Police Pull Jet Airplane to Raise Money for Special Olympics

Members of the Ridgewood Police Department joined forces with local businesses and community members–including Parkwood Deli, Peerless Boilers and Force Gym–to raise funds for NJ Special Olympics this past Saturday.

The 20-member community team participated in the 2010 Plane Pull at Newark Airport, a competition that had the 20 men pull a 93,000 lb. 737 jet, a la "The World's Strongest Man" competition. (No word on if they threw kegs over walls.)

Over 38 teams participated in the competition, which had two events–fastest time to pull the plane the allotted distance, and lowest total body weight to successfully complete the plane pull.  The Ridgewood Team, newcomers to this event took 1st place in the lowest total body weight pull (5 members at 1,120 lbs) and 6th in timed event (6.72 seconds).  The team raised $ 1,085.

The police also stayed busy last week with incidents of shoplifting and burglaries.

• Shoplifting at Rite Aid

On Sept. 28, 2010 at about 10:30 in the morning, officers responded to Rite Aid Pharmacy on report of a shoplifter. The accused, Ricardo Williamson, 53 of  Paterson, was arrested and charged with shoplifting. Williamson was remanded to the Bergen County Jail, unable to post $2,500 Bail.

• Money Stolen from Ridgewood Coffee Co.

At roughly 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 29, officers responded to a burglary in progress at Ridgewood Coffee Company. Sgt. Heath James searched the area and found the accused, Eric Marriner, 24 of Bloomfield NJ, at the Ridgewood Train Station. Marriner, police say, was in possession of cash that was taken from the business. He was charged with burglary, theft and remanded to the Bergen County Jail, unable to post $25000.00 Bail.

• $700 stolen from car at Valley Hospital

On Oct. 1, a resident of Upper Saddle River reported to police that while at Valley Hospital, someone had broken into his car and stolen $700.00 that was in a jacket pocket. Ridgewood detectives are investigating the case.

• Liquor taken at Stop & Shop

On Oct. 2, the manager of Stop & Shop reported a shoplifting from the liquor department, which the manager said happened on Sept. 29. Three unidentified adults took a total of 13 bottles of alcohol totaling $398, the manager said. The matter is under investigation by the Ridgewood Detective Bureau.

• iPods taken from car

On Oct. 3, a Park Ridge woman reported that while she was parked in the Hudson Street lot someone entered her vehicle and stole two iPods. The Ridgewood detectives are investigating the incident.