Readington police blotter

DISORDERLY CONDUCT, 5:30 p.m. March 12. Police were dispatched to McDonald's on Route 22 near after receiving a report of an intoxicated male harassing patrons. On arrival, officers found John Timko, 47, of the Whitehouse section, with an odor of an alcoholic beverage, swaying from side to side, and slurring his words. Police also said Timko was unreasonably loud and using offensive language. He was charged with disorderly conduct.

WARRANT ARREST, 9:38 a.m. March 13. Police were sent to Route 31 and West Woodschurch Road to investigate a motor vehicle crash. During the course of the investigation, police discovered a passenger in one of the vehicles was wanted by the Ocean County Sheriff's Department for failing to pay child support. Edwin Valerio, 37, of Malaga, was arrested and lodged in the Hunterdon County Jail in default of $41,362.94 in back child support. The crash was minor and no injuries were reported. MARIJUANA, 1:30 a.m. Feb. 28. Police stopped a car on on Cokesbury Road near Route 22 for erratic driving and faulty brake lights. Sgt. Christopher DeWire smelled burnt marijuana in the vehicle and a subsequent search uncovered marijuana and hashish, police said. Jeffrey Tell, 53, of Frenchtown, a passenger in the vehicle, was charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana, possession of less then 5 grams of hashish, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released on his own recognizance.

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Readington police blotter

BURGLARY, 1 p.m. Friday. Police are continuing an investigation into the burglary of a Roosevelt Road home between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Friday. Entry to the home was gained through a window. Items were stolen from the master bedroom. An older maroon sedan was seen in the neighborhood during the time of the burglary and it may have been driven by a female, police say. Police say the burglary is the first in the neighborhood, but may be related to other burglaries in the Hunterdon/Somerset area. Police are asking residents to call police if they see any suspicious vehicles or persons in their neighborhoods.

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Clinton Township police blotter

ACCIDENT, 3:15 p.m. March 10. A 2008 Acura MDX driven by Susan Keenan, 45, of Clinton Township, was going through a red light on Payne Road at the Route 31 intersection when it was struck by a 2001 Chevy truck driven by Kevin Conover, 28, of Sussex Borough, which was traveling through the intersection on a green light, police said. The airbags in Keenan's vehicle deployed and passenger John Keenan, 10, also of Clinton Township, suffered minor injuries. Conover also suffered minor injuries. Patrolman Jeffery Glennon issued Keenan a motor vehicle summons for careless driving. Both vehicles had to be towed.

DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED, 1:35 a.m. March 10. Patrolman Harry Bugal stopped a vehicle driven by Michael McKenna, 26, of High Bridge, on Route 31 near Halstead Street for failing to maintain lane. During the stop, Bugal smelled an alcoholic beverage and soon determined that McKenna was intoxicated, police said. McKenna was charged with driving while intoxicated, failure to maintain lane and failure to wear a seatbelt. He was released to the custody of a responsible adult, and his vehicle was towed and impounded.

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Clinton Township police blotter

WARRANT, 3:40 a.m. March 11. Patrolman Sean Ross saw three individuals in dark clothing walking along Route 22 near Blossom Hill Road. Ross approached the individuals and requested identification. One, Andrew Kollmer, 19, address unknown, was found to be wanted on a $701 motor-vehicle warrant from North Hunterdon Municipal Court. When he was unable to post the necessary bail, Kollmer was arrested and transported to the Hunterdon County Jail.

MARIJUANA, 8:20 p.m. March 11. Sgt. Mathew Wilson was patrolling a Center Street restaurant when he heard a motor vehicle doing a "burnout'' with its tires. Wilson located the vehicle and confiscated a small amount of marijuana and a glass pipe from its driver, Matthew Wombacher, 19, of Decatur, Ill., police said. During this investigation, Wilson learned Wombacher was traveling in tandem with another vehicle, which was operated by Andrew Smith, 20, of Forsyth, Ill. Wilson observed that Smith had fictitious license plates on his vehicle, and a subsequent investigation revealed that Smith also was in possession of a small amount of marijuana and a glass pipe, police said. Both men were charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and operating a motor vehicle while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance. In addition, Wombacher was charged with failure to produce a driver's license and Smith was charged with driving with fictitious plates.

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Two More Child Abuse Arrests in County

FLEMINGTON… Two Hunterdon County men were arrested and charged this week in separate incidents of abuse against juveniles.

The Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes Unit on Friday announced the arrests of Hany Khadr, 64, of the Annandale section of Clinton Township, and Samuel Sanchez, 31, of the Hunter Hills Apartments in Flemington, on separate charges of abuse against juveniles.

