Motor Vehicle Crash with Injuries

Posted on May 16, 2012 by dcompton

On May 14, 2012 at 09.41 hours, Washington Township Police Department received a call of a motor vehicle crash on Rt 513 in Califon, NJ.  Upon the arrival of patrol a single vehicle crash was found.  The operator of the vehicle Karen J. Kazmerowski 61 years old from Califon, NJ was traveling East on Rt. 513 and for unknown reason the vehicle left the roadway and struck a mailbox in the area of 434 Rt. 513.  As a result the vehicle then crossed over into the Westbound lane and struck a parked vehicle in the parking lot of the A & P Supermarket.  The vehicle continued on for a short distance before coming to final rest in this parking lot.  Ms. Kazmerowski was treated at the scene by Lebanon Township Fire and First Aid along with High Bridge and Clinton First Aid.  Ms. Kazmerowski was airlifted by the New Jersey State Police Helicopter and transported to Morristown Memorial Hospital.  Ms. Kazmerowski was found to have bleeding on her brain, two broken legs and ankles along with other internal injuries.  The investigation into the cause of the crash is still on-going and is being investigated by Patrol Officer Michael Hade of the Washington Township Traffic Bureau.

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Warrant Arrest

Posted on May 16, 2012 by dcompton

On May 16, 2012 at 00.24 hours, Patrol Officer Michael Thompson stopped a 2001 Black Honda for speeding on East Mill Road. A subsequent investigation found that the driver Marguerit Mbida 24 years old from Elizabeth, NJ, had three outstanding warrant for her arrest. Ms. Mbida had a total of $1,300.00 in warrants issued by Hackettstown, Parsippany and Hopatcong Municipal Courts.  Ms. Mbida was unable to post her required bail and was taken into custody.  She was later turned over to Hackettstown Police Department.  Ms. Mbida also received a motor vehicle complaint for Speeding.

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DWI

Posted on May 14, 2012 by dcompton

On May 13, 2012 at 03.48 hours, PO Adam Feichter stopped a 2008 Honda for a motor vehicle violation.  While speaker to the operator William J Charney 56 years old from Hackettstown, NJ P.O. Feichter determined that Mr. Charney was intoxicated.  Mr. Charney was requested to complete field sobriety test, which he failed.  Mr. Charney was placed under arrest and was transported to Washington Township Police Headquarters.  Mr. Charney was issued the following motor vehicle summonses DWI, Reckless Driving, Failure to Keep Right.  Mr. Charney was released to a responsible adult with a mandatory court appearance pending.

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Motor Vehcile Accident/DWI

Posted on May 14, 2012 by dcompton

On 05/12/2012 at approximately 03:15 pm, the Washington Township Police were dispatched to Naughright Road in the area of Mission Road for a motor vehicle accident.  Upon arrival, Patrol Officer Kirk Griffin observed two pickup trucks with heavy front end damage blocking both lanes of travel.  The driver of one of the trucks, Mike Maletta 44 years old from Stroudsburg P.A., stated that he pulled out of a driveway and into the path of the second truck, which was traveling North on Naughright Road.  All three occupants from Mahwah, NJ of that vehicle were taken to area hospitals for medical attention.

Upon interviewing Mr. Maletta, Officer Griffin detected the odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath.  Mr. Maletta was unable to perform sobriety tests due to injuries sustained in the accident, and was transported to Hackettstown Regional Medical Center.  Officer Griffin also located open containers of alcohol in Mr. Maletta’s truck.  Mr. Maletta was charged with DWI, Reckless Driving, Possessing an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle and Failure to yield to motor vehicles while entering a roadway.

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CDS Arrest

Posted on May 12, 2012 by dcompton

On May 11, 2012 at 10:45 pm, police received a call of a suspicious vehicle parked near the intersection of Ascot Drive and Ramsey Way.  PO Robert Brobst and Cpl. Brian Bigham responded to the area to investigate.  As PO Brobst was traveling on Ramsey Way, he located a 2006 Green Jeep coming towards him.  As he passed the vehicle, it sped away towards Pleasant Grove Road.   PO Brobst was able to catch up and stop the vehicle on Pleasant Grove Road, just east of Mount Lebanon Road.  Also arriving on scene was Corporal Brain Bigham to assist. 

Upon speaking to the driver of the vehicle Kurt Harrison 19 years old from Hackettstown, NJ, he was immediately met with the strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.  Their investigation led to the discovery of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.  A passenger in the vehicle Shikhar Mishra 19 years old from Long Valley, NJ was found to have attempted to hide marijuana and a glass marijuana pipe in his shoes.  It was also determined that Mr. Harrison was under the influence of marijuana while driving.  Both parties were arrested and transported to police headquarters for processing and the vehicle was impounded.  Mr. Harrison was tested by Cpl. Bigham at Police Headquarters, who is a certified Drug Recognition Expert.

Mr. Mishra was charged with Possession of Marijuana Under 50 Grams and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Mr. Harrison was charged with Possession of Marijuana Under 50 Grams, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Under the Influence of Marijuana, Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, and Possession of CDS in a Motor Vehicle.

