The latest crime in Montclair from Lt. Scott Buehler:
Robbery
On 7/22/11 at approximately 3:00 PM, police responded to the Immaculate Conception Cemetery on Valley Road in Upper Montclair on a report of a robbery. The victim, an 82-year-old Verona resident, stated that he was visiting the cemetery and tending to a grave when he was attacked from behind. The victim stated that the attacker pushed him to the ground and held him in a chokehold while repeatedly shouting, “Don’t fight!” the suspect then forcefully removed a wallet from the victim’s back pocket and ran west towards Valley Road. The victim, who did not report any injuries, stated that the wallet, made of alligator skin and valued at $100, contained approximately $40 cash and numerous identification cards.
The victim is described as a black male, 6’0”, twenty-five to thirty-five years old, over 200 lbs., with a muscular build. The suspect was last seen wearing gray pants and no shirt.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Joseph Anderson at 973-509-4706.
Armed Robbery
On 7/24/11 at approximately 12:55 AM, police received a report from a twenty-five year old Glen Ridge resident concerning a robbery. The victim told police that he had left a party on Midland Avenue at approximately midnight and was walking when he was approached by a male in the area of Orange Road and Bloomfield Avenue. The male asked the victim for a light while another male attacked the victim from behind, kicking him in the back and causing him to fall face first into the ground. The victim believes that approximately four or five other individuals then started to kick and punch him in the face and ribs. One male then placed a silver flip knife with a three or four inch blade in front of the victim’s face while another male went through the victim’s pockets. The victim is unsure if the males stole anything from him, as he stated that he was not carrying any money.
The suspect who initially approached the victim is described as a black male, twenty-five to thirty years old, clean-shaven with short black hair. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt and dark pants. The victim was unable to provide a description of any of the other suspects at the time of the report.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Ray Gulbin at 973-509-4739.
Vandalism
On 7/23/11 at approximately 3:15 PM, police responded to Sprinkles on Orange Road on a report of vandalism. The caller told police that sometime between 5:30 PM on the 22nd and 2:00 PM on the 23rd, someone had damaged the glass front door to the business. It is believed that the damage was caused by a thrown rock. There are no suspects at this time.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Ricky Singleton at 973-509-4722.
Vandalism
On 7/23/11 at approximately 3:25 PM, police were checking the area of Orange Road after a previously reported vandalism when they observed a broken window at the Lincoln Monument Company on Orange Road. Police also found a rock next to the broken window. There are no suspects at this time.
Assault
On 7/23/11 at approximately 6:00 PM, police responded to the area of Villa Victoria on Park Street on a report of a possibly intoxicated female causing a disturbance. Upon arrival, police located a female suspect. Police then spoke to an employee at the pizzeria who stated that she had been inside the pizzeria prior to police arrival and had caused a disturbance by screaming and cursing. According to the employee, when he asked her to leave the store, she became increasingly irate and bit the victim’s arm. When police attempted to escort the woman, she continuously screamed, “Get off me!” and attempted to bite one of the responding officers.
The 45 year old from Montclair was charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct.
Theft
On 7/23/11 at approximately 7:20 PM, police received a report from a Montclair resident concerning a stolen bicycle. The victim stated that he was in the area of North Fullerton Avenue and Yale Terrace on the 22nd at approximately 10:20 PM when he allowed another juvenile to ride his bicycle. On the 23rd, the victim learned from a friend that the juvenile who he had allowed to ride the bicycle had left it in Glenfield Park. The victim searched the park, but could not locate the bicycle. The bicycle is described as a blue-green men’s Bianchi Road Bike valued at $400.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact the Juvenile Aid Bureau at 973-509-4733.
Theft
On 7/23/11 at approximately 7:35 PM, police responded to the Bay Street Parking Deck on a report of a stolen bicycle. The complainant told police that he chained his bicycle to the bike rack at the Bay Street Deck on the 22nd at 6:00 PM. When he returned to the deck on the 23rd at approximately 7:35 PM, he discovered that the bike was missing. The bicycle is described as a silver and burgundy Next Mountain Bike. There are no suspects at this time.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact the Juvenile Aid Bureau at 973-509-4733.
Theft Arrest
On 7/9/11 at approximately 10:38 AM, police received a report from an employee at the Crowd Around Deli on Glenridge Avenue concerning the theft of approximately $300 in lottery tickets.
