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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Over $500 in Jewelry Snatched from Elderly Woman's Cranford Home

Police say elderly residents have become victims of distraction burglaries.

Elderly Cranford residents have recently fallen victim to distraction burglaries, say Cranford Police. On Friday afternoon an elderly Springfield Avenue woman had over $500 in jewelry taken from her home while she was drawn into a discussion with a man posing as a roofing contractor.  On Wednesday morning an elderly Madison Avenue man was distracted by a man who wanted to discuss tree work, while an alleged accomplice entered the home and snatched a gold watch and other jewelery, before fleeing the property. Police did not report any injuries in either of the incidents.

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Traffic Stop For Seatbelt Violation Leads To Drug Arrest

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

Police arrested a Perth Amboy Man on Feb. 11 for drug possession following a routine motor vehicle stop. According to Cranford Police Reports, Patrolman Brian Lopez stopped a 2000 blue Dodge on Centennial Avenue at 4:05 p.m. for a passenger seatbelt violation. Following an investigation at the scene, Patrolman Lopez located suspected marijuana and Percocet on the person of the passenger, who was identified as Lawrence Grey, 50, of Perth Amboy. Grey was arrested, processed and released with a court appearance scheduled for Feb. 13 in Cranford Municipal Court. The driver, a 19-year-old male from Woodbridge, was released from the scene without being charged.

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Police Blotter

Traffic Stop Leads To Drug Arrest On Centennial Avenue

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

Cranford Police arrested a 43-year-old Elizabeth resident for drug possession and distribution following a motor vehicle stop on Jan. 30. Police say there was an 8-year-old child in the car at the time of the arrest. Kinner Harris was arrested at 9:55 p.m. following a traffic stop on Centennial Avenue at Grant Street. According to reports, Patrolman Spencer Durkin stopped a 1999 black Chrysler 300 for attempting an illegal left turn exiting the Garden State Parkway. During an investigation at the scene, Durkin located suspected heroin and marijuana in the driver's possession as well as suspected oxycodone pills inside the vehicle. Harris was arrested, processed and released after posting $20,000 bail with a court appearance scheduled for …

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Heroin Charge for 63-Year-Old Roger Avenue Man

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

On Tuesday, Jan. 8, Cranford Police charged Russell Loveland, 63, with heroin possession and possession of paraphernalia. The Roger Avenue resident was stopped by police while driving his 2012 Volkswagen Jetta near North Avenue and Elizabeth Avenue. Det. John Swandrak was working on a narcotics operation, according to a police repor,t and made the arrest following an investigation. According to a police report, Swandrak allegedly found heroin inside the vehicle and arrested Loveland around 9:50p.m.

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Cranford Police Arrest Woman in Hotel Lot on Heroin Charge

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

Just before 11p.m. on Jan. 2, Cranford Police responded to a suspicious vehicle call and arrested a Rahway woman for alleged heroin possession. Shevawn Taylor was charged with possession of heroin and possession of paraphernalia. Another passenger in the vehicle, which was parked in the Homewood Suites parking lot, was Taheerah Anthony, 34, who was charged with hindering apprehension. Police Officer Spencer Durkin said that Anthony, who is from Elizabeth, provided false identification, according to a police report. A 29-year-old man was driving the vehicle and was released at the scene. Both women were processed and released, police said. They were set to appear in Superior Court this week.

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2012 Year In Review

Cranford Year in Review: 2012 Police and Crime Stories

Here are the most-read stories that involved local police and crime in 2012.

Jan. 11, 2012 — Arrests Lead Schools to Reconsider Alcohol Policy The arrest of 47 juveniles during a New Year's Eve party for underage drinking has led school board members to consider reviving the district's drug-and-alcohol policy. At a Board of Education meeting Monday night, the New Year's Eve bust prompted board member Michael Caulfield to propose a motion to revive ADAPT, the Alcohol/Drug Assistance Program for Teens. The board is expected to vote on the issue during its Jan. 23 meeting. According to Cranford Police Lt. James Wozniak, at 10 p.m. on New Year's Eve, police were called to a home on Garden Street on a report of a fight taking place in that area. When police arrived, they discovered a "large number of juveniles on the …

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Report: Cranford Officer Injured, Taken to ER

An unconfirmed report says a Cranford officer was transported to Overlook Medical Center after a back injury.

There was an unconfirmed report on Friday night of an injured Cranford police officer who was taken to the emergency room at Overlook hospital. The incident was reported around 9:30p.m. and happened in the 400 block of Orchard Street, according to the report. An officer handling the switchboard on Friday night could not comment on the reported incident. According to the unconfirmed report, a police sergeant was called to the scene after an officer responding to a medical call sustained a back injury. It's not clear the extent of the injury or how it happened. Patch will follow-up on this police injury incident as more information becomes available.

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Letter to the Editor

Letter To The Editor: A Failure By Police To 'Protect And Serve'

A resident feels some police have shown a lack of respect and support.

Editor's note: The following letter was originally addressed to Mayor David Robinson and the Cranford Township Committee. Dear Mayor Robinson and Elected Officials: In light of today's elections and the changes forthcoming in our township, it is finally time for my voice to be heard. I planned to address you personally at the last town meeting which, obviously, did not occur. Following today's election, we all look forward to a full-time police chief and full-time administrator as well as a CFO. We look forward to a better and safer tomorrow. We are counting on each of you to always be there for us. I would like to remind each of you of my experience in town and ask that you seriously consider these facts with regard to the appointment of …

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Police Blotter

Police Blotter: Traffic Stops Lead To Arrests For DWI, Drugs

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

Nov. 8 Nov. 13 Nov. 15

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