Category: Fairfield NJ

Fairfield Police Arrest Resident Nicholas Didio-Slaaen, 21, on Multiple Charges

1/4/2021

by Carolyne Volpe Curley / Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com
Published 8:35pm

IMAGE: Essex County

This evening Fairfield Police Chief Anthony Manna announced the arrest of Nicholas Didio-Slaaen, 21, of Fairfield for incidents which occurred just after midnight on Sunday.

At about 12:13am, a 911 caller alerted the NJ State Police that they could see a large amount of "high-end" vehicles gathered on Route 80 as if they were preparing to race. State Police notified Fairfield Police to investigate and when officers arrived at the Route 80 East entrance ramp in Montville they reportedly observed 20 vehicles which appeared to be staging along New Maple Avenue.

As Fairfield Police arrived at the scene, they observed some of the cars starting to drive in order onto Route 80 East.

One of the cars, a grey Dodge Charger, struck a 2020 Mazda MX5 and then apparently fled onto Route 80 East. Officers recognized the Dodge driver, by sight, as Fairfield resident Nicholas Slaaen. The officers attempted to get Slaaen to pull over but instead he reportedly drove off at a high rate of speed and pulled away from the police pursuit.

Fairfield officers then called Slaaen on his cellphone and asked that he surrender himself.

The suspect reported to police that:

He was not driving the car
He was actually in Morristown
The Dodge Charger was actually in Toms River

About an hour later, Livingston Police stopped the same Dodge Charger at 1:30am, and determined that Slaaen was the driver. Livingston Police took him into custody, impounded the Dodge sports car, and Fairfield Police took over the case.

CHARGES

Fairfield Police charged Nicholas Didio-Slaaen with:

Eluding police
Resisting arrest by flight
Obstruction of justice
13 motor vehicle violations

Slaaen was transported to the Essex County Correctional Facility and his hearing will take place before the superior court in Newark.

Regina DeComa and Allan Soriano of Cedar Grove, along with Dawn Becker of Oakland, Charged with Million Dollar Fraud Theft

12/14/2020

by Carolyne Volpe Curley / Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com
Published 7:17pm

Allan Soriano and Regina DeComa, of Cedar Grove IMAGE: Fairfield Police

Tonight, Fairfield Police Chief Anthony Manna announced the arrest of three persons charged with fraud which resulted in over $1 million in theft. The five-month investigation was conducted by Fairfield Detective Sergeant Jeffrey Didyk and Fairfield Detective Steven D’Argenio who worked along side the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

SUSPECTS

Dawn Becker IMAGE: Fairfield Police

Dawn Becker, 55, of Oakland

Financial comptroller of Fairfield business which asked to not be identified

Regina DeComa IMAGE: Fairfield Police

Regina DeComa, 36, of Cedar Grove

Office manager, co-worker of Becker at same Fairfield business

Allan Soriano IMAGE: Fairfield Police

Allan Soriano, 42, of Cedar Grove

Owner of AJ's Lunchbox in West Caldwell.

On Wednesday, Fairfield police executed search warrants at two Cedar Grove residences and at the deli in West Caldwell. DeComa and Soriano were arrested immediately after the search warrants were executed. Today, Becker surrendered herself to Fairfield Police.

FIVE-MONTH INVESTIGATION

October 2018 through August, 2020

DeComa and Becker allegedly made unauthorized distributions of their Fairfield employer's corporate funds to themselves and charged items to their employer's corporate accounts
- DeComa reportedly even opened an unauthorized corporate American Express card in her own name

March, 2020

Soriano allegedly used stolen funds from the same Fairfield company to renovate his AJ Lunchbox business

PURCHASES

The detectives were able to recover many items reportedly paid for by the three individuals with money stolen through the unauthorized business accounts.

High End Sports Memorabilia

Framed autographed Michael Jordan University of North Carolina jersey, valued at approximately $10,000
Framed game-used base signed by Derek Jeter
Several autographed Eli Manning helmets and pictures

Personal Items

Peloton exercise bike
An engagement ring for DeComa, who is engaged to Soriano, which she reportedly purchased herself

CHARGES

Dawn Becker

Credit card theft
Theft by deception
Corporate misconduct
Conspiracy, three counts

Regina DeComa

Credit card theft
Theft by deception
Corporate misconduct
Conspiracy, three counts

Allan Soriano

Credit card theft
Theft by deception
Conspiracy, two counts

Fairfield Police Chief Anthony Manna
Dec. 14, 2020

“This was an extensive and comprehensive investigation that took some time for our investigators to fully determine the complete scope of the criminal activity but they did an outstanding job. As is the case most of the time, greed remains law enforcement’s greatest ally in helping us to catch criminals.”

All suspects were released on their own recognizance pending further legal proceedings.

Fairfield Police Arrest Devon Clemente, 33, of Glen Ridge, for Comfort Inn Armed Robbery

12/10/2020

by Carolyne Volpe Curley / Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com
Published 7:11pm

The Fairfield Police announced today that Devon Clemente, 33, of Glen Ridge, has been arrested for committing the armed robbery on Monday at the Comfort Inn.

Clemente has been charged today with the following:

Armed robbery
Possession of a weapon for an unlawful
purpose
Possession of a weapon

IMAGE: Fairfield Police

Fairfield Police Chief Anthony Manna stated the following in connection to the arrest:

Clemente drove his 2017 Gray Ford Fusion to the Comfort Inn, located at 286 Route 46 East in Fairfield, at about 6pm on Monday
He entered the hotel wearing a black North Face jacket, a black glove with the name “Wells Lamont” in white on it and a Covid surgical mask
Clemente showed the clerk a silver-colored handgun that was in his waistband
He told the clerk that he needed their money because of Covid
Clemente was given about $300 in cash and walked back to his car, then drove onto Route 46 East

Investigation

Fairfield Detective Sergeant Michael Nyhuis and Detective David Lagan made use of an automated license plate reader that was recently given to the police department by the Fairfield Police Foundation and were able to identify Clemente's vehicle
The detectives obtained a search warrant to inspect Clemente's Ford Fusion and reportedly found inside of it the North Face jacket and black “Wells Lamont” glove

Fairfield Police Chief Gary Manna
Dec. 10, 2020

“This was great investigative work on the part of these detectives which led to the apprehension of a dangerous armed robbery suspect in only three days. I commend both of them for their dedication and tenacity."

IMAGE: Fairfield Police

Today, Clemente surrendered himself to the Fairfield Police and he was transported to the Essex County Correctional Facility pending a bail hearing in Newark's Superior Court.

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POLICE

Fairfield Police Arrest Resident Nicholas Didio-Slaaen, 21, on Multiple Charges

Regina DeComa and Allan Soriano of Cedar Grove, along with Dawn Becker of Oakland, Charged with Million Dollar Fraud Theft

Fairfield Police Arrest Devon Clemente, 33, of Glen Ridge, for Comfort Inn Armed Robbery

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