March 2024

Montclair Police Department

Police Blotter: March 5, 2024 – March 12, 2024

Assault

March 5, 2024 (Claremont Avenue): A Pharmacy Technician at CVS Pharmacy reported a female approached the drive-thru window and requested a refill on a prescription. When she was denied, she threw an unknown liquid through the window which struck the technician. She fled in a Honda CRV. The technician was uninjured.

Burglary

March 6, 2024 (North Fullerton Avenue): The resident reported that her home was entered and her vehicle was stolen. The suspects entered the home at approximately 5:55 AM after breaking a small glass frame on a rear door. The suspects then located the keys to a 2023 Range Rover that were on the dining room table. The suspect(s) fled the scene in the Range Rover. The vehicle contained a set of golf clubs at the time of the theft. Responding officers observed the vehicle fleeing town east on Bloomfield Avenue at a high rate of speed. No pursuit was initiated.

March 7, 2024 (Grove Street): At approximately 3:40 AM, officers responded to Grove Pharmacy on an activated burglar alarm. Arriving officers observed the front glass door had been shattered. The suspects reportedly used a large rock to break the front glass door. Officers observed that the cash register was open and empty with coins scattered throughout the floor. An unknown amount of Alprazolam medication was taken. The narcotic medication was in a separate area of the pharmacy and was not stolen. Surveillance video showed two males exit a vehicle at 3:37 AM and retrieve a bag from the trunk of the vehicle. Both suspects proceeded to smash the window with rocks, then made entry through the broken window at 3:38 AM. One suspect was dressed in grey sweatpants with red print on the right leg, a blue hooded sweatshirt, black gloves, face mask, grey sneakers and a blue Walmart bag in hand. The second suspect was dressed in a black and blue North Face puffy jacket, black pants, black sneakers, black gloves and face mask. They fled to a vehicle waiting on Oxford Street.

Motor Vehicle Crime

March 6, 2024 (Valley Road): The complainant reported that his wallet was stolen from his 2018 Dodge Ram between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Credit cards were reportedly used in New York City at a Star Bucks, Apple Store, and a restaurant.

Shoplifting

March 6, 2024 (Valley Road): The manager at Kings Supermarket reported that two females and one male entered the supermarket and loaded up two shopping carts with various items. One female suspect walked towards the exit with her cart and left the store and approached a beige Nissan sedan driven by a male. The vehicle pulled up near the exit and fled in an unknown direction on Valley Road. The shopping cart that the second female suspect was using was left near the checkout area. The suspects were described as a thin built black female in her mid-twenties, approximately 5'4"-5'5" tall, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt with the hood up, and dark jeans. The second suspect was a heavy-set black female in her mid-forties to early fifties standing approximately 5’4” – 5’5” tall. The male suspect was a black male with a dark complexion, approximately 5’7” tall, with a patchy black and grey beard, wearing a dark blue or black beanie style hat, and a dark hooded sweatshirt. The value of the items taken was approximately $300-$400.

Criminal Mischief

March 9, 2024 (Orange Road): An act of criminal mischief occurred at the Montclair Unity Church on Orange Road. Surveillance video shows a male throw a rock through the side door window at 1:15 AM. The suspect is seen walking up the walkway and throwing an unknown object at the window. After the first object did not break the window, the suspect is seen retrieving a rock. The suspect is seen throwing the rock at the window which ultimately breaks. The suspect is described as a black male wearing blue jacket, blue pants, white sneakers, and a baseball cap. The suspect is then seen walking south on Orange Road.

A second act of Criminal Mischief occurred at the same church on March 11th. It appears the same suspect threw a rock through a separate window. Anyone able to identify the suspect or with information can contact Detective Pierre Falaise at (973) 509-4717.

Montclair Police Department

Police Blotter: March 19, 2024 – March 26, 2024

Theft

March 19, 2024 (Walnut Street): The complainant reported that a box of seafood was stolen from his delivery truck while parked on Walnut Street. He stated that the roll-up door was left open while making a delivery. When he returned, he discovered that a white Styrofoam box containing twenty-seven pounds of Icelandic cod filet fish was missing. A separate crate was missing that reportedly contained twenty-eight pounds of Pulpo, fifteen pounds of lobster, ten pounds of shrimp, and ten pounds of six-ounce tuna steaks. The driver provided an invoice for the stolen food which was valued at $895.50.

Suspicious Activity

March 19, 2024 (Valley Road): A technician at the Bank of America drive-thru ATM reported that he discovered a skimming device attached to the ATM while making a repair. A metal skimming device was observed attached to the card reader. It is unknown when the device was attached to the ATM. The skimming device was confiscated and processed for fingerprints.

March 22, 2024 (Seymour Street): Officers responded to the Wellmont Theater on an anonymous report of individuals selling balloons filled with nitrous oxide. Multiple individuals were observed holding colored balloons. Officers located a twenty-pound tank of nitrous oxide hidden by nearby parked vehicles. The tank was confiscated.

Fraudulent Activity

March 20, 2024 (Valley Road): An employee of Quick Check reported that a male customer attempted to pay for items using a counterfeit fifty-dollar bill. The sale was denied by the cashier. When refused service, the suspect left the store. They reported that on two separate occasions, this same individual had successfully used a counterfeit fifty-dollar bill and one-hundred-dollar bill to make purchases. He was described as an older black male with a gray beard. He appeared to be medium height and weight. He was wearing blue jeans which appeared torn at the front, and a black jacket with a black hooded sweatshirt underneath. The hood was pulled up over the male's head, so it is unknown on the hair color.

Burglary

March 25, 2024 (Gates Avenue): The building superintendent reported that an unknown person damaged the keypad mechanism at the front door and made entry into the lobby area. Surveillance video shows the suspect was a black male, wearing a gray beanie hat, a black or gray winter jacket, multicolor hooded sweatshirt, black pants, and black boots. The suspect is seen entering the lobby, pulling a red bag from the inside of his jacket, and putting three packages into the bag before leaving the building.

Montclair Police Department

Police Blotter: March 26, 2024 – April 2, 2024

Theft

March 28, 2024 (Claremont Avenue): The resident reported that she was notified that an Amazon package had been delivered to her home. She stated that when she went to retrieve it, she discovered someone had taken it from her porch. The package contained electronics.

MV Crime

March 29, 2024 (Lloyd Road): The resident reported that she heard the alarm to her 2022 Audi Q5 Wagon sounding in her driveway. When she went to investigate, she observed an unknown male sitting in the driver’s seat with the door open. The resident yelled and the suspect fled to an awaiting silver sedan parked near Hoburg Place. The suspect vehicle fled north on Lloyd Road at a high rate of speed.

Assault / Assault on an Officer

March 30, 2024 (Valley Road): Two juvenile males (17-years-old) reported that they were standing at the entrance to the Quick Check when an unknown white male adult, wearing glasses and a tank top shirt walked into the store and stated to the juveniles, "Get out of my way". The male suspect then pushed one juvenile and then proceeded to punch the other juvenile. The suspect then exited the store and entered a black Jeep SUV and fled north on Valley Road. One juvenile male was transported to Saint Joseph’s Hospital for injuries to his face.

March 30, 2024 (Highland Avenue): At approximately 2:30 AM, officers responded to the area of Highland Avenue and Edgewood Terrace on a report of a suspicious BMW X5 travelling slowly on Highland Avenue. An officer responded and located the vehicle idling in the middle of the street with its headlights off. The vehicle was discovered to be stolen out of East Brunswick, NJ. As the officer arrived, he observed two males run from a residential driveway back into the stolen BMW. A third male was behind them, also running towards the BMW. The officer exited his patrol car and attempted to apprehend the third suspect. The officer was able to grab the third suspect by his jacket as the suspect entered the BMW. The stolen BMW sped off, dragging the officer for a short period of time before he released his hold on the suspect. The vehicle struck the officer as it sped away, specifically his right foot and ankle. The suspect vehicle was last seen fleeing east on Claremont Avenue at a high rate of speed. The Newark Police Department later pursued the vehicle in their city. Four suspects bailed out of the stolen BMW at the Georgia King Village at the intersection of Cabinet Street and Littleton Avenue and managed to escape arrest. The Montclair Officer was transported to Mountainside Hospital for lacerations, and injuries to his right knee and ankle.

Burglary

March 31, 2024 (North Mountain Avenue): At approximately 2:06 AM, the resident reported that she entered her second-floor bedroom and observed an unknown male standing in her bedroom. When the male observed the resident, he fled from the home. The resident reported that due to being in shock, she was unable to determine which way he went. He was described only as a male wearing a dark red shirt and a sweater over it. It is unknown how the suspect entered the home. Nothing was reported missing.

March 31, 2024 (Braemore Road): The resident reported that his residence was entered during the overnight hours. It appears the suspect was able to enter the home through an unlocked first floor bathroom window. Once inside, a glass jar containing approximately $250.00 in coins was removed from the kitchen.

Shots Fired / Aggravated Assault

April 1, 2024 (Maple Avenue): At approximately 9:56 PM, Montclair Police responded to the area of Maple Avenue and Woodland Avenue on a report of shots fired in the area. The first responding officer arrived and observed two males running to an awaiting vehicle that was parked on Woodland Avenue. The vehicle was stopped by Montclair PD. The front seat passenger was identified as an 18-year-old male from Bloomfield, NJ. He was suffering from a single gunshot wound to his abdomen. The vehicle was also occupied by two additional males (a driver and rear seat passenger). These two males were uninjured. The victim was treated on scene by Montclair EMS and Medics. He was transported to University Hospital in Newark where he is listed in Stable Condition. Several shell casings were located and recovered from the scene on Maple Avenue. There is currently no suspect information. This is still an early and on-going investigation. Anyone who may have information is asked to call Montclair PD at (973) 744-1234 and request to speak with a member of the Detective Bureau.

Arrests

March 26, 2024 (Greenwood Avenue): A 49-year-old female from Montclair was charged with Criminal Mischief.

March 28, 2024 (Bloomfield Avenue): A 52-year-old male from Newark was charged with Shoplifting from CVS on Bloomfield Avenue.