Fire Breaks Out in Third Floor Bedroom

Building located across the street from Caldwell Fire Department.

A fire broke out in an apartment located across the street from the Caldwell Fire Department Saturday night, according to Chief Gary Garamella. Garamella said a passerby reported seeing flames coming from the rear of the building at 27 Roseland Ave. at approximately 6:30 p.m. Chief Garamella said no one was home at the time. He said the fire took about 30 to 45 minutes to get under control. The section of Roseland Avenue near Westville Avenue was closed to traffic until the scene was cleared at 9 p.m. The fire was contained to the rear bedroom on the third floor by a back window, the chief said. Most of the damage was to the outside of the house, he said. The apartment is currently uninhabitable and electricity to the building has been …

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PHOTOS: Essex County Police and Public Safety Expo

Dozens of Police and Public Safety agencies convene at Livingston Mall.

Dozens of police departments and public safety agencies from all over the state came together on Saturday to discuss and demonstrate public safety techniques at the 2012 Essex County Police and Public Safety Expo. Sponsored by the Essex County Crime Prevention Officer's Association, the goal of the event was to raise public awareness about the services offered by local, state, county and federal agencies. In addition, it gave the different departments a chance to share ideas. “One of our goals is to get everybody on board and to increase information sharing,” said Livingston Police Officer Gary Mankowitz, who also serves as president of the association.  Attending this year’s expo at the Livingston Mall were representatives from the police…

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Man Charged With Burglarizing Neighbor's Home

Arrest made in connection to wallet reported stolen from Caldwell Community Center.

The following arrest information was provided by the Caldwell Police and does not indicate a conviction. Police say a Caldwell man has been charged with breaking into his neighbor’s house as well as a car parked on his street. Jesse Simunovich, 19, was charged with two counts of burglary, theft to a house and theft to a car, according to Caldwell Police Lt. Anthony Marta. On April 21, Marta said a woman from Little Falls reported her wallet containing two credit cards missing from her car when she left a friend’s house on Personette Street. On April 27, a burglary took place at 20 Personette, Marta said. Items were reported missing from a master bedroom, including a gold ring, a bracelet and $20 in coins taken from a container on a dresser…

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'Top Gun' Award Goes to Officer for Most DUI Arrests

Bloomfield Police Department Officer Luca Piscatelli is recognized in Trenton ceremony for most DUI arrests in Essex County.

An emotional ceremony in Trenton recently recognized Officer Luca Piscatelli of the Bloomfield Police Department, who made the most DUI arrests in Essex County in 2011.  “New Jersey Remembers” took place April 24 on Memorial Drive near the Trenton War Memorial, honoring those who have helped lower DUI incidents in New Jersey, as well as family members of people who were killed by drunk drivers.  “It was a very touching ceremony,” said Piscatelli. "There was one police officer from Ocean Gate who lost his father and his partner. It was real humbling.” A candelit procession, in which family members carried photos of loved ones lost, preceded speeches by law enforcement and traffic safety officials. Piscatelli's 21 DUI arrests led the county…

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Man Assaulted Behind Bloomfield Avenue Building

Police seek information leading to suspect in aggravated assault.

Caldwell Police are looking for a man they say cut a resident with a box cutter or straight razor last week behind a building on Bloomfield Avenue. According to police the incident occurred at approximately 12:34 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1 behind 412 Bloomfield Ave. The victim’s right arm was injured and police said it appears to be an isolated incident in which the victim was targeted. The suspect, possibly Hispanic, is believed to have fled in an older model green or gray vehicle, possibly a Toyota. Anyone with information regarding this incident, should contact the Caldwell Police Department at 973-226-2600. 

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No Injuries Reported in Truck Fire

Caldwell Fire Chief says fire started in the cab of a pickup parked in a driveway on Hatfield Street.

The Caldwell Fire Department was called to a house on Hatfield Street earlier this week where a full-size pickup truck was on fire, according to Chief Gary Garamella. No injuries resulted from the fire which was deemed accidental, he said. The fire broke out on Monday morning around 10 a.m. in the cab of a Ford F-250 belonging to a contractor who was at the home, Garamella said. The truck was parked in the driveway in the back of the house, and did not spread. The fire was put out in about 30 minutes. The West Essex First Aid Squad was on the scene.

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Essex County News

Prosecutor's Office Takes on Tanning Mom Case

Mother charged with endangering welfare of her daughter by letting her use tanning bed.

The criminal case against the mother accused of endangering the welfare of her her five-year-old daughter by allowing her to use a tanning salon bed was referred to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office this morning, according to Nutley Police Chief John Holland. Nutley Police officials said earlier that they arrested Patricia Krentcil, 44, of Nutley for endangering the welfare of her five-year-old daughter at 10:45 a.m. on April 23. Her daughter was burned at a tanning booth at an unspecified Nutley location, according to Holland. Krentcil posted bail in Nutley and was taken to the Camden County Sheriff’s Department on unrelated charges. She later posted a $25,000 bail and was released, according to Holland. Holland said that children …

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