During the period between July 29, 2024, through August 4, 2024, members of the GRPD handled 292 calls for service, the highlights of which included:
07-30-2024
7:02 PM – Patrols were dispatched to a report of a physical altercation in progress on the basketball court at Wilde Memorial Park. Upon arrival the fight had apparently ended. The alleged victim, who showed signs of a head injury, was uncooperative with the responding officers, refused medical assistance, and denied that he had been assaulted. He refused to identify himself nor anyone else involved in the incident. Other people present on the basketball court would not cooperate with the officers and claimed that nothing more than an aggressive basketball game had occurred.
Detectives are reviewing video footage which captured the incident, showing that a physical altercation did in fact take place, however, without cooperation on the part of the alleged victim it is unlikely that any charges can be filed.
08-01-2024
1:59 PM – A resident on the 200 block of Boulevard reported that a package theft occurred at their home approximately 30 minutes prior. The package, which contained a portable blender valued at $41, was reportedly taken by a male subject who was recorded by the homeowner’s video surveillance system. The subject is described as a male, possibly Hispanic, wearing black shorts, a blue shirt and was driving an older model brown Honda Civic. The video images from the theft have been requested from the homeowner and will be forwarded to the Detective Bureau for further investigation.
08-01-2024
8:42 PM – A 23-year-old Paterson man and an 18-year-old Lodi woman reported that they had been assaulted by a group of males on the basketball court at Wilde Memorial Park. The male victim reported that he was playing basketball with a group of acquaintances who he could not identify by name. A dispute occurred over the game and 5 to 6 male subjects began to repeatedly beat him. When his girlfriend tried to break up the fight she was assaulted as well. The couple was chased from the park and drove to police headquarters seeking assistance at the after-hours call box located at the rear of the police station.
The male victim was transported by ambulance to the Valley Hospital in Paramus with non-life-threatening injuries. The female victim was offered medical assistance but declined. Three cooperating witnesses were present with the victims and provided statements to the investigating officers. However, none could identify the actors by name.
The subjects involved in the assault had fled the scene as the victims were seeking assistance at police headquarters. Video images of the assault are being reviewed by detectives in an effort to identify the actors. The investigation is active and ongoing.
Following this incident, the second act of violence in four days, the basketball courts at the park were locked pending further evaluation by town officials.
08-02-2024
9:29 PM – Patrols were dispatched to a dispute in progress in the area of Prospect Street and Saddle River Road. Upon arrival, the complaining witness pointed out to Sgt. Robert Wojtecki a male subject who had previously approached a pickup truck stopped in traffic and began to aggressively hit the hood and the door of the pickup, followed by spitting on the window. He then reportedly made several attempts to enter the vehicle to get at the occupants. When he was unsuccessful in doing so, he pulled several traffic cones out of the trailer behind the pick-up and began to toss them at the vehicle.
As the officer was interviewing the witness, they observed the subject, a short distance away, causing a disturbance in the travel portion of the roadway forcing vehicles to come to a sudden stop. The witness positively identified the subject as the actor. As the Sergeant, and his backup officer Lt. Chris Mc Inerney, approached the actor he was blocking a NJ Transit # 175 commuter bus from proceeding on its route at the Fair Lawn border. The actor was highly agitated and yelling at the bus driver.
The officers directed the actor to leave the travel portion of the roadway to which he refused to comply. He continued to walk in front of moving vehicles and to create a disturbance. The officers were able to physically remove him from the roadway, overcoming resistance, wrestle him to the ground, and handcuff him. During a search incident to arrest, officers found the actor, Matthew Emerson, age 36, of Fair Lawn, NJ, to be in possession of 3 glass crack-cocaine pipes and three half cut plastic straws containing suspected narcotic residue.
Matthew Emerson was transported to Police HQ, without further incident, where he was processed and charged with:
- Obstructing the Passage of Vehicles – N.J.S.A. 2C:33-7A
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – N.J.S.A. 2C:36-2
- Resisting Arrest – N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2A (1).
He was released on his own recognizance pending an appearance in Glen Rock Municipal Court.
These charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
08-02-2024
6:17 PM – A Glen Rock resident reported that they received a shipment from Walmart containing a cooler that they did not order. The shipment contained their personal information and was fraudulently charged to one of two credit accounts which had been opened in their name without authorization.
08-03-2024
5:30 AM – A Crestwood Drive resident contacted police for assistance, reporting that approximately ten minutes prior an unknown male subject had attempted to enter their home. Responding officers found no one in the area, nor were there signs of attempted forced entry to the residence.
The complainant was able to provide the investigating officer with video surveillance images. These images showed that a young Asian male, who appeared to be in an intoxicated state, stumbled onto the front steps of the home and open the storm door. The subject then tried using the door lock keypad in an unsuccessful effort to unlock the front door. The subject then walked away and left the area.
The video surveillance images have been forwarded to the Detective Bureau for review.
08-03-2024
1:03 PM – During the course of a motor vehicle stop on Route 208 South, P.O. T.J. Graziani determined that the driver, a 34-year-old Fair Lawn woman, had two active bench warrants for her arrest. Both warrants were issued for failing to answer charges filed against her before the Hawthorne and Wayne Municipal Courts. The woman was turned over to the custody of officers from the Hawthorne Police Department on scene.
08-04-2024
7:22 AM – Patrols were dispatched to Waldron Avenue on a report of a stolen vehicle. Upon arrival they interviewed a 64-year-old Bronxville, NY man who reported that his grey 2020 Mercedes had been taken overnight. He had been visiting a friend in the area and parked the vehicle on Waldron Avenue, near Rodney Street, at about 9:45 PM the night before. The vehicle had been left unlocked with the key fob inside. At the time of the report, he observed that the vehicle, which also contained a full set of golf clubs, was gone.
The vehicle was recovered later in the day by the New York City Police Department in the Bronx, however, the license plates had been removed from the vehicle.
08-04-2024
8:15 AM – A Fairview Avenue resident reported that on the prior evening, at around 9:49 PM, their home video surveillance system recorded three unknown male subjects prowling around their home. The subjects walked up the driveway and went around the side of the home. They were next scene walking across the street. All three were wearing black ski masks and had black gloves on.
An officer responded to the residence and found nothing to be out of order. The video images were provided for the Detective Bureau to review.
08-04-2024
8:49 AM – A resident on the 300 block of Gramercy Place reported finding video footage on their home video surveillance system showing a male subject attempting to enter a vehicle in their driveway at 4:17 AM. As the resident’s vehicle was locked, the actor was unable to do so and left the area riding a bicycle. The video showed the actor to be a male subject with a “thin strap” beard, wearing black sweatpants, black shoes, and a white “T” shirt. Video footage was provided by the resident and is being reviewed by the Detective Bureau.
08-04-2024
1:25 PM – A Waldron Avenue resident reported that their unlocked 2015 Range Rover had been entered while parked in their driveway. Taken from the vehicle was a Hermes Constance Wallet, valued at $ 3,200, a Hermes Rose Gold Farandole Pendant valued at $ 2,250, and a credit card.
The matter has been referred to the Detective Bureau for investigation.
08-04-2024
5:58 PM – Patrols were dispatched to a home on the 100 block of Boulevard, opposite Fairview Avenue, to investigate a neighbor’s report that entry had been forced. Responding officers found that the front door had been kicked in and entry gained to the home, which is currently vacant and undergoing renovations.
The owner of the home was contacted and responded. The scene was processed by crime scene investigators from the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department BCI. The matter has been referred to the Detective Bureau for investigation.
