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North Caldwell Police Sergeant Hospitalized After Police Pursuit: Five Arrests Made by Carolyne Volpe Curley / Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com First Published 5am  NORTH CALDWELL, NJ - Early Wednesday morning, North Caldwell Police received a report of suspicious individuals running through a backyard on Mountain Avenue near White Oak Road. The incident led to a responding officer, North Caldwell Police Sergeant John Belotta, being hospitalized after reportedly being dragged by the driver of a stolen car. Multiple departments responded and ultimately five were arrested, while two cars which were reported stolen in Morris County were recovered. At about 4:51am this morning, North Caldwell Police responded to Mountain Avenue investigating the suspicious individuals and at the same time called in Caldwell Police Department and West Caldwell Police Department to assist with the investigation. Caldwell and West Caldwell officers patrolled Mountain Avenue while North Caldwell officers patrolled the side street areas. A few minutes later, at 4:54am, another call came into North Caldwell headquarters from a resident reporting that they could seeing individuals running on Mountain Avenue toward Knollwood Drive. At 4:57am, Cedar Grove Police were also dispatched to assist. While patrolling the area at 5:03am, Sergeant Belotta spotted two cars driving on Deer Trail Road headed to Brookside Terrace. Police later determined that the two cars were stolen last night out of Morris Plains and Maplewood:
"The driver of the stolen Jeep North Caldwell officers were able to apprehend two individuals on Brookside Terrace and placed them under arrest. Although injured, Belotta was able to report that the cars drove away towards Mountain Avenue and by 5:05am, Verona Police was also sent out to assist the investigation. At 5:26am, a Verona patrol officer on Smull Avenue saw the two wanted cars drive past him on Mountain Avenue headed towards Bloomfield Avenue. At 5:30am, another Verona patrol officer witnessed multiple persons bail out of a car at Ryerson Avenue near Grove Street in Caldwell. The officer followed after the suspects on foot and reported to the other responding units that they were running in the area of Fells Road and Devon Road, in Essex Fells. At 5:32am, Roseland Police were dispatched to assist after the suspects were seen behind Devon Road residences near Avon Drive. Soon after, Livingston Police were dispatched to assist at 5:36am. North Caldwell officers were on foot as they witnessed individuals running through the backyards of Devon Road going through the connecting Fells Road backyards. At the same time, at about 5:39am, Verona officers reported seeing suspects near a residence on Fells Road. By 5:49am, the Verona patrol office witnessed a suspect on Devon Road. Soon he was subdued, and the final arrest was made. Deuer reported that, in total, five arrests were made in Essex Fells and North Caldwell and 1 gun was recovered. The individuals arrested reside in Maplewood, Newark and Irvington. Within minutes, Caldwell Police reported they were with the two stolen cars which were located at the dead end of Grove Street, Caldwell. North Caldwell Chief Mark Deuer:  PHOTO: North Caldwell Police Department According to Deuer, by 9:45am, Essex County Sheriff's Department Crime Scene Unit, along with the Prosecutor's Office and officers from Maplewood and Morris Plains Police Departments responded to the scene and police headquarters to process the incidents.
This investigation is ongoing, and police request that anyone with video or information should contact them:
by Carolyne Volpe Curley / Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com Published 6:41pm  From left: Verona Police Chief Chris Keirnan, Detective Sergeant Timothy Banta, Mayor Kevin Ryan, Sheriff Armando Fontoura PHOTO: Kevin Lynch VERONA, NJ - Yesterday, the 200 Club of Essex County presented their Valor Award to Verona Police Detective Sergeant Timmy Banta for his role in protecting his fellow officers, and a woman in crisis, from any harm while he himself suffered injuries. On Jan. 3, 2017, the woman called Verona Police from her Bloomfield Avenue residence saying: Get the fire department ready. According to police, when the Verona Police officers responded, Banta immediately took charge of the scene and forced open the locked door of the woman's apartment. Inside, the officers found that the woman had severed the gas line from her stove, turned the hose into a flame thrower, and was armed with a knife. While she strongly resisted, Banta managed to subdue the woman while the other officers evacuated the building. During the struggle, the woman lunged at Banta with a knife and he suffered injuries. 200 Club Trustee Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated: Throughout this life-threatening incident Banta was ultimately able to take the woman into custody and escort her downstairs to safety and much needed psychological attention. 200 Club of Essex County
Its sole purpose is to help provide for dependents of police and firefighters in Essex County and state troopers in New Jersey who lose their lives in the line of duty by way of a cash stipend to the surviving spouse or dependent with no conditions and by providing educational assistance to each surviving child prior to its 26th birthday. Annually, The Club holds a Valor Awards luncheon where it pays tribute to a number of brave Essex County police officers, Essex County firefighters and NJ State Troopers who distinguished themselves by acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty. The Valor Award recipients receive a cash award, an engraved medallion, and a 200 Club Valor ribbon to be worn on their uniform. by Carolyne Volpe Curley / Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com Published 5:30pm  VERONA, NJ - Verona Police Acting Chief Christopher Kiernan announced the arrest of Damon Abnathya, 39, of Montclair for thefts to motor vehicles that took place in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Jan. 9. According to Kiernan, Officer Stephanie Colon was on patrol at about 4:14am when she observed Abnathya walking in the street in the area of Mt. Prospect Avenue and Sunset Avenue, while carrying a small red bag. Because of the early hour, and the extremely cold temperature - and because Colon was already aware of vehicle thefts and burglaries in the area - she pulled over to speak with Abnathya. Abnathya, however, after seeing the officer, immediately dropped the bag and ran through the backyards on Sunset Avenue. Colon called for back up as a foot chase took place throughout numerous backyards and eventually Abnathya was taken into custody by Verona Officers Colon, McMahon, Sergeant Condorelli and Lieutenant Wardrope. It was excellent Police work According to Kiernan, Abnathya was found in possession of over $300 in various denominations of cash and change. He also had several gift cards, change purses and various small personal items.
After being advised of his Miranda Rights, Abnathya admitted that he was entering vehicles in the area. Abnathya was charged with:
After processing, he was transported to the Essex County Correctional Facility for arraignment. The investigation is ongoing to locate all of the owners of the items. Please call the Verona Police Department at 973-239-5000 if you believe anything was taken from your vehicle. |
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