February 10, 2017
3:29 PM: Officer Steve Young took a report of a suspicious phone call from a Belleville resident. The resident reported that he received a phone call from a restricted number asking him about an upcoming court matter that he was involved in. The resident found this suspicious, as the call was from a restricted number and he felt the call should have come from the court. He was advised to contact the court on the next business day to clarify the issue.
February 11, 2017
4:43 AM: Officer Robert Juliano responded along with the Verona Fire Department to a Grove Avenue residence on a report of smoke in the house. Investigation revealed a fire in the furnace, which was extinguished by the Fire Department. Value of the damage is unknown at this time.
4:41 PM: Officer Thomas Conroy took a report of a dog bite on Linn Drive. A resident reported that another dog that was being walked in the area of his apartment bit his dog. Upon speaking to the person who was walking the dog, she reported that a loose dog had attacked her dog while she was walking on Linn Drive. Both dogs had minor injuries and all parties were advised of complaint procedures.
9:40 PM: Officer Thomas Conroy responded to a Belleclaire Place residence on a report of a male banging on the front door. Officers were able to locate the male who was walking away from the residence. The male was intoxicated and unable to explain why he was in the area. He was was transported to police headquarters, where a family member was contacted and responded to pick him up. There was no damage to the residence.
February 12, 2017
12:22 PM: Officer Ed Ruff took a report of a suspicious person at a Bloomfield Avenue business. The business owner reported a male had entered his store and began asking about merchandise, and then asked for money. The owner then advised the male to leave the store. The individual was last seen walking east on Bloomfield Avenue.
February 13, 2017
10:36 AM: Officer Stephanie Colon took a report of found property from a Hamilton Road resident. The resident reported finding a credit card on Floyd Road. Officer Colon contacted the bank, which contact the card owner.
2:22 PM: Officer Brendan Huber took a report of property damage at a Derwent Avenue residence. The resident reported that a tree fell causing damage to his landscaping. The value of the damage is unknown at this time.
February 14, 2017
8:20 AM: Officer Brendan Huber took a report of a suspicious person on Fairview Avenue. The reporting party stated that he observed a male enter a vehicle parked in a parking lot. The male then left the area in another vehicle. Further investigation revealed that the male was a friend of the vehicle owner and was retrieving an item from the vehicle.
10:33 AM: Officer Brendan Huber took a report from a New York resident who had a dispute at a Bloomfield Avenue business. The resident reported having numerous problems with a recently purchased vehicle. The resident attempted to return the vehicle, however, the dealership would not accept it.
4:12 PM: Officer Giovani DeSomma took a report of a theft from a Bloomfield Avenue business. An employee of the business reported that a customer left the business without paying for gas. The vehicle was last seen traveling south on Mt. Prospect Avenue. Value of the theft is $55.
9:52 PM: Officer Brian McMahon conducted a motor vehicle stop on Mt. Prospect Avenue after a random check of the registration showed active warrants for the vehicle owner. Upon checking the identity of the operator, warrants were confirmed from the Verona and Montclair Municipal Courts. The operator, Yamila Bentos of Belleville, was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters. After processing Bentos was released with new court dates for both warrants.
February 15, 2017
3:02 PM: Officer Thomas Conroy took into custody Mitchell Velazquez of Newark, after he was sentenced to 10 days in the Essex County Jail while in Verona Municipal Court. After processing Velazquez was transported to the Essex County Jail.
5:35 PM: Officer Giovanni DeSomma responded to a Bloomfield Avenue business on a report of a disorderly person. The business owner reported that a male might have defecated in the parking lot. The business owner reported he would forward a copy of the surveillance video to the police department.
9:22 PM: Officer Giovanni DeSomma took a report of a fraud from a Cypress Avenue resident. The resident reported that he received four letters from T-Mobile advising him of four new phones that were activated in his name. The resident advised T-Mobile that he did not request any new phones. The resident was provided with identity theft information.
10:36 PM: Officers Brian McMahon and Jordan Descafano responded to the Union Police Department to take custody of Craig Hill of Hillside on an outstanding warrant from the Verona Municipal Court. Hill was transported to police headquarters and processed.
February 16, 2017
2:55 PM: Officers Ed Ruff and Michael Barone responded to the Bloomfield Police Department to pick up Beverly Collins of Maryland on an outstanding warrant from the Verona Municipal Court. Collins was transported to police headquarters. After processing, Collins posted bail and was released.
4:15 PM: Officer Thomas Conroy took a report of a suspicious person from a Forest Avenue resident. The resident reported that a vehicle pulled up next to her daughter who was walking home from school. The vehicle occupant asked the juvenile what town he was in and where her house was. The juvenile ran to the crossing guard and the vehicle left the area.
Any individual named in these reports is presumed innocent until a decision is rendered by the courts. MyVeronaNJ.com updates police blotter reports with the disposition of the case upon request and with submission of documentary proof. We do not remove stories or delete names based on an expungement.
