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HOPATCONG POLICE PRESS RELEASES

Every Police Department in the State of New Jersey is bound by laws when it comes to releasing information. We want to keep you informed of what your department is doing. However, we cannot disseminate the following investigations or cases: domestic violence, certain child abuse cases, juvenile information, sexual assault victim information, wire tap or surveillance information, medical examiner's reports, confessions, mug shots, copies of criminal histories, defendants statements, name of a deceased until the next of kin has been notified, test results (polygraph, fingerprint comparison, ballistics test, or breathalyer tests) information that will be evidentiary in trial, information that will hinder an investigation and any opinion on a case. What we will give you is what we give the local news and more local events that the newspapers usually do not print.

THESE CHARGES ARE MERELY AN ACCUSATION AND THE DEFENDANT IS PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY

February 14 2009	A 27 year-old Jefferson man was arrested on 2-14-09 at approx. 2:15pm on DWI charges after his vehicle was stopped for erratic driving, as phoned in by a anonymous caller. Frank Salerno age 27 of the Oak Ridge section of Jefferson Twsp. was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, failure to keep right, and no seatbelt as well as possession of drug paraphenalia. He was released ROR pending a February 23 2009 court date in Hopatcong Municipal Court.

FEBRUARY 26TH 2009	ON 2-26-09 A 25 YEAR OLD HOPATCONG MAN WAS ARRESTED FOR NUMEROUS OUTSTANDING WARRANTS. JASON SLATER 25, WAS OBSERVED BY OFFICER MARESCA ON KNOX WAY. OFFICER MARESCA KNOWING THAT SLATER WAS WANTED, THEN PLACED HIM UNDER ARREST. THE TOTAL BAIL FOR THE 4 WARRANTS TOTALED $5,870.00 SLATER WAS LODGED IN THE SUSSEX COUNTY JAIL IN LIEU OF BAIL.

3-9-2009	Incident 1 (Case # 09-1321) On Saturday Morning, March 7th 2009, at approximately 4:21 AM, A called was placed to the Hopatcong Police Department regarding a suspected drunken driver sleeping in his vehicle parked in the Quick Check parking lot, located at 40 Lakeside Boulevard in Hopatcong. Patrolman Nicholas Maresca arrived and saw a Black Audi idling with its brake lights activated. Patrolman Maresca approached the vehicle and saw the driver, later identified as Christopher Fastiggi, DOB: 7/13/82 -26 years old, of 24 Wildwood Shores Drive in Hopatcong, asleep behind the wheel with the engine idling and his cell phone in his hands. Patrolman Maresca knocked on the window and woke the driver. While speaking with him, Patrolman Maresca determined that Christopher Fastiggi had been drinking and performed some field sobriety testing. Christopher Fastiggi was placed under arrest for Driving While Intoxicated and transported to Police Headquarters. After process, Christopher Fastiggi was charged with D.W.I. 39:4-50 and Reckless Driving 39: 4-96, given a Hopatcong Municipal Court date of March 16th 2009 and released.

3-9-2009	Incident 2 (Case# 09-1359) On Sunday Morning, March 8th 2009, at approximately 3:15 AM, Patrolman Meghan Antonello was sitting at the Northwood Firehouse when she saw a vehicle traveling South on Maxim Drive straddling the double yellow lines. Patrolman Antonello was able to obtain a partial NJ plate number. She pulled out and attempted to stop the vehicle, but it was no where to be found. Patrolman Antonello pulled over and waited to see if the vehicle would pullout from a driveway. A short time later, the vehicle emerged from a driveway. Patrolman Antonello Continued on Maxim Drive and activated her overhead lights and sirens in an attempt to stop the vehicle. The driver continued to gain speed and was maneuvering onto side streets in an attempt to elude Patrolman Antonello. The driver ran out of road on Squaw Trail in Hopatcong where he was unable to continue. The driver exited the still running vehicle and ran into the woods where Patrolman Antonello was unable to locate him. The shift supervisor, Sergeant Christopher Wojtach contacted the Hopatcong Police K-9 Officer, Detective Mike Luciani, who responded to the scene with Roscoe. Det. Luciani and Roscoe tracked from the vehicle to 202 Brooklyn Mountain Road in Hopatcong, the residence of the registered owner, Gustave Schiavo, DOB: 12/11/1965 of 202 Brooklyn Mountain Road in Hopatcong. While at the residence, they were unable to locate Gustave Schiavo. Later in the day, Gustave Schiavo turned himself into the Hopatcong Police Department. Gustave Schiavo was charged with the following offenses: 1. Eluding Police with a Motor Vehicle, 2C:29-2B – 2nd Degree Crime 2. Hindering Apprehension, 2C:29-3 – 3rd Degree Crime 3. Obstructing, 2C:29-1 – Disorderly Persons Offense 4. 5 counts of Failure to Signal turn, 39:4-126 5. 3 counts of Failure to stop / yield, 39:4-144 6. 2 counts of Failure to Keep Right, 39:4-82 7. Leaving Vehicle with Engine Running, 39:4-53 8. Abandonment of Vehicle on Private Property, 39:4-56.6 Gustave Schiavo was released on $25,000 bail, set by Judge C.W. Bowkley of the Hopatcong Municipal Court, pending a March 16th 2009 Municipal Court appearance. THESE CHARGES ARE MERELY AN ACCUSATION AND THE DEFENDANT IS PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY

