Richard Nowakowski, age 55 of Roselle, was charged with filing a false police report by Detective Matthew Disano on Thursday January 19, 2012. Earlier in the week, Mr. Nowakowski reported to police that he was assaulted and robbed by an unknown male on Monday January 2, 2012. Nowakowski stated that he had just left a local pharmacy where he picked up several prescriptions valued at over $400. He stated that as he walked home at approximately 2 p.m. on Charles Street, he was attacked by an unknown suspect. Mr. Nowakowski reported that he was knocked to the ground, stomped, kicked, and robbed of his medication & some groceries. He provided a detailed description of his attacker to the police and stated he sought his own medical attention after the robbery.
Detective Disano’s follow-up investigation soon revealed major discrepancies in Mr. Nowakowski’s report. Upon being confronted with the conflicting information, Mr. Nowakowski confessed to making up the entire incident in an attempt to obtain more medication. He was charged with 2C: 28-4(b)(1) – a disorderly persons offense – for a “False report to police”. He was then processed and released pending an appearance in Roselle Park Municipal Court.