Alleged shoplifter stopped with $2,346 of stolen items
A 58-year-old woman was arrested and charged with shoplifting and resisting arrest on Friday, Aug. 27 at a store in the 600 block of Washington St.
The storeowner claimed that Margaret Walls, of Paterson, allegedly took a dress off one of the racks and concealed it inside her purse, according to a police report.
As the police were speaking with the owner, Walls allegedly approached the police and attempted to forcefully exit the store, according to the report.
After being asked several times, police said Walls admitted to taking one item, and pulled out a dress she had allegedly concealed in her handbag, according to the report. After producing the dress, Walls sat on a couch in the store and allegedly attempted to conceal sterling silver rings inside the cushions.
After the police told Walls she was under arrest for shoplifting, she allegedly attempted to push her way to the front door. During a struggle with the police, Walls warned the officers she was HIV positive and told the officers to stay away, according to the report. After a brief struggle, the officers were able to subdue the woman and place her into custody, according to the report.
The police determined Walls had allegedly concealed and attempted to remove two dresses totaling $137, and 15 sterling silver rings totaling $940, according to the report. Prior to the police leaving the store, they discovered Walls allegedly had in her possession merchandise not belonging to that store. Police said the stolen merchandise totaled $2,346.
A police officer was treated and transported to the Hoboken University Medical Center Hospital after sustaining injuries from the struggle, according to the report.
Alleged bias crime leads to Wayne man’s arrest
A 22-year-old Wayne, N.J. man was arrested and charged with bias intimidation and simple assault after allegedly using a racial slur toward a black victim and striking the victim in the back of the head, according to a police report. The alleged incident took place near the corner of Hudson Place and River Street at approximately 3 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 28.
The victim told police he was waiting for a taxi when Mitchell Lares looked directly at him and allegedly yelled a racial slur. The report states Lares allegedly struck the man and grabbed the victim and the two began to struggle. The police arrived on the scene and witnessed Lares allegedly throw the victim to the ground, according to the report.
The victim stated he did not know the attacker, and alleged that he was attacked simply because of his race, according to the report.
An on-scene witness came forward and gave the same account as the victim.
A second man, Philip Compesi, 22, also of Wayne, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.
Woman allegedly assaulted and robbed
On Saturday, Aug. 28 at approximately 3 a.m., a 24-year-old Jersey City woman was allegedly assaulted and robbed following a night out, according to a police report.
The report states that an unidentified black male rushed into a garage in the vicinity of First and Monroe streets as it was closing and allegedly punched the victim in the stomach. The attacker is described as a black male, short, and was wearing a red t-shirt and blue jeans, according to police.
Stolen from the woman was a silver handbag, which contained her cell phone, a debit card, driver’s license, and her keys, according to the report.
When a bouncer from a nearby bar heard a commotion, he came over to assist the woman but was allegedly punched in the face by a second attacker, according to the report.
The case is under investigation.
Another woman allegedly robbed
On Saturday, Aug. 28, two males allegedly robbed a Hoboken woman walking from an uptown establishment on 14th Street, according to a police report. The victim states that the males were originally very nice to her, but the encounter soon turned dangerous.
According to the report, one man offered to hold the victim’s handbag, and she allowed him to do so.
The male with the bag handed it back to her and the other man allegedly pushed her from behind, causing her to fall to her knees, according to police. The men then ran away, according to the report.
The victim then decided to sit on a stoop to collect herself, but at this time realized her keys, license, cell phone and debit card were all allegedly stolen from the bag, according to the report.
Police said that a man saw her crying and allowed her to use his cell phone to call police.
According to the report, the woman was transported to police headquarters to gather information, and refused medical attention. The police department then transported the victim home.
Returned to an empty wallet
A Kearny man allegedly had $130 stolen from his wallet at a 200-block grocery store on Washington Street on Aug. 26, according to a police report.
The man left the wallet at the location earlier, and when he came back to pick up the wallet from the store’s lost and found, the victim reported to police that the money had been stolen.
The case is under investigation.