The Police Blotter, Garwood

Garwood Police Catch Cranford Woman Driving With a Suspended License

This information was provided by the Garwood Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.

This following information was received from the Garwood Police Department. While on patrol, Officer David Perrotta conducted a motor vehicle stop on North Avenue and during the investigation, found that the driver had a suspended driver's license and an active traffic warrant for $500. The driver, Patricia McCarthy, 39, from Cranford, was brought into headquarters, where she was issued a summons and released with a court date.

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Garwood Police Now Hiring

The department will add an officer to fill the vacancy left by Capt. James Pipala's upcoming retirement.

  The Garwood Police Department has an opening for a new officer as Capt. James Pipala is retiring May 1. "I would like to have an officer hired in March, trained in April and ready for the road May 1," Garwood Police Chief Bruce Underhill told Patch. "Since we do not have a current promotional list in place, I presented the Police Committee a timetable for promotional testing, promotions, and the hiring of an officer to replace Captain Pipala." Additionally, the department is currently one man low from normal staffing level due to three retirements (only two new hires) in 2011. "I have approached the Police Committee about filling this vacancy as well with an alternate route class graduate," said Underhill. "The alternate route class …

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The Police Blotter, Garwood

The Garwood Blotter: Garwood Man Arrested for Burglary and Theft

The following information was obtained from the Garwood Police Department. An arrest does not indicate a conviction.

Recent Garwood police activity: Burglary and Theft Jan. 23 – While investigating a burglary to a business on the 100 block of North Avenue, Captain Pipala, Lieutenant Stoffer, Officer Wright and Officer Suggs subsequently arrested Christopher Plaia, 27, of Garwood. Plaia was charged with burglary and theft. Plaia was released after posting bail with a pending court date. Possession Jan. 26, 5:30 p.m. – While investigating a suspicious vehicle parked in the 200 block of North Avenue, Officer Kleinsorgen arrested Sivan Merom, 29, of Wanaque. Merom was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and transported to the Union County Jail in lieu of bail. Driving While Suspended Jan. 25, 2:36 a.m. – Officer Lewis issued a summons to Bryan A. …

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The Police Blotter, Garwood

The Garwood Blotter: Scotch Plains Man Arrested for Driving While Intoxicated With Suspended License

The following information was obtained from the Garwood Police Department. An arrest does not indicate a conviction.

Garwood police activity, Dec. - Jan. 6, 2012: DWI, Uninsured Vehicle, Driving While Suspended Dec. 30, 12:11 a.m. –  While performing a motor vehicle stop in the 600 block of South Avenue, Officer Herz arrested the driver, Paul E. Marel, 33, of Scotch Plains for driving while intoxicated, uninsured vehicle, failure to surrender a driver's license or registration, driving while suspended, failure to wear a seatbelt, careless driving, disregard of a traffic signal and failure to keep right.  Marel was released with a pending court date. Possession Jan. 6, 10:50 p.m. – While performing a motor vehicle stop in the 100 block of South Avenue, Officer Herz arrested the passenger, Elliott W. Sessoms, 22, of Elizabeth for possession of a controlled…

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Garwood Police Participating in Drunk Driving Crackdown

The annual "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign runs from Dec. 14 - Jan. 2 and includes increased patrolling and sobriety checkpoints.

Release submitted by the Garwood Police Department. Law enforcement officials from Garwood will be cracking down on drunk drivers as part of the annual holiday season “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” statewide campaign. Beginning December 14, 2012 and running through January 2, 2013, local and state law enforcement officials will conduct saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints looking for motorists who may be driving while intoxicated. A concentrated national effort, the campaign helps to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving through high-visibility enforcement and public education tools, including posters, banners and mobile video display signs. Launched nationally in 1999, the program works to combat drunk driving…

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The Police Blotter, Garwood

The Garwood Blotter: Drunk Driver Hits Bicyclist

The following arrest information was provided by the Garwood Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.

