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MIDDLETOWN: POLICE BLOTTER

mtown-cop-carsBy DUSTIN RACIOPPI

A brief standoff with a knife-wielding man on Monday ended without injury and resulted in the man’s arrest for aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, Middletown police report.

The man, identified as James Wierzbicky, was holding a large knife in the backyard of a Navesink home when police arrived, said Lieutenant Detective Steve Dollinger. A number of attempts by police to get him to drop the knife were unsuccessful. After backup was called and a standoff with officers, he gave up the weapon and was arrested.

More police reports appear unedited below.

• On August 9, 2011 at approximately 2:40 am Corporal Douglas Wiatrak was on patrol in the area of the Beacon Hill Country Club when he observed a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot. The officer also observed a male subject standing on the porch of the building. Corporal Wiatrak began to approach the subject when he fled on foot.

Officer Wiatrak provided a description of the subject to surrounding patrol units who located the subject and another vehicle on Koosman Drive, a nearby street. The vehicle was occupied by four juveniles. Officers conducted an investigation which resulted in the recovery of Marijuana, a pipe used to smoke Marijuana, alcohol and the arrests of a 17 year old female from Middletown, NJ, a 17 year old female Middletown, NJ, a 17 year old male from Leonardo, NJ, and a 17 year old female from Belford, NJ being arrested.

All four subjects were charged with Possession of under 50 Grams of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Defiant Trespass and Underage Possession of Alcohol. They were transported to police headquarters and were released pending a court date.

• On August 9, 2011 at approximately 4:00 pm Patrolman Keith Hirschbein was on patrol in the area of Port Monmouth Road when he observed a vehicle being operated with a brake light out. The officer stopped the vehicle and approached the driver. The driver advised the officer that he did not have his license on him and then provided him with a fake name. Officer Hirschbein was able to identify the driver as Edward Rodriguez-Trujillo, age 19, from Bayview Avenue in Keansburg, NJ, at which point he was placed under arrest for providing false information.

Officer Hirschbein also detected an odor of raw Marijuana coming from the interior of the vehicle and observed Marijuana in plain view near the passenger seat. He continued his investigation which resulted in the recovery of a Marijuana grinder, which is a device used to process Marijuana for smoking, and the arrest of the passenger, identified as Thomas Parnell, age 19, from Woodside Avenue in Keansburg, NJ.

Both subjects were transported to police headquarters for processing. Rodriguez-Trujillo was charged with Obstructing the Administration of Law and Parnell was charged with Possession of under 50 Grams of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Both subjects were released pending a court date.

• On August 8, 2011 at approximately 7:20 am Patrolman Brian Dilworth responded to a residence on Monmouth Avenue in the Navesink section of Middletown in reference to a report of two subjects yelling at each other. Upon arrival Officer Dilworth located one of the subjects standing in the backyard holding a large knife.

Officer Dilworth ordered the subject, identified as James Wierzbicky, age 42, from Monmouth Avenue in Navesink, NJ, to drop the knife. Wierzbicky ignored numerous warnings from the officer to drop the weapon. After a brief stand-off, the suspect finally dropped the knife and was taken into custody when back-up units arrived.

Wierzbicky was charged with Aggravated Assault and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose. He was held on $15,000.00 bail with no 10% option set by Judge Richard Thompson.

• On August 8, 2011 at approximately 5:40 pm Corporal Joseph Glynn and Patrolman Thomas Russo responded to the area of Nutswamp Road in reference to a report of occupants of a vehicle shooting pellets at other cars. The description of the vehicle was given out to surrounding police units and was located and stopped by Patrolman Albert Scott on Middletown Lincroft Road.

The officers conducted an investigation which resulted in the recovery of a spring action pellet gun and a container of pellets. The officers also located three pipes used to smoke Marijuana and a
grinder which is a device used to prepare Marijuana for smoking.

The investigation also resulted in the arrests of Max Lopez, age 18, from East Roosevelt Circle for Possession of Marijuana under 50 Grams, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia , Unlawful Possession of a Weapon and Possession of a Firearm for an Unlawful purpose; a 17 year old male juvenile from Middletown for Possession of Marijuana under 50 Grams, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon and Possession of an Imitation Firearm; a 16 year old male juvenile from Red Bank, NJ, for Possession of Marijuana under 50 Grams, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon and Possession of an Imitation Firearm; and a 16 year old male juvenile from Middletown, NJ, for Possession of Marijuana under 50 Grams, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon and Possession of an imitation Firearm.

All subjects were transported to police headquarters where they were released pending a court date.

• On August 8, 2011 Detective Daniel Sullivan arrested Chaula Bhatt, age 38, from Poplar Lane in Old Bridge, NJ for Criminal Mischief. Detective Sullivan conducted a follow up investigation into a complaint received from AT&T in reference to damage committed at their facility located on Laurel Avenue. Corporate officials advised police that Bhatt, a former employee, had damaged an electric door scanner and several signs on the property and the vandalism had been captured on surveillance cameras.

Detective Sullivan reviewed the surveillance footage and arrested Bhatt. She was held on $1,000.00 bail with a 10% option set by Judge Richard Thompson.

