KPD: Dagger & ‘Danger’ lead to jail

KPD Nicholas Savage
KPD
Nicholas Savage

A Kearny man, allegedly wearing a dagger around his neck, was arrested on assault, weapons and drug charges last week and was remanded to the Hudson County Jail on $50,000 bail — with no 10% option.

KPD Chief John Dowie said Vice Unit detectives observed Nicholas Savage, 26, apparently ingesting a controlled substance in the area of Belgrove Drive and Lincoln Ave. at 1:30 p.m., Monday, May 18. When they approached to advise him he was under arrest, Savage attempted to push past them and, when that failed, became combative, Dowie said. As the officers forced him to the ground and were trying to cuff him, he put his hands under his shirt, “seemingly attempting to reach an object concealed within,” police reported. That object, police said, turned out to be a dagger attached to a chain around his neck.

A further search incident to arrest reportedly produced seven wax folds of heroin, stamped with the logo “Danger.”

Savage was transported to headquarters and charged with: use of a CDS, possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest, aggravated assault on a police officer, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon and “certain persons not to have weapons.”

• • •

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

May 16 

At 10:45 a.m., Officer Jordenson Jean was in the area of Schuyler and Wilson Aves. when he reported seeing 60-year-old Kearny resident Ryszard Gornowicz consuming a Coors beer. Police said a warrant check revealed that Gornowicz had seven: six from Kearny for traffic and town ordinance violations and one from East Newark for a motor vehicle offense. He was arrested on the warrants, held for bail, and received one more ordinance summons, for drinking in public.

• • •

Officer Jay Ward was sent to the 700 block of Schuyler Ave. at 11:30 p.m. on a report of a suspicious vehicle and arrived to find a 2000 Toyota occupied by Adonis Colon, 19, of Kearny, and reportedly generating a heavy odor of raw marijuana. Police said Colon turned over five plastic bags of suspected pot and that a search uncovered two more, as well as numerous small plastic bags and $150 in cash, which was seized as suspected proceeds of drug sales. Colon was charged with possession of pot and paraphernalia, possession with intent to distribute, intent in a school zone and operating a motor vehicle while in possession of a CDS.

May 17 

At 11:30 a.m., Walmart security advised the KPD that a man confronted for shoplifting became combative and unruly, threw food around and knocked over store displays before fleeing on foot toward Harrison Ave. Capt. Ed Rygiel located and detained Francisco Maldonado, 26, of Newark, who was identified by security personnel and placed under arrest. Police said he was found to have two criminal warrants out of Newark ($5,000 and $2,500), was issued a summons for shoplifting and turned over to Newark PD.

• • •

Officer Brian Wisely responded to the 100 block of Passaic Ave. at 8:15 p.m. on a report from a Kearny woman that she had seen a man “key” the side of her parked Honda. Wisely obtained a description and soon located Fernando Valdez, 52, of Kearny, who was brought to the scene and identified as the culprit, police said. He was charged with criminal mischief.

• • •

At 9 p.m., Officer Phil Finch was on patrol near Schuyler Ave. and Quincy Place when he observed a 2004 Chevy pick-up swerving in the roadway and almost striking parked cars, police said. Upon stopping the vehicle, Finch reportedly detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from the driver, Antonio Soeira, 43, of Harrison. Following field sobriety tests, Soeira was arrested, transported to HQ, given an Alcotest and charged with reckless driving and DWI.

May 19 

At 11 a.m., at Kearny and Midland Aves., Sgt. Paul Bershefski and Officer John Fabula arrested 37-year-old Newark resident Ricardo Santos on outstanding warrants: an NCIC no-bail warrant for child neglect, and three from Kearny, for obstruction ($2,500), theft ($500) and a traffic violation ($250). He was transported to HQ, processed and sent to the Hudson County Jail.

– Karen Zautyk 

Learn more about the writer ...