Crime & Safety
Garwood Man Found Asleep in Cranford Man’s Car, Police Say
A Cranford resident found a man passed out at the wheel of his car when leaving for work Thursday morning.
Kurt Mueller was getting ready Thursday to leave for a typical work day, until he found a man passed out behind the wheel of his car, police said.
The car was parked in the driveway of a Burnside Avenue home, unlocked, when Mueller noticed Jason Nardone, 24, of Garwood, sleeping behind the wheel, police said.
Nardone fled the scene after the resident discovered him and Detective John Swandrak and Officer Nelson Hearns located him a few blocks away where he was arrested and charged with criminal trespass, according to Sgt. Gerard Quinn.
When Mueller opened the door to his car, he asked Nardone his name and if he knew anyone in the area, Mueller told Patch. Nardone mentioned he was a friend of a local family, but Mueller did not recognize the name.
“Realizing he was in bad shape I called police,” Mueller said. “He took out his phone to make a call then he ran into my backyard.”
Police arrived within two minutes, Mueller said. He stated that Nardone was discovered near Burnside Avenue and Williams Street where Mueller identified him and he was arrested by police.
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