• On August 8, 2011 at approximately 9:45 pm Patrolman Ian May responded to the New Monmouth Baptist Church in reference to a report of an intoxicated subject who was attempting to get
into the church. Upon arrival a member of the church advised the officer that a man came to the church door and began yelling and demanding entry.

Officer May located the subject, identified as Dennis Bannon, age 47, from Highway 36 in Leonardo, NJ, in the parking lot of the church. Officer May conducted an investigation which resulted in Bannon being arrested for Disorderly Conduct. Officer May also determined that there were three outstanding Contempt of Court warrants issued by the Red Bank, Keansburg and Highlands Municipal Courts for Bannon’s arrest.

He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and held on $750.00 bail.

• On August 8, 2011 at approximately 10:40 pm Patrolman Donald Coates and Patrolman David Crenshaw responded to the concession stand at McMahon Park in reference to a report that someone had entered the stand after hours. Upon arrival the officers noticed the door was closed and that there was a light on inside the stand.

The officers entered the stand and located two juveniles inside. The juveniles were identified as a 13 year old male from Middletown and a 15 year old male from Middletown. Both subjects were
arrested for Criminal Trespass and were transported to police headquarters where they were processed and released to their parents pending a court date.

• On August 9, 2011 Patrolman Brian Dilworth and Patrolman Michael Reuter responded to a residence on First Avenue in the Navesink section of Middletown in reference to a report of a subject
passed out on the front lawn. Upon arrival the officers were advised by the homeowner that she observed an unknown subject rolling around on her front lawn yelling and screaming.

The officers approached the subject, identified as Cesar Moya, age 31, from Monroe Avenue in Shrewsbury, NJ, and determined that he was extremely intoxicated. The officers arrested Moya for
Disorderly Conduct. He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and released pending a court date.

The Middletown Police Department reports the arrests of the following subjects for various offenses:

Mary Dressler, age 42, from North Carriage Road in Hazlet, NJ, arrested on August 8, 2011 by Patrolman Jason Caruso on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Freehold Borough Municipal Court. She was released after posting $156.00 bail.

Donald Quarles, age 32, from Chestnut Avenue in Navesink, NJ, arrested on August 8, 2011 by Corporal Ralph Flannigan on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Highlands Municipal Court. He was held on $216.00 bail.

Patrick Masterson, age 22, from Tennent Road in Morganville, NJ, arrested on August 8, 2011 by Corporal James Keenan on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Atlantic Highlands Municipal Court. He was held on $165.00 bail.

John Hoffman, age 28, from Eighth Street in Belford, NJ, arrested on August 8, 2011 by Corporal Joseph Glynn on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Pleasantville Municipal Court. He was released after posting $89.00 bail.

Kyle Clayton, age 19, from Thousand Oaks Drive in Navesink, NJ, arrested on August 8, 2011 by Patrolman Keith Hirschbein on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Keansburg Municipal Court. He was released after posting $200.00 bail.

Joseph Colasacco, age 32, from Creek Road in Port Monmouth, NJ, arrested on August 8, 2011 by Patrolman Stephen Keller on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Red bank Municipal Court and a Non Support warrant issued by the Monmouth County Superior Court. He was held on bail.

Jessica Brady, age 30, from King James Lane in Atlantic Highlands, NJ, arrested on August 8, 2011 by Patrolman Nicholas Fenezia on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Red Bank Municipal Court. She was released after posting $165.00 bail.

Christopher Kamna, age 21, from Bamm Hollow Road in Middletown, NJ, arrested on August 9, 2011 by Patrolman Greg Buhowski on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Lake Como Municipal Court. He was released after posting $296.00 bail.

Ashley Blascak, age 20, from Ironwood Court in Middletown, NJ, arrested on August 8, 2011 by Patrolman John Mele for Simple Assault. She was released pending a court date.

On August 9, 2011 Patrolman Frank Mazza arrested a 17 year old male juvenile from Ocean Avenue in Middletown for Terroristic Threats, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose. He was being held at the Middlesex County Youth Detention Center.

James Elliassen, age 27, from Ninth Street in Belford, NJ, arrested on August 5, 2011 by Patrolman James Beirne on warrants signed by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force Bayshore Unit for Possession of Marijuana, Distribution of Less than one Ounce of Marijuana and Possession with the Intent to Distribute Marijuana with 1000 feet of a School Zone. He was held on bail.

James Murphy, age 27, from Virginia Avenue in Hazlet, NJ, arrested on August 5, 2011 by Patrolman Donald Coates and Patrolman Jason Caruso of the Quality of Life Unit on warrants signed by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force Bayshore Unit for Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession of Methadone, and Possession with the Intent to Distribute Within 500 Feet of a Public Park. He was processed and released pending a court date.

Casey Hewitt, age 18, from Kanes Lane in Middletown, NJ, arrested on August 8, 2011 by Patrolman Christian Clark for Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Simple Assault, and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose. She was held on $3,500.00 set by Judge Richard Thompson.

Philip Moffat, age 30, from Manor Drive in Union, NJ, arrested on August 9, 2011 by Patrolman Richard Belmonte on Contempt of Court warrants issued by the Westwood Borough Municipal Court. He was released after posting bail.

Remember: Nothing makes a Red Bank friend happier than to hear "I saw you on Red Bank Green!"
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