A woman living on Pine Street on Montclair told Montclair police early Friday morning that a man invaded her home, demanded money, sexually assaulted her, duct-taped her mouth, then took two computers before fleeing.
On 5/27/11 at approximately 3:20 AM, police responded to an apartment building on Pine Street on a report of a home invasion and sexual assault. Upon arrival, police spoke to the victim, who stated that, approximately forty minutes prior, she was in her bedroom when she observed a figure in her kitchen. The suspect reportedly then rushed the victim and demanded money. The victim gave the suspect the contents of her purse, which included $30 cash and various identification cards.
After receiving these items, the suspect proceeded to sexually assault and bound her hands and covered her mouth with duct tape that he found in the apartment. The victim then heard the suspect exit through the rear door of the apartment. The victim was able to remove the duct tape and contacted the police. The victim stated that the actor also stole a silver Sony Vio lap top computer valued at $1,400 and a red Dell Espirion valued at approximately $1,000 from her bedroom.
The suspect is described only as a tall black male, possibly wearing gray sweatpants and a gray hooded sweatshirt. Police are still investigating how the suspect gained entry to the apartment. There is no other information available for release at this time.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Ray Gulbin at 973-509-4739 or Detective Terence Turner at 973-509-4724.
In other blotter:
Theft and Drug Arrest
On 5/27/11 at approximately 9:40 PM, police responded to Raymond’s on Church Street on a report of a theft of a purse in progress. Upon arrival, police located a group of people outside the restaurant holding onto a female, later identified as Deidra Lopez. Police then spoke to the victim, who stated that Lopez had stolen her purse.
The victim elaborated, telling police that she was seated at a table outside Raymond’s with a friend. She said that Lopez walked by her table, bumped into it, and took her purse. The victim immediately jumped up and grabbed Lopez in an attempt to retrieve her purse, valued at $250. A crowd then gathered and assisted in detaining Lopez until police arrived.
Lopez was placed under arrest. A search of Lopez revealed that she was also in possession of four vials of cocaine and four pills believed to be Xanax in a clear plastic bag. Lopez, 39, of Montclair, was charged with theft of movable property, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, unlawful possession of prescription drugs, and harassment. Bail was set at $25,000.Anyone wishing to report drug activity is asked to call 973-509-4720.
Burglary
On 5/27/11 at approximately 7:05 PM, police responded to a single-family residence on Briar Hill Road on a report of a burglary. The victim told police that sometime between 5/20/11 and 6:30 PM on 5/26/11, someone had stolen numerous pieces of jewelry from under a night stand in his bedroom. The missing items included a Bertolucci watch valued at $6,000, a set of opera-length pearls valued at $7,500, a locket with a chain valued at $500, a men’s gold wedding band valued at $1,000, a diamond bracelet valued at $2,500, a chain valued $500, and a white gold ring with seven stones valued at approximately $900. There were no signs of forced entry to the residence and it is possible that the suspect accessed the residence through an unsecured window or an unlocked rear door. There are no suspects at this time.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Joseph Anderson at 973-509-4706.
Aggravated Assault
On 5/28/11 at approximately 12:45 AM, police responded to The Meat Locker on Park Street on a report of paint balls being shot from a vehicle in the area. The caller stated that the vehicle, described as a dark-colored Volkswagen with tinted windows, fired paint balls and fled south towards South Park Street before returning a second time.
Upon arrival, police spoke to the caller, who stated that the occupants of the vehicle had fired orange-colored paintballs into the crowd gathered outside the establishment. One individual, a twenty-one year old Montclair female, was struck in the face from one of the projectiles and suffered a minor laceration. In addition, a Nissan Rogue which was parked in the area was struck by a paint ball on the driver’s side window and the exterior of 8 Park Street had marks from where it was struck by paint balls. There was no description of the suspects provided at the time of the report.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Lynn McCarthy at 973-509-4725.Vandalism
On 5/28/11 at approximately 1:15 PM, police responded to a multi-family residence on Miller Street on a report of vandalism to the property. The complainant told police that shortly after midnight on the 28th, she heard several loud bangs on the side of the house. She stated that she believed the noises to be someone knocking on the door, but discovered that there was no one there.
