April 21, 2014
On Monday at 5:04 p.m., Patrolman William Hannon responded to 7 East Westfield Avenue (Family Dollar) on a report of two females that committed a shoplifting of approximately $25 worth of merchandise and fled the store. During the shoplifting, one of the females involved, Latishia Lassiter, accidentally left behind her wallet and identification. After approximately 20 minutes, Wendy Laporte, age 39, from Worcester, Massachusetts returned to the store along with another female looking for the wallet that was left on scene. Laporte was arrested for the shoplifting after the store employee identified her as one of the two females that committed the shoplifting earlier. Video surveillance confirmed the same. Laporte was not found to be in possession of any of the merchandise previously taken, however was found to possess a Controlled Dangerous Substance (Schedule II & Schedule III narcotic). She was also found to have an outstanding traffic warrant out of Roselle Municipal Court in the amount of $91. Laporte was charged with shoplifting and two (2) counts of possession of CDS. Bail was set at $500 and she was transported to the Union County Jail in Elizabeth. Charges are pending for Lassiter.
April 24, 2014
On Thursday at 8:02 p.m., Patrolman John Fitzgerald responded to 7 East Westfield Avenue (Family Dollar) on another report of a shoplifting. The clerk reported that a male approximately 6′ 2″, wearing a yellow jacket, a zip-up hooded sweatshirt, and a beanie hat just shoplifted a large quantity of chocolate bars from the store and fled on foot west toward Cranford. Patrolman Brian Swick located a male fitting the description on West 1st Ave at Locust Street in Roselle. Patrolman Swick ordered the male to stop who quickly began to run west. After a brief foot chase and struggle with police, the suspect, Thomas Johnson, age 49 from East Orange was detained. He was found to have approximately $35 worth of various chocolate bars in his possession, along with drug paraphernalia. Johnson was arrested following a positive identification by the witness. He was charged with two (2) counts of Resisting Arrest, Shoplifting, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bail was set at $15,000. Johnson had numerous active warrants out of Hillside, Roselle, Elizabeth, and Linden totaling $1,400. He was transported to the Union County Jail.
April 27, 2014
At approximately 1:22 in the morning, Patrolman Dean Khallaf and Sergeant Aldo Cosentino responded to 115 West Westfield Avenue (China Royal) for a report of a possible burglary. Patrol discovered that an unknown actor broke out the front glass door, gained access to the business, pried open the cash register, and stole an unknown amount of cash. No one was discovered inside the business. The detectives processed the scene for any potential evidence. Anyone with information please contact Roselle Park Police Detective Robert Harms at (908) 245-2300, extension 2203.