South Orange Police recently made arrests in several incidents.
- Police arrested Selvin Hernandez-Lopez, a 23-year-old Newark man, Monday at approximately 4:40 pm after detectives determined he had an iPhone that had been stolen from a food establishment on Sloan Street on August 21, according to police. Hernandez-Lopez allegedly attempted to extort funds from the owner of the cell phone in exchange for its return, police said. Detectives investigating the incident arranged to meet with Hernandez-Lopez in West Orange and finding him in possession of the phone, placed him under arrest.
- Detectives arrested a 16-year-old Newark resident Tuesday at around 4 p.m., after seeing him walking on Brookdale Avenue in Newark and determining he was an additional person involved in an early morning strong-arm robbery that took place in South Orange on August 10.
- Officers arrested 18-year-old Sir Johnson, of Irvington, on Thursday just before 4:25 a.m. and charged him with assaulting a man on Irvington Avenue earlier that day. The man said a group of three men were walking east on Irvington Avenue on the other side of the street when one of them yelled at him, broke away from the group and after a brief confrontation, slapped him in the face, according to police. Maplewood Police found the three just across the Irvington border and the victim positively identified them as his assailants. SOPD officers arrested Johnson and charged him with assault.
- On Friday, a Lenox Avenue resident said he was walking home on Walton Avenue near Lenox Ave. at around 2:50 p.m. when a man ran up behind him, bumped him and then grabbed a cell phone from his hand before fleeing west on Lenox, said police. The victim chased the man and was able to get his cell phone back. Officers found the man, Tajee McGriff, a 20 year old Newark resident, a short distance away and arrested him for strong arm robbery.
Here is the rest of the blotter:
8/26/2015
Theft from vehicle
A Pennsylvania resident stated on 8-26-15 at approximately 12:45am that he had parked his vehicle (2001 Ford) on Montrose St. and when he returned to it at approximately 5:40am he discovered that an unknown actor(s) had broken into his vehicle and removed his car radio. The actor(s) had smashed the driver’s side car window to gain access.
Criminal mischief
Sometime between 5:00pm on 8-21-15 and 8:35am on 8-22-15 an unknown actor(s) had broken a large flower pot on South Orange Ave. which was located in the area of Scotland Rd.
Criminal mischief
A Holland Rd. resident stated that sometime between 7:30pm and 11:00pm on 8-22-15 an unknown actor(s) had spray painted letters in black paint on the front of his garage door.
8/21/2015
PULA
On Tuesday, 8-18-15 at 2:50 am, SOPD officers observed two men who appeared to be disoriented, walking south on Ward Place and stopped them to inquire about their well-being. After further investigation at the scene officers determined that one of the men was in possession of alcoholic beverages while under the legal age. Officers cited 20 year old, Thomas Merighi appropriately and the two men were sent on their way.
Motor Vehicle Violation / PULA
On Wednesday, 8-19-15 at 4:04 am, SOPD officers stopped Samantha Nieves, a 19 year old resident of West Orange for a minor traffic violation. Further investigation during the motor vehicle stop revealed that the vehicle Ms. Nieves was driving was unregistered and Ms. Nieves was in possession of an alcoholic beverage. Officers cited Ms. Nieves for possession under the legal age, the traffic violations and impounded the vehicle.
Burglary/Stolen Auto
On 8-18-15, at approximately 1:40 am, SOPD officers responded to an activated burglary alarm to a residence on Hamilton Road. Officers located a broken window and an open door indicating forced entry. Officers checked the interior of the residence and nothing appeared out of place and no actor(s) were located. After speaking with a neighbor, it was determined that the actor(s)stole a Porsche Cayenne (2009, which was parked in the driveway. The Detective Bureau is investigating the incident.
Village Ordinance Violation
On 8-20-2015, at 1025 pm, SOPD officers observed John Cardone, a 31 year old South Orange resident walking on Sloan Street carrying an open container (bottle) of beer. Officers cited Mr. Cardone for the violation and he was sent on his way.
