Alleged attempted arson outside of ‘gentlemen’s club’

Stephen Andretta, 46, of Washington Township, and Joseph Graziosi, 45, of Secaucus, both received DWI charges after Andretta allegedly committed attempted arson in front of a gentleman’s club near the Weehawken/Hoboken border.

According to a police report, on July 22 at approximately 2 a.m., an off duty officer was in the area of the “The Squeeze” speaking with an employee from the club when a Mercedes Benz with two males pulled up to the club.

Andretta allegedly got out of the car holding a gas can and began to pour gasoline on a motorcycle outside of the club, screaming, “I’ll burn the place down.”

The officer identified himself to Andretta and sent a bouncer to call 911. According to the report, Andretta allegedly threw his hands up in the air, screaming taunts at the officer to shoot him, and the officer observed what he believed to be a gun at his hip.

At this point, according to the report, Graziosi got out of the car and Andretta hopped in and took off. A police broadcast was sent out to nearby towns and Hoboken police found Andretta allegedly driving the wrong way down a one-way street.

According to police, both men were found to have blood alcohol levels above the legal limit and because both had driven the car, they were each charged with DWI.

Andretta was also charged with criminal attempt of arson.

Police said that the owner of the motorcycle is from Union City and there was no known connection between him and the two men.

Helping hand leads to stolen car

On July 29 at 9:30 p.m., a Weehawken man reported to police that he had invited a female friend over to his home on Shippen Street to “help him with his sore back.”

According to the police report, the woman brought a male friend with her who sat on the side while she was “helping him.”

After about an hour, the woman and man both left. Shortly thereafter, the resident realized his car keys and car (which had been parked in his driveway) were missing, according to the report.

According to police, detectives have tracked the woman down and are currently negotiating for the return of the car.

Man attacked by group on Park Ave, robbed of $200

Just before 3 a.m. on July 23, a Weehawken man called police after he was allegedly attacked by six or seven males as he walked near the area of 46th Street and Park Avenue.

According to a police report, the man said that the suspects approached him and one asked him for money. When he told them he had none, the man said they all began to punch him and took the $200 in cash he had on him, along with his work identification.

The man exhibited bruising, but he refused medical attention.

Husband and wife arrested; dreadlocks ripped

On July 31 at 1:15 p.m., police responded to a 911 call regarding a domestic dispute on Grand Street. According to a police report, the woman at the scene alleged that during an argument, her husband hit her and she defended herself by hitting him and ripping out his dreadlocks.

The woman exhibited signs of redness and swelling to the face, and the man had signs of head injury.

Police said that because signs of physical violence were visible on both parties, both were arrested and charged with simple assault.

The couple’s three children, a 3-year old and newborn twins, were home at the time of the fight. All were brought to their grandmother’s house.

Man allegedly steals BBQ grill, but doesn’t take it home

Michael Sansone, 34, of Howell, was arrested on July 30 after taking a barbecue grill that was reported stolen by a friend.

According to a police report, on June 30 at 4:30 p.m., the woman noticed her grill and a rake were missing from her backyard on 49th Street in Weehawken.

She told police she believed it was stolen by Sansone, whom she claimed allegedly has a habit of taking things without asking and not returning them.

Police placed a call to Sansone, who allegedly admitted to taking the grill. Police also found that Sansone had an outstanding warrant from Elizabeth, so they placed him under arrest.

Oddly, police said Sansone had brought the grill to a home on 50th and Bergenline, an address that he has no known connection with. Police are still investigating the matter, but as of now, the whereabouts of the rake are unknown, they said.

Man allegedly assaults girlfriend for $20

Edwin Salguero, 23, of Weehawken, was charged with robbery after officers were dispatched to his home on 50th Street for a domestic disturbance.

According to a police report, on July 24 at approximately 2 a.m., officers responded to the scene on 50th Street where a woman told police that Salguero, her boyfriend, had asked her for $20. When she didn’t give it to him, Salguero allegedly grabbed her purse and pushed her to the ground.

The woman exhibited bruising and was treated by ambulance crew.

Break-in or just horseplay?

On July 22, a resident of Maple Street called police to alert them of an attempted burglary. According to a police report, the man claimed that “three kids” approximately 15 or 16 years old had been playing in the schoolyard of the Webster School next door when they allegedly came into the hallway of his home and purposely broke the window of the hallway door.

By the time police arrived, the kids were gone.

Police said there was no evidence of an attempted break-in, or of a ball that might have broken the window, at the scene.

Eco-friendly theft

Sometime between 12 a.m. on July 30 and 10 p.m. on July 31, a solar panel was stolen off of a front porch. The panels were powering the porch lights, and when the resident came home at night, she noticed that the lights were off and the panels were missing, she said.

North Bergen man arrested for DWI on Park Ave.

On July 24, Tony Verena, 36, of North Bergen, was arrested and charged with DWI and DWI within 1,000 feet of a school after a police officer patrolling the area saw him allegedly operating his 2008 Honda erratically.

According to police, the officer pulled Verena over on Park Avenue near 34th Street. Police said Verena, a bus driver, allegedly failed a sobriety test and police allegedly found an open container of unspecified liquor in his car.