December 2001 / January 2002 Edition

Busy Police Department   One weekend’s worth of work for Fair Lawn Police Officers:   - Matthew S. Bender was arrested for Shoplifting at Shoprite.  Bender, 24, of Mahwah was seen by store security placing un-paid for frozen shrimp in a bag and trying to leave the store.  He was taken into custody by store security.  He was charged with shoplifting.   - A BB gun was discovered in a FedEx box on Abbott Road.  When the FedEx employee opened the box at 8:30 p.m. he observed a gun in with the packages.  Detectives Bastinck and DeLucca responded and took custody of the gun for processing.    - A 1999 Dodge Durango was stolen from the driveway of a Lambert Road resident.  The vehicle was running and was unattended on the driveway when it was stolen by a Hispanic male, 15 - 17 years old, 5' '7", thin build, wearing a hooded sweatshirt.  An intense search of the surrounding area was undertaken and the vehicle was located on Grimes Place in Paterson by Officer Joseph Mecionis.  The suspect fled on foot with P.O. Mecionis in pursuit.  Though the suspect managed to elude arrest, the vehicle was recovered.    - A 17-year-old Fair Lawn youth was taken into custody for terroristic threats, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.  Officers John LaDuca and Brian LaRosa were dispatched to the CVS parking lot on a report of a fight.  Upon their arrival, they located the youth who had been assaulted by several other youths who were no longer present.  The youth was acting violently and was belligerent.  After threatening the ambulance member who went to help him, he was taken into custody.  He was released to the custody of his mother.   - Rosita Marcano, 37, of Paterson, was arrested for shoplifting.  Marcano was observed by the store manager placing items into her pocketbook and pocket.  The manager then called the police.  Marcano was charged with shoplifting and false information to the police and was released on $5,000 bail.    - Police Officer Corcoran stopped a vehicle on 17th Street.  The passenger, Lawrence Lacasse, 53, of Fair Lawn, had an outstanding $1,533 warrant.  Lacasse was taken into custody and was turned over to the Bergen County Sheriff's Department.   - Tina Huston was arrested for theft of a motor vehicle and defiant trespass and her husband, Michael Houston, was arrested for possession of stolen property and being an unlicensed driver.  At 10:45 a.m., P.O. John Annazone and Sgt. Michael Uttel stopped a 1987 Nissan.  Investigation showed that the vehicle was stolen.  The vehicle was taken from the driveway of an acquaintance by Tina, who then let her husband drive her.  Tina had been previously warned that she was to stay off the property (where the vehicle was parked) and away from the vehicle.  Tina, 36, of Fair Lawn, was arrested and charged with motor vehicle theft and defiant trespass.  Her husband, Michael, 59, also of Fair Lawn, was charged with possession of stolen property and being an unlicensed driver.    - TCBY at 23-16 Broadway reported cash missing.  The manager had realized the shortage when he was totaling the receipts.  There was no sign of forced entry and the Fair Lawn Police Department's Detective Bureau is investigating.    - A Bluehill Avenue resident reported his car stolen.  At noon, he had parked his 2000 Audi on his driveway and when he returned to it at 5:30 p.m., it was missing.  The value of the missing vehicle was reported as $40,000.    - A 44-year-old Fair Lawn resident was charged with harassment and for violating a temporary restraining order.  The suspect, who is currently in the Bergen County Jail on an unrelated charge, had called his wife collect from the jail. Then he had a mutual friend call on his behalf.  Both are in violation of a temporary restraining order issued to his wife.