Three charged with shoplifting from Wal-Mart
Three out of towners were charged with shoplifting after police were called to a Bayonne Crossing Way store on Aug. 22, police said.
Officers were dispatched to the store at 5:02 p.m. that day, according to Capt. Walter Rogers.
Upon arrival, a security officer pointed out to officers the vehicle in the parking lot that was occupied by the alleged shoplifters.
An officer conducted a stop of a 2004 white Chevy Impala in the lot and inside were Crystal Morotta, 23, of Newark; Laurnisha Robinson, 20, of Irvington, and Dion Montgomery, 25, of Newark.
Morotta allegedly admitted that they had “took some stuff,” and an officer spoke with Robinson, who produced two wall chargers, according to Rogers.
“When Morotta exited the car, officers [allegedly] observed items under the front passenger seat,” Rogers said. “A closer look at the items showed they were also [allegedly] store merchandise.”
The total value of the items was $110.23.
“The three were placed under arrest and transported to headquarters for processing without further incident,” Rogers said.
All three were released on summonses.
Officers took photos of the items and returned them to Wal-Mart.
Avenue C patrol results in two arrests
A police officer on patrol on Aug. 20 at 25th Street and Avenue C arrested two men near the CVS pharmacy.
The officer observed the two, George Clayton, 50, of Seaview Court in Bayonne, and Norman Williams, 57, of Jersey City, walking toward the CVS store at the corner.
“The officer was familiar with the two from prior incidents,” said Capt. Walter Rogers. “Both men were allegedly carrying empty plastic bags and both were walking briskly toward the rear parking entrance.”
When they noticed the officer, they allegedly turned and began to walk away from CVS, police said.
The officer approached Williams and he allegedly admitted that there was a warrant out on him, Rogers said. The officer checked, and the warrant was out of Hudson County Superior Court for failure to appear for drug court sentencing. He was placed under arrest.
When speaking to Clayton, Clayton advised the officer that he allegedly had a pipe and cocaine in his jacket.
“The officer recovered one small glass capsule with a white powdery substance, suspected cocaine,” Rogers said. “He [also allegedly] had a glass crack pipe. He was placed under arrest.”
Williams was transported to the Hudson County Central Judicial Processing Court. Clayton was released on a summons.
Stolen cigarette allegation leads to bigger charges
An accusation of stealing cigarettes led to bigger problems for a city resident, according to police.
On Aug. 22 at 10:15 a.m., an officer stopped at the red light at 49th Street and Kennedy Boulevard and observed Melissa Campbell, 20, of West 48th Street allegedly running from the BP service station across the boulevard.
“Moments later, an attendant from the station ran out onto the street and yelled to the officer that a woman, later identified as Campbell, had [allegedly] just stolen cigarettes from the service station office,” Roger said.
“The officer caught up with her at 49th Street and Ave B, and he stepped out [of his vehicle] to speak with her,” Rogers said.
According to the police report, Campbell was extremely nervous, physically shaking, and crying, and [allegedly] admitted taking the cigarettes, turned over a pack of Newports and apologized to the officer.
At this point other officers responded, and as they spoke with Campbell, they [allegedly] observed “fresh needle marks” on her arms, according to Rogers.
“They asked her if she had any other stolen merchandise, and she replied ‘No, look’ and opened her pocketbook for the officers to inspect,” Rogers said.
While open, one of the officers observed hypodermic needles protruding from out of the top of a cigarette case located in the pocketbook.
Campbell was placed under arrest at that time.
According to police, a further search of the pocketbook revealed four hypodermic needles, one used metal spoon with powder on the side, and one large rubber strap commonly used as an arm tie for the injection of a controlled dangerous substance, heroin. Also recovered were 10 small wax paper packages containing suspected heroin.
Several charges were filed against Campbell, Rogers said: one count of possession of a CSD, heroin; one count of possession of a hypodermic needle; and one count of possession of narcotic paraphernalia.
Campbell was sent to the Hudson County Jail, with a bail of $25,000, with a 10-percent option.
E-mail joepass@hudsonreporter.com.