June 2026 Police Blotter

Assault

June 2, 2026 (Valley Road): Officers responded to the area of the Valley Road Parking Lot on a report of a fight. Upon arrival, they located a female victim with a laceration to the left side of her head. The victim was uncooperative with officers and was treated by Montclair EMS before being transported to Saint Joseph’s Hospital. Witnesses and surveillance video from the area revealed that the female victim was sitting on the sidewalk bench, engaged in a verbal dispute with a dark-skinned male, wearing a black shirt and backpack. During this altercation, the victim is seen standing up and appears to be throwing a liquid at the male party, who in return proceeded to strike the victim with a closed fist. This suspect then walks away heading north on Valley Road.

Burglary / Attempted Burglary

June 2, 2026 (South Fullerton Avenue): The resident reported that her wallet was stolen from her house at some point between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM. The wallet was inside of a purse that was hanging by a rear door. There were no signs of forced entry, however, the rear door where the purse was located was unlocked.

June 2, 2026 (Washington Avenue): The resident reported that he was getting ready for work at approximately 5:10 AM when he heard a noise that sounded like something “sliding and falling” coming from the kitchen. When he walked into the kitchen, he noticed the window and the window screen to a window facing the backyard were pushed open. There were two outdoor patio chairs directly under the open window. The resident also found the gate to the backyard was completely open and there were shoe prints from the dew in the grass that started on his walkway and continued to the backyard of the residence, as well as up the stairs leading to the door on the side of the residence. The suspect(s) attempted to gain entry through the side door as well but were unsuccessful due to the door being locked. There is no suspect description.

Motor Vehicle Crime

June 5, 2026 (Valley Road): The complainant reported that her 2018 Chevy Wagon was stolen from the CVS parking lot. She reported that the vehicle was in the parking lot for approximately one half hour. The car contained about $1000.00 worth of clothing at the time of the theft.

Theft

June 5, 2026 (Clarewill Avenue): The complainant reported that he ordered two boxes of Topps Basketball cards and they were delivered to his residence on May 28, 2026 while he was away. When he returned home, he located the box, opened, in his garden with the contents of the box missing.

Theft

June 13, 2026 (Midland Avenue): The caller reported that he was sitting in his office when he observed an unmarked white van pulling into the parking lot of La Rocca. He reported a black male exited the van and began pumping used cooking oil of the restaurants used oil tank. Officers confirmed with the owner of the restaurant that this was unauthorized. The van was described as a white work van, possibly a Ford, with rust along the sides. It had no windows in the rear cargo body of the van.

Burglary

June 16, 2026 (Eagle Rock Way): At approximately 5:00 AM, Montclair Police Dispatch was contacted by the Ocean Twp Police Department (Monmouth County), regarding a 2026 Mercedes Benz GLS which was stolen out of their jurisdiction at approximately 3:33 AM. Ocean Twp PD reported that the vehicle was being pinged to the area of Orange Road and Cross Street in Montclair. Officers began searching the area for this vehicle. At approximately 5:15 AM, a resident of Eagle Rock Way reported a burglary in progress and that there were people inside of their home. All units converged on this location, where officers observed the front and rear doors ajar. Officers searched the home but found no intruders. The residents reported that their home alarm was triggered at approximately 5:10 AM prompting him to call the police. Surveillance video showed a black SUV (matching the description of the stolen vehicle out of Ocean Twp PD) driving on Eagle Rock Way. Five males are seen exiting the vehicle and walking up the driveway towards the residence. One of the males is on camera peering into the front passenger window of a BMW parked in the driveway. This vehicle was locked. All five suspects then walk towards the rear of the home, where they attempt multiple door handles, before utilizing a crowbar to break into the residence. Approximately one minute later three suspects are seen running out the rear door, while two of the remaining suspects are seen running out of the front door. All five then enter the black SUV, which flees the area. The vehicle was last pinged to Route 280 eastbound. There were no proceeds from the burglary.

Arrests

June 9, 2026 (Valley Road): Officers responded to the Orange Road parking deck on a report of a male attempting to enter parked vehicles. Officers located a male attempting to flee the parking deck who was identified as the suspect. A 43-year-old male from Montclair was charged with Criminal Trespass. During arrest, the suspect spit on one of the arresting officers and was additional charged with Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer as well as Throwing Bodily Fluids at a Law Enforcement Officer.

