Carlstadt

On May 3, at approximately 6:58 p.m., police responded to Meadow Lane on the report of a fire in the meadows. Upon arrival, an officer observed flames and smoke coming from a section of meadows behind 480 Meadow Lane. After putting the officer put the blaze out with his fire extinguisher, it was determined that someone had dumped a wood pallet, old framing and paper then had lit it on fire. The fire was contained to a small area.

Burglary/Theft

Carlstadt

On May 2, at approximately 2:22 p.m., a complainant at Davco Energy Systems, located at 313 10th St., responded to headquarters to report the unlawful taking of property by his employees. The complainant told police that his work trucks are equipped with GPS monitoring devices and after seeing that employees were using a truck off-duty, he investigated their destination, a home in North Haledon. The complainant found 60 bags of the company’s fiberglass insulation at the home valued at $2,500.

East Rutherford

On May 3, at approximately 2:10 a.m., an officer on patrol observed a red Dodge parked between several tractor-trailers at a lot on Whelan Road. On closer inspection, the officer observed a man, later identified as Edwin Gains, 30, of Florida, attempting to access the tractors’ fuel tanks. When the officer approached Gains, he fled. The officer was able to arrest Gains at the Diamond Chemical parking lot. In questioning, Gains denied any wrongdoing and claimed not have been the driver of the car. But a search revealed the keys to the car’s ignition on Gains, and equipment for pumping and storing diesel fuel inside the car. Gains was arrested for burglary and bail was set at $10,000 with a 10% option.

On May 2, at approximately 9:31 a.m., a Maryland woman reported the theft of a $500 GPS unit from her 2006. Minutes later, a Maryland man reported the theft of a $600 radio/television from his blue 2005 Nissan. Both were parked at the Homestead Village on Route 3 East. An unknown actor had entered the vehicles by smashing their driver’s side windows.

Lyndhurst

On May 9, at approximately 3:21 a.m., a driver for Schuyler Taxi Co. reported dropping a customer off on the 600-block of Baldwin Avenue who owed the driver $55. The customer however entered a home and never paid the driver.

On May 5, at approximately 6:08 p.m., police received a call of a burglary to a business on the 400-block of Valley Brook Avenue. Police reported that $350 in cash had been stolen from the business’ cash register and evidence was taken from the scene for processing. There was no sign of forced entry.

Rutherford

On May 7, at approximately 7:07 p.m., a complainant reported a black a bike was stolen from the front lawn of his residence on Hawthorne Street sometime around 6:30 p.m.

On May 7, at approximately 11:11 a.m., a complainant reported his 2003 Suzuki motorcycle was stolen from the rear parking lot at 173 Darin Ave. sometime between 2 and 10:30 a.m. The bike as valued at $6,000.

On May 5, at approximately 7:36 p.m., a Raymond Avenue resident returned home from vacation to find that someone had broken into his house by pulling out a basement window. A laptop computer as reported missing. The complainant had been on vacation since April 30.

On May 5, at approximately 6:26 p.m., a complainant reported he left a bike at a friend’s house the previous day and when he returned the next day, it was missing. The bike was valued at $500.

On May 5, at approximately 8:54 p.m., a complainant reported someone stole a plastic flower pot from the front of her Union Avenue residence sometime between May 4 and the day of the complaint.

On May 4, at approximately 7:29 p.m., a complainant reported his child’s bike was stolen from the rear yard of his Raymond Avenue residence sometime between 7:05 and 7:15 p.m. that evening.

On May 4, at approximately 6:41 p.m., a complainant reported a $50 terra cotta flower pot was stolen from the front of his Union Avenue.

On May 4, at approximately 6:15 a.m., a complainant reported his 2004 Ford van was stolen from the driveway of his Raymond Avenue residence sometime overnight.

North Arlington

On May 2, at approximately 10 p.m., police received a report of a stolen Ford F350 dump truck from Prospect Avenue. Rutherford police recovered the vehicle on May 4 at 10 a.m.

CDS

East Rutherford

On May 8, at approximately 5:04 p.m., an officer on patrol stopped a black 2000 Honda Civic for a broken taillight and an expired inspection sticker. On interacting with the occupants of the vehicle, the officer noticed the passenger, later identified as 22-year-old Sean Michael Banta of East Rutherford, was attempting to conceal a hypodermic needle in his pocket. Banta also had on him several items of jewelry, which he later admitted to have stolen from his parents. Banta also admitted that he planned to pawn the jewelry and use the profits to buy heroin in Newark. Banta was arrested for the possession of a hypodermic needle, though his parents declined to press charges for the burglary.

Rutherford

On May 6, at approximately 11:43 a.m., a complainant came to police headquarters to report she had found what appeared to be the burnt end of a marijuana cigarette and several pills in her son’s possession. Her son was brought in for questioning and it turned out he had a prescription pill on him at the time. The juvenile stated the pills had been taken from his parents. Juvenile charges for CDS possession are pending.

On May 5, at approximately 3:40 p.m., the vice principal of the Pierrepont School reported finding a plastic bag with a green vegetative substance believed to be marijuana on school grounds near the playground. Police were alerted to step up patrols of the area but nothing else was found or reported.

On May 5, at approximately 12:13 p.m., a teacher at Rutherford High School reported finding a plastic bag with a green vegetative substance believed to be marijuana on the floor of a classroom.

Criminal Mischief

Rutherford

On May 7, a complainant reported finding a 20-foot span of graffiti on the east wall of the Washington School gymnasium.

DWI

Carlstadt

On May 6, at approximately 10:47 p.m., an officer on patrol on Route 17 North observed a Hyundai with both back brake lights continuously lit up. After pulling the vehicle over, the officer detected the odor of alcohol on the driver’s breath. After failing a roadside sobriety test, police arrested and charged 49-year-old Michael Douris of Hackensack with DWI. He was also issued a summons for failure to maintain lamps.

Miscellaneous

East Rutherford

On May 4, at approximately 5:07 p.m., a complainant reported that he observed a white male masturbating in the grass median behind the Sheraton Hotel in East Rutherford. Police responded to the scene and observed Sean Michael Brennan, 40, of Florida, laying on his back and pulling up his pants. When officers questioned Brennan, he claimed to have been urinating. Brennan was arrested pending the signing off a complaint by the eyewitness.

Lyndhurst

On May 5, at approximately 3:19 p.m., police responded to a call of a man that had been confronting children near Roosevelt School asking for money and directions. The man was also reported to have been aimlessly walking in and out of traffic near the corner of Weart and Kingsland Avenues. Upon arrival and subsequent investigation, police arrested 38-year-old Robert Golak of North Arlington for disorderly conduct. He was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital due to his level of intoxication at the time.