Thursday, May 17, 2012
Firefighters investigating why the grounds of an office ignited late Thursday morning.
Members of the Ridgewood Fire Department are investigating the cause of a fire at a professional office building near Ridgewood's downtown late Thursday morning. According to Fire Chief Jim Van Goor, firefighters responded to 124 Prospect St. after reports that mulch ignited on the building grounds. The fire – with flames reaching an approximate four feet in height – was quickly contained, he said. Damage was found to a gutter, the chief said. There were no reported injuries and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Officials have no explanation as to why two new, ready-to-go police cars are tucked away in the woods while old vehicles in service are falling apart.
If you're up early, you can sometimes spot Ridgewood police officers holding jumper cables to the batteries of their patrol cars. Some break down midway through shifts. Meanwhile, nestled in the woods on the Ridgewood-Glen Rock border, two brand new Crown Victorias have been collecting dust for well over a month. Village officials have not offered an explanation as to why two of five new vehicles ordered have not yet replaced older, sometimes broken down vehicles. "When you're jumpstarting cars and responding to emergency calls, and we have two cars heading out with absolutely nothing," one officer said, "it becomes an officer and public safety issue." Two of the village's patrol cars have been stripped of their radar detectors, computers …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
An airsoft gun was removed from a George Washington Middle School's student's locker Wednesday morning; students and staff were never in danger, principal says.
A student is facing discplinary action after bringing in a replica firearm to Ridgewood's George Washington Middle School Wednesday morning. According to a letter written to parents Wednesday afternoon, Principal Katie Kashmanian says an undisclosed student brought an airsoft gun that shoots plastic pellets to school. "The replicas are designed to be non-lethal but they can look realistic and are understandably frightening when people see them," Kashmanian wrote. After learning of the gun's presence in the student's locker, administrators handed over the replica to police, Kashmanian's letter states. Administrators and police have met with the student's parents to "discuss further disciplinary action as well as other appropriate …
The arrest of a 21-year-old New York man Tuesday night could lead to dozens of closed cases throughout the New York and New Jersey area, police say.
Correction: An earlier version misidentified which pharmacy filled the prescription on April 25. Had 21-year-old Armend Salijaj of Manhattan 'liked' the Glen Rock Police Department, he'd likely be at cozier digs than the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack. Salijaj was arrested in connection to an attempted prescription fraud bid that ended in a dramatic foot chase on Tuesday night, and police believe the capture could lead to numerous police departments solving similar outstanding cases. The arrest, police tout, is a result of effective use of social media, alert police and cognizant citizens. According to Det. James Calaski, the pharmacist at Rock Ridge Pharmacy noticed a familiar man attempting to fill a prescription just past 6:30 p.m. on…
Burglary occurred on Grove St. last week, according to police.
A burglar broke into a garage on Grove St. and made off with over $4,000 in electronics, according to the Glen Rock Police Department. Police reported the victim said $4,300 worth of recording equipment and electronics were taken from a locked, detached garage behind the residents between May 6 and May 7. The side door to the garage was kicked in, police said. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Glen Rock Police Detective Bureau at (201) 670-3947 or (201) 670-3948.
Borough police said "career shoplifters" emptied about 100 bottles of perfume from the Glen Rock CVS, and now one of the alleged thieves is in custody.
One of two alleged serial perfume bandits is in Bergen County Jail after Glen Rock Police say a lengthy investigation and good interagency police work led to an arrest on May 9. According to Det. James Calaski, Kim Walton, of Somerset, and Davina Martin, of Franklin Park, walked into the Rock Road CVS on January 8 and used a key to unlock the locked perfume cabinet. Police allege the pair casually emptied about 100 fragrances into their shopping cart and exited the store. The total value of the perfumes taken from the Rock Road pharmacy is estimated at $5,700 and it's just the tip of the iceberg, police believe. At least a dozen other CVS stores throughout the tri-state and Pennsylvania area believe the pair is responsible for perfume …
Work on small roadway that connects Ridgewood to the Ho-Ho-Kus train station begins on Monday, May 21.
Those accustomed to taking the easy route to the Ho-Ho-Kus Train Station from Ridgewood might have to go it the long way for a few weeks due to construction. According to the Ridgewood Police Department, the small strip of Brookside Ave. that conjoins the neighboring municipalities, will be closed for NJ Transit construction starting on May 21. The work, a replacement of the track crossing area with some paving on the approaches, is expected to last between one and two weeks, police said. There will still be pedestrian access for walking commuters, police said in a Facebook messsage. The quickest route to the HHK train station from those in the Willard area appears to be taking W. Glen Ave. to N. Maple in Ho-Ho-Kus.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
22-year-old faces four charges related to a reported break-in at Glen Rock High School on Friday morning.
A borough man is facing a slew of charges related to an alleged break-in at Glen Rock High School in the early morning of Friday. Glen Rock police say they responded to an activated burglary alarm just after 12:30 a.m. on Friday at the high school and subsequently chased a fleeing suspect who spotted Ptl. Scott McGovern's patrol car. The alleged perpetrator, identified as 22-year-old Charles Lee, was highly intoxicated, "uncooperative" and is believed to have "tampered" with several windows at the school, according to police. Lee was taken to the hospital for his heavy state of intoxication, police said Tuesday. Police Cpt. Jonathan Miller said he has been charged with criminal tresspassing, eluding/resisting arrest with officer injuries, …
Monday, May 14, 2012
What do you think of an $85 ticket issued to those who jaywalk in Ridgewood's downtown?
If you jaywalk in Fort Lee, you might be heading home with a pamphlet and an $85 ticket in hand. The new enforcement and awareness initiative comes after three recorded pedestrian deaths and a total of 20 pedestrian strikes thus far in 2012. The Fort Lee program stands a sharp contrast to Ridgewood, which has documented pedestrian safety troubles of its own but a decidedly less aggressive approach toward jaywalkers. The focus in the village has been on educating pedestrians through pamphlets and ticketing drivers. The level of traffic enforcement in the village has increased due to a newly-reconfigured traffic bureau, and community-based approaches like "Stop, Look and Wave" have also beared fruit in 2012, according to Ridgewood Police …
Woman claimed she once worked for acclaimed financier George Soros, prosecutors say.
A Manahawkin woman bilked investors out of about $450,000 over six years by claiming their money was going to a hedge fund handled by New York City finance magnate George Soros, the Bergen County Prosecutor said Monday. Dunya Predovan, 57, was arrested Thursday on charges of theft by deception and issuing bad checks after investigators with the Prosecutor’s Office and Alpine police uncovered her Ponzi scheme, Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said in a statement. Predovan told victims she worked for Soros in the 1980’s and promised a large return on the investments, Molinelli said. Soros, however, had never heard of Predovan and she had not worked for the famed financier, according to the prosecutor. “To date, none of the victims have received …
Ridgewood kid
8:21 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012
Ok the police cars were parked at grassey's because the owner lets the officer use his garage free of charge to put the decals on and yes the look of the cars have changed because the village manger wanted a change.The officers wanted the cars to remain black and whites but there was nothing that they could do about it. Also for the people that complain about the lack of tickets that rpd issue … more ›