Police Blotter: Suspect Identified in Budd's Theft

April 4: A 57-year-old Paterson man has been identified as a suspect in an incident at Budd’s Auto Body in Cedar Grove on March 19.

Police have obtained a warrant for the arrest of Manzella Clemmons after the business’ shop manager identified him on video surveillance as the person found crouching in the office area of the shop.

Clemmons told the shop manager he had dropped his cell phone. He then left the office before entering a waiting car. Further investigation by the shop manager discovered Clemmons had taken an envelope containing $300 from a desk, but he dropped the envelope when he left.

Police are continuing the investigation and continue to search for Clemmons. 

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April 4: A 21-year-old Irvingston man was arrested for driving with a suspended license after being stopped for speeding at 10:42 p.m.

Kingsley A. Asoegwu was taken to headquarters for processing. A further check at headquarters of Asoegwu found he was also wanted on an outstanding warrant issued by Newark. He was processed and released after posting bail. 

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April 5: Cedar Grove police are investigating a report of an unlocked 2005 Infiniti with the engine running stolen from the driveway of a Pompton Avenue home at 7:07 a.m.

Shortly after the car was stolen, Totowa police found the car abandoned at the scene of another car theft in the township.

The stolen Infiniti was returned to the owner. 

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April 6: A 40-year-old Newark man was arrested on driving without a license and driving with a suspended license charges at 10:06 a.m.

Simon Chugui was arrested and processed before being released pending a municipal court appearance. 

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April 6: Police were called to the CVS Pharmacy at 387 Pompton Ave. at 1:06 p.m. on a report a man was attempting to obtain a controlled dangerous substance using a stolen prescription.

Deshawn Smith, 25, of Irvington was arrested after he allegedly tried to obtain Roxicodone using a forged prescription blank he had stolen from a doctor’s office.

Smith was charged with possession of stolen property and attempting to obtain a controlled dangerous substance by fraud. He was processed and released pending a Superior Court arraignment in Newark on Thursday.  

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April 6: A 19-year-old Glen Ridge man was arrested at 10:34 p.m. after police stopped to investigate a car parked at the Mills Reservation after curfew.

Brian M. Zichelli was arrested after the officer approached the car and spoke with three occupants. While speaking with the occupants, the officer detected the smell of marijuana in the car and on the occupants. 

Zichelli, who was found to be in possession of under 50 grams of marijuana, was processed and released pending a municipal court appearance.

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April 7: A 29-year-old Brooklyn, N.Y. man was arrested for driving with a suspended license following a police stop.

Oscar D. Trejo was driving the car while his Minnesota driving privileges were suspended, police said.

He was processed and release pending a municipal court appearance. 

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April 8: Two men were arrested at 9:08 p.m. after police stopped to investigate a car parked at the Mills Reservation after curfew.

Robert E. Sommerhalter, 18, of Essex Fells and Michael L. Borges, 18, of Nutley were arrested after the officer approached the car and spoke with the men. While speaking to them, the officer detected the smell of marijuana in the car and on the occupants.

Sommerhalter was charged with possession and use of marijuana as well as possession of drug paraphernalia.

Borges was arrested for marijuana use. 

Both men were processed and released pending municipal court appearances.  

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The Cedar Grove Police Department requests that the public report all suspicious activity observed, as it occurs.  The police department telephone number is (973) 239-4100 and in case of emergency 9-1-1.  All reports are investigated and all assistance is appreciated.