The information contained in this Police Blotter has been compiled and released at the discretion of the West Milford Township Police Department and does not represent the entire scope of activity for the time period. However, in the spirit of transparency, the police department strives to release all information that can be released without compromising ongoing investigations or causing unnecessary harm to victims.
DWI
On Sept. 8 at 11:11 p.m., West Milford Police were notified of a car on fire on Cahill Cross Road near Ridge Road.
When Officer Bruce Lederman arrived, a passing motorist who happened to be a volunteer firefighter had already helped the driver out of the burning vehicle, police said.
Officers determined that the driver of the vehicle involved in the accident was Jason Paradiso, 36, of Wayne.
According to police, Paradiso refused to cooperate with the investigation, and after exhibiting signs of intoxication, he was placed under arrest.
Paradiso was charged with DWI, refusal to submit to breath samples, careless driving, failure to stay within a lane, and failure to exhibit documents, police said.
He also received criminal charges for hindering apprehension and obstructing administration of law.
Police said he was released to a friend and is awaiting his first court date.
Shoplifting/CDS arrest
On Sept. 14 at 5:50 p.m., West Milford Police were dispatched to the Shoprite on Marshal Hill Road for a report of two shoplifters fleeing the store with a large quantity of Red Bull and Ensure.
Police said the male and female suspects fled in a vehicle along with a small child.
A description of the vehicle was given to police by the caller.
Officer Gregory Post Jr. spotted the vehicle and performed a motor vehicle stop on Echo Lake Road, police said.
The driver and passenger were identified as Marvin Benitez, 26, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Alyssa Gonzalez, 24, of Bloomingdale, police said.
Both were placed under arrest for shoplifting and possession of hypodermic needles and endangering the welfare of a child, police said.
The child was released to family members with notification made to the state’s Department of Child Protection and Permanency, police said.
Both of the accused were released on a summons to await their first Central Judicial Processing court date.
DWI
On Sept. 21, at approximately 7:14 p.m., West Milford Police received numerous calls of an erratic driver travelling through the center of town.
A caller reported the vehicle travelled north on Warwick Turnpike and eventually stopped in the parking lot of the Utopia Deli.
Officer Jason Healy responded to the location and found the vehicle parked diagonally taking up two parking spaces, police said.
As he approached the vehicle he observed the driver passed out, lying from the driver seat to the passenger seat.
Officer Healy observed signs of intoxication and identified the driver as Peggy Mirabelli, 62, of Hewitt, police said.
Police said she was placed under arrest for DWI and transported to police headquarters for processing after refusing to perform sobriety tests.
Mirabelli was charged with DWI, refusal to submit breath samples, and open container in a motor vehicle, police said.
The vehicle was impounded and she was released pending a future court date.
DWI
On Sept. 23, at approximately 1:10 a.m., West Milford Police officers were dispatched to a motor vehicle accident on Oak Ridge Road.
Upon Officer John Pesenti’s arrival, he observed that a vehicle had gone over the front yard of two houses and crashed into a parked car.
He was able to identify the driver as Connor Spears, 26, of Nutley.
Police said Spears exhibited signs of intoxication and was transported to St Joseph’s Hospital in Wayne for an examination due to injuries sustained in the accident.
At the hospital, blood was drawn for analysis and Spears was charged with DWI and careless driving, police said.
DWI & Paraphernalia Arrest
West Milford Police Officer Thomas Connors was dispatched to a motor vehicle accident on Sept. 25 at 1:45 p.m. on Route 23 South at Oak Ridge Road.
Police determined that Carlos Melo, 21, of Manhattan, New York, rear ended the vehicle in front of him at the traffic light.
Upon speaking with Melo, the officer smelled burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle, police said.
Police said Officer Connors also detected signs of impairment from the driver.
Melo was placed under arrest and charged with DWI, reckless driving, following too closely and being unlicensed.
A passenger in the vehicle, Andrew Escroboza, 27, also of Manhattan, was placed under arrest for possession of paraphernalia, police said.
Both men were processed and released to a friend and are awaiting their first court date.
DWI/CDS Arrest
On Sept. 25 at approximately 7 p.m., West Milford Police were alerted to possible intoxicated driver.
Police said the caller gave the license plate and description of a vehicle that had struck a guide rail on Route 23 North, and had pulled into the rest area.
Officer Kevin Canova located the vehicle in the rest area and observed fresh damage along the passenger side, police said.
When the officer approached the driver who was seated in the vehicle, identified by police as Timothy Dolan, 34, of Highland Lakes, he observed glassine folds and drug paraphernalia on the driver’s lap.
Dolan was unable to perform any sobriety tests and was placed under arrest for DWI and possession of heroin and paraphernalia, police said.
He was transported to police headquarters and processed, and was later transported to the Passaic County Jail to await his first court appearance.
DWI
On Sept. 25 at approximately 8:25 p.m., West Milford Police Officer Gary Yarnall responded to the scene of a single motor vehicle accident on Union Valley Road near Idylease.
Upon his arrival the officer identified the driver as Gina Hanley, 51, of West Milford.
While speaking with the driver, Officer Yarnall detected signs of impairment, police said.
After failing her sobriety tests, Hanley was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters where she was processed and charged with DWI, failure to maintain a lane and careless driving, police said.
She was released to a friend and is awaiting her first court date.
CDS Arrest
On Sept. 29 at about 8:15 p.m., West Milford Police responded to Ridge Road on a report of a hitchhiker who may be intoxicated.
When Officer Kevin Canova’s arrived, he observed an adult male stumbling into the roadway, police said.
The officer stopped and identified the male as Thomas Licursi, 54, of West Milford.
While speaking with Licursi, the officer observed an unmarked medicine bottle, containing heroin and two Xanax pills, police said.
Licursi was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters to be processed.
Police said he was charged with possession of heroin and possession of non-prescribed medication.
DWI
On Sept. 30 at approximately 8:30 p.m., West Milford Police were notified by an off duty police officer of a possible intoxicated driver travelling north on Route 23.
The vehicle described by the caller was stopped on Oak Ridge Road.
Officer Jill Brickman identified the driver as Robert Ferrarie, 56, of Oak Ridge.
Upon speaking with the Ferrarie, Officer Brickman detected signs of intoxication, police said.
After failing his sobriety tests, Ferrarie was placed under arrest for DWI and transported to police headquarters for processing.
He was charged with DWI and failure to maintain a lane and released to a friend, police said.
The above listed data does not represent the entire scope of activity for the time period. During the period, September 1st-30th 2018, The West Milford Police Department responded to 1366 calls for service. The West Milford Police Department strives to release all information that can be released without compromising ongoing investigations or causing unnecessary harm to victims. In addition to the above listed data The West Milford Police Dept. also handled the following incidents:
Alarms-72
Medical Emergencies-133 Warrant arrests-5
Motor Vehicle Accidents-65 Disputes-25
Animal Complaints-41 Theft Reports-12