When the complainant left the house that morning, she discovered ten markings on the front of the residence in blue and orange paint. The damage is consistent with paint balls.
There are no suspects at this time.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Lynn McCarthy at 973-509-4725.
Suspicious Activity
On 5/29/11 at approximately 3:55 PM, police responded to the Montclair Public Library on South Fullerton Avenue on a report of a suspicious person. Upon arrival, police spoke to the complainant, a thirty-six year old Montclair female, who stated that she was walking north on South Fullerton Avenue when a male passed her on the sidewalk and said something to her. The female did not hear what the male said and turned around. The male then told her, “I’m going to take your dress off.” The female continued to walk north on South Fullerton Avenue and was followed by the male. As she walked faster, the male increased his pace as well. The female then saw her husband and signaled for him. The suspect then stopped following her and was last seen in the area of South Fullerton Avenue and Gates Avenue.
The suspect is described as a black male in his late thirties, 5’9”, medium build, medium length black hair and a beard, and last seen wearing a black and white Army jacket with multiple layers underneath.Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Terence Turner at 973-509-4724.
Vandalism to a Motor Vehicle
On 5/28/11 at approximately 11:00 AM, police responded to Park Street on a report of a motor vehicle. The victim told police that she parked her vehicle, a Hyundai Elantra, in the driveway on 5/27/11 at approximately 4:20 PM. When she returned to the vehicle the following morning at approximately 11:00 AM, she noticed that the vehicle’s hood had been dented and a portion of the right front headlight lens had been smashed. Police inspected the damage and it appeared that the hood had been struck several times. There are no suspects at this time.
Vandalism
On 5/29/11 at approximately 11:25 AM, police responded to a multi-family residence on Wheeler Street on a report of vandalism. The complainant told police that sometime between 7:30 PM on the 28th and 11:25 AM on the 29th, someone had spray painted a telephone and cable box with red spray paint. The graffiti is located on the northeast corner of the residence.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Wil Young at 973-509-4719.Vandalism
On 5/27/11 at approximately 5:00 PM, police responded to Canterbury Park on a report of vandalism. An inspection of the area revealed miscellaneous graffiti on a construction sign, an aluminum sign, a slide in the playground, and on a wall of the parks’ recreation storage facility. The majority of the graffiti appears to have been done with a black marker or spray paint and is illegible. In addition, a water fountain was broken from its foundation and was left lying on the ground. The complainants were unable to state when the vandalism was believed to have been committed. There are no suspects at this time.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact the Juvenile Aid Bureau at 973-509-4733.
Theft
On 5/30/11 at approximately 6:15 PM, police received a report of a theft that occurred at Church Street Catering on Church Street. The victim stated that she was at the establishment on 5/29/11 between noon and 1:00 PM. She told police that she left behind a gray cash box on a table when she left the restaurant. Over $7,000 in gift cards were in the box for the Unitarian Church. The victim returned to the restaurant on 5/30/11 at approximately 10:00 AM to retrieve the cash box. She later inspected the contents of the cash box and discovered that $900 in Pathmark gift cards and $20 cash were missing. The victim returned to Church Street Catering to inquire about the missing gift cards, but no one was able to name a suspect or information related to the missing items. There are no suspects at this time.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Ray Gulbin at 973-509-4739.
On Sunday at about 2 a.m., police detained Devon Marshall for concealing a laptop under his arm as he walked south on Greenwood Ave.. He surrendered the item and walked away. He was arrested about 13 hours later when a Grove Street resident reported a laptop, Canon videocam and Blackberry Curve missing and police found two Canon cameras and a Blackberry Curve in Marshall’s possession.
