Caught on tape
John Ryan, 48, of Avenue E in Bayonne, was arrested on March 20 for allegedly stealing two bottles of Scotch whiskey from Harry’s Liquor store on Avenue A on March 18.
The store owner claimed that Ryan came in to buy a can of beer and meanwhile allegedly put two bottles of Scotch in a shopping bag. The police, in their report, said they reviewed the surveillance tape and recognized Ryan from previous encounters.
On March 20, police spotted Ryan in the area of Willow Avenue and Avenue E, and charged him with shoplifting. A search of Ryan found a substance that police believed to be cocaine, and he was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and shoplifting. Ryan was also found to have a warrant with no bail from Atlantic County, police said.
Car accident leads to DWI arrest on Avenue A
On March 19, police responded to a report of an accident on Avenue A at about 11:29 p.m. Police said witnesses claimed they saw John Mendola, 52, of Avenue E allegedly strike two parked cars while driving, then stop, get out of the car, and walk away.
Mendola was apparently only about 30 feet away when witnesses pointed him out to the police. Police reported smelling a strong scent of alcohol on him.
The police report said he allegedly failed a field sobriety test, and he was brought to the police station and later Bayonne Medical Center and charged with driving while intoxicated. He was also found to have an outstanding warrant for $1,500 from Hillside, and another $1,500 warrant from Sayreville. He was issued two summonses.
Scrapped car side leads to DWI charge
Barbara Sofranko, 50, of North Street in Bayonne, was charged with driving while intoxicated after police found her sitting in her car near Broadway and 12th Street with a huge scrape along the passenger side on March 19. The police in their report said she smelled of alcohol and stumbled when trying to exit the car.
Vodka but no light rail ticket
Six minutes after midnight on March 20, police arrested Hasannah Hemmingway, 26, and Darrell Coaxum, both of Jersey City, while they were riding the Hudson Bergen Light Rail line. Police said that they allegedly failed to produce a valid ticket. Coaxum also was allegedly carrying an open cup containing vodka, in violation of the open alcohol ordinance, and had two outstanding warrants in Jersey City for $1,300, police said. Hemmingway had an outstanding warrant in Jersey City for $81, police said.
Sudden stop leads to arrest
Andrea Smith, 39, of 49th Street in Bayonne, was stopped by police when they saw her slam on her brakes to stop for a red light near 38th Street and Broadway at about 1:51 a.m. on March 21.
Police said they smelled a strong odor of alcohol and saw the top of a booze bottle in her purse when she opened it. Her eyes, the police report said, were glassy, and her speech was slurred. A search later found her to allegedly be in possession of a bottle of brandy.