Cranford Officers Will Bike To Washington, D.C. For 'Unity Tour'

Two members of the Cranford Police Department have been training for months to participate in the annual event, which honors officers killed in the line of duty.

The following press release was submitted by the Cranford Police Department. Two Cranford Police officers will represent the township’s police force on the upcoming Police Unity Tour bicycle ride to honor the sacrifices of police officers killed in the line of duty. Officers from around the United States will converge on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C. on May 12. Sgt. Guy Patterson and Officer Derek Farbanec will be the first Cranford officers to participate in the annual event, traveling more than 300 miles by bicycle. They will depart New Jersey on May 9. The Police Unity Tour was organized in May, 1997 by Chief Patrick P. Montuore of the Florham Park Police Department, with the hope of bringing public …

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Cranford PD Will Collect, Dispose Of Unused Medication

The Police Department will host a National Take Back Initiative medicine disposal day later this month.

The following press release was submitted by the Cranford Police Department. The Cranford Police Department will be hosting a local medication collection site as part of the National Take Back Initiative medicine disposal day. The event will take place at the Cranford Community Center, 220 Walnut Ave., between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on April 27. This initiative, open to all residents, was organized to encourage local community residents to properly dispose of their unused, unwanted and expired medicine. Police will be on hand to accept medication for disposal. No identification will be required and disposal is completely voluntary and anonymous. Needles, syringes and other sharp instruments will NOT be collected. This national …

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Police Blotter

Police Blotter: Traffic Stops Lead To Drug Charges, DWI Arrests

The following information was provided by the Cranford Police Department. An arrest does not indicate a conviction.

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Motorist Stopped For Cracked Windshield Arrested On Drug Charges

The following information was provided by the Cranford Police Department. An arrest does not indicate a conviction.

Following an investigation, a Woodbridge woman was arrested on drug possession charges after being pulled over by Cranford Police for having a cracked windshield. On April 8 at 11:06 a.m., Sgt. Guy Patterson stopped a green, 2000 Pontiac for a cracked windshield on Raritan Road at Coleman Avenue. During an investigation at the scene, he located suspected heroin and hypodermic syringes on the person of the driver, who was identified as Jenna Venturelli, 28, of Woodbridge. Venturelli was arrested, processed and transported to the Union County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bail pending an appearance in Superior Court. Venturelli was charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute in a school zone, …

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Cheers Erupt From Crowd as New Cranford Police Captain is Sworn In

James Wozniak was promoted to the rank of captain during Tuesday's Township Committee meeting.

A standing room only crowd filled council chambers Tuesday night to congratulate James Wozniak as he was sworn in as captain of the Cranford Police Department. The Cranford Township Committee officially approved the promotion of Capt. Wozniak two weeks ago, but it wasn't until the April 9 meeting that he took the ceremonial oath of office before a crowd of more than 100 spectators ranging from fellow police officers and community members to those involved in the local PAL, of which Wozniak serves as president. Township Clerk Tara Rowley, Police Chief Eric Mason, Commissioner Kevin Campbell and members of Wozniak's family joined the new captain on the dias as he was sworn in. "On behalf of the entire police department, we congratulate Capt…

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Narcotics Investigation Leads to Arrest of Cranford Man

Five-month investigation results in drug distribution charges.

The following is a press release from the Cranford Police Department. An arrest does not indicate a conviction. On April 3, Cranford Police arrested Richard Figueiredo, 46, of Cranford and charged him with distribution of marijuana and related charges, in connection with a narcotics investigation spanning over five months. Det. Ryan Greco initiated the narcotics investigation in October, 2012 after learning of possible narcotics activity on Burnside Avenue. The investigation eventually centered on a first floor resident (Figueiredo) of 106 Burnside Ave., a multi-family dwelling. Special agents from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration assisted in the investigation. Following an undercover surveillance operation on April 3 at …

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Police Blotter

Police Blotter: Georgia Man Allegedly Provides False ID to Police

The following information was provided by the Cranford Police Department. An arrest does not indicate a conviction.

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Cranford Police Discover Pistol Inside Vehicle Following Traffic Stop

The following information was provided by the Cranford Police Department. An arrest does not indicate a conviction.

A Newark man was arrested on March 13 after police discovered a pistol in his vehicle following a motor vehicle stop for erratic driving. According to Cranford Police, Patrolman Spencer Durkin stopped a black, 1998 Ford at 3:23 a.m. on Centennial Avenue at Raritan Road for erratic driving. During the investigation at the scene, the driver, identified as Joseph Webb, 45, of Newark, attempted to drive away but was stopped and apprehended several blocks away. Patrolman Durkin located a semi-automatic handgun — later determined to be a starter pistol loaded with blank 9mm rounds — inside the vehicle. Webb was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and eluding police. The suspect was …

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Police Blotter

Alleged Red Light Violation Leads To Oxycodone Arrest

The following information was provided by the Cranford Police Department. An arrest does not indicate a conviction.

A Linden man was arrested for possession of prescription pills on March 12, following a motor vehicle stop. According to Cranford Police, Patrolman Spencer Durkin stopped a green, 2000 Pontiac on Centennial Avenue at Raritan Road at 6:19 p.m. for allegedly failing to stop at a red light. During the course of an investigation, Patrolman Durkin located 24 suspected oxycodone pills inside the vehicle. The occupant of the vehicle, identified as Christopher Banko, 29, of Linden, was placed under arrest and charged with possession of prescription pills and possession of drug paraphernalia. Banko was transported to Cranford Police Headquarters where he was processed and released pending a court appearance in Union County Superior Court.

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