On July 24, 2011 at approximately 3:14 a.m., while on patrol, Sgt. David Pitts performed an area check of the center business district. During this check he observed a juvenile male walking eastbound on Williams Street in violation of the borough’s juvenile curfew ordinance. The male also fit the description of a suspect who committed burglaries earlier in the week to the Family Dollar Store on East Westfield Avenue. Sgt. Pitts performed a pedestrian stop and the juvenile identified himself, stating he was a 13-year-old from Roselle.
Sgt. Pitts observed that he was wearing blue gym shorts, a white t-shirt, blue & white Nike brand sneakers, and a black backpack. This clothing matched closely to the clothing worn by the burglary suspect of the Family Dollar Store. The juvenile’s hands were extremely dirty and in several areas covered in a white paint-like residue.
The juvenile was detained and transported to police headquarters for processing of the curfew violation and further investigation of the burglaries. The juvenile was released to the custody of his parents pending further investigation. His clothing was detained for investigative purposes.