July 2025 Police Blotter

Dispute

 July 1, 2025 (Trinity Place): Officers responded to the area of Church Street and Trinity Place on a report of a physical dispute. They encountered two males who reported that a verbal argument turned physical. Both males sustained minor lacerations and abrasions. They were evaluated by Montclair EMS but refused further medical attention. Neither party wished to pursue charges against the other.

July 2, 2025 (Washington Avenue): The complainant reported that she was travelling southbound on Orange Road when the driver of a Nissan Sentra attempted to pass her. She added that when the Nissan was unable to pass her, the driver proceeded to drive more aggressively towards her. The complainant continued south bound on Orange Road, around the South End Business District, and then northbound on Orange Road. The suspect vehicle continued to follow her. The complainant stated that she turned eastbound onto Washington Avenue. At this point, the suspect vehicle passed her aggressively and blocked her path. She stated that the driver of the suspect vehicle proceeded to point a weapon out of the driver’s side window before driving off. She described the weapon she observed as a black firearm. After the suspect showed her the weapon, the suspect proceeded to make a U-turn and head back west bound towards Orange Road where she lost sight of the suspect. The suspect was described as a black male with a light beard wearing a red hat.

Burglary / Attempted Burglary

July 4, 2025 (Inwood Avenue): A resident of Inwood Avenue reported a burglary to their residence. Entry into the home was made through a dining room window. The suspect(s) used a tool to pry the window open. The victim reported that once inside of the home, a black tote bag was stolen. The tote bag contained three check books, approximately $100.00 in cash, and miscellaneous paperwork. Several drawers in the kitchen were open but nothing else appeared missing. The suspect(s) may have been looking for the keys to a 2025 Porsche Cayenne that was in the driveway. The vehicle was not disturbed.

July 5, 2025 (Llewellyn Road): The residents reported that they received an alarm notification at their rear door at 10:50 PM. The residents were awake watching television. When they looked outside, they saw an unknown male in their yard. When the resident yelled at the suspect, he fled westbound. The resident reviewed surveillance video where he saw the suspect had entered the yard through an opening on the southwest corner of the backyard. The suspect approached a stone patio with a flashlight in his hand. The suspect next attempted to open a locked door. The suspect then moves to a second door attempting to open it with no success. After two failed attempts to enter the home the suspect walks off the stone patio and begins the head west in the backyard. This is when the resident yelled to the male.

Burglary

July 8, 2025 (Myrtle Avenue): The resident reported that her home was burglarized over the weekend and jewelry was missing. The suspect(s) were able to enter the home by removing a screen from a window in the rear of the home. The suspect(s) located a jewelry box on the second floor of the home and removed approximately $2000.00 in jewelry. The remainder of the home had been ransacked but nothing else appeared missing.

July 13, 2025 (Washington Street): The resident reported that upon returning home from vacation, he discovered that the lights to his residence were on, and the alarm system had been disabled. The suspect(s) appeared to have made entry by force through a rear door. The complainant reported $10,000 in jewelry and approximately $11,000 in cash was missing.

Motor Vehicle Crime

July 8, 2025 (Upper Mountain Avenue): The victim reported that he parked his 2018 GMC Pickup Truck near the intersection of Upper Mountain Avenue and Edgewood Road. When he returned to the vehicle one hour later he discovered that the front passenger side door was open. The vehicle had been rummaged through and a lunch box containing the victim’s lunch, water, and his wallet was stolen. Surveillance footage from the area shows the suspect arrives at the victim’s vehicle on foot. He removes the lunch box and then enters a gray colored Mazda midsize SUV. The suspect can be described as a black male with a thin build wearing a folded black bandana, a black shirt with printed image, black shorts, and white on black Jordan 12 sneakers.

July 13, 2025 (Amelia Street): The resident reported that his 2021 BMW 540 was stolen from his driveway during the overnight hours. Surveillance footage shows a White BMW SUV pulling up to the front of the residence. Two individuals exit and walk up the driveway of the residence. The first suspect attempted to first try the door handle on a Jeep parked in the driveway, but was unsuccessful. The second suspect walks up to the involved vehicle and attempts the driver side door handle. Suspect #2 was successful in gaining access to the vehicle. The first suspect then enters the passenger side door of the involved vehicle. The vehicle then backs out of the driveway and begins to travel westbound on Amelia St.

