November 30, 2012
On Friday, November 30th, at 4:30 p.m., Patrolman Mitchell White stopped a 2000 Mercedes Benz for traffic violations on East Westfield Avenue. While speaking to the 26-year-old driver, Lee R. Caraballo-Figueroa of Elizabeth, officer White stated he detected the strong odor of marijuana coming from within the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed a bag of suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Caraballo-Figueroa was transported to the Roselle Park Police Department (RPPD). During processing, an iPhone that was in Caraballo-Figueroa’s possession was displaying a message that the phone was stolen. Shortly thereafter, a 27-year-old Rutgers law student called and stated that he tracked his stolen iPhone via GPS to RPPD Headquarters. The caller stated his iPhone was stolen during a carjacking earlier in the day in the City of Newark. The caller stated he was held up by a suspect armed with a handgun who stole his iPhone, car keys, and 2010 Toyota Corolla.
A further search of Caraballo-Figueroa’s belongings revealed that he did possess a key ring containing the keys to the victim’s automobile. Caraballo-Figueroa was charged with Receiving Stolen Property (2 counts), Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was unable to post the $35,000 bail and lodged into the Union County Jail. RPPD Detectives are now assisting the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit with the carjacking investigation.
At 9:47 p.m., Wally Zamor, age 28 of Roselle, was arrested at the Roselle Police Department on a $750 warrant for Contempt of Court. Zamor was unable to post bail and was transferred to the Union County Jail.
December 1, 2012
At 8:54 p.m., Sergeant David Pitts was patrolling the Woodside Gardens apartment complex when he observed a parked, occupied vehicle in a darkened corner of the westside parking lot. As he approached the vehicle, he observed the female driver conceal item(s) in the center console area. He contacted the driver and quickly detected the odor of burning marijuana. Alexandera E. Hopkins, 19 of Scotch Plains, was arrested after Sergant Pitts found one container of suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
December 2, 2012
At 1 a.m., while on foot patrol of the Sunrise Village apartment complex, Patrolman Kostantinos Vathianakis observed a loud group near Building 153 and saw one of the individuals discard and conceal unknown items in the nearby bushes. Sebastian Sepulveda, 18 of Roselle Park, was found in possession of suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He was also found possessing alcohol by a minor. He was later released to a family member.
December 3, 2012
At 12:05 a.m,, while on foot patrol of the Roselle Park Train Station, Patrolman Kostantinos Vathianakis approached an individual who smelled of burning marijuana. A warrant check revealed that individual, Keyon S. Brevard, 24 years of age from Linden, was wanted by the Linden Municipal Court for a $500 traffic warrant. Brevard was found in possession of a butterfly knife (a prohibited weapon) and other legal knives. Brevard was charged with Possession of a Prohibited Weapon and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon and lodged in Union County Jail on a $5,000 warrant.