June 15, 2026 (Valley Road): After an investigation into multiple shoplifting incidents at Kings Supermarket and Acme, Gary Melnick, a 34-year-old male from Elmwood Park, NJ was arrested and charged with multiple counts of shoplifting. The investigation is still on-going and additional arrests and charges are expected.

Theft

June 17, 2026 (New Street): The complainant reported that three packages had been delivered, and stolen, from his porch in the last twenty-four hours. The packages were delivered during the afternoon hours between June 16th and June 17th. The items were valued at approximately $300.00.

June 19, 2026 (Bloomfield Avenue): The victim reported that she parked her vehicle at the Shell Gas Station and proceeded across the street to pick up food. When she returned, she observed that the front driver’s side door as well as the trunk were open. A backpack, a laptop, and two credit cards were missing from the car.

June 20, 2026 (Pine Street): The complainants reported that two of their vehicles were entered during the early morning hours. Surveillance video shows an unknown male walking up their driveway at 4:48 AM. Moments later, the suspect is seen walking back down the driveway with their belongings. Two gym bags containing sneakers and clothes were the reported proceeds. The vehicle was reportedly left unlocked.

June 20, 2026 (Bloomfield Avenue): The victim reported that he left his electric bicycle outside of Montclair Care Center, along a brick wall. A witness reported observing a group of juveniles take the bicycle and flee west on Bloomfield Avenue. Officers located the electric bike on Mission Street with damage to the handlebar and the speedometer.

Burglary

June 18, 2026 (Gates Avenue): The victim reported that the storage unit in the basement of his apartment complex was broken into. He added that the suspect(s) stole his bicycle. The room is accessed through a laundry room. The suspect(s) used a crown bar to force entry into the unit.

June 18, 2026 (Highland Avenue): The homeowners reported that an unknown person(s) entered their home during the afternoon hours. They stated that an envelope containing approximately $3000.00 was stolen from an office. A nanny at the residence reported hearing the front door slam during the timeframe of the incident.

June 18, 2026 (Bloomfield Avenue): The residents reported that they were away from their apartment for approximately four hours. When they returned, they discovered cash and jewelry were missing. Several other jewelry boxes were reported to have been rummaged through.

Motor Vehicle Crime

June 19, 2026 (Bloomfield Avenue): The victim reported that he left his 2022 Toyota Corolla parked on Bloomfield Avenue with the keys in the cup holder. He entered a restaurant to pick up an order for Uber Eats. When he returned, he discovered that his vehicle had been stolen. The vehicle was located the following day on 17th Avenue in Newark.

Motor Vehicle Crime

June 30, 2026 (New Street): The complainant reported that he parked his motorcycle behind his apartment building at approximately 11:30 AM. He reported that he was alerted by a friend at 2:00 PM that the motorcycle was no longer there. The bike was described as a 2026 black ZHI ST1 gas powered street scooter with gloves attached to the handlebars and a “GrubHub” basket affixed to the front.

July 3, 2026 (Hillside Avenue): The resident reported that her 2026 Grey Porsche SUV was entered during the overnight hours. She stated that she and her family entered the car at approximately 5:00 AM and observed the driver’s side front door was ajar. Multiple papers that were in the glove compartment and center console were scattered throughout the car. At the time the report was made, the only item missing was the owner’s manual.

Theft

July 2, 2026 (The Crescent): The victim reported that she was walking to her car located in the small lot adjacent to The Crescent Parking Deck when she was approached by a male suspect, approximately nineteen or twenty years old. The suspect stated he was raising money for his basketball team and proceeded to show the victim the basketball "web site". The victim stated she would donate a couple of dollars through Venmo and started the process of sending money to the suspect through her Venmo account. It was at this time the suspect took the victim’s cellphone from her hand and held onto her phone for approximately one minute before giving it back and fleeing in an unknown direction. The victim reported that the suspect proceeded to use her Venmo credit account to transfer $2500 into another account. The suspect was described as a dark-skinned black male wearing black shorts, black shirt, and had twists or locks in his hair.

Arrest

July 4, 2026 (Park Street): A thirty-six-year-old male from Montclair repeatedly entered Just Jakes on Park Street after being denied entry. He was charged with Criminal Trespass.