Assault, Fraud, Shoplifting Reported In Westfield

WESTFIELD, NJ — Assault, fraud, shoplifting, and DWI arrest were reported recently in Westfield.

Westfield Police Blotter – July 27 to Aug. 2:

On July 28: Following an investigation into a shoplifting incident that occurred on May 14 at a local business in the 200 block of East North Avenue, Chucky Stringer, 65, of North Brunswick, was identified and charged with shoplifting on July 28. He has been issued a summons and is scheduled to appear in court at a future date.

On July 28 at 2:40 p.m.: Officer Went and Officer Manganaro were dispatched to Westfield Police Headquarters for a walk-in fraud report. The victim of Elm Street stated he had been working with a client who owed a $2,500 retainer fee. Although the client arranged for payment via check, the victim’s bank later flagged the check as fraudulent when he tried to deposit it. The victim notified the client but received no response. He reported that he is still owed the $2,500, but has suffered no monetary loss.

On July 29 at 5 a.m.: Ryan Leuthold, 22, of Summerville, NC, was charged with two counts of obstruction and one count of criminal mischief for damage to the front door of a home located on the 1000 block of Summit Avenue, pursuant to a suspicious person investigation. Leuthold was mailed his summonses with a notice to appear in Westfield Municipal Court at a later date.

On July 30 at 9:21 a.m.: A resident of the 800 block of Grant Avenue retrieved two credit cards that she had lost the previous day while shopping in the Westfield Central Business District. After retrieving the credit cards, the complainant monitored her credit card activity and saw two transactions that she did not authorize, totaling $32.10.

On Aug. 1 at 3:25 p.m.: Christine Leary, 36, of North Plainfield, was charged with an act of assault after becoming involved in a verbal argument that turned physical inside a store located on the 200 block of Central Avenue within the Westfield Central Business District. Leary was advised that she is not permitted to return to the store.

On Aug. 2 at 10 a.m.: Officer Went and Officer Manganaro responded to Westfield Police Headquarters for a report of damage to a motor vehicle. Upon arrival, they met with the registered owner, who reported that on Aug. 2, between around 10 and 11 a.m., the driver-side front door of her 2024 gray Volkswagen was scratched while parked on the roadway in the 700 block of Oak Avenue. The victim said she had parked her vehicle facing North Chestnut Street and went for a walk in the neighborhood. Upon returning, she saw a scratch on the driver-side front door and subsequently reported the damage. Officers saw a deep scratch located low on the driver-side door. At this time, it is undetermined whether the damage was caused by another vehicle or an unknown object.

On Aug. 2 at 2:47 p.m.: At around 2:47 p.m., Officer Went and Officer Manganaro were dispatched to Westfield Police Headquarters for a walk-in report. Upon arrival, they made contact with the W. North Avenue victim, who said that she owns property in Plainfield and had been in communication with a prospective tenant who expressed interest in renting the space for business use. On July 1, the individual toured the property and took photos and videos, leading the victim to believe he intended to proceed with the rental; however, she received no further communication from him. On July 24, the victim received a formal letter from the Department of the Treasury notifying her that the individual had registered a business using her property’s address, along with a listed contact email. The victim emphasized that no business transaction took place, no rental agreement was signed, and she did not authorize the use of her address for any business purposes. She expressed concern about potential legal or financial consequences due to her property being associated with the individual's business. The victim provided documents related to the incident, which were collected for further review.

On Aug. 2 at 8:06 p.m.: Officers Perconte and Lazu were dispatched to the 700 block of West South Avenue in response to a welfare check initiated by a passerby regarding a motorist. Upon arrival, the officers made contact with the driver of the vehicle, identified as Neema Enayati, 22, of Plainfield. During the investigation, Enayati appeared disoriented, leading officers to conduct a further assessment. Based on their findings, Enayati was placed under arrest for driving while intoxicated (DWI). Additionally, Enayati was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) and possession of a prohibited weapon. He was taken to Westfield Police Headquarters, where he was processed and subsequently released to a sober adult with a mandatory court appearance scheduled in Union County Superior Court.

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