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Old Tappan Police Department

Police & Fire
Bicyclist, 14, Airlifted After Crash Wasn't Wearing Helmet: Old Tappan Police Bicyclist, 14, Airlifted After Crash Wasn't Wearing Helmet: Old Tappan Police
Bicyclist, 14, Airlifted After Crash Wasn't Wearing Helmet: Old Tappan Police UPDATE: A teenage bicyclist from Old Tappan who collided with a vehicle driven by a New York motorist over the weekend, critically injuring himself, wasn't wearing a helmet, authorities said. A witness told responding officers that the 14-year-old had turned right without stopping onto Ogle Road at the T intersection from Mavus Road -- near Tappan Lake and the Rockland County border -- when he slammed into the passenger side of the vehicle around 10:30 a.m. June 11, Old Tappan Police Chief Joseph Tracy said. The Chester, NY driver "attempted to veer out of the way but was unable to," the ch…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Stalker From Fort Lee Threatens Officer, Family In Old Tappan: Police Stalker From Fort Lee Threatens Officer, Family In Old Tappan: Police
Stalker From Fort Lee Threatens Officer, Family In Old Tappan: Police A law enforcement officer in Old Tappan and his family were threatened by an online stalker from Fort Lee, authorities said following her arrest. Sammie E. Kim, 46, directed threats and harassment at the officer and family from various anonymous social media accounts over the course of several months, Old Tappan Police Chief Joseph Tracy said on Thursday, April 13. An arrest warrant was approved by a local judge after Old Tappan Police Detective Sgt. Charles DiMaria identified Kim as the source, the chief said. Fort Lee police took Kim into custody and turned her over to their Old Tappan c…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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Fund Launched For Children Of Deceased Retired Washington Township Detective Fund Launched For Children Of Deceased Retired Washington Township Detective
Fund Launched For Children Of Deceased Retired Washington Township Detective As the time for final goodbyes nears, many of those who knew and loved retired Washington Township Police Officer and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Heather Castronova are trying to do what they can for her two children. Toward that end, Laura Padilla has launched a GoFundMe campaign. Castronova, 44, died unexpectedly at her home in Allendale on Feb. 8, apparently as the result of a medical condition, those who knew her said. The Hackensack-born-and-bred Heather Cumming served in the Marines in Okinawa, Japan, as well as at Twenty Nine Palms, CA and Quantico, VA. She began a public service car…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Old Tappan Police: How Are We Doing? Old Tappan Police: How Are We Doing?
Old Tappan Police: How Are We Doing? Old Tappan residents and merchants are invited to assess the borough's police department as part of a process known as accreditation. Members of the department and borough employees also are encouraged to call during the scheduled phone-in period from 10-11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 30. THE NUMBER: (201) 664-1223 Telephone comments will be fielded by an assessment team from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, whose members will examine “all aspects of the Old Tappan Police Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services,” Chief Joseph J. Tracy s…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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IN BROAD DAYLIGHT: Brazen Thieves Steal Vehicle From Garage While Bergen Family Is Home IN BROAD DAYLIGHT: Brazen Thieves Steal Vehicle From Garage While Bergen Family Is Home
IN Broad Daylight: Brazen Thieves Steal Vehicle From Garage While Bergen Family Is Home An Old Tappan resident was in his backyard with one of their dogs and his wife and two daughters were inside with the other when thieves broke into their garage and stole their distinctive orange SUV. “The garage was closed and the side door was locked,” the wife said after the 7:30 p.m. theft Saturday. “Not only was it broad daylight -- we were all home,” she said. “They literally had to pick a lock to get into the garage, then had to do a five-point turn to get the car out.” A thief dressed all in black with a “1977” logo on his clothing emerged from an all-black BMW that pulled up to th…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
SEE ANYTHING? Bandit Breaks Old Tappan Driver’s Window, Flees With Coach Bag SEE ANYTHING? Bandit Breaks Old Tappan Driver’s Window, Flees With Coach Bag
SEE Anything? Bandit Breaks Old Tappan Driver’s Window, Flees With Coach Bag Police issued new surveillance photos of a vehicle whose driver stole an Old Tappan woman's handbag after following her home. The Toyota Camry had no front license plate and its rear license plate covered when the thief followed the victim’s SUV into the parking lot of a Russell Avenue complex shortly before 8 a.m. Wednesday, Police Chief Joseph Tracy said. He parked next to her and got out as she headed into her home, then walked around the SUV, looking inside, before breaking the rear passenger window and snatching a large Coach bag, the chief said. Hearing her alarm, the owner confronte…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Local Resident Charged After Shotgun Blast Hits Passing Car On Old Tappan Street Local Resident Charged After Shotgun Blast Hits Passing Car On Old Tappan Street