As a result of information received, the Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes Unit and Raritan Township Police Department conducted a joint investigation that led to the arrest on March 5 of Khadr. Khadr was charged with one count each of aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child under the age of 13 during the month of March. He was remanded to the Hunterdon County Jail, in lieu of $150,000 bail, no 10 percent.
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HIV-positive Hunterdon man charged with sexual assault against 2nd juvenile

A Clinton Town man who authorities say is HIV-positive has been charged with sexual assault involving another juvenile. Rick "Ricky'' D. Webster, 20, formerly of Alexandria, was charged Friday with an additional count of diseased person committing act of sexual penetration after the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes Unit found another person with whom Webster reportedly had sexual contact.
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Clinton Township police blotter

ATTEMPTED BURGLARY, 10 a.m. Feb. 28. Two windows were pried open at an Augusta Drive residence while the homeowner was on vacation between 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20 and 10 a.m. Feb. 28. No entry was gained and nothing was reported taken. Detective Paul Bate is investigating.
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Readington police blotter

DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED, 8:58 p.m. March 4. After a motorist reported a suspected intoxicated driver on Route 22, police stopped Rodney L. Williams, 36, of Newark. Police smelled alcohol on Williams and asked him to perform several field sobriety tests, police said. Williams was charged with driving while intoxicated after he failed the tests, police said. He also was charged with careless driving, driving while suspended, failure to maintain lane, failure to exhibit insurance, failure to exhibit registration, failure to inspect, possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
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Clinton Township police blotter

BURGLARY, 5:35 p.m. Feb. 25. Officers responded to a Belvidere Avenue residence for a report of three suspicious males who had left the area approximately 15 minutes earlier.
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Readington police blotter

MARIJUANA, 12:20 a.m. Feb. 19. Police stopped Patrick Habermas, 25, of Stafford, Pa., on Route 22 near Coddington Road for failing to maintain a single lane. Sgt. Christopher DeWire smelled burnt marijuana inside the vehicle and a search uncovered marijuana and a marijuana pipe, police said. Habermas was charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia and released on his own recognizance.

DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED, 11:40 p.m. Feb. 26. Jose Chavarria, 50, of Northampton, Pa., was stopped for speeding on Route 22 by Sgt. Christopher DeWire. After Chavarria showed signs of intoxication, he performed poorly on sobriety, police said. He was arrested and given a breath test which showed his blood alcohol level to be twice the legal limit, police said. He was charged with driving while intoxicated, speeding and tailgating. He was lodged in the Hunterdon County Jail where he would be released after 12 hours or sooner if he found a ride.

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Lebanon Township

FARM ACCIDENT, 1:39 p.m. March 2. Stonegate Farm employee Donald S. Ulmer, 56, was taken to St. Lukes Hospital in Bethlehem, Pa., by helicopter after receiving injuries to his head and face in an accident involving a farm tractor. According to police, Ulmer, alone at the time of the incident on Mount Lebanon Road, used his cell phone to call police for help. Police found Ulmer alert and conscious, but bleeding. Ulmer, who lives in Phillipsburg, also complained of shoulder, neck and arm pain. The incident remains under investigation by township police and the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office.

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Clinton Township police blotter

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, Feb. 27. Police received several calls of a disturbance at Finnagles Restaurant and Bar on Route 31. On arrival, Sgt. Matthew McGill and Patrolman Lawrence Anthes met with Evan Atherholt, 36, of Upper Black Eddy, Pa., who had abrasions about his arms, legs, chest, face, and forehead. In addition, Atherholt's nose was swollen and bleeding and later found to be broken, police said. Atherholt told police he was walking into the bar when he encountered three women, one of whom he recognized as a friend, and a man. Atherholt told police the man then attacked him, unprovoked, in the parking lot. The Clinton Rescue Squad responded and transported Atherholt to Hunterdon Medical Center for treatment. Following an investigation, police charged the man, Peter Randolph, 29, of Stockton with aggravated assault, and the woman, Janice Knapp, 32, of Pittstown, with obstruction of justice. Both were released on their own recognizance. Additional charges may be pending.

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Readington police blotter

DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED, 1:30 a.m. Feb. 27. Theresa Sciancalepore, 46, of Allentown was charged with driving while intoxicated following a motor-vehicle stop on Route 202. Sciancalepore was also charged with refusal to take a breath test and failure to stay within lane.