As a result on an ongoing investigation, detectives identified Arthur Bailey as a suspect in this incident. On 7/23/11 at approximately 8:30 PM, detectives observed Bailey in a Volvo 960 on Grove Street. Detectives stopped the vehicle and placed Bailey under arrest. Bailey, 40, of Montclair, was charged with theft of movable property. Bail was set at $4,000.
Drug Arrest
On 7/24/11 at approximately 2:15 AM, police were patrolling the area of Rand Park when they observed a Nissan Maxima pull into a parking lot near the park. After entering the lot, the Maxima was approached by six to eight individuals. Police then entered the park to investigate and disperse the group, as the park was closed. As police approached the Maxima, the driver, later identified as James Aguiar, exited the vehicle. Police reported that Aguiar smelled of burnt marijuana and observed a plastic bag protruding from under the front passenger’s side seat of the Maxima.
Further investigation revealed that 20 bags of marijuana and over 40 Oxycodone pills were in the vehicle. An open bottle of vodka was also located inside the vehicle. Aguiar, 19, of Montclair was placed under arrest and charged with possession of over fifty grams of marijuana, two counts of possession of a prescription legend drug, one count of possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, one count of possession of Oxycodone with intent to distribute, two counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute within five hundred feet of Rand Park, two counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute within one thousand feet of Rand School, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail was set at $60,000. He is scheduled to be transported to the Essex County Jail.
Vandalism to a Motor Vehicle
On 7/24/11 at approximately 12:50 PM, police responded to Clinton Avenue on a report of vandalism to a motor vehicle. The complainant reported that the locking mechanism on his BMW was tampered with sometime before 1:00 AM on the 24th. Nothing was reported missing from the vehicle and there are no suspects at this time.
Attempted Motor Vehicle Theft
On 7/24/11 at approximately 5:10 PM, police responded to an apartment building’s parking lot on Glenridge Avenue on a report of an attempted motor vehicle theft. The victim stated that sometime between the 19th and the 23rd, someone had entered her Jeep Cherokee. Police examined the vehicle and observed extensive damage to the vehicle’s passenger’s side door lock and the steering column. There are no suspects at this time.
Attempted Motor Vehicle Theft
On 7/24/11 at approximately 9:35 PM, police responded to an apartment complex on Pine Street on a report of an attempted motor vehicle theft. The victim told police that sometime between the 18th and the 22nd, someone had punched out the driver’s side door lock on his Audi A3. There are no suspects at this time.
Burglary
On 7/26/11 at approximately 5:30 AM, police were dispatched to the Erie Saloon on Depot Square on a report of a burglary. The caller told police that the glass in the building’s front door had been shattered. Police arrived and checked the interior of the building, but determined that the suspect was no longer on scene. While checking the interior, police located an “Employees Only” door that appeared to have been damaged. The door had been opened and moulding was found nearby on the ground.
An employee responded to the business and determined that a key to a safe was taken. At the time of the report, the employee was unable to determine if the key was used to access the safe, which was believed to have contained approximately $760. There are no suspects at this time.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Terence Turner at 973-509-4724.
Vandalism
On 7/25/11 at approximately 5:55 PM, police responded to an apartment building on Bloomfield Avenue on a report of vandalism. The complainant told police that sometime between 5:00 PM on the 24th and 6:00 AM on the 25th, someone had vandalized the exterior of the building. Police then spoke to a tenant, who reported that another family member believes that she heard someone climbing a ramp on the west side of the building in a possible attempt to access the roof sometime during the night.
The damage consisted of the phrases “biuba”, “R.T.L.”, and “Pace” being written in black paint. There are no suspects at this time.
That’s awful what happened to that 82 yr old man at the cemetery! I have a child buried there and now I will be afraid to visit. The only crime I’ve ever been warned about is people stealing your graveside flowers or Christmas wreaths if you don’t secure them into the ground. What is this world coming to? Is nothing sacred? This economy has created an environment of desperation. So sad.
My parents are buried there, meg, and it is disgusting that such a crime would happen. I’m so sorry to read of your loss.
Meg, so sorry for you loss.
Thanks you guys. It was a long time ago, but as Nellie surely knows from paying respects to her parents, crime is the last thing on your mind when you visit a cemetery. Sorry for your loss, Nells. So that’s the latest scoop on the bottom of “cemetery hill” at Immaculate Conception Cemetery. Now what’s the deal with the top of the hill on the WASP side of the cemetery? I’ve got some family up there, too, at Mt. Hebron Cemetery, including my Dad. Any incidents there or is it free from crime?