On the Beat with Middletown Police: Arresting Update, March 31-April 3

Police made several arrests within four days on charges of: possession of quantities of marijuana over and under 50 grams, intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances, drug paraphernalia possession, driving while intoxicated, unauthorized prescription drug possession, criminal mischief ...

On April 3 at 2:15 p.m., Patrolman Keith Hirschbein was on patrol in the area of Leonardville Road when he stopped a vehicle being operated with numerous view obstructions.

Upon approaching the driver, identified as William Hoffman, 27, Gillespie Avenue, Fair Haven, the officer detected what he identified as the strong odor of raw marijuana coming from the interior of the vehicle.

Further investigation by Officer Hirschbein resulted in the recovery of what he identified as marijuana, a scale used to weigh the marijuana, numerous baggies used for packaging, a glass pipe used to smoke marijuana, $453 in currency and the seizure of the vehicle, a Mazda.

Hoffman was arrested and charged with possession of under 50 grams of marijuana, a disorderly persons offense, possession with the intent to distribute marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was processed and released on his own recognizance pending a court date.

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On April 3 at 7:20 p.m., Patrolman Michael Pentilie responded to the area of Kenneth Terrace in reference to a report of an argument between two people. Upon arrival the officer spoke with Daniel Salvaggio, 24, of Kenneth Terrace East and Kenneth Rotondella, 26, of Main Street, Port Monmouth.

Officer Pentilie determined the subjects had a dispute over a prior business arrangement when Salvaggio picked up a rock and threw it at Rotondella’s vehicle, smashing the driver’s side window.

Salvaggio was placed under arrest and was transported to police headquarters where he was charged with criminal mischief. He was released pending a court date.

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On April 2 at 2:45 a.m., Patrolman John Mele was on patrol in the area of Navesink River Road when he observed a vehicle weaving in and out of its lane of travel. Patrolman Mele stopped the vehicle and approached the driver, identified as Jeremy Schreiber, 21, of Baskenridge Drive.

Upon speaking with the Schreiber Officer Mele detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Schreiber’s breath. Further investigation resulted in Schreiber being arrested and charged with driving while Intoxicated, reckless driving and failure to maintain lanes, all motor vehicle offenses. He was processed and released on summonses pending a court date.

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On April 1 at 12:10 a.m., Patrolman Christopher Dee and Sgt. James Prosinski responded to the area of Leonardville Road and Avenue D in reference to a report of a one-car motor vehicle accident. Upon arrival, the officers located a vehicle with substantial damage to the driver’s side door. The driver, identified as Amanda Laguardia, 25, of Atlantic Street, Highlands, was in the driver’s seat.

The officers conducted an investigation and sobriety tests which resulted in Laguardia being charged with driving while intoxicated and reckless driving, motor vehicle offenses. She was released on summonses pending a court date.

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On April 1 at 5:10 a.m., Patrolman Donald Coates and Patrolman Felipe Benedit responded to the area of Wilson Avenue in reference to a vehicle parked in a parking lot with a man passed out behind the wheel.

Upon arrival the officers located Daniel Price, 23, of Georgia Avenue, Port Monmouth, unresponsive and sitting in the driver’s seat. Price regained consciousness after a brief period.

The officers conducted an investigation that resulted in Price being arrested and charged with possession of oxycodone, possession of Xanax, possession of a hypodermic syringe and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Price was processed and held on $12,500.00 bail with no 10 percent option set by Judge Richard Thompson.

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On April 1 at 4:10 p.m., Patrolman James Beirne and Patrolman Kevin Gardiner responded to the area of Brookside Drive in reference to reports of suspicious vehicle possibly involved in the distribution of narcotics.

Upon arrival, the officer located the vehicle as it was leaving the area. The officers conducted an investigation that resulted in a 17-year-old male passenger of the car being arrested and charged with possession of under 50 grams of marijuana, a disorderly persons offense.

The male juvenile was processed and released to his mother pending a court date.

On April 1 at approximately 7 p.m., Patrolman Richard Fulham and Patrolman Albert Scott responded to the McDonald’s restaurant located on Route 35 in reference to a report of two male subjects possibly distributing narcotics.

Upon arrival the officers located the two male subjects sitting in a vehicle in the parking lot.

The officers approached the vehicle and immediately detected a strong odor of raw marijuana coming from inside the car. The officers conducted an investigation that resulted in the recovery of a large amount of marijuana, the seizure of $476 in currency and the seizure of the vehicle, a white Volvo.

As a result of the investigation the officers arrested Arthur Mathurin, 19, of Abbey Road and Rashon Martin, 22, of Brainard Avenue.

Mathurin was charged with possession with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of marijuana, possession with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance within 500 feet of Tindall Park (across from a school), possession of over 50 grams of marijuana and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle.  He was held on $15,000 bail with no 10 percent option set by Judge Richard Thompson.

Martin was charged with possession with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of marijuana, possession with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance within 500 feet of Tindall Park, and possession of over 50 grams of marijuana. He also had a contempt of court warrant out of Middletown Municipal Court. He was held on $15,250 bail with no 10 percent option set by Judge Richard Thompson.

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On March 31, Detective Daniel Sullivan was contacted by Detective Jeff Miller, of the Hazlet Township Police Department, concerning the investigation of a prescription fraud case. Miller informed Sullivan that Joan Heary, 48, of Edgewood Road, Matawan, had allegedly presented fraudulent prescription blanks at numerous pharmacies throughout the area, including the Walgreens and Rite Aid pharmacies in Middletown.

Detective Sullivan conducted a follow up investigation which revealed Heary had allegedly presented fraudulent prescriptions for Roxicodone and Oxycontin at the two pharmacies on four different dates.

Detective Sullivan arrested and charged Heary with forgery and obtaining a controlled dangerous substance by fraud. She was processed and released on a summons pending a court date.

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On March 31 at 2:20 p.m., Officer Larisa Doriety responded to Middletown High School North in reference to a 16-year-old female student who was allegedly found to be in possession of marijuana and a soda can which was converted into a device used to smoke marijuana.

Doriety arrested the student and charged her with possession of under 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, disorderly persons offenses.

The student was processed and released to her father pending a court date.

The information concerning the above arrests was obtained directly from the Middletown Township Police Department's records. While all suspects have been arrested and charged with the named offenses, convictions depend on the outcome of court appearances. All are presumed innocent until proven guilty in that court of law.