MARIJUANA, 12:20 a.m. Feb. 19. Police stopped Patrick Habermas, 25, of Stafford, Pa., on Route 22 near Coddington Road for failing to maintain a single lane, police said. Sgt. Christopher DeWire smelled burnt marijuana and a subsequent search uncovered marijuana and a marijuana pipe in the vehicle, police said. Habermas was charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released on his own recognizance.

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Clinton Township police blotter

CHILD SUPPORT WARRANT, 8:10 a.m. Feb. 23. Patrolman Sean Ross stopped a vehicle driven by Bruce Fischer, 51, of Asbury on southbound Route 31 near Payne Road. Ross conducted the stop after entering the vehicle's license plate into his mobile data terminal and learning Fischer had a suspended driver's license and a warrant for his arrest from Hunterdon County Superior Court on a child support matter. Ross issued Fischer a motor vehicle summons for driving while suspended. When he was unable to post the $600 bail, on the warrant Fischer was turned over to the Hunterdon County Sheriff's Department.

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Clinton Township police blotter

SCHOOL BUS ACCIDENT, 4:15 p.m. Feb. 23. An empty school bus driven by Colleen Niedermeyer, 40, of Washington (Warren) was stopped on northbound Route 31 near the intersection with Country Club Drive when it was rear-ended by a 2004 Kenworth tractor-trailer driven by Vincent Lee, 35, of Daytona Beach, Fla. No injuries were reported. The left lane of Route 31 had to be closed for approximately a half hour while heavy-duty tow trucks removed the two vehicles. Patrolman Sean Ross issued Lee a summons for careless driving. The State Police assisted by conducting a commercial vehicle inspection of the tractor-trailer.

STALKING, 10:15 p.m. Feb. 24. Patrolman John Tiger charged a 55-year-old man, who resides at the Fountain Motel, in connection with a domestic violence incident. The man allegedly followed a 43-year-old woman, also a resident of the Fountain Motel, throughout the day, police say. At one point, he kicked in the door to her room, engaged her in a verbal argument, grabbed her by the wrist, and stole a knife from the room before fleeing, police say. The two previously had a dating relationship. The man was charged with stalking, burglary, theft and defiant trespass. When he was unable to post the $5,000 bail, the man was transported to the Hunterdon County Jail.

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Clinton Township police blotter

BURGLARY, 11 a.m. Feb. 21. Sometime between 7 p.m. Feb. 20 and 11 a.m. Feb. 21, the front door was smashed at a business at Country Square Plaza on Payne Road. An unknown amount of money was reported stolen. Det. Paul Bate is investigating.

MARIJUANA, 12:55 a.m. Feb. 21. Patrolman Drew MacQueen stopped a vehicle driven by Peggy Snowden, 46, of Hagerstown, Md., on Route 22 for failing to signal lane changes and other erratic driving. During the stop, MacQueen discovered Snowden's driving privileges were suspended and her travel story conflicted with her passengers' travel story. Readington police Officer Chris Heycock and Ronan, his drug-sniffing K-9, responded to the scene and Ronan indicated that the vehicle contained drugs, police said. A short time later, officers discovered one pound of marijuana inside the vehicle, according to police. Snowden, Joseph Middleton, 24, and Tanaishia Russ, 20, both also of Hagerstown, were charged with possession of more than 50 grams of marijuana with intent to distribute. Snowden also was charged with driving while suspended, operating a motor vehicle while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and failing to signal a lane change. Middleton was taken to the Hunterdon County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail. Snowden and Russ were released on their own recognizance. Sgt. Matthew McGill and Patrolman Andrew McCluskey assisted. MARIJUANA, 4:30 p.m. Feb. 18. Patrolman Joseph SanGiovanni stopped a vehicle after observing it with a driver's side brake light out on Route 22 near Petticoat Lane. Backup officer Sergeant Thomas DeRosa saw pieces of marijuana on the shirt of passenger, Eddie Brown II, 22, of Irvington, police said. Brown was soon found to be in possession of a small amount of marijuana in a folded $100 bill that he had concealed in his sock, police said. SanGiovanni charged Brown with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana. He was released on his own recognizance The driver, Victorio Williams, 22, of Rahway, was issued a motor-vehicle summons for failing to maintain lamps.

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Clinton Township police blotter

UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A GUN, 7:50 p.m. Feb. 19. Jihad Thorne, 20, with addresses in Plainfield and Allentown, Pa., was stopped on Route 22 near Petticoat Lane because he was not wearing his seat belt and his license plate lamps were out. During the stop, Sgt. Thomas DeRosa saw a large folding knife in Thorne's glove box and noticed that Thorne was overly nervous, police said. DeRosa contacted the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office and secured a search warrant for the vehicle where investigators found a loaded Colt .45 handgun, police said. After Thorne was unable to produce a firearms identification card, DeRosa charged him with unlawful possession of a handgun, failure to wear a seatbelt and failure to maintain lamps. Thorne was transported to the Hunterdon County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.

