Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The challenge rewards the best overall traffic safety programs in the country.
The Cranford Police Department was recently honored after receiving a first place finish in the 46-75 officer category of the New Jersey Law Enforcement Challenge for the fifth year in a row. The Law Enforcement Challenge is a competition between similar sizes and types of law enforcement agencies. It recognizes and rewards the best overall traffic safety programs in the United States. The areas of concentration include efforts to enforce laws and educate the public about occupant protection, impaired driving, and speeding. The wining safety programs are those that combine officer training, public information, and enforcement to reduce crashes and injuries within its jurisdiction. The township of Cranford saw a 32 percent decrease in …
A routine motor vehicle stop led to the arrest of an Orange resident.
Cranford Police arrested an Orange man on May 2 for alleged possession and distribution of heroin. Following a stop for motor vehicle violations on May 2 at 9:52 a.m. in the area of Coleman Avenue and Raritan Road, Patrolman Spencer Durkin arrested the passenger of the vehicle, Jahad Mitchell, 33, of Orange, for multiple outstanding criminal and traffic warrants. While conducting a search of the suspect, Ptl. Durkin located 150 folds of suspected heroin. Mitchell was charged with possession of heroin, distribution of heroin, intent to distribute heroin within a school zone, possession of prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia. Mitchell had outstanding criminal warrants out of West Caldwell in the amount of $500, a warrant from …
Monday, May 14, 2012
The bicycle was recovered on May 12.
The Cranford Police Department Investigative Division is currently looking for the victim of a bicycle theft that occured this past weekend in the areas of Walnut Avenue, Lincoln Avenue, High Street, Lincoln Park East, Mansion Terrace, Stratford Terrace, etc. The bicycle was recovered on May 12. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Cranford Police Department at 908-272-2222 and ask for a member of the Investigative Division.
One winds up on the train tracks, another on a front lawn.
Each week, Patch takes a peek at some of the more surprising, shocking, stunning and occasionally silly police-related incidents reported throughout New Jersey for "OMGs from NJ PDs." On the Wrong Track: Contrary to popular belief, there is no "wrong side of the tracks." Well, not unless you count the top side. A driver who made a wrong turn wound up on the train tracks paralleling Route 17, leading authorities to shut down New Jersey Transit traffic on the line, according to Hasbrouck Heights Police. It took police about an hour to remove the vehicle from the tracks. We're not sure how long it took onlookers to remove their palms from their faces. Not Quite a Smoking Gun, But Close: You think smoking's bad for you? It's even worse if you'…
Authorities say the incident took place on the 'south side' of the township.
Cranford Police have arrested two men in connection with an alleged sexual assault that took place over the weekend. In the early morning hours of May 12, the Cranford Police Department responded to a residence on the south side of the township on the report of a sexual assault, police said in a brief press release Monday afternoon. Shortly after the arrival of Cranford Police officers, an extensive investigation ensued and the suspects in the sexual assault were quickly apprehended. Taken into custody and charged with first degree aggravated sexual assault were, Marcus Mouzon, 21, of Princeton Road in Linden and Nahjee Faine, 19, of McArthur Court in Linden. Both suspects are currently being held in the Union County Jail in Elizabeth on $…
Friday, May 11, 2012
A carjacking in Essex County led police to two suspects allegedly involved in a Cranford burglary.
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Friday, May 11
In the early morning hours of May 7, the Cranford Police Department responded to a Hickory Street address on the report of a residential burglary. During the course of the burglary, seven firearms, ammunition and various personal belongings were stolen from the home. Detective Ryan Greco processed the crime scene and was successful in collecting physical evidence that would prove critical in identifying the actors. While Cranford Detectives were investigating the case, the Belleville and Nutley Police Departments assisted with a break in the case. On the evening of May 8, the Belleville and Nutley Police pursued a vehicle that had been carjacked in East Orange on May 5. The suspects were wanted in connection with a string of armed …
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Union County recognizes Mental Health Awareness Month by creating Crisis Intervention Teams to handle calls involving mentally challenged people.
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Wednesday, May 9
The following article was provided by the Union County Prosecutor's Office. On a recent day in Scotch Plains, it looked like a wrestling match or a judo class was underway at the John H. Stamler Police Academy. In fact, it was the latest in law-enforcement training. Union County law-enforcement and mental-health professionals have joined forces to implement Crisis Intervention Team training. Known as CIT, this 40-hour joint training teaches police and mental health workers to respond to mental health calls using verbal de-escalation skills and less than lethal force. Initiated by Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow, Union County has held four CIT classes since March 2011 with two more planned for June and October. Class size is limited to …
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
A bear first spotted on Chestnut Street yesterday reappeared this morning in a tree behind town hall.
Town hall employees in Union had a special visitor as they arrived to work this morning: an 18-month-old, 187-pound male black bear had climbed a tree behind the building and settled in. The bear was previously spotted by a resident on Chestnut Street yesterday, but when police arrived, the bear had disappeared. (Though initial reports stated the bear was sighted near Connecticut Farms Church Nursery School, police told Patch yesterday that the bear was actually in a resident's yard and not near the school.) But today the bear came out of hiding once again, spotted by employees around 8:30 a.m. Police kept an eye on the bear while waiting for a bear rescue team, according to Union Township Media Technician Natalie DaSilva. "There are only …
Interviews to replace retiring CPD chief/interim Town Administrator Eric Mason have been postponed while council members review a new Division of Pensions and Benefits rule that would cost Mason for jumping immediately into the new job.
Cranford Mayor David Robinson says the township cancelled two special committee meetings with candidates for retiring Cranford Police Chief Eric Mason in order to interview them all in one day. But he wouldn't say if the decision had anything to do with new rules that could affect Mason's transition from police chief to full-time township administrator. Mason, who announced that he would step down as police chief on May 31 after 35 years with the CPD, has been embroiled in controversy since the February 28 meeting in which township council unanimously approved Mason to take over as full-time administrator. Mason has worked as police chief and as interim township administrator since last September, when former administrator Marlena Schmid …
Monday, May 7, 2012
Also, someone made off with a whole lot of cooking oil. Slick.
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Monday, May 7
Each week, Patch takes a peek at some of the more surprising, shocking, stunning and occasionally silly police-related incidents reported throughout New Jersey for "OMGs from NJ PDs." Big Wheels Keep on Turning: A runaway van veered into oncoming traffic on the White Horse Pike, crashed against a guard rail and nearly struck a small gathering of people at the edge of Newton Lake in Camden County (our title for this section would have worked better if it was a river onto which the van was almost rollin').Amazingly, no one was hurt, but police say an intoxicated driver may have been asleep at the wheel. At Least it Wasn't a Cow: Scotch Plains Police say a horse escaped from Watchung Stables. After a brief chase, he was cornered by Scotch …
J. Poore
12:39 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
What's interesting is that Chief Mason had time to run to Brookside School for a photo op with FEMA for a $1.6 million dollar check, but can't inform the public a little better? Hopefully the Homeland Security Dept, who oversees FEMA will keep and demand articulate records for how that money is spent. Where that woman was supposedly attacked is a route a lot of folks take who walk to and from the… more ›