Crime & Safety

DWI Arrests, Shoplifting, Fraud Reported In Westfield

The Westfield Police released its blotter for the past week.

WESTFIELD, NJ — Driving while intoxicated and shoplifting arrests were among the incidents reported in Westfield recently.

Westfield Police Blotter – May 18 to May 24:

On May 18 at 1:28 a.m.: Gabriel Quito Pizarro, 34, of Trenton, was arrested for DWI following a motor vehicle stop near the 1300 block of Central Avenue. He was processed and released with summonses to a responsible party.

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On May 18 at 12 p.m.: An individual entered an unlocked business located on the 800 block of West South Avenue and removed multiple business checks from within the main office. Attempts were made to use these checks, but those attempts were ultimately unsuccessful.

On May 19 at 12:04 a.m.: Anthony J. Pernell, 58, of Roselle Park, was arrested for DWI following a motor vehicle investigation near the intersection of East North Avenue and Hillcrest Avenue. He was released with summonses to a responsible party.

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On May 20 at 2:38 p.m.: Westfield Police were dispatched to the area of Elmer Street, near East Broad Street, after a woman was reported to be pulling on door handles of several vehicles. Officers responded and checked the area but were unable to locate the person in question. No entry into any vehicle was reported at this time, as all vehicles were locked.

On May 21 at 12:30 p.m.: A business located on the 1100 block of West South Avenue reported that a customer paid for merchandise with a bad check written in the amount of $656.39.

On May 21 at 1:43 p.m.: A resident of Sunnywood Drive reported fraudulent checks were being withdrawn from his bank account totaling $1,525.

On May 22 at 3:12 p.m.: Westfield Police Officers responded to a business in the area of 200 East North Avenue on a report of a shoplifting that had just occurred. Officers found the suspect, later identified as Brian Coles, 34, of Heampstead, NY, outside of the business. Subsequently, Coles was placed under arrest for shoplifting and possession of drug paraphernalia. Coles was taken to Westfield Police Headquarters, where he was processed and released on a summons. Coles was then turned over to Garwood Police Department on an outstanding warrant.

On May 24 at 2:07 p.m.: A business manager in the 200 block of East North Avenue reported a shoplifting that had just occurred. It was reported to Westfield Police that a suspect described as a bald black man wearing a black shirt, black jacket, and black pants entered the store and stole two Sonicare electric toothbrushes valued at $89.99 each and one Omron portable blood pressure machine valued at $109.99 for a total value of $289.97. The suspect then fled in a red Honda civic in an unknown direction.

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