Crime Scene Middletown: Alcohol and Drug Arrests Dominate Recent Activities of Middletown Police

PREPARED BY DETECTIVE LIEUTENANT STEPHEN DOLLINGER

On May 31, 2011 at approximately 12:00 pm Patrolman Keith Hirschbein responded to the area of the Henry Hudson Trail in reference to a report of two unconscious subjects lying across the bike trail. Upon arrival Officer Hirschbein located both subjects and observed a Marijuana pipe sticking out of the pants pocket of one of them. The officer was able to wake both subjects.

Patrolman Hirschbein conducted an investigation which resulted in a 17 year old juvenile being arrested for Possession of drug paraphernalia and Obstructing a public passage. He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and released to his mother pending a court date.

[Edited 4/15/23] ..... 

On June 2, 2011 at approximately 12:45 pm the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force Bayshore Unit executed a search warrant at a residence on Prospect Avenue in the Navesink section of Middletown.

The warrant resulted in the recovery of over one pound of Marijuana, $3,900 in US currency, a small Marijuana growing operation and the seizure of the suspect’s truck. Police also arrested Robert Edmonston, age 18, from Prospect Avenue in Atlantic Highlands. He was charged with Distribution of less than one ounce of Marijuana, Possession of under 50 grams of Marijuana, Possession of drug paraphernalia, and Possession of over 50 grams of Marijuana. Detective Daniel Sullivan of the Middletown Police Department assisted in the investigation.

Edmonston was processed and released pending a court date.

On June 3, 2011 at approximately 2:05 am Patrolman David Crenshaw and Patrolman Donald Coates responded to the area of Red Hill Road in reference to a subject in a car slumped over the steering wheel.

Upon arrival the officer located the subject, Daniel Coppola, age 41, from Hopkins Terrace in Hazlet, NJ. The officers detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath. The officers conducted an investigation which resulted in Coppola being arrested for Driving While Intoxicated.

He was transported to police headquarters where was charged with the additional offenses of Refusal to submit to breath tests, Reckless driving and Driving while suspended. He was processed and released pending a court date.

On June 3, 2011 at approximately 10:45 am Lieutenant John Maguire responded to Middletown High School South in reference to a disorderly student. Upon arrival Lieutenant Maguire was advised by school officials that the 16 year old female student was refusing to report to the office.

Lieutenant Maguire approached the student at which point she began to yell and scream and disrupt the school. Lieutenant Maguire then attempted to place her under arrest at which point she began to fight and refused to be handcuffed.

Lieutenant Maguire was able to take the student into custody at which point she was transported to police headquarters where she was charged with Disorderly conduct and Resisting arrest. She was processed and released pending a court date.

On June 3, 2011 at approximately 1:40 pm Patrolman John Mele responded to Ricc’is Trailer Center located on Highway 36 in Middletown in reference to a report of a suspicious person inside the store. Upon arrival Officer Mele was advised by store employees that the subject, identified as Marc Melendez, age 29, from Thousand Oaks Drive in the Atlantic Highlands section of Middletown, entered the store after seeing a police officer who was on a motor vehicle stop in front of the store and began acting strangely.

Patrolman Mele approached the subject and conducted an investigation which resulted in Melendez being arrested for Possession of a controlled dangerous substance (Xanax). He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and released pending a court date.

On June 3, 2011 at approximately 8:15 pm Patrolman Frank Mazza was conducting a foot patrol in the area of Ideal Beach when he observed a 17 year old female juvenile sitting on a blanket holding a bottle of Vodka. Officer Mazza arrested the juvenile and transported her to police headquarters where she was charged with Possession of alcohol underage. She was processed and released pending a court date.

On June 3, 2011 at approximately 11:30 pm Sergeant William Colangelo and Patrolman Richard Fulham were assigned to a “Cops in Shops” detail at The Junction Bar and Liquor store in Belford when they observed a young looking male enter the store and then exit carrying a package of Yuengling Beer. The male subject then entered a vehicle which was occupied by another young looking male.

The officers approached the vehicle and conducted an investigation which resulted in Matthew Short, age 21, from Pond Street in Orono, Minnesota, being arrested for Providing alcohol to an underage person and Matthew Dacey, age 20, from Jay Drive in Middletown being arrested for Possession of alcohol under the legal age. Both subjects were transported to police headquarters where they were released pending a court date.

On June 4, 2011 at approximately 12:40 am Patrolman Frank Mazza was on patrol in the area of Highway 35 and Cooper Road when he observed a vehicle being driven with a view obstruction in the window. Officer Mazza stopped the vehicle and approached the driver, identified as Scott Jagarnauth, age 19, from Swimming River Road in Lincroft. While speaking with Jagarnauth, Officer Mazza observed a bottle of Jack Daniels Whiskey on the backseat.

Officer Mazza conducted an investigation which resulted in Jagarnauth being arrested for Possession of alcohol underage. He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and released pending a court date.