DUI Oct. 17, 7:52 p.m. – After investigating a motor vehicle crash with a bicyclist, Officer Kleinsorgen arrested the driver Rosario A. Castro, 54, from Garwood for failure to yield to a pedestrian, careless driving and driving while intoxicated. Castro was released with a pending court date. Possession/Suspended License/Underage Drinking Oct. 20, 10:16 p.m. – Officer Herz performed a motor vehicle stop in the 900 block of Center Street and upon his investigation the driver, Taylor E. Carvlho, 21, from Westfield was arrested and charged with driving with an obstructed view, suspended driver's license and possession of CDS (controlled dangerous substances). Carvlho's passenger, Joshua Sanchez, 20, from Linden was arrested and charged with …

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The Police Blotter, Garwood

The Garwood Blotter: Garwood Man Gets DWI After Crashing His Car, Trying to Leave the Scene

The following arrest information was provided by the Garwood Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.

Recent Garwood police activity: DWI Sept. 25, 2:28 a.m. – Officer Chudy performed a motor vehicle stop in the 400 block of South Avenue. Upon his investigation the driver, Ray Bailey, 20, from Clark was arrested and charged with underage consumption of an alcoholic beverage, driving without headlights, failure to keep right, tailgating, failure to signal, careless driving, having an open container of an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle and driving while intoxicated. Bailey was released with a pending court date. Sept. 30, 6:24 p.m. – While investigating a motor vehicle crash in the 200 block of Center Street, Officer Eriksen arrested Frank Erickson, 35, from Westfield and charged him for no insurance card in possession, obstructed …

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Garwood Police to Begin Drunk Driving Crackdown Friday

Officers will conduct sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols, looking for motorists who may be driving while intoxicated.

This press release was submitted by the Garwood Police Department. Law enforcement officers from Garwood, N. J. will be cracking down on drunk drivers as part of the summer 2012 “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.  Beginning August 17 and running through September 3, local and state law enforcement officers will conduct sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols, looking for motorists who may be driving while intoxicated. A concentrated national effort, the campaign helps to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving through high-visibility enforcement and public education tools, including posters, banners and mobile video display signs. Launched nationally in 1999, the program works to combat drunk driving during some …

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Bomb Squad Called for Suspicious Duffel Bag at Garwood McDonald's

The foul-smelling bag was found to contain only old meats.

Sunday was a rotten night for Garwood Police – a suspicious, foul-smelling duffel bag that brought out the Union County Bomb Squad turned out to be full of only rancid meats.  According to Garwood Police, the department received a call around 10:30 p.m. from an employee at the McDonald's on North Avenue who reported the pungent bag in the restaurant's parking lot. Garwood Police, Fire and EMS responded to the scene and the Union County Bomb Squad, Hazmat Team and Police were later called in. "You could smell it from 50 feet away," said Sgt. Mario Morelli. "That's how bad it was. We were gagging." According to Morelli, the UC Bomb Squad x-rayed the bag and determined it was not an explosive. The UC Hazmat Team then opened the bag and found …

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The Police Blotter, Garwood

The Garwood Blotter: Police Make Drug, Drunk Driving Arrests

The following arrest information was provided by the Garwood Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.

Jully 11, 2:28 a.m. – Officer Herz performed a motor vehicle stop on the 700 block of North Avenue. Upon his investigation the driver, Leah Fertig-Cohn, 21, from Westfield was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, driving without headlamps, careless driving and improper display of plates. Fertig-Cohn was released with a pending court date. July 18, 11:02 p.m. – Officer Herz arrested Klausdieter Sonnenberg III, 24, from Garwood for shoplifting at the 7-Eleven in the 300 block of North Avenue. Sonnenberg was released with a pending court date. July 22, 9:11 p.m. – Sgt. Rocco performed a motor vehicle stop on the 600 block of North Avenue. Upon his investigation the driver, David I Silva from South Plainfield, was arrested and …

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