Shoplifting, DUI Arrests, And Police Evasion Reported In Long Valley

LONG VALLEY, NJ — Washington Township police have released their monthly blotter, detailing a range of incidents officers responded to over the past month.

Here is the May police blotter, courtesy of Long Valley police and unedited by Patch.

At approximately 10 p.m. on May 3, Washington Township police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Kings Highway. Officers arrived to find a heavily damaged vehicle disabled in the middle of the roadway.

The driver, a 20-year-old man from Bayonne, was located nearby. An investigation determined he was the sole occupant of the vehicle and had been traveling north on Kings Highway when he lost control, struck several fixed objects off the shoulder, and the vehicle became airborne before coming to rest in the roadway.

The driver was found to be impaired and was charged with DWI. He was rushed to a local hospital by the Long Valley First Aid Squad for treatment.

His name was not released.

At 8:27 p.m. on May 5, an officer investigating a vehicle illegally parked in a handicap space at the Target store in Washington Township discovered that the driver, a 24-year-old Mt. Olive resident, had an active criminal warrant issued by the Blairstown Township Municipal Court.

The driver was issued a parking citation and released on his own recognizance, pending a mandatory court appearance in Blairstown.

At 12:15 a.m. on May 6, officers encountered a 60-year-old Mt. Olive resident and discovered he had multiple active warrants issued by the Bedminster Township and Glen Gardner Borough municipal courts.

He was taken into custody and turned over to the Bedminster Police Department in connection with the outstanding warrant.

On May 8, the Washington Township Detective Bureau issued an arrest warrant for a woman residing in the Bronx, New York. She is charged with third-degree forgery and third-degree receiving stolen property in connection with a check-washing incident.

Upon her arrest in the Bronx, the woman will be scheduled for a mandatory court appearance in Morris County Superior Court to face the charges.

On May 10, a Washington Township patrol officer attempted to stop a motorcycle on Schooley’s Mountain Road after observing the rider driving aggressively and committing multiple traffic violations. The rider failed to stop and, after a short distance, crossed the double yellow lines and illegally passed several vehicles in an effort to evade the officer. The pursuit was discontinued due to safety concerns.

Shortly afterward, Hackettstown police located the motorcycle, unoccupied, within their jurisdiction. The vehicle was impounded by Washington Township police.

Police later contacted the registered owner, a Jersey City woman, and identified the rider as a 35-year-old man, also from Jersey City. He was interviewed and admitted to operating the motorcycle during the incident.

The man was charged with eluding police, a second-degree offense, and issued multiple motor vehicle summonses. He was released pending a court appearance.

At approximately 9:28 a.m., on May 19, officers stopped a vehicle and contacted a 33-year-old Rahway man. A warrant check revealed active warrants issued by Linden and Roselle municipal courts. Following coordination with both courts, the individual was released on his own recognizance pending court appearances.

At approximately 3:30 p.m. on May 21, officers responded to a reported shoplifting incident at the Target store. A 52-year-old man from Belvidere was found using a motorized mobility scooter to conceal several items and attempted to leave without paying. He was arrested, processed at police headquarters, and released pending a municipal court appearance.

At approximately 12:42 a.m. on May 23, an officer observed a vehicle traveling west on Route 46 driving on the shoulder, prompting a traffic stop. The driver, a 20-year-old woman from Hackettstown, showed signs of impairment. After field sobriety tests, she was arrested for underage operation while under the influence. She was taken to police headquarters, charged, issued several motor vehicle summonses, and released to a responsible party pending a municipal court appearance.