Man With Minor Questioned By Cops

Police questioned a New York man after finding him in a car with an underaged Ridgewood female last week.

Officer Kevin McKeon observed a suspicious vehicle parked in the main parking lot at Graydon Pool occupied by two individuals Dec. 22 at 9:45 p.m.

The 29-year-old Valley Cottage, NY resident had arranged to meet the female, a 15-year-old Ridgewood resident, for a "romantic encounter" following online interactions, police said.

The juvenile female was released to her legal guardian while the New York man was transported to headquarters for further investigation.

The Ridgewood Police Department advises parents to discuss the dangers related to communicating with strangers via the Internet with their children.   

Other police news:

• A Ridgewood High School student reported Dec. 22 that her car was vandalized between Dec. 10 and Dec. 22 while parked in the south parking lot at Graydon Pool. 
• A Ridgewood man reported receiving suspicious mail at his residence related to a possible fraud/identity theft scheme Dec. 23. Additionally, another resident reported after returning from Canada, he discovered several fraudulent Canadian Western Union charges on his bank statement Dec. 27. Residents are asked to be vigilante regarding similar suspicious activity and should feel free to contact the Ridgewood Police Department Detective Bureau (201-251-4537) should they have any concerns or questions related to identity theft issues. 
• A gray 2004 Jeep wagon operated by a white male struck a resident's vehicle parked on South Pleasant Avenue Dec. 23 at 2:52 am. The vehicle fled the scene. The car owner recorded the fleeing vehicle's license plate number, and provided it to the police who were initially unable to locate it. The Jeep's owner, an Emerson man, reported the vehicle stolen from Hoboken shortly after the accident occurred. The vehicle was subsequently recovered unoccupied on Spring Avenue. The incident is currently under investigation.
• A Ridgewood resident reported Dec. 24 that an unidentified party had created a fraudulent listing for a rental property he owns in Ridgewood on CraigsList.org.
• A Ridgewood resident's parked vehicle was entered and several items were removed between 7 p.m. Dec. 23 and noon Dec. 25. New York State Police notified the resident that a trooper had recovered property belonging to him from a suspected car burglar. The suspect admitted to committing over 20 car burglaries on Christmas Eve and Christmas. Additional victims have been identified. The matter is being investigated by the Ridgewood Police Detective Bureau in conjunction with the New York State Police. Residents are reminded to lock parked vehicles as well as hide valuables left in unattended vehicles from plain view.
• A Ridgewood woman was charged with making false public alarms to police subsequent to making several false reports to police Dec. 27.
• An Oak Street resident reported that an apartment he rents on South Broad Street had been entered and property removed from inside Dec. 28.  The matter is under investigation.
• Residents reported their vehicle's door locks damaged while parked in the Prospect Street parking lot Dec. 28. 
• A South Pleasant Avenue residence was forcibly entered and property was removed from inside Dec. 28 between 7:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. The matter is under investigation by Detective Douglas Henky with the assistance of the Bergen County Sheriff's Department.