Shots Fired / Aggravated Assault

July 11, 2025 (Bloomfield Avenue): At approximately 11:24 PM, Montclair Police responded to 115 Bloomfield Avenue, the Shell Gas Station on a report of a large fight with shots fired. Responding officers observed a large crowd and located blood at the scene, however no victim. Shortly thereafter, Mountainside Hospital contacted the police to report that a female victim of a gunshot wound had self-transported herself to the Emergency Room. Investigators spoke with the victim, a 22-year-old female from Montclair. The victim was being treated for a single gunshot wound to her left leg. She advised Investigators that she was in the parking lot of the Shell Station when a fight broke out between two men. The victim reported that she was not involved in the altercation but heard a gunshot and immediately felt pain in her leg. A Samaritan immediately transported the victim to the hospital. This case is under active investigation. Anyone with information can contact Detective Jamar Jones at (973) 509-4705

Robbery

July 13, 2025 (Bloomfield Avenue): Officers responded to the 7-11 on a report of an individual who brandished a firearm at a store employee. The store employee reported that the suspect entered the store to pick up a mobile order. When the employee requested to see the confirmation, the suspect refused and instead showed the employee a handgun in his waistband. The suspect then took the mobile order and a camouflage face covering that was offered for sale. The suspect can be described as a black male in his early twenties, 6'2" in height, wearing a black do-rag, a white t-shirt, and black shorts. The suspect fled on foot in an unknown direction.

Arrest

 July 14, 2025 (Elm Street): A 29-year-old male from Irvington, NJ was charged with making false reports to law enforcement after making false 911 calls.

Motor Vehicle Crime

July 15, 2025 (Marquette Road): The resident received a doorbell alert stating movement was detected outside of his residence. He stated that he observed a male in all black clothing approach a 2025 Mercedes and a 2024 Porsche that were parked in his driveway. The suspect attempted to enter both cars, however, they were each locked. The suspect then fled to a dark colored sedan that was waiting on LaSalle Road and fled the area.

Theft

July 18, 2025 (South Park Street): The management of 2nd Street clothing reported that a male and female suspect entered the store and proceeded to the luxury bag section. Store surveillance picked the pair up swapping a Louis Vuitton Neonoe MM Rose Bag that was offered for sale with a handbag that the suspects entered the store with. The Louis Vuitton bag had a security tether attached to it which the suspects managed to remove. Both subjects then left the store. The male suspect was described as a Hispanic male wearing a white hat, white collared shirt, khaki shorts and white shoes. The female was described as a Hispanic female wearing a white hat, a white shirt that had "Happiness" in rainbow colors, black pants and black shoes. The stolen bag was valued at $1599.90.

Arrests

July 15, 2025 (Valley Road): A 25-year-old male from West Orange was charged with Theft from King’s Supermarket.

July 15, 2025 (Bloomfield Avenue): A 35-year-old male from Montclair was charged with Disorderly Conduct, Criminal Trespass, and Criminal Mischief.

July 16, 2025 (Claremont Avenue): A 52-year-old male from Montclair was charged with Shoplifting from CVS. He was additionally charged with Resisting Arrest.

July 21, 2025 (Bloomfield Avenue): A 36-year-old male from East Orange was charged with Theft.

Burglary

July 23, 2025 (Melrose Place): At approximately 3:15 AM, Officers responded to a Melrose Place residence on an activated burglar alarm. Arriving officers observed a black sedan idling in front of the residence. When officers attempted to stop this vehicle, it fled at a high rate of speed eastbound on Melrose Place. Officers pursued this vehicle but ultimately terminated the pursuit on JFK Parkway South in Bloomfield. The vehicle was determined to be a black Acura with stolen license plates. Additional officers remained on scene at the residence on Melrose Place and spoke with the homeowners. The resident reported that he was awoken at approximately 3:10AM by his alarm notifying him of his rear door being opened. The resident proceeded to investigate and discovered his rear door had been forced open. He then observed a suspect peering into the open doorway. The suspect ran from the rear of the property into the awaiting vehicle parked out front. The suspect appeared to be looking for keys to the homeowners’ BMW X5 but was unable to locate them. The suspect did manage to take the female resident’s handbag. This incident is currently under investigation.

July 23, 2025 (Park Street): The resident reported that he was awoken by his home alarm activating. He checked his security camera and observed one individual entering the front door. When the alarm was activated, the suspect fled. There was no readily available description of the suspect. There were no reported stolen proceeds.

July 23, 2025 (Edgemont Road): The resident reported that his home was entered during the overnight hours. It appears that entry into the home was made through an unsecured first floor window. The residents reported that approximately $500.00 in cash was missing from wallets/purses that were located in the kitchen.

Theft

July 24, 2025 (Bloomfield Avenue): The owner of a landscaping business reported that while performing lawn maintenance, two leaf blowers were stolen from the rear of his truck. They were described as two Redmax brand model 8550's or 8560's valued at $300.00 each.

Arrest

July 23, 2025 (Bloomfield Avenue): A 35-year-old male from Montclair was charged with Obstructing Administration of Law, Resisting Arrest, Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, and Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purposes. The arrest was a result of a motor vehicle stop where the defendant refused to comply with officers and fought them upon arrest. He was in possession of a chisel that had been grinded to make a sharp edge.