3-10-2009	Incident 1 (Case# 09-1245) On Tuesday, March 3rd at approximately 10:20 PM, a resident was looking out her window on Fiske Trail in Hopatcong, when she saw a small white car hit her neighbor’s car and drive off. The resident called the Hopatcong Police Department. Patrolman Michael O’Shea responded to the scene of the hit and run accident. There was damage to the Nissan Altama that was struck. The hit and run vehicle left some white molding at the scene. Patrolman O’Shea searched the area and located a small white Saturn with front end damage and matched up the missing molding. The driver, Erin McManus, DOB: 8/11/89 – 19 yrs old, of 426 Brown Trail in Hopatcong, denied driving the vehicle. Through further investigation, Erin McManus admitted that she was driving while texting and hit the Nissan Altama. Erin McManus said that she was scared and left the scene. Erin McManus was charged with Hindering Apprehension 2C:29-3, Careless Driving 39:4-97, Leaving the scene of an accident 39:4-129, Failure to report an accident 39:4-130 and a cell phone violation 39:4-97.3

3-10-2009	Incident 2 During the overnight hours of Monday March 9th 2009, there were a string of thefts from Motor Vehicles in the Hopatcong Hills section of town. Unknown actor/s entered numerous UNLOCKED vehicles and removed personal items. The Hopatcong Police Department is reminding all residents to lock their vehicles and their homes. Please report any suspicious activity to the Hopatcong Police Department as soon as possible at (973)398-5000. Anyone with information into the thefts can call Detective Sergeant Robert Unhoch at (973)398-5000 ex. 237

3-12-2009	On March 11th 2009, arrests were made by the Hopatcong Police Department regarding the Motor Vehicle break-ins reported on March 9th 2009. Detectives Lawrence Shaver and Michael Luciani obtained information from the Roxbury Township Police Department, that they had detained two individuals at Home Depot in Succasunna trying to use a credit card that was reported stolen out of Hopatcong. The individuals were identified as Alivia Pandorf, DOB: 6/7/1990, 18 years old, of 116 Bucknell Trail in Hopatcong and Mark Vogt, DOB: 6/26/77, 31 years old, of 116 Bucknell Trail in Hopatcong. The stolen credit card was linked to a break-in that happened in the Hopatcong Hills section of town. Alivia Pandorf and Mark Vogt were brought to Hopatcong Police Headquarters where they were interviewed By Det. Shaver and Det. Luciani. Alivia Pandorf and Mark Vogt were charged with Burglary 2C:18-2, a 3rd Degree Crime and Theft 2C:20-3A, a 4th Degree Crime. Pandorf and Vogt were released pending a March 16th court appearance in Hopatcong Municipal Court. THESE CHARGES ARE MERELY AN ACCUSATION AND THE DEFENDANT IS PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY

3-18-2009	On Saturday, March 14th 2009, at approximately 6:00 AM, Patrolman Ryan Tracey responded to 17 Jefferson Trail for a report of a motor vehicle accident. Upon arrival, Patrolman Tracey saw a tow truck on scene. Ptl. Tracey spoke to the tow truck operator, who called the police, when he discovered that the driver of the vehicle that was in an accident did not report it to the Police. Ptl. Tracey then spoke to the driver, identified as Ryan Doll, DOB: 9/22/90 – 18 yrs old, of 699 Lillian Road in Landing NJ. Ryan Doll told Ptl. Tracey that he was traveling on Jefferson Trail when he struck a wood retaining wall. While speaking to the Doll, Ptl. Tracey determined that he had been drinking. Ptl. Tracey conducted some field sobriety testing and arrested Ryan Doll for Driving While Intoxicated. Ryan Doll was brought back to Hopatcong Police HQ where he was processed and released. Ryan Doll was charged with Driving While Intoxicated, 39:4-50, Careless Driving, 39:4-97, and Reckless Driving, 39:4-96. THESE CHARGES ARE MERELY AN ACCUSATION AND THE DEFENDANT IS PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY