News from the Nutley Police blotter

Dec. 5

At 9:14 p.m., police were called to a Glendale St. location on a report of an auto burglary. There, the victim told police they noticed their motion lights in the driveway activate and then spotted someone wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt rummaging through their vehicle’s interior. The victim said that when he ran outside, the intruder fled.

At 4:32 p.m., police made a traffic stop on Hancox Ave. that resulted in the arrest of Carlos Rodriguez, 31, of Newark, on an active warrant from Elizabeth. Police said they found 100 bags of heroin in his vehicle. Rodriguez was charged with possession of drugs and possession with intent to distribute. After posting bail, set at $5,000 with a 10% cash option, he was released pending a court date.

At 4:23 p.m., headquarters received a report of lost property. The victim told police she took her purse out of her car as she entered the Nutley Diner to eat. Then, she told police, when reaching in her bag to pay the bill, she realized her purse, valued at $350, was missing.

Dec. 4

At 8:18 p.m., Nicholas Stevens, 24, of Nutley, was arrested after a motor vehicle stop on Washington Ave. for an outstanding warrant from Bloomfield. After a search of Stevens allegedly disclosed a “one-hitter,” allegedly used to smoke marijuana, police charged Stevens with possession of drug paraphernalia and ticketed him on charges of improper U-turn and driving while suspended. After posting bail on the warrant, he was released pending court dates in Nutley and Bloomfield.

At 8:02 a.m., police went to a St. Mary’s Place location on a criminal mischief report. The resident told police someone reportedly threw a glass bottle at their Dodge Caravan, breaking the middle driver’s side window.

Dec. 3

At 10:34 a.m., police responded to a Franklin Ave. business on a theft report. Police said three batteries were reported missing from a delivery truck parked at the end of the business’s driveway. Police said the batteries appeared to have been disconnected by someone unscrewing the bolts. Police said there had been two batteries previously stolen from another truck but that theft hadn’t been reported.

Dec. 2

At 4:58 p.m., police received a report of fraud. The victim told police that after being billed $235 by a moving company for transporting their furniture from Nutley to their new home, they paid with a debit card which was swiped through a machine but for which they received no receipt. Later that day, the victim told police, their bank called them about two transactions totaling more than $1,400 made from their account and not authorized by the victim. The bank closed out the victim’s debit account.

At 11:21 a.m., police went to a Franklin Ave. business on an assault report. The victim told police he was working in the parking lot when a man, known to him, hit him in the face with an open hand and kicked him several times. Police said the alleged assault may have been the result of previous issues between the pair.

At 8:43 a.m., police responded to a report of an attempted car theft at a Hancox Ave. location. The owner told police they had returned to the car only to find that the driver’s door lock had been damaged and entry gained by someone who damaged the dashboard and ignition system.

Dec. 1

At 12:18 p.m., police received a report of criminal mischief on River Road. The victim told police someone had keyed their vehicle’s driver’s side rear door and quarter panel while the vehicle was parked in the rear of their home.

– Ron Leir

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