Monday, March 15, 2010
The decedent has been identified as Arthur Downing, age 27.
Update: Gregory DeMattia of the Essex County Prosecutor's office confirmed with Patch on Tuesday that Downing's death is being treated as if it is a homicide until the medical examiner makes its findings known. "It's not unusual that we would treat a death as a homicide," said DeMattia. He also said he expected word from the medical examiner today or at the latest Wednesday, unless toxicology is needed to make the determination. On Monday morning before 7 a.m., Arthur Downing, age 27, was found dead in his home on Henry Place in Maplewood. By the time Patch was on site at 8:45 a.m., Maplewood police had taped off the scene and were entering and exiting the home with county investigators, as parents and students streamed through the school …
Friday, March 12, 2010
The attempted robbery took place before 6 a.m. No money was stolen. The Dunkin' Donuts remained closed for several hours, but is operating again.
POLICE & FIRE|Friday, March 12
Patch received the following press release from Captain Paul Conlon of the Maplewood Police Department at 2:57 p.m. today: The Maplewood Police Department reports that, at approximately 5:43 a.m. on Friday, March 12, an armed subject confronted a male employee of the Dunkin' Donuts at 2001 Springfield Avenue in an attempt to commit a robbery of the store. The employee was walking into the kitchen area when he was surprised by the suspect who brandished a handgun and demanded that the manager's office be opened. The employee was able to escape from the suspect and ran towards the front of the store. As the employee was heading towards the door, he advised another worker and several customers to run out the front door. It is believed that …
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
A 13-year-old was detailed for throwing snow and ice at passing vehicles. That won't be happening for much longer.
POLICE & FIRE|Tuesday, March 9
This week's police blotter comes to us courtesy of Sgt. Dean Naddeo of the Maplewood Police Department. Serious incidents include a drunk driving arrest, a pedestian struck by a vehicle, and Internet fraud. Some positive news: a vehicle stolen from Maplewood was recovered in Irvington. An incident with a twist is the disorderly juvenile activity on March 2 when police responded to reports of juveniles throwing snow and ice at passing cars. This is some mischief we won't be seeing too much of in the coming months—we hope. March 2, 2010: Pedestrian Struck. At approximately 8:00 p.m., patrols were dispatched to the area of Irvington Avenue and Coolidge Road on a report of a pedestrian struck. Officers learned that a Mercedes Benz traveling …
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
This week's police blotter gives the make and model of the suspects' car.
This week's police blotter, courtesy of Sgt. Dean Naddeo, gives further details on the shots fired incident that Patch reported last Friday. The police reveal that the suspects who fired on another westbound vehicle on Parker Avenue were driving a 1990-93 Honda Accord. In addition, the alleged robbery that instigated the car chase and shooting took place on Springfield Avenue in Irvington. See details below. February 19, 2010: Theft. At approximately 3:08 pm, a white male, approximately 6'0 foot tall, 220 pounds and with medium length brown hair removed two wheel chairs from the lobby of a Valley Street condominium building. February 25, 2010: An armed robbery occurred on Springfield Avenue in Irvington. The suspects fled the scene in a …
Friday, February 26, 2010
A robbery that occurred in Irvington yesterday led to a chase into Maplewood.
Yesterday, a number of residents in the area of Parker and Richmond avenues in Maplewood reported the sound of shots being fired around 3:24 p.m. Police Chief Robert Cimino reported that Maplewood police officers responded to the scene and detectives blocked traffic to the area at the time to investigate and process the crime scene. Upon investigation, Maplewood PD found out that a robbery had occurred earlier in Irvington and the victim had pursued the suspects. Both the victim and the suspects were driving cars in this pursuit. At the time when the cars reached Parker Avenue at Richmond Avenue, the suspects fired on the victim's vehicle. The suspects' vehicle was last seen headed north on Valley Street in South Orange. Maplewood PD and …
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
The officers' actions resulted in three arrests and confiscation of fire arms in an incident that closed Springfield Avenue and delayed dismissal at Seth Boyden Elementary on January 22.
POLICE & FIRE|Wednesday, February 24
On Friday, February 12, 2010, Maplewood Police Chief Robert Cimino bestowed Valor awards on three Maplewood officers for their actions related to the incidents at 1563 Springfield Avenue on January 22. Valor award recipients Officer James DeFazio, Officer Rodney Tannenbaum and Officer Thomas DiMaggio were involved in the arrest of three suspects and the recovery of three firearms used in the burglary of that Springfield Avenue home that day. The incident involved the assault of a female victim and the search for the suspects caused school dismissal at nearby Seth Boyden Elementary to be delayed. In addition to these three officers receiving the Department's highest award, Chief Cimino issuied Distinguished Service awards to six …
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
This week, there were two purse snatchings and thefts of cigarettes, vodka and a bike.
Two women in Maplewood were the victims of purse snatchers last week. On Thursday, February 18, a woman walking on Park Avenue at 7 p.m. had her purse grabbed and was dragged to the ground. Earlier that same day, a woman on Springfield Avenue had her finger injured when a man snatched her purse and fled in a white van. A witness copied the license number and the South Orange Police later located the vehicle and made an arrest. This week's Maplewood police blotter is brought to us courtesy of Sgt. Dean Naddeo of the Maplewood Police Department. February 17, 2010: Theft. The owner of a Springfield Ave. liquor store reported that a black male with dark complexion, approximately 28-30 years old with shoulder length deadlocks, wearing a black …
Maplewood mayor is looking for agreement by 2011.
The potential merger of the South Orange and Maplewood fire departments is a topic that has been overshadowed by many other conversations lately—including possible mergers of the police departments, recreation departments, libraries and the actual impending merger of the municipal court systems between the two towns. (The South Orange Trustees voted to move the proposal to the state Administrative Office of the Courts at their Wednesday night meeting.) The Maplewood Township Committee officially endorsed the idea of the merger at its Feb. 16 meeting by passing a resolution to authorize negotiations with South Orange for the establishment of a shared fire department. (At the same meeting, the Township Committee passed a resolution …
Friday, February 19, 2010
Clinton and Tuscan PTAs send notice of anti-idling enforcement from Maplewood Police.
Suzanne Hassler detailed parking issues around schools in the two towns in her February 9, 2010 article in South Orange Patch, Parking Headaches at Local Elementary Schools. Hassler documented the troubles caused by "Double parkers. Intersection blockers. Parking lot invaders." You can add idlers to that list. A memo was sent out to Clinton School parents by the Clinton PTA this past week, warning that Maplewood Police would soon be strictly enforcing the Town's no-idling law. The memo read: The Maplewood Police Department has asked local PTAs to spread theword about the enforcement of an Anti-Idling Policy beginning February15th. No car should be idling for more than 3 minutes, unless the vehicle isa school bus. Fines for idling longer …
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Two residents are being treated for possible smoke inhalation.
Two Jacoby street women were taken to St. Barnabas Hospital to be treated for possible smoke inhalation after a fire overnight destroyed their homes in a three-story building. Another resident escaped without injury. Firefighters were contacted about the fire shortly after 4 a.m. One resident was trapped on the second floor; another was on the first floor. Firefighters evacuated the residents and they were transported via EMS ambulance to St. Barnabas.The blaze was finally brought under control around 5:45 a.m. The cause of the fire is under investigation according to Captain Kevin Hayes of the Maplewood Fire Department. This is the second fire on Jacoby Street in a month; however, the properties are fairly distant from each other. The …
