Clifton Journal Police Blotter
A Day Street elderly resident was scammed out of jewelry by a man who posed as a water company employee on Feb. 8.
According to police reports, the elderly resident allowed the suspect to enter the home to inspect the water and after he left it was discovered that jewelry had been stolen.
A Roland Avenue home was reported broken into on Feb. 11.
According to police reports, entry was gained through a window and jewelry was reported stolen.
An East Clifton Avenue home was reported broken into on Feb. 9.
According to police reports, a window was used to gain entry and electronics were reported stolen.
A basement apartment on the 300 block of Lakeview Avenue was reported broken into between Feb. 12 and Feb. 13.
According to police reports, a door was pried open to gain entry and tools were reported stolen.
Angel Luis Velez, 32, of Paterson, was arrested and charged with possession of burglary tools, possession of stolen property and theft on Feb. 15.
According to police reports, Officer Robert Miller responded to a possible burglary in progress on Hawthorne Avenue during the morning of Feb. 15. The caller told police a suspect was knocking on doors in the area, reports show. Officer Miller located Velez and during a search located jewelry pieces on him that had been reported stolen from a Hudson Street home on Feb. 12.
Following an investigation, Velez was charged. The investigation continues.
Ruben Lucero, 41, of Paterson, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) on Feb. 15.
According to police reports, Officer Adam Courtney responded to a motor vehicle accident report on Lexington Avenue. During questioning the officer detected signs of intoxication and following an investigation charged Lucero with DWI.
Franklyn Espinoza, 33, of Newark was arrested and charged with DWI on Feb. 13.
According to police reports, Espinoza was involved in a motor vehicle accident at Route 21 and Route 3. During questioning, officers detected signs of intoxication and eventually charged him.
Elisandro Soriano, 25, of Clifton, was arrested and charged with theft on Feb. 14.
According to police reports, officers responded to a report of a stolen van that had been left unlocked with the engine running from the 400 block of Lexington Avenue. Officers quickly located and stopped the van on Highland Avenue which was being operated by Soriano and charged him.
A 1996 Ford Econoline Van was reported stolen while parked on the 400 block of Lexington Avenue on Feb. 14.
A 2014 Honda was reported stolen while parked on Campbell Avenue between Feb. 13 and Feb. 14.
A 2006 Jeep was reported stolen while parked in the lot of the LaQuinta Inn on Route 3 west between Feb. 12 and Feb. 13.
A 1996 Honda was reported stolen while parked on Trenton Avenue between Feb. 11 and Feb. 12.
Marvin Johnson, 47, of Brooklyn, N.Y., Marion Newton, 47, of East Elmhurst, N.Y., and Willy Johnson, 28, of Brooklyn, N.Y., were arrested and charged with shoplifting assorted merchandise from Sports Authority on Route 3 east on Feb. 15.
A 23-year-old Avenel man was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia on Feb. 14 during a motor vehicle stop on Highland Avenue.
The suspect's name was not released by the police department spokesman, who cited a possible investigation as the reason.
A 42-year-old man from Passaic was arrested and charged with possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia on Feb. 12.
According to police reports, Officers Ryan Maloney and Timothy Taffin responded to a report of a suspicious person on River Road at Oak Street. Once on scene the officers questioned the man and eventually charged him.
Recovered stolen vehicles
A Pontiac Sunfire reported stolen in Passaic last week was found on Route 46 in Clifton on Feb. 10.
A 2008 freightliner reported stolen in Carlstadt in January was found on Ackerman Avenue in Clifton on Feb. 9.
Burglary to vehicles
A 2004 Chrysler van was reported broken into while parked on Van Houten Avenue between Feb. 10 and Feb. 11.
According to police reports, a briefcase was reported stolen.
A 2007 Dodge truck was reported broken into while parked on Main and Sylvan avenues on Feb. 15.
A 2008 Mazda was reported broken into while parked on East Fourth Street between Feb. 8 and Feb. 9.
According to police reports, a phone and other personal items were reported stolen.
"Police Blotter" is compiled from information provided by police departments. The information is released to the press at the discretion of the police department and may not represent the total scope of police activity. All persons are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
By Albina Sportelli
Email: sportelli@northjersey.com