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Ratzer Road, Wayne, NJ

Police & Fire
BREAKING: Baby Found Dead In Wayne, Prosecutor Says BREAKING: Baby Found Dead In Wayne, Prosecutor Says
Breaking: Baby Found Dead In Wayne, Prosecutor Says A 7-month-old baby was found dead in Wayne on Wednesday, Dec. 4, authorities said. Wayne police officers were called to Route 23 and Ratzer Road around 1:40 p.m. on reports of a deceased infant, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Wayne Police Deputy Chief Joseph Rooney said. Upon arrival, the police located a possible crime scene and a 7- 7-month-old infant, who was subsequently pronounced dead. It was not immediately clear where exactly the harrowing discovery was made. The investigation remains active and ongoing. More information will be released once it becomes avail…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Competing Theft Crews Call 911, Everyone Ends Up Arrested In Wayne: Police Competing Theft Crews Call 911, Everyone Ends Up Arrested In Wayne: Police
Competing Theft Crews Call 911, Everyone Ends Up Arrested In Wayne: Police Five would-be package thieves from separate crews were arrested in Wayne after plans to beat out their competition last week in Wayne went awry, authorities said. Police received a 9-1-1 call reporting a burglary in progress at a hoem on Ratzer Road around 3:50 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, Wayne Police Capt. Dan Daly said. The caller said that two men were in his garage and one was in his backyard. He then said that the men fled and were in a black sedan on Kievit Road. The caller also told police that the suspect vehicle was a Honda. While responding officers found two black sedans on Kiev…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Jersey City Porch Pirate Busted In Wayne: Police Jersey City Porch Pirate Busted In Wayne: Police
Jersey City Porch Pirate Busted In Wayne: Police A 28-year-old Jersey City resident was arrested and charged on Wednesday, July 30, after he stole multiple packages from a residence in Wayne, authorities said. Officers responded to a home in the Heritage Manor neighborhood after a resident reported he observed on his home security camera a man, Cesar Moquete, taking packages from the front porch of his home soon after they were delivered, Wayne police said in a release. One of the packages contained multiple cell phones, police said. Officers observed Moquete's vehicle traveling east on Ratzer Road and conducted a traffic stop, where they…

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
Kids In Stolen Car Speed Wrong Way On Route 23, Two Nabbed After Intense Hunt Off Routes 80, 46 Kids In Stolen Car Speed Wrong Way On Route 23, Two Nabbed After Intense Hunt Off Routes 80, 46
Kids In Stolen Car Speed Wrong Way On Route 23, Two Nabbed After Intense Hunt Off Routes 80, 46 Two boys – one 16, the other 14 -- were captured following a stolen car pursuit in which the driver at one point perilously sped south on northbound Route 23, authorities said. Four masked thieves in all were pulling on vehicle door handles when police pulled up in response to a call on Oak Hill Drive in Wayne shortly before 5:30 a.m., Detective Capt. Dan Daly said. The crew also tried to break into a home through the back, the captain said. Officer David Talerico spotted an occupied vehicle with a smashed backseat passenger window and no rear license plate on nearby Timberline Drive, Daly…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
BAIL REFORM: Paterson Man Wanted On Haledon Warrant Nabbed By Sheriff's Officers, Then Released BAIL REFORM: Paterson Man Wanted On Haledon Warrant Nabbed By Sheriff's Officers, Then Released
Bail Reform: Paterson Man Wanted On Haledon Warrant Nabbed By Sheriff's Officers, Then Released A Paterson man wanted on an outstanding warrant was busted by Passaic County sheriff’s officers only to be released a short time later under New Jersey’s bail reform law. Khalif Johnson, 21, tried to flee a stop on Hamburg Turnpike near Ratzer Road in Wayne around 10 a.m. Monday, April 11, but officers seized him following a brief struggle, Passaic County Sheriff Richard H. Berdnik said. They charged Johnson with resisting arrest and issued several motor vehicle summonses before turning him over to Haledon police, who released him pending further court action, the sheriff said.

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Minivan Crash In Wayne Kills Staten Island Driver Minivan Crash In Wayne Kills Staten Island Driver
Minivan Crash In Wayne Kills Staten Island Driver UPDATE: A Staten Island man died after his minivan veered off the road, bounced off one utility pole and slammed into another in Wayne, authorities confirmed. Jorge Jaimez Romero, 28, was pronounced dead at the intersection of Valley and Ratzer roads following the 8:11 p.m. crash on Monday, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Wayne Police Chief Jack McNiff said in a joint announcement. An autopsy will be necessary to determine the cause of death, Valdes and Romero said. Responders said Romero was in traumatic arrest when they arrived. No other vehicles were involved, they said.…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Wayne Man Strangles Roommate With Bare Hands, Authorities Say Wayne Man Strangles Roommate With Bare Hands, Authorities Say
Wayne Man Strangles Roommate With Bare Hands, Authorities Say A Wayne man strangled his older roommate with his bare hands during an argument in their condo, said authorities who charged him with murder. Frank Rance, 38, was arrested at the Hinchman Avenue condo off Ratzer Road by police who tried in vain to save Frank Majuri, 60, before he died shortly after midnight Saturday, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Wayne Police Chief Jack McNiff said in a joint announcement. Officers had gone to the home on a call of a domestic dispute shortly after 10:30 p.m. Friday, Valdes and McNiff said. The officers “were able to deescalate the matter …

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Police: Ex-Con Wanted In Wayne Burglary String Leads 'Tireless' Chase Before Capture Police: Ex-Con Wanted In Wayne Burglary String Leads 'Tireless' Chase Before Capture
Police: Ex-Con Wanted In Wayne Burglary String Leads 'Tireless' Chase Before Capture An ex-con who’s spent several years in prison led Wayne police first on a car chase – at one point blowing out a tire and riding on a rim – and then through several backyards before they captured him in Haledon. Officers Michael Sweeney and Spencer Schoonmaker were on the lookout near the corner of Ratzer and Valley roads after Detective Michael Polifrone identified William Green, 49 of Paterson as the suspect in a string of recent home burglaries, Capt. Daniel Daly said. Green, who has an extensive criminal history, was released from state prison a year ago this month after serving three y…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Wayne PD: Speedy Officers Nab Burglar Who Broke In While Elderly Resident Was Home Wayne PD: Speedy Officers Nab Burglar Who Broke In While Elderly Resident Was Home
Wayne PD: Speedy Officers Nab Burglar Who Broke In While Elderly Resident Was Home A homeless man broke in while an elderly Wayne woman was home and was about to burglarize another house when a resident there scared him off, authorities said. Responding Officers Adrian Sulejmani and Colin Bush nabbed Henry Smith III, who'd also burglarized a Haledon home, Wayne Detective Capt. Daniel Daly said Friday. The officers found