The Roselle Park Police Department (RPPD) reported that a 3½ month-long burglary investigation has resulted in four (4) arrests.
According to RPPD, the investigation began on October 15th when a female resident of East Grant Avenue reported that a man was trying to break into her second-story bathroom. The suspect(s) fled the area prior to police arriving at the scene. A short while later, police were called to a single-family home on East Clay Avenue – about two blocks away from the first scene. The homeowner reported that someone broke into her home and stole numerous items.
Detective Matthew Disano responded to both scenes and started what turned out to be a lengthy investigation. Disano recovered evidence at both scenes and surveillance video from a nearby business that indicated that the suspects tried burglarizing another nearby residence. Detective Disano – working with detectives from Union Township and the City of Elizabeth – was able to identify the vehicle as a 2004 Honda Accord belonging to an 18-year-old Roselle Park resident, Elise Creighton. Soon thereafter, Disano was able to connect Creighton to the burglaries. After several interviews and statements, Detective Disano was able to identify three (3) additional suspects – two 17-year-olds and a 19-year-old from Elizabeth.
Creighton was arrested at her home on West Grant Avenue on January 23, 2013. The 19-year-old, Carlos Bonilla, was arrested and served on January 24th while incarcerated at the Union County Jail on an unrelated matter. One of the juveniles was arrested and served on January 29th while incarcerated at the Union County Juvenile Detention Center on another unrelated matter. The last suspect was found at home under house arrest, he was served and charged on February 5th.
All suspects were charged with Burglary, Conspiracy to commit burglary (three counts), Attempted Burglary (two counts), Theft, and Fencing. Bail was set at $75,000 for Creighton [pictured left] and Bonilla [right]. Creighton was unable to post bail and was later transported to the Union County Jail.