Both parties were released to family members with a pending mandatory court date.

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Warrant Arrest

Posted on May 10, 2012 by dcompton

On May 10, 2012 at 12:14 hours, Patrol Officer Michael Hade stopped a vehicle for a motor vehicle violation on Rt 46.  A subsequent investigation by Patrol Officer Hade found that the passenger Roberto J. Renta 32 years old from Elizabeth, NJ had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The warrant was issued by Edison Township Municipal Court in the amount of $1,000.00.  Mr. Renta was unable to post his bail and was taken into custody and later turned over to Edison Police Department.  Mr. Renta was also issued a motor vehicle summons for Riding on parts not intended for passengers.

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MV Crash/DWI Arrest

Posted on May 8, 2012 by dcompton

On May 5, 2012 at 16.12 hours, Patrol Officer Michael Thompson responded to the area of 7 Mountain View Avenue for a hit and run motor vehicle crash. Upon the arrival of Patrol Officer Thompson witnesses advised a late model Blue Subaru lost control and struck a fence. The vehicle then left the scene and was observed again leaving the roadway and drive onto the lawn of another residence and then struck another tree. The vehicle was last seen turning East on East Mill Road. The vehicle was located on Old Farmers Road by another witness. Patrol Officer Thompson responded to that location and confirmed that this was the vehicle that just caused the damage on Mountain View Avenue. The driver of the vehicle in question was identified as a 17 year old Juvenile Female from Long Valley, NJ who was not injured. A subsequent investigation revealed that the driver was under the influence as a result of inhaling an aerosol product (Huffing). The driver was placed under arrest and transported to Police Headquarters. While at Police Headquarters the Juvenile Female was administered a Drug Evaluation by Corporal Brian Bigham who is a Drug Recognition Expert. The result of his investigation revealed the Juvenile-Female driver was in fact under the influence of aerosol products. As a result she was charged with DWI, Reckless Driving, Failure to Keep Right, Leaving the Scene of an Accident and Failure to Report an Accident. The Juvenile-Female driver was released to a responsible family member with a pending mandatory court appearance.

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Warrant Arrest

Posted on May 4, 2012 by dcompton

On May 3, 2012 at 13.36 hours, Cpl. Brian Bigham conducted a random plate inquiry on a vehicle.  The inquiry returned an active warrant for the vehicles owner Laura M. Applegate 27 years old from Oxford, NJ.  The warrant was issued by Washington Township Municipal Court (Warren County) in the amount of $1,050.00.  Ms. Applegate was unable to post her bail and she was later turned over to Washington Township Police Department (Warren County).

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Middle Valley Bridge Closure

Posted on May 3, 2012 by dcompton

The Middle Valley Bridge near West Mill Rd. is scheduled to be reconstructed.  The anticipated start date is the first week of July 2012.  Once the project starts there will not be any access over the bridge from either direction.  The bridge will be closed. Advisory signs will be posted two weeks prior to the project starting to alert motorists.  The advisory signs will indicate the detour route.  The designated detour route is Middle Valley Rd at the Califon Rd. intersection in Washington Twp to Pleasant Grove Rd in Lebanon Twp to Sliker Rd to County Route 513 (Califon-Chester Rd)

The project is estimated to take 6-8 months to complete. 

For traffic related matters please contact PO Michael Hade at 908-876-8308 or mhade@wtpdmorris.org

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Click it or Ticket Campaign

Posted on May 3, 2012 by dcompton

Law enforcement officers from the Washington Twp Police Dept. will be cracking down on unbuckled motorists and their passengers as part of the national “Click it or Ticket” campaign.

Beginning May 21 and running through June 3, the annual initiative includes high visibility law enforcement seat belt checkpoints and saturation patrols, as well as local and national publicity designed to ensure that drivers and passengers recognize the life-saving value of seat belts. 

“Using a seat belt is the simplest way for a driver and his or her passengers to protect themselves when traveling,” said Gary Poedubicky, Acting Director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety.   “In 2010 alone, seat belts saved an estimated 12,546 lives nationwide.” 

Last year, the front seat belt usage rate in New Jersey rose for the 15th consecutive year to 94.51%.  Poedubicky noted that while front seat belt usage rates continue to increase in New Jersey, law enforcement and safety officials want to ultimately see a 100 percent compliance rate.

“New Jersey has a strong front seat belt usage rate, but there is still work to do,” he said.  “To meet our goal, we must continue both enforcement and public outreach efforts that educate all motor vehicle occupants about the importance of buckling up, every ride.”

Poedubicky added that the campaign will focus on rear seat passengers as well.  Despite laws requiring adult back seat passengers to buckle up, adult back seat belt use stands at only 35 percent.

During the 2011 “Click it or Ticket” campaign, 419 police agencies participated in the two-week initiative.  As a result of the effort, law enforcement officers issued 32,228 seat belt citations, 5,865 speeding summonses and made 953 drunk driving arrests.

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