Local Resident Charged After Shotgun Blast Hits Passing Car On Old Tappan Street UPDATE: Authorities charged an Old Tappan resident whose shotgun sprayed a passing car with pellets when it accidentally went off in his driveway. Darden Bilali, 46, was outside his Old Tappan Road home when the gun discharged shortly before 1:30 p.m.Thursday, hitting a car driven by a 71-year-old borough man with several pellets, authorities said. The driver wasn’t injured in the accidental misfire between Rivervale Road and Washington Avenue, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said Friday. Musella’s Special Investigations Squad responded along with Old Tappan and River Vale police, a…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Vehicle Struck By Shotgun Blast On Quiet Old Tappan Street, Local Resident Charged Vehicle Struck By Shotgun Blast On Quiet Old Tappan Street, Local Resident Charged
Vehicle Struck By Shotgun Blast On Quiet Old Tappan Street, Local Resident Charged UPDATE: Authorities charged an Old Tappan resident whose shotgun accidentally went off in his driveway and sprayed a passing car with pellets. Darden Bilali, 46, was outside his Old Tappan Road home when the gun discharged shortly before 1:30 p.m.Thursday, hitting a car driven by a 71-year-old borough man with several pellets, authorities said. The driver wasn’t injured in the accidental misfire between Rivervale Road and Washington Avenue, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said Friday. Musella’s Special Investigations Squad responded along with Old Tappan and River Vale police, a…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
RECOGNIZE HIM? Boy, 13, Says Man Tried To Stop Him On Way Home From School RECOGNIZE HIM? Boy, 13, Says Man Tried To Stop Him On Way Home From School
Recognize HIM? Boy, 13, Says Man Tried To Stop Him On Way Home From School Old Tappan police asked the public’s help identifying a man who a 13-year-old boy said tried to stop him as he walked home from school. The boy said the man was in a dark-colored sedan and tried to talk to him about the New York Yankees. He told police he immediately ran away and notified his parents instead. He described the man as in 40s with dark hair, dark sunglasses and a goatee. A State Police sketch artist produced a composite based on the boy’s description. Anyone with information that could help the investigation is asked to contact the Old Tappan Police Department: (201) 664-12…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Old Tappan Police: DWI Hit-Run Driver Tracked Down, Jailed After Seriously Injuring Pedestrian Old Tappan Police: DWI Hit-Run Driver Tracked Down, Jailed After Seriously Injuring Pedestrian
Old Tappan Police: DWI Hit-Run Driver Tracked Down, Jailed After Seriously Injuring Pedestrian UPDATE: Old Tappan police tracked down a DWI motorist from town after she struck a pedestrian and took off early Tuesday afternoon, authorities said. Officers arrested Meredith Lubell, 33, after finding her at her DeWolf Road home, Police Chief Thomas Shine said. Moments earlier, the chief said, she struck the 41-year-old Paterson victim with her Jeep in the parking lot of the Bi-State Plaza on Old Tappan Road – exactly a mile from her house. A witness gave police a license plate number that led directly to Lubell following the 12:35 p.m. 911 call, he said. Police charged her with DWI, as…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Police: Dominican College Van Thief Chased, Caught In Old Tappan Police: Dominican College Van Thief Chased, Caught In Old Tappan
Police: Dominican College Van Thief Chased, Caught In Old Tappan OLD TAPPAN, N.J. – A driver who stole a van from Dominican College led police on a chase before he was stopped and arrested in Old Tappan, authorities said. Not officially identified yet by police, the man was booked into the Bergen County Jail as Rah Ralla, 19, records show. Charges of aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, eluding police and throwing bodily fluids at a law enforcement officer, among other counts, were filed, according to jail records. An extradition hearing was being scheduled. The van was stolen just after 6:30 p.m. Saturday., authorities said. Oran…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
UPDATE: Student Brings Pocket Knife To Northern Valley HS In Old Tappan UPDATE: Student Brings Pocket Knife To Northern Valley HS In Old Tappan
Update: Student Brings Pocket Knife To Northern Valley HS In Old Tappan OLD TAPPAN, N.J. -- A student brought a pocket knife to Northern Valley High School in Old Tappan on Thursday, authorities said. Administrators also seized an empty vape pen from the teen, who was sent for evaluation and testing as a matter of school policy, Police Chief Thomas Shine said. "The NVRHS administration requested an ambulance to provide the students transportation to a local medical group for testing," the chief said. Possession of both the knife and vape violate district policies, he noted. "The Old Tappan Police Department will assist the NVRHS administration …

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by Jerry DeMarco