HPD Salutes

HPD Salutes is a news column to recognize outstanding police work by Hillside police officers

July 30, 2008 Our patrol officers received information from a resident that their car was stolen. While one of our units was still completing the stolen vehicle report another patrol unit observed the stolen vehicle at the intersection of Valley View Road and Conant Street. Officers Ronald Bartell and Allan Lu then attempted to stop the stolen vehicle. The driver, later identified as Samuel DeJesus, 35, of Newark, ignored the officers’ signal to stop and began attempting to elude them through streets in Hillside and into the City of Elizabeth. The pursuit of the vehicle was eventually terminated due to the highly dangerous driving of DeJesus. Moments later the officers reengaged the pursuit with the help of Elizabeth Police officers on Routes 1 & 9 North. As DeJesus attempted to exit the highway he lost control of his vehicle at the McClellan Street exit ramp and struck a guard rail. Officers Bartell and Lu then positioned their police vehicle to block DeJesus from continuing his attempt to escape. However, DeJesus then attempted to push the officers’ vehicle out of his way by accelerating forward and ramming the police car. When he was unsuccessful, he reversed a few feet and drove forward again ramming the police vehicle a second time. DeJesus was repeatedly ordered to put his hands up and take his foot off the accelerator by officers. Upon the arrival of backup officers DeJesus was removed from the vehicle and arrested. Further investigation revealed that DeJesus had stolen two other vehicles from Hillside residents.

DeJesus is held on $25,000 bail. He’s charged with Eluding, Burglary, Theft, Criminal Mischief, Possession of Burglary Tools, Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer, Possession of a Weapon, and Possession of a weapon for an Unlawful Purpose. More charges will follow upon completion of the investigation of the other two vehicles stolen by DeJesus.

June 26, 2008 Officers received information that Union PD was in pursuit of a vehicle (later determined to be stolen) traveling on Route 22 East on its way into Hillside. Lt. Louis Rufino responded to the intersection of Route 22 East and the Hilldale Place exit ramp to provide assistance to the Union officers. As the subject eluding the Union Police approached Lt. Rufino's position he attempted to exit the highway, but lost control of the vehicle and struck Lt. Rufino's police vehicle who then pursued the vehicle. The subject continued driving on the exit ramp and entered the gas station at North Broad Street and Hillside Avenue where he struck another vehicle that was refueling. The impact broke the gas nozzle and sent the subjects vehicle spinning out of control and disabling it. Three subjects then fled on foot from the pursued vehicle over the fence of the gas station. Backup units and Union PD arrived seconds later to assist in the apprehension of the three subjects. Two of the subjects, Jamar Williams, 29, of East Orange and Jeffrey Saunders, 25, of Union were apprehended by Hillside Lt. Rufino and Det. Brian Wilson and Union officers. The third subject, Ernest Hill, 23, of Newark jumped through a closed window of a nearby Hillside business sustaining many lacerations from the glass. He then demanded that the employee inside the business sit down until the police left the area. Hill heard police knocking on the door and then took the employee's car keys and ran out the front door where he was apprehended by Hillside Det. Sean Young and Union Officer Stinner.

All three subjects are charged with Receiving Stolen Property, Resisting Arrest, and Possession of Burglar Tools. In addition, the driver of the stolen vehicle, Ernest Hill, is charged with numerous motor vehicle offenses.

October 20, 2007  Officers were dispatched to South Long Avenue on a report of a woman covered in blood accompanied by two small children.  The victim collapsed onto the porch at that location and was suffering from deep knife wounds. This injury caused the victim to bleed profusely and eventually die.  Officers learned from the victim’s children that their father stabbed their mother in the bathroom of their home which was located nearby on John Glenn Drive.  Officers responded to the scene of the crime to find that the suspect had started several house fires. The Hillside Fire Department was called to respond and had the second floor residents evacuated.  Officers then extinguished a kitchen fire.  As they searched the structure for the suspect they were unable to enter the basement due to a heavy smoke condition.  The Fire Department entered the basement, extinguished the blaze and brought the suspect outside where he was immediately arrested. The suspect was transported to headquarters where he later admitted murdering his ex-wife.  An examination of the arson site revealed that the suspect exposed the gas lines leading to the stove and clothes drier, hoping the fire would cause an explosion. 

After the immediate danger was averted, officers arranged to have detectives respond to the scene to photograph and collect evidence.  The victim’s children were transported to headquarters and released to their grandmother. The officers who's swift action apprehended a violent criminal and averted further disaster were: Officer Timothy O'Neil, Officer Jack Fedorczyk, Officer Carlos Brito, Officer Alberto Velez, Officer Keisha Allen, and Lt. Louis Rufino.

