The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office Task Force aided Weehawken police with the arrest of two teenaged criminals with alleged long arrest records.
On Oct. 31 at 1:54 a.m., Weehawken Police Officer Thomas White was patrolling with the members of the Task Force at 40th Street and Park Avenue, when they noticed a group of individuals, two of whom had been arrested before for burglary and breaking into cars.
"The two men were under surveillance and were looking into parked cars along the street," Weehawken Deputy Chief Jeffrey Fulcher said. "They were spotted trying the handles on cars."
When Officer White and the members of the Task Force stopped the two men, they realized that there were outstanding warrants for their arrests.
So they took Hector Morales, 18, of Hoboken, and Josue Rodriguez, also 18, of Union City into custody. A 16-year-old juvenile was also with the two and was also taken into custody.
Upon his arrest, an investigation revealed that Rodriguez was allegedly in possession of marijuana as well as having the outstanding burglary warrants. The 16-year-old was charged with breaking curfew, but when he struggled with police, he was also slapped with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest charges.
Drug bust
On Oct. 30, Weehawken Police Officers Joe Martinez and Frank Messina were on regular patrol around 10 p.m., when they received a call of some mischief going on at Hauxhurst and Jefferson.
"We received a call that there was an individual throwing eggs," Fulcher said.
Sgt. Steve Bemke also went to the scene and started asking people what was going on there.
"As they got closer, they noticed the odor of marijuana," Fulcher said.
A search came up with a cigarette box filled with alleged marijuana cigarettes as well as a clear bag that held more marijuana.
The police then arrested Yusef Wallace, 25, of Jersey City, and charged him with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, believed to be marijuana, as well as being under the influence of a CDS.
Possession of drugs and careless driving
Again, the members of the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office Task Force made its presence felt in Weehawken when they arrested three teenagers from Bloomfield and charged them with possession of a CDS, believed to be marijuana.
On Oct. 29 at 10 p.m., members of the Task Force allegedly observed a Volkswagen Jetta driving in a suspicious manner, then noticed the vehicle allegedly making an illegal U-turn on Boulevard East and Eldorado Place.
After pulling over the car, the members of the Task Force allegedly recognized the strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.
A further investigation by police uncovered marijuana in the car, so then driver George Attys, 19, of Bloomfield, Michael Culberson, 19, of Bloomfield and Rilwan Odewale, also 19 and also from Bloomfield, were all arrested and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, believed to be marijuana.
Attys was also given a summons for reckless driving. All three were released on their own recognizance, because the amount of marijuana recovered was minimal.
Damage done to expensive door
Sometime between Oct. 19 and Oct. 22, someone went into a home under construction on Kingswood Avenue and damaged a mahogany door, with an estimated value of $9,000, according to Fulcher.
"Someone apparently gauged the door with some sort of a tool," Fulcher said.
Police have no further information as to the culprit who might have caused such damage.
Drug arrest
On Oct. 24 at 11:30 p.m., Weehawken Police Officer Jason Vion was doing his regular patrol around Hamilton Avenue.
"He was checking parked cars, because there have been a lot of instances of kids hanging out in that area in cars, drinking and doing drugs," Fulcher said.
When Officer Vion approached a 2005 Honda, the people inside the car started to allegedly act suspiciously, according to Fulcher.
"Upon opening the window, Officer Vion recognized a strong odor of marijuana," Fulcher said. "The driver and the passenger were asked to step out of the vehicle and a search of the vehicle [allegedly] discovered marijuana."
Arrested was 21-year-old Joseph Light of Union City, who was released on his own recognizance. Fulcher said that there were no charges placed against the passenger, because Light allegedly said that he was acting alone.
Familiar face
On Oct. 24 at 1:45 a.m., Weehawken police and the Hudson County Prosecutor's Task Force observed a 2000 Honda traveling north on Park Avenue and the officers allegedly recognized the driver of the vehicle.
"They knew that the driver had warrants out for his arrest," Fulcher said.
So the law enforcement officers pulled over 26-year-old Christopher Lemus of Jersey City at 45th Street and Park Avenue and sure enough, Lemus has several warrants for his arrest, including a failure to appear for a traffic violation in Weehawken and several others in Jersey City.
Lemus was taken into custody and after being processed in Weehawken, was transported to face the charges in Jersey City, because he allegedly had more outstanding warrants against him there.
Driving while intoxicated
Weehawken police pulled over a township resident, who allegedly fled the scene after hitting a parked Buick LeSabre on Oct. 21 at 3 a.m.
"The accident [allegedly] took place at Highpoint Avenue and witnesses described the driver's 1991 gray Thunderbird," Fulcher said. "The driver was finally stopped at Ridgeley Place and Hackensack Plank Road."
When police tried to administer the breathalyzer test to 27-year-old Charles McGinley of Weehawken, McGinley allegedly refused. He was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident.
Auto burglary
Sometime between Oct. 21 and 22, a 2004 Toyota Camry, owned by a Massachusetts resident, was broken into while it was parked at 49th Street and Boulevard East.
"The driver's side front door was broken into," Fulcher said. "The owner reported that she lost a cell phone charger and a pair of Ralph Lauren sunglasses."
Business burglary
The owner of a closed bar/restaurant on Boulevard East reported that someone entered the business sometime between Oct. 18 and Oct. 19 and allegedly removed several cases of liquor.
"The thief apparently forced open a side door and gained entrance," Fulcher said.
Stolen car
Sometime between Oct. 14 and Oct. 16, a resident reported that a 1997 Honda was stolen from where it was parked on Columbia Terrace and Potter Place.
Jim Hague can be reached via e-mail at either OGSMAR@aol.com or jhague@hudsonreporter.com
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