shoplifting and conspiracy.

Aug. 6 

Vice detectives, on the 100 block of Elm St. at 11:20 a.m., observed a 2004 Nissan being operated by Dionne Horton, 45, of Newark — described as “a known narcotics offender.” The detectives, who had knowledge of an earlier drug transaction, stopped the car and saw her trying to secrete a cellophane wrapper in her waistband, police said. Confronted, she reportedly turned over 10 wax folds of heroin, stamped “Magoo,” and four vials of cocaine. She was charged with possession of the drugs and paraphernalia.

– Karen Zautyk 

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