Recent activity reports, unedited, as provided by the Middletown Township Police Department.
• On August 31, 2011 Detective Daniel Sullivan arrested Christopher Perez-Santalla for Theft as a result of an investigation into a theft of a Rolex watch from a residence on Kevan Place.
Perez-Santalla was processed and released pending a court date.
•[Update, October 16, 2019: The charges against Nicholas Branstner described below were dismissed by the Middletown municipal court on March 19, 2012.] On August 30, 2011 at approximately 8:20 pm Patrolman Christopher Dee and Patrolman Ray Sofield of the Quality of Life Unit were on patrol in the area of Bodman Park when they observed a suspicious vehicle parked in the parking lot. The officers approached the vehicle at which point they noticed a Marijuana cigarette in plain view on the floor of the vehicle.
The officers conducted an investigation which resulted in the arrests of Nicholas Branstner, age 28, from Christol Street in Metuchen, NJ, and Jillian McGaffigan, age 23, from Berkshire Street in Middletown, NJ, for Possession of under 50 Grams of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Mc Gaffigan was also charged with Resisting Arrest by refusing to allow the officers to handcuff her.
Both subjects were transported to police headquarters where they were processed and released pending a court date.
• On August 30, 2011 at approximately 1:10 am Patrolman John Mele responded to a report of eggs being thrown at a house. Upon arrival the officer spoke with a witness who provided the officer with a plate number and description of the vehicle involved in the incident.
Officer Mele located the vehicle and conducted an investigation which resulted in the arrest of Michael Amitrani, age 18, from Blanche Court in Middletown, NJ, being arrested for Criminal Mischief. The officer conducted a search incident to the arrest and located a Marijuana grinder, which is a device used to prepare Marijuana for smoking and a pipe used for smoking Marijuana in Amitrani’s pocket.
Amitrani was charged with the additional offense of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and released pending a court date.
• On August 29, 2011 at approximately 7:55 pm Patrolman Albert Scott was on patrol in the area of Highway 36 and Leonard Avenue when he observed a vehicle drive through the intersection that had been blocked with traffic cones and barricades due to the traffic light not function because of a power outage caused by Hurricane Irene. The officer was unable to stop the vehicle because he was on his way to an emergency call.
Officer Scott cleared the emergency call and was on patrol again in the same area when he observed the same vehicle drive through the intersection again, this time right over the traffic cones causing damage. Officer Scott stopped the vehicle and arrested the driver, identified as William Rohweder, age 20, from Burlington Avenue in Leonardo, NJ, for Criminal Mischief and numerous motor vehicle violations.
Rohweder was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and released pending a court date.
• On August 29, 2011 at approximately 3:00 am Patrolman Lawrence Seymour was directing traffic at the intersection of Highway 35 and Apple Farm Road due to tree that had fallen across the road caused by Hurricane Irene when he observed a vehicle drive over traffic cones that had been set up to assist with the road closing. Officer Seymour stopped the vehicle and approached the driver, identified as Sean Noden, age 25, from Clubhouse Drive in Middletown, NJ, at which point he detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath.
Officer Seymour conducted an investigation which resulted in Noden being arrested for Driving While Intoxicated, and Reckless Driving. He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and released pending a court date.
• On August 29, 2011 at approximately 3:00 pm Patrolman Thomas Russo and Detective Laurence Schachtel responded to a residence on Bruce Road in reference to a report of a homeowner who had just caught a subject burglarizing his home. Upon arrival the homeowner advised the officers that he had returned home and observed the subject, identified as Kevin O’Grady, age 22, from Davis Lane in Red Bank, NJ, exiting his house. The homeowner detained O’Grady until police arrived on scene.
Detective Schachtel and Officer Russo conducted an investigation and located Roxicodone pills and jewelry believed to be stolen inside O’Grady’s vehicle. O’Grady was arrested for Burglary, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Unlawful Possession of Roxicodone and Possession of Stolen Property. He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and was held on $17,500.00 bail set by Judge James Berube.
• On August 27, 2011 at approximately 2:55 am Sgt. William Colangelo was on patrol in the area of Highway 35 and Apple Farm Road when he observed a driver asleep behind the wheel of his vehicle at a green light. Sgt. Colangelo approached the vehicle to check on the driver, identified as Taylor Hendricks, age 24, from Rutledge Drive in Middletown, NJ, at which point he observed two baggies containing pills laying on the seat next to the driver.
Sgt. Colangelo continued his investigation which resulted in Hendricks being arrested for Unlawful Possession of Xanax and Unlawful Possession of Oxycodone. He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and released after posting $2,500.00 bail.
• The Middletown Police Department reports the arrests of the following individuals for various offenses:
Vanessa Turner, age 30, from Redfern Court in Lincroft, NJ, arrested on August 30, 2011 by Patrolman Stephen Keller on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Sayreville Municipal Court. She was released after posting $1,000.00 bail.
Gary Stone, age 40, from Church Street in Belford, NJ, arrested on August 29, 2011 by Patrolman Albert Scott on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal Court. He was released after posting $1,000.00 bail.
Kevin Masterson, age 39, from Palmer Avenue in Middletown, NJ, arrested on August 30, 2011 by Patrolman Michael Pintilie on a Non-Support warrant issued by the Monmouth County Superior Court. He was held on $9,126.65 bail.
David Marazzo, age 48, from Tindall Road in Middletown, NJ, arrested on August 30, 2011 by Patrolman Michael Pintilie on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Eatontown Municipal Court. He was released after posting $89.00 bail.
Emilio Rivera, age 51, from Highway 36 in Middletown, NJ, arrested on August 31, 2011 by Patrolman Brian Dilworth for Simple Assault. He was released pending a court date.