On June 4, 2011 at approximately 10:27 pm Patrolman Nicholas Fenezia was on patrol in the area of Fairview Fields when he observed a group of approximately 15 people begin running when they saw his police vehicle. Officer Fenezia was able to locate two subjects and provided a description of another subject to patrol officers in the area.

Patrolman Michael Pintilie was able to locate the subject on a nearby street. The officers conducted an investigation which resulted in the arrests of three subjects. Jared Johnson, age 19, from North 147 Avenue in Surprise, Arizona, was charged with Underage possession of alcohol and Obstructing the administration of law. Samuel Mader, age 19, from Conover Lane in Red Bank, NJ, was charged with Possession of alcohol underage, Possession of under 50 grams of Marijuana and Obstructing the administration of law. Timothy Dugan, age 19, from McCutcheon Court in Middletown, was charged with Possession of alcohol underage and Obstructing the administration of law.

All three subjects were transported to police headquarters where they were processed and released pending a court date.

On June 5, 2011 at approximately 6:15 am Patrolman Albert Scott and Sgt. Fred Deickmann responded to the area of Richard Terrace and Stephenville Road in reference to a motor vehicle accident. Upon arrival the officers located, Brian Robison, age 44, from Walnut Avenue in Red Bank, NJ, standing outside his vehicle covered in blood. The officers also located a bottle of Sambvca inside the vehicle.

The officers conducted an investigation which resulted in Robison being arrested for Driving While Intoxicated, Open alcohol in a motor vehicle and Reckless driving. He was processed and released pending a court date.

On June 5, 2011 at approximately 3:25 am Patrolman Raymond Sofield responded to the area of Oakland Avenue in reference to an unresponsive male subject inside a vehicle. Upon arrival Officer Sofield approached the subject, identified as Nigel Combs, age 22, from Oakland Avenue and detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath.

Patrolman Sofield conducted an investigation which resulted in Combs being arrested for Driving While Intoxicated and Reckless Driving. He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and released pending a court date.

On June 5, 2011 at approximately 12:05 am Patrolman Raymond Sofield responded to the Quick check store on Cherry Tree Farm Road in reference to a report of a shoplifting. Upon arrival the officer spoke with a store employee who reported that a subject entered the store and stole a lighter display. The employee was able to provide a plate number of the suspect’s vehicle.

Officer Sofield conducted an investigation which resulted in the arrest of Kiernan Kelly, age 22, from Sandpring Drive in Eatontown, NJ, being arrested for Shoplifting and the recovery of the stolen lighters. Kelly was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and released pending a court date.

On June 6, 2011 at approximately 12:30 am Patrolman Raymond Sofield responded to a residence on Brainard Avenue in Port Monmouth in reference to a report of an argument between two people. Upon arrival the officer conducted an investigation and determined that one of the involved subjects, identified as David Kelly, age 33, from Brainard Avenue in Port Monmouth had given him a false name. The second subject also gave false information to the officer in reference to Kelly’s true identity.

Officer Sofield located a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Tinton Falls Municipal Court for Kelly’s arrest. Kelly was taken into custody and was transported to police headquarters where he charged with the additional offenses of Hindering apprehension and Obstructing the administration of law. Patrolman Sofield also arrested Angel Valone, age 33, from Brainard Avenue who was charged with Hindering Kelly’s apprehension and Obstructing the administration of law. Both subjects were processed and released pending a court date.

The Middletown Police arrested the following subjects on warrants:

Kevin Pettigrew, age 36, from Main Street in Belford, arrested on May 31, 2011 by Patrolman Raymond Sofield on a Non-Support warrant issued by the Monmouth County Superior Court. He was held on bail.

Austin Norris, age 24, from Pineview Avenue in Keansburg, NJ, arrested on June 1, 2011 by Patrolman Jason Caruso on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal Court. He was held on $1,000.00 bail.

Kaled Refaat, age 22, from West 37th Street in Bayonne, NJ, arrested on June 1, 2011 by Patrolman Keith Hirschbein on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Jersey City Municipal Court. He was released after posting $200.00 bail.

Heather Cassaro, age 31, from Morningside Place in Port Monmouth, NJ, arrested on June 2, 2011 by Patrolman Brady Carr on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal court. She was released after posting $500.00 bail.

Juan Vega, age 30, from Jacques Street in Perth Amboy, NJ, arrested on June 3, 2011 by Patrolman Ian May on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal Court. He was released on bail.

Glenn Zeek, age 44, from Hance Avenue in Tinton Falls, NJ, arrested on June 5, 2011 by Patrolman Michael Reuter on two Contempt of Court warrants issued by the Eatontown Municipal Court and a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal Court. He was released after posting $2,841.00 bail.

Christopher Gill, age 19, from Seabreeze Avenue in Middletown arrested on June 5, 2011 by Patrolman Frank Mazza on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Keansburg Municipal Court. He was held on $500.00 bail.