June 2024

Montclair Police Department

Police Blotter: June 4, 2024 – June 11, 2024

Motor Vehicle Crime

June 4, 2024 (Marston Place): The resident reported that her 2021 BMW X7 was stolen from her driveway. An eyewitness reported observing a black Porsche sedan, with black tinted windows, and loud exhaust arrive from Douglas Road and drive east onto Marston Place. An individual exited from the back door driver’s side of the Porsche wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled over his head and blue jeans. The individual was observed walking down the victim’s driveway, entering the BMW and exited the driveway. The vehicle was last pinged to N 6th Street and Dickerson Avenue in Newark.

Theft

June 6, 2024 (Valley Road): Loss Prevention at Acme reported that two individuals entered the supermarket and paid for an item valued at $2.99 but left with a cart full of unpaid groceries. A female suspect reportedly distracted the employee at the self-checkout while the male suspect fled the store. The suspects were described as a white male with a beard and curly hair, wearing a black shirt and pants with a baseball cap. The second suspect was a Hispanic female with long black hair, wearing a black shirt and pants with a baseball cap. They fled in a white Toyota Rav4.

Criminal Mischief

June 8, 2024 (Valley Road): The complainant reported that he parked his vehicle in the parking lot of 150 Valley Road. He reported that five juvenile males were on the roof of the building and damaged the front windshield of his vehicle by throwing rocks at it. The males then fled south on Valley Road.

Assault

June 9, 2024 (Park Street): Two male victims reported that while standing outside of The Meat Locker on Park Street, they were struck by BB’s from a pellet gun that was shot from a passing vehicle. One male was struck in the nose, the other was struck in the neck. Both subjects refused medical attention. Two juvenile males from Bloomfield were stopped on Chestnut Street who were in possession of the pellet guns. The victims were unable to make an identification of the suspects. The suspects were transported to Police Headquarters and released to a parent. Charges are pending.

Shots Fired

June 10, 2024 (New Street / Mission Street): At approximately 6:46 PM on June 10, 2024, Montclair Police responded to the area of New Street and Mission Street on a report of shots fired. Multiple anonymous callers reported hearing approximately five to six shots. No victims were located, and area hospitals did not report any walk-in victims of gunshot wounds. The following day, officers canvassing located a Chevy Cobalt parked on New Street with a bullet hole in the passenger side front door. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Michael Mickens at (973) 509-4715.

Montclair Police Department

Police Blotter: June 11, 2024 – June 18, 2024

Theft

June 11, 2024 (Elmwood Avenue): The caller reported that after failing to locate a package, he checked his surveillance and discovered that an unknown male, described as a light skin older black male, approximately fifty to sixty years of age, bald, wearing an orange shirt with a logo on the chest, and black pants approached the residence and took the package. The unknown male is seen on camera, walking westbound on Elmwood Avenue. The package contained two Hewlett Packard ink cartridges with a combined total value of $100.00.

June 11, 2024 (North Fullerton Avenue): An employee of the US Postal Service reported that he left his postal van on North Fullerton Avenue while delivering mail. When he returned, he discovered an unknown amount of mail had been stolen. Surveillance in the area shows a male with gray shorts, plain white shirt, long black hair, and a black beard. The suspect walks from the U.S Postal van carrying a bucket full of mail/newspapers.

June 17, 2024 (Church Street): A member of Out Montclair reported that the Pride Flag that had been displayed on a pole at Church Street and Bloomfield Avenue/South Fullerton Avenue had been removed by an unknown person(s). The flag was raised on June 7, 2024 and was discovered missing on June 14, 2024. Anyone with information may contact Detective Jamar Jones at (973) 509-4705.

Criminal Mischief

June 11, 2024 (Glenridge Avenue): An employee of Caggiano Liquors reported that an individual entered the store and purchased some small items. When he was told that a bag to carry the items would cost additional, the individual became irate and threw a bottle of wine at the counter, causing it to shatter.