May 12, 2007  Officer William Blakey was dispatched to the scene of a motor vehicle accident on Ramsey Avenue. Upon his arrival he observed that one of the drivers was unusually nervous and acting suspiciously. He ignored repeated requests for him to produce his credentials and became increasingly uncooperative. Officer Blakey sensed that he had more than a routine motor vehicle accident and called police headquarters for backup units to be sent to the scene. The driver's name was then checked through the national crime computer for warrants. It was determined that the driver was Terrence Munn and wanted in connection with a 1986 stabbing death of an elderly resident of Whiteville, North Carolina. Officer Blakey then placed him under arrest and transported him to police headquarters without incident.

Although Munn was a suspect when the crime occurred there was insufficient evidence for North Carolina authorities to immediately charge him with the murder. As a result of advanced DNA testing sufficient evidence was recently developed to bring criminal charges against him. A warrant was issued for Munn's arrest on May 11, 2007, just one day before Officer Blakey apprehended him.  As a result of Officer Blakey's keen observations and swift, effective action a very dangerous person has been safely captured and will finally be brought to justice.

April 27, 2007  On October 15, 2005 at the Gulf Gas Station food mart on Route 22 east/Bloy Street a store employee was robbed at gunpoint and shot in the head. The suspects fled into a waiting vehicle to avoid capture. The case continued to be vigorously investigated through a joint effort by the members of our detective bureau. A break in the case came in April 2007 when information was obtained about the identities of the suspects. The gun used in this crime was located in the bottom of a Toms River lake by the Toms River Police Dive Team. Through statements and recovery of physical evidence four men, Otis Blunt, 32, Kenneth Graham, 34, Lee William Currie, 20, and a juvenile, all residents of Toms River were arrested and charged with robbery and weapons offenses. The victim of this brutal attack survived his wounds. The successful conclusion to this investigation was a result of interagency cooperation with the Toms River Police Department and painstaking work by our detective bureau.

January 24, 2007  Two teenage girls, students of Hillside High School, were sexually assaulted and robbed, in the area of the Liberty Avenue and the Route 22 overpass. Upon arrival at the scene of the incident Officers Allan Lu and Greg Menza broadcasted a description of the suspect to other officers in the field. All officers immediately began a meticulous search for the suspect. After scouring the area, Officers Peter Corvelli and Joseph Cocuzza received information from a local bar about a possible suspect.  Using this information, as well as canvassing the area on their own, Officers Eduardo Teixeira and William Blakey were able to locate an individual matching the suspect’s description standing in front of his home with another resident. He was identified as Jeffrey Montgomery, 40, of Hillside. Montgomery was immediately taken into custody on an unrelated warrant less than one hour after the sexual assault occurred. Montgomery was subsequently charged with the sexual assault, kidnapping, and robbery of both girls. The capture of Montgomery was a direct result of diligent teamwork by all officers involved.

September 3, 2006 Det. John Baum of our Identification Bureau responded to the scene of a burglary on Fairchild Place. In processing the crime scene Det. Baum uncovered a latent fingerprint found on a keychain that had been disturbed by the burglar. He then sent the fingerprint to the NJ State Police for comparison to their criminal fingerprint database. That comparison yielded a possible match to Quincy Green, 33, of Irvington. The fingerprint from the crime scene and the fingerprint from the State Police database was then officially examined by Det. John Baum and determined to match Green. Det. Nancy Swider, also of our ID Bureau, then confirmed the identification. This identification led to the filing of formal Burglary, Theft and Criminal Mischief charges against Green.

August 21, 2006 While checking an area where there has been recent burglaries, Det. Jamie Howell observed a Hispanic male (later identified as John J. Olaya, 24, of Elizabeth) crouched behind a row of bushes on the corner of Orchard Terrace and Hillside Avenue rummaging through a bag. As Det. Howell approached Olaya he quickly closed the bag. When Olaya was unable to explain why he was in the area or what he was doing Det. Howell checked to see if he had any active warrants. The check revealed that there was an active Union County Sheriff's warrant for Olaya for the crime of burglary. Olaya was then arrested on the warrant. A search of his belongings yielded numerous burglar tools, what appeared to be proceeds of a burglary and an item of drug paraphernalia. It was learned from Olaya that he was coming from his relative's home on Highland Avenue when stopped by police. Det. Howell responded to the Highland Avenue residence and interviewed the occupants and learned that the items found on Olaya were stolen from their home while they were away on vacation. Olaya was charged with Burglary, Theft, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of Burglar Tools.

