Sleeping resident escapes peril, cops say

NUTLEY –

An Oakridge Ave. resident had a close call during a drenching rainstorm in the early morning hours on Aug. 1.

At 3:38 a.m., police responded to a house on Oakridge on a report of property damage.

Arriving at the location, police found that a very large branch had fallen from a tree through the upstairs window of the house, tumbling over several items, and nearly striking the sleeping occupant.

Police said the limb also damaged the roof, knocked off parts of the house which fell and struck a vehicle parked in the driveway.

After determining that the branch appeared to be stable, police then notified the township Shade Tree Department.

In other incidents logged by Nutley P.D. during the past week:

Aug. 2

Police responded to a Hay Ave. location at 1:36 p.m. on a report of a car burglary. The owner told police that someone had removed a black tool backpack, an orange bucket with tools and a smaller black backpack with a respirator.

At 5:20 a.m., police said they stopped a vehicle traveling on Rt. 21 North after radar showed it to be going 80 mph in a 55 mph zone. Police said the driver, Omar McKenzie, 31, of Atlanta, Ga., had a suspended license and an active warrant from West Orange. He was ticketed on charges of speeding, driving while suspended and expired license. McKenzie was released after posting bail.

Aug. 1

A homeowner on Monsignor Owens Place called police at 1:04 p.m. to report that a large amount of jewelry had been taken from their home. Police said they found no signs of forced entry. Detectives are investigating.

July 30

At 4:01 p.m., police responded to a Washington Ave. residence where the owner told them they’d heard a loud banging downstairs and then a breaking of glass. Investigating, the owner said they found a window near the interior storm door had been shattered. Police said it appeared that no entry had been gained. A canvass of the area turned up no clues, police said.

July 29

The owner of a car parked on Centre St. called police at 7:22 p.m. to report that someone had shattered their rear window sometime after they’d parked there during the morning.

At 1:20 p.m., police were called to a Franklin Ave. location where they found that the passenger side rear window of a parked car had been shattered. After talking to the owner, police said it appeared that the damage was accidentally caused by a weed-whacker from a nearby landscaping crew. Police said both parties came to an amicable agreement on the needed repairs.

At 10:39 a.m., police made a motor vehicle stop on Centre St. that resulted in the arrest of the driver and passenger on outstanding warrants. Police said the driver, Rojelio Rolon, 51, of Nutley, had warrants from Clifton and Paterson, while James Busacca, 51, of Belleville, had a warrant out of Newark. The driver was also issued several motor vehicle summonses, police said.

At 9:07 a.m., State Police arrived at headquarters with Andrew Duval, 18, of Nutley, who was under arrest for a Nutley warrant. After posting bail, Duval was released.

July 28

Police said a motor vehicle stop on Franklin St., at 10:41 p.m., resulted in the arrest of Masakazu Nishimura, 59, of Nutley, for warrants out of Teaneck, Butler and Clifton. After he was issued several summonses and posting bail, Nishimura was released.

At 10:26 p.m., a River Road couple contacted police about a suspicious man they described as 6 feet and wearing a hoodie, who was allegedly looking into their patio window. Police said they checked the area but found no one.

At 11:06 a.m., police responded to Kingsland Park on a report of juveniles possibly shooting ducks. Police said they found two juveniles with a pellet gun but they weren’t firing at ducks. Police confiscated the weapon and contacted the youths’ parents.

At 2:57 a.m., a motor vehicle crash on Bloomfield Ave. resulted in the arrest of Lois Condito of Nutley on a DUI charge, police said. She was issued a summons and released pending a court appearance.

July 27

A Corsay Road homeowner called police at 2:02 p.m. to report that someone had removed eight solar lights from their front walkway. The copper lights were valued at $4 each, the owner told police. Ten other lights on the property weren’t disturbed, police said.

– Ron Leir

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