Motor Vehicle Theft / Carjacking

June 16, 2024 (Orange Road): The victim reported that he was making a delivery for Uber Eats in his white 2022 Toyota Camry. He stated that he parked his vehicle on the east side of Orange Road and approached a residence to make the delivery. He reported that a dark colored Kia pulled up along side his Camry. The front passenger of the Kia exited the Kia and entered the victim’s Camry. The victim ran back to his car and stood in front of it with his hands on the hood in an attempt to deter the Camry from fleeing. The Camry accelerated and fled northbound resulting in the victim being thrown from the hood of the car. Both vehicles were last seen south on Orange Road.

The suspect was described as a teenaged black male with a thin build wearing a dark color hooded sweatshirt and a purple cloth face mask. The victim was treated by Montclair EMS for lacerations to his hand. The vehicle was recovered parked and unoccupied later in the day on South Orange Avenue and Bruce Street in Newark. It was towed to Montclair PD for processing. Anyone with information can contact Detective Joe Juliano at (973) 509-4724.

Shots Fired / Arrest

June 17, 2024 (Washington Street): At approximately 9:54 PM, Montclair Police were dispatched to the area of Washington Street and New Street on a report of a Road Rage incident where one vehicle fired shots at another vehicle. Upon arrival of units to the area, the suspect vehicle had fled the scene. The victims reported that they were involved in a road rage incident with the driver of a white Tesla in which the Tesla unsuccessfully attempted to overtake the victims in their vehicle. The Tesla continued to follow the victims until they pulled over in the area of New Street and Washington Street. According to the victim, the driver of the Tesla pulled up, exited his vehicle, and brandished a handgun.

The victim stated that he attempted to drive away from the suspect at which time the suspect reportedly fired two rounds at the victim’s vehicle. One round struck the rear windshield and the second hit the rear bumper. Based on a description of the vehicle provided by the victim, Detectives were able to locate the suspect vehicle in Bloomfield, NJ.

Further investigation by Montclair Detectives/Officers and Bloomfield Police resulted in the arrest of 42-year-old Nelson Santos of Bloomfield. Santos was charged with two counts of Aggravated Assault and remanded to the Essex County Jail. This investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with information can contact Detective Joe Juliano at (973) 509-4724.

Montclair Police Department

Police Blotter: June 25, 2024 – July 2, 2024

Theft

June 25, 2025 (Claremont Avenue): The manager of CVS on Claremont Avenue reported that a male suspect entered the store and was observed walking up and down the aisles placing merchandise in a green bag. The suspect then left the store without making payment. He was described as a Hispanic Male in his late thirties or early forties, approximately 5’03” tall, wearing a white shirt, black shorts, white shoes and a black hat. He was also wearing a surgical mask. An inventory revealed the suspect took $416.00 in merchandise.

Motor Vehicle Crime

June 26, 2024 (High Street): The victim reported that she parked her vehicle on High Street and entered Nishuane Park. She returned approximately one hour later to find her rear passenger side window shattered. A purse that had been left in the back seat was missing. It contained credit cards and $80.00 in cash.

June 26, 2024 (Wendover Road): The victim reported that her vehicle had been entered between 5:30 PM and 6:15 PM while she was visiting friends. She returned to her car and discovered the front passenger side window had been shattered. Numerous items were taken from the vehicle including a tote bag, wallet, sunglasses, a laptop, and credit cards.

June 27, 2024 (Warren Place): At approximately 4:15 AM, officers were dispatched to a Warren Place residence on a report of a burglary to a motor vehicle in progress. The resident reported that he received an alert from his security system and subsequently observed two males, wearing all dark clothing with their faces covered with a mask or hooded sweatshirt pulled tight, and gloves walking on the front of the property.

The suspects were seen entering the resident’s Audi S8 and stealing a garage door opener. Responding officers arrived and located a white BMW X4 idling in the middle of the street. The vehicle was determined to be stolen from Montgomery Township, NJ. The vehicle fled west on Warren Place. A pursuit was initiated but called off at Bloomfield Avenue and Maple Avenue.