Compiled by Joseph Passantino
Duo charged with stealing phone
Police officers were called to 25th Street and Ave C on July 22 at 7:30 p.m., on the report of a theft, police said.
“A juvenile victim stated he was sitting on a bench at 25th and Avenue C and [allegedly] a shirtless black male sat next to him on the bench,” said Capt. Walter Rogers. “He [allegedly] asked to use the phone to call his mother.”
The 15-year-old boy complied, police said, allegedly lending his iPhone 5 ($600 value) with Minecraft case to Jamal Smith, 19, of Gautier Avenue in Jersey City, while another man, Isaiah Footman, 19, of West 19th Street in Bayonne, was allegedly standing next to the bench while Smith was talking to the victim.
Smith then allegedly stood up, said he had to get his mother’s phone number, and allegedly started walking south.
Smith allegedly fled through a CVS Pharmacy parking lot toward Broadway. The victim borrowed a phone and called police.
“A description was given out of Smith and Footman,” Rogers said. “Officers got Smith at 20th Street and C, Rogers said. “An officer engaged him in conversation. Smith admitted using the victim’s cell phone, but said he no longer had the phone in his possession.”
The victim made a positive identification of Smith as the person who allegedly took his phone, according to Rogers, and he was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters.
“After further investigation, detectives determined Smith was involved in a second theft that occurred on July 14,” Rogers said. “They developed probable cause to charge him with an additional theft earlier in week, when he [allegedly] asked a teenage male to use his phone and fled the scene.”
While officers were processing Smith, Footman allegedly arrived at headquarters, and officers asked Footman to speak with them, Rogers said. They determined that Footman was allegedly involved with the alleged theft. and was allegedly in possession of the 15-year-old victim’s phone.
Smith was charged with two counts of theft and Footman was charged with one count of theft.
The previous incident occurred at 19th Street and Broadway on July 14 at 6:31 p.m.
Resident arrested for theft
Adam Wisniewski, 53, a resident of East 25th Street, was arrested following an incident that
occurred on July 19 at 7:22 a.m.
Officers were dispatched to a bakery on the 300 block of Broadway on the report of a theft.
Officers spoke to an employee there, who said he allegedly observed Wisniewski enter the bakery, allegedly remove a donation box (amount unknown) for autistic children, place it in a yellow plastic bag he carried, and exit the bakery, according to Capt. Walter Rogers.
Officers observed the store security video, and were allegedly able to positively identify Wisniewski as the suspect. Officers toured the area and located him on west 19th Street, according to Rogers.
They told him to get off the bicycle he was on several times and he allegedly kept refusing to do so. Officers then advised Wisniewski he was under arrest, Rogers said, and he allegedly began to curse at the officers, allegedly refusing to get off the bike. This resulted in the police using force to remove him from his bicycle and place him in handcuffs. Wisniewski was transported to headquarters.
He was charged with theft, obstructing a governmental function, and resisting arrest, Rogers said. Wisniewski was released on a summons.
Man charged with assault
On July 18 at 4:05 p.m., police officers responded to West 1st Street and Kelly Parkway on the report of assault and observed a 50-year-old man allegedly kneeling on the ground on Kelly Parkway.
He was bleeding from the back of the head, and a large amount of blood was on the ground, according to Capt. Walter Rogers.
An investigation was conducted at the scene, and it was determined that Brian Wasilewski, 46, had allegedly punched the victim in the face, according to Rogers. Police learned that Wasilewski had allegedly approached the victim, engaged in a heated conversation with him, and punched him.
At that point, the victim fell into the wall of the building, striking his head, police said. He then fell to the ground, striking his head a second time.
The victim was taken to the Jersey City Medical Center. At the time of the report, medical personnel stated that the victim was in critical condition, police said.
Warrants were issued for Wasilewski’s arrest, and he was apprehended at West 2nd Street on July 19 at 4:09 p.m., Roger said.
Wasilewski was charged with aggravated assault and endangering an injured victim.
His bail was set at $75,000, with no cash option, Rogers said, and he was remanded to the Hudson County Jail.