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Clinton Township police blotter

MARIJUANA, 1 p.m. Monday. Patrolman Jeffery Glennon stopped a vehicle driven by Kevin McMahon, 23, of Bloomfield on Route 22 near Petticoat Lane for having an obstructed rear view. During the stop, Glennon smelled burnt marijuana and soon discovered inside the vehicle a small amount of marijuana and a pipe with residue, police said. McMahon was charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a motor vehicle while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance, driving a vehicle with an obstructed view, and failure to change address on a driver's license. McMahon was released on his own recognizance.

MARIJUANA, 2 p.m. Monday. Sgt. Thomas DeRosa stopped a vehicle driven by Luis Cortese, 18, of Hampton on Route 31 near Payne Road for not having a side-view mirror. During the stop, DeRosa smelled burnt marijuana and soon discovered a small bag of marijuana in the vehicle. Cortese was charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana, being under the influence of marijuana, operating a motor vehicle while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and driving a vehicle with improper side-view mirrors. He was released on his own recognizance.

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Clinton Township police blotter

MARIJUANA, 10:40 a.m. Feb. 3. Officer Jennifer Petruzziello responded to a three-car motor vehicle crash on Route 31 at Halstead Street.

Petruzziello learned a 1995 Nissan Sentra driven by Walter Diaz Jr., 19, of Wrightstown rear-ended a 2009 Chrysler Sebring driven by Declan Clohesy, 45, of Glen Gardner that was stopped for a red light. The Clohesy car was pushed into the rear of a 2006 Honda Accord driven by James Dooley Jr., 32, of Washington. There were no injuries and both the Clohesy and Dooley vehicles were driven from the scene. When asked about the cause of the crash, Diaz told Petruzziello that he could not stop in time because his vehicle had bald tires, police said. Petruzziello saw marijuana on the left cuff of Diaz's coat and when Diaz opened his glove box to get his insurance card, the officer saw rolling papers and a switchblade knife in plain view, police said. A consensual search found a marijuana pipe in the passenger's compartment and a partially consumed bottle of rum in the trunk, police said. Diaz was charged with possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of drug paraphernalia, underaged possession of an alcoholic beverage, careless driving and driving a vehicle with unsafe tires. He was released on his own recognizance. Source: Central Jersey police departments.

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Clinton Township police blotter

WEAPONS, ENDANGERING WELFARE OF A CHILD, 1:15 p.m. Jan. 21. Sgt. Thomas DeRosa stopped a vehicle driven by Nathaniel Figueroa, 26, of Allentown, Pa., on Route 22 near Petticoat Lane for equipment violations.

During the stop, DeRosa smelled burnt marijuana. A short time later, backup officer Michael Akers discovered that passenger, Todd Hineline II, 24, of Allentown, Pa., had a knife concealed in his waistband, police said. Hineline's 10-month-old son was in the vehicle with him. Hineline was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, certain persons not to possess a weapon, unlawful possession of a weapon, and being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance. Hineline's son was turned over to a relative. Figueroa was charged with being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance, driving while suspended, failing to maintain exhaust and lamps. He was released on his own recognizance. WARRANT ARREST, 4:35 p.m. Jan. 22. The Middlesex County Sheriff's Department requested Clinton Township officers check a residence for Michael McCrea, 52, of Clinton Township, who was wanted on a $24,678 warrant from Middlesex County. Sgt. Thomas DeRosa and Patrolman Michael Akers went to the residence and, on locating McCrea, arrested him and transported him to the Hunterdon County Jail in default of bail. ATTEMPTED BURGLARY, 1:05 a.m. Jan. 23. Officers responded to a Bristol Court residence on a report of an attempted burglary. The caller told police a young male entered the residence's garage through an open door and attempted to steal a scooter,police said. When one of the family members approached, the male, who was wearing a black jacket that was zipped up to cover the lower portion of his face, fled. Responding officers followed footprints in the dew-covered grass out to the roadway, where they stopped. There, the officers located several items belonging to the family which were apparently removed from the garage. Later in the day, another Bristol Court resident advised that someone had walked across his back yard and threw something at his house, damaging two pieces of vinyl siding. Source: Central Jersey police departments

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