June 18, 2006 at 2:44 am While on patrol, Officers Peter Corvelli and Joseph Cocuzza observed a blue Ford traveling at a high rate of speed on North Broad Street near Williamson Avenue. The officers got behind the Ford  and signaled the driver to stop by activating their overhead lights and siren. The driver disregarded the officer’s signal to stop, accelerated the vehicle and then turned into Weequahic Park in the city of Newark with the officers pursuing. As the driver turned into the Seth Boyden housing complex he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a garbage dumpster. Officer Corvelli positioned the police vehicle directly behind the Ford to prevent the driver from continuing the pursuit. At this time the driver of the Ford put the vehicle in reverse and rammed the police vehicle with the officers still inside in an apparent attempt to escape. Realizing his vehicle was blocked in the driver and passenger exited the vehicle and began to flee on foot. After a brief foot pursuit the passenger was apprehended and handcuffed by Officer Cocuzza. While being escorted back to the police vehicle the passenger, Rashaun Timmons, 18, of Newark, began to flail his body back and forth striking Officer Cocuzza and breaking free from his grasp. Timmons again began to run away from the officers while still handcuffed. Officer Cocuzza gave chase and regained custody of Timmons, injuring the officer's hand in the process. Backup officers from Hillside and Newark police departments arrived at this time and cleared a crowd that began to form. Found on Timmons was a baggie containing marijuana. He was then transported to headquarters and charged with various crimes.

March 11, 2006 at 3:56 am While on patrol, Officers Peter Corvelli and Joseph Cocuzza observed a white Acura fail to obey a stop sign at Bailey Avenue and North Broad Street. The officers activated their overhead lights and siren signaling the motorist to stop and notified headquarters of the license plate number of the vehicle. The driver disregarded the officer’s signal to stop and accelerated into the city of Newark with the officers pursuing. At this time headquarters notified the officers that the Acura was a confirmed carjacked vehicle reported in Newark. In the area of 15 Ludlow Street, Newark, the driver of the Acura lost control and struck a parked car sending the Acura airborne then coming to rest on its roof and becoming engulfed in flames. Both officers exited their vehicle and responded to the Acura where they found Rashaun Timmons, 18, of Newark lying on the ground outside the vehicle and immediately placed him under arrest.  The officers then disregarded their own safety to render aid to the remaining occupants trapped inside the burning vehicle. As Frederick Frison, 21, of Irvington was being rescued from the vehicle a .40 caliber handgun fell from his waistband and was secured by the officers. Found on the driver, Barry Henry, 20, of Newark were 38 packets of heroin which were seized as evidence. One additional occupant, Taisha Rameau, 21, of Newark was also rescued. All occupants were subsequently placed under arrest and charged with various crimes.

January 7, 2006 at 1:52 am While off-duty and unarmed, Det. Jaime Howell observed a male and female breaking into a vehicle on Ryan Street. Det. Howell approached both subjects to intervene. At this time both subjects entered a nearby vehicle and fled. Det. Howell immediately notified Hillside Police Headquarters. Officers Giuseppe Tripoli and Sean Young responded to the area, observed the fleeing vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed and attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop. The vehicle then attempted to elude the officers by accelerating and leading them through various streets in Hillside and Newark. At the intersection of Mapes Avenue and Osbourne Terrace the driver of the eluding vehicle lost control and stopped suddenly. Both subjects then exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. Officer G. Tripoli apprehended Samantha Toor, 36, of Irvington. The second subject escaped, but Det. Howell is pursuing leads to secure his apprehension. The vehicle the subjects used to elude police was found to be stolen out of Bloomfield. Drug paraphernalia and burglar tools were found inside.

October 28, 2005 at 12:21 pm Hillside police officers received information from dispatch that occupants of a cream colored Lexus were in the process of stealing a Nissan Maxima on Clark Street. Officer Cosimo Tripoli responded to the area and observed the Lexus and Nissan parked side by side parked on Clinton Place. Officer C. Tripoli attempted a motor vehicle stop of both vehicles which resulted in both vehicles fleeing the officer. He pursued them out of Hillside and into Newark through various streets. The occupant of the Lexus then lost control of the vehicle striking another vehicle in the area of Pomona Avenue, Newark. The driver of the Lexus then exited the vehicle and fled on foot pursued by Officer C. Tripoli. Officer Steven Waters arrived in the area and assisted in the pursuit of the driver of the Lexus. The driver, later identified as Raishon Wilson, 23, of Newark, was then apprehended by Officer Waters. Seized from Mr. Wilson’s possession was a 9mm handgun.