Vandalism of war memorabilia at Pier A
Police responded to a report of damage to property at both Pier A and Sinatra Park on April 5. The damage happened somewhere between the hours of 10 p.m. on April 4 and 7 a.m. on April 5. Police met with a Hoboken environmental supervisor on the scene and found damaged US flags and burnt metal garbage cans, the police report said. According to the report, nine flags were found damaged around a World War I rock, as well as a metal seal that read “Veteran of the United States.” Some sticks of the flags were burned and another flag was completely incinerated, the report said. Nine garbage cans were also found to be destroyed and burned, the report said. Police also surveyed damage at 423 Sinatra Drive, Sinatra Park, where they found a flag damaged at the base of a memorial along with a brown podium style memorial which read “Everlasting honor.” On the bottom of the memorial, the name Senator Bernard F. Kenny Jr. was allegedly scratched out, the report said. This was the fourth time this happened to this memorial, with the same damage to the name, the report said.
Alleged attempted burglary with a ‘Scream’ mask
Antonio Rodriguez was charged on Sunday, April 7 at 3:13 a.m. with burglary, criminal attempt/theft, criminal mischief, aggravated assault, resisting arrest by force, and possession of burglary tools after allegedly attempting to burglarize ShopRite on Madison Street.
A window was broken at the supermarket, according to the report. A call was placed to police of a suspicious male around Ninth and Madison streets who was said to have been holding what looked like a pipe, wearing blue gloves, a black coat, and a white mask. Police later observed the male crossing Ninth Street.
The male allegedly ducked down and attempted to shield himself, the police report said. According to the report, the man allegedly dropped an object on the ground and also pulled something white from his hood, which he allegedly dropped between two vehicles. A policeman blocked the suspect in a driveway with his vehicle and the man then allegedly screamed and advanced toward the police with his hands concealed, the report said.
Police swung the man onto the hood of a car when the man allegedly attempted to strike a cop in the genitals with his foot. Another officer arrived and the man was handcuffed, the report said.
The man, found to be Rodriguez, allegedly was wearing a black wig, the report said. A blue latex glove was found on Eighth and Madison. A white mask (similar to the one in the film “Scream” was found was found between two cars, as well as a 12 oz. rubber mallet.
Not fun to stay at the YMCA (on this night)
Mark Kennedy of Hoboken was arrested on Saturday, April 6 after an alleged fight broke out in the lobby of the YMCA building around 2:55 p.m. Kennedy was charged with simple assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct, according to a police report. A call had been placed earlier that Kennedy was allegedly creating a noise disturbance by playing music excessively loud.
After police left, Kennedy then allegedly confronted and cornered a female who had made the original call to police, using aggressively foul language, the report said.
A male then stepped in and intervened, trying to keep Kennedy at bay until police arrived the second time, the report said. Police then found Kennedy in the lobby allegedly shirtless and yelling profanities in the lobby, the report said. According to the police report, Kennedy also allegedly verbally threatened the officers.
Alleged $5 burglary from poor box
Antonio Figueroa, 52, of Union City, was charged on Friday, April 5 at 4:50 p.m. with burglary, possession of burglary tools, and theft of movable property after staying in St. Peter and Paul’s Church at 414 Hudson St. and allegedly removing $5 from the donation box. The parish secretary called the police and said she observed Figueroa allegedly taking the money from the box, the police report said. Figueroa was allegedly found to have a wire hanger on him and five one dollar bills that had been creased to fit the box, the report said.