DUI on Pennington Road near Bull Run Road
Officer Blake DeMeter conducted a traffic stop on Pennington Road near Bull Run Road on July 5 after making observations on a white Mazda 6 that crossed lane markings and rumble strips multiple times southbound on Pennington Road. Officer DeMeter approached the vehicle and made contact with the driver. Due to suspicion of driving under the influence, he was asked to step out of the vehicle for field sobriety testing. Once completed with testing, he was placed under arrest for DUI and transported to headquarters for processing and later released. The matter will be heard in Municipal Court.
Car Problems Lead to Arrest for Possession
On June 30, Officer James Stanton responded to a River Road address for a reported abandoned vehicle blocking the driveway. Stanton arrived and found the vehicle was unregistered. As Officer Stanton was beginning to issue summonses and arrange a tow truck, the driver arrived with a gas can, as the vehicle ran out of fuel. While on scene speaking with the driver, a glass jar containing suspected psilocybin mushrooms. When asked about the jar, the driver confirmed that they were psilocybin mushrooms. He was arrested on scene for possession of CDS and issued several motor vehicle summonses. He was transported to the police department for processing and later released. The matter will be heard in Municipal Court.
Fraud Victim has Accounts Hacked
On July 5, Officer Maria Gavdanovich met with a victim of fraud in the HTPD lobby. The victim reported that unauthorized funds were transferred from his checking account to his investment account without authorization. The victim reported his computer was hacked and received a phone call from an unknown party claiming to be from the FBI. This party gave instructions for the victim to withdraw funds to purchase bitcoin – similar to other frauds reported in the past. Ultimately, funds were transferred from the victims account into his investment account without his authorization. The accounts were ultimately frozen in time and no financial loss has been incurred yet.
Vehicle Stolen on Stout Road Found in Newark
Officer James Stanton responded to a Stout Road address on July 6 for a report of a stolen vehicle overnight. The vehicle, a BMW X5 Wagon, was reportedly stolen from the residence during the overnight hours. The registered owner provided all information to the officer, and the vehicle was ultimately entered stolen into NCIC. The vehicle also contained approximately $8,000 in valuables. On July 7th Newark Police Department recovered the vehicle, which was returned to the owner. All of the valuables were missing from the vehicle. The investigation is ongoing as the suspect(s) have not been identified yet.
Car Broken into at Forge Circle
On July 6, Officer Brandon Kuzma responded to a Forge Circle address for a report of criminal mischief to a vehicle. The victim reported that someone entered their vehicle and caused excessive damage to the interior, specifically the center console (digital screen damaged, all vents damaged, and buttons / knobs all damaged). The vehicle may or may not have been left open. A potential suspect was reported, however the investigation is active and ongoing.
Identity Theft in the Township
Officer Maria Gavdanovich met with a victim of identity theft in the HTPD lobby on July 10. The victim reported that an unknown party had opened multiple accounts in her name. The account included T-Mobile, Montgomery Ford, and Verizon. All were notified of the fraud, as transactions were reported by the victim. The victim has suffered no financial loss at this time.
