Sparta police blotter

Hit and run ends in arrest
On March 10 at approximately 7:05 pm, Cpl. Rick Smith was dispatched to the area of Limecrest Road for a m.v. accident. When he arrived on scene, he was approached by the driver of one of the vehicles involved, who stated that he was travelling south on Rt. 15 when a vehicle turned left, from the Rt 15 north turn lane, in front of his pickup truck. He further stated he had to swerve into the northbound lane to avoid broadsiding the other vehicle, a white VW Tiguan. His vehicle scraped the rear passenger side of the VW. The VW was attempting to turn onto Houses Corner Road. He stated that after he struck the back end of the vehicle, the VW did not stop and kept travelling down Houses Corner Rd. He turned his pickup around and attempted to stop the other vehicle, which finally pulled over approximately one mile from where the accident occurred. He stated that the other driver, 33 year old Christopher Ray of Newton, NJ, offered him cash money to avoid having the police called. Cpl. Smith approached Ray’s vehicle and observed that there was an infant in the rear seat on the passenger side, who was crying . Smith immediately detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from within the vehicle. He observed Ray’s eyes to be bloodshot and watery and his speech to be slurred. Officer Smith asked Ray to step out of his vehicle, while Cpl. Grauerholz kept watch on the infant. Ray was asked to call his wife or another adult to come to the scene to pickup the infant, his 12 month old daughter, since he was going to need to perform some field sobriety tests. Before performing any tests, Ray stated that he had a medical condition and requested that an ambulance be dispatched to take him to the hospital. The infant’s mother arrived on scene and took custody of her daughter. Ray was transported to Newton Hospital to be treated and was released a few hours later. Officer Smith placed him under arrest for DWI and transported him back to Sparta Police HQ for processing. Ray was charged with: Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Contempt of Court, DWI with a Minor as a Passenger, Refusal to Consent to Breath Tests, DWI Within School Zone, Reckless Driving, Failure to Report Accident, Leaving the Scene of Accident and Failure to Yield Right of Way. Ray was advised of a mandatory court appearance and transported to Keogh Dwyer Correctional Facility to await his First Appearance.
Crash leads to warrant arrest
On March 13 at approximately 6:30 am, Sparta patrols responded to Rt. 15 north (10 mile mark) for a report of a black Honda CRV in the grass median. P.O. Ben Griffin arrived on scene to investigate the accident. Griffin determined that the vehicle was being driven too fast for the snowy road conditions and lost control striking a guide rail and spinning before sliding off the roadway into the median. Griffin checked the credentials of the driver, 27 year old Melvin Pineda-Castro of Plainfield, NJ, and discovered that Pineda-Castro was wanted by the Union County Sheriff’s Department on a no-bail warrant for child support. Pineda-Castro was placed under arrest and transported to Sparta Police HQ for processing. Union County Sheriff’s Department was contacted and came to Sparta HQ to pick up Pineda-Castro on their warrant.
Bronx man arrested delivering vehicle to customer
On March 13 at approximately 7:22 pm, P.O. Erick Finley was patrolling Rt 15 when he observed a white Nissan Pathfinder, travelling north, with a cracked tail light. Upon checking the registration, Officer Finley discovered that the registration came back to a Honda Civic. Finley stopped the vehicle and approached the driver, 47 year old Jorge Villanueva of the Bronx, NY, and asked to see his credentials. Villanueva was unable to produce any documents for the vehicle or a driver’s license. A check on his name showed that his license was suspended in New York. When questioned about the registration coming back to a Honda, Villanueva stated that he was delivering a used vehicle to a customer in Montague, NJ and that he threw a plate on the vehicle that did not belong to it. Further investigation revealed that the vehicle was not registered or insured. While speaking with Villanueva, Officer Finley detected the odor of marijuana emanating from within the vehicle. When asked about the odor, Villanueva stated that he had smoked marijuana earlier, but not in the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed trace marijuana and a cut straw containing a white powder substance (suspect cocaine). Villanueva was placed under arrest and transported to Sparta Police HQ to be processed. He was charged with: Poss. of Cocaine, Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia, Fictitious Plates, Unlicensed Driver, Failure to Produce Documents, Maintenance of Lamps, Uninsured Vehicle, Unregistered Vehicle and CDS in a MV. He was advised of a mandatory court appearance and released. The white Pathfinder was impounded and will not be released until the new owner can show that it was registered and insured.
Driving suspended with warrant leads to arrest
On March 13 at approximately 11:30 pm, P.O. Timothy Lynott stopped a grey GMC Pickup on Rt 15 north for an inoperable tail light. He approached the driver, 29 year old Christina Bradford of Franklin, NJ, and asked for her credentials. A check of her driver’s license revealed that her license was suspended and she had an active warrant for $250 out of Newton court. Bradford was placed under arrest and transported to Sparta Police HQ to be processed. Newton court was contacted and they issued a new court date for Bradford. She was charged with: Unlicensed Driver, Driving While Suspended and Maintenance of Lamps. Bradford was advised of a mandatory court appearance and released.
Dingman's Ferry duo arrested for CDS
On March 16 at approximately 12:45 am, Cpl. Marc Rubino stopped a red four door Ford for travelling in the left lane of Rt. 15 n (NJ law requires keeping right unless passing). Upon approaching the vehicle, Rubino observed two occupants in the vehicle. As Rubino spoke with the driver, 34 year old Corey Parker of Dingman’s Ferry, PA, he detected the odor of raw marijuana emanating from within the vehicle. When asked about the odor, the passenger, 35 year old Lindsey Hutchinson of Dingman’s Ferry, PA, stated that there was a pipe that contained marijuana in the vehicle. Sgt. Carbery, P.O. Snyder and P.O. Porter arrived on scene to assist. A search of the vehicle revealed numerous drug paraphernalia, marijuana and prescription legend drugs within the vehicle. A check of Parker’s driver’s license showed it was suspended and that there was an active warrant out of Andover Township. Hutchinson and Parker were placed under arrest and transported to Sparta Police HQ. Hutchinson was charged with: Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia, Poss. of CDS and Poss. of Prescription Legend Drug. Parker was charged with: Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia, Poss. of CDS, Poss. of Prescription Legend Drug, Failure to Keep Right on Hwy, CDS in a MV, Driving While Suspended and Failure to Exhibit Valid Registration. Both were advised of a mandatory court appearance. Based on prior criminal histories, Hutchinson and Parker were lodged in the Keogh Dwyer Correctional Facility to await their court appearance.
Paterson woman arrested on warrants
On March 18 at approximately 11:30 pm, P.O. Steven Guido stopped a black jeep for a maintenance of lamps violation. Further investigation led to the arrest of a passenger, 34 year old Angel Luterzo of Paterson, NJ, on two outstanding warrants, totalling $1,200, from Elmwood Park Municipal Court. Luterzo was placed under arrest and transported to Sparta Police HQ to be processed. Elmwood Park was contacted and authorized that Luterzo be released and given a new court date to appear. Luterzo was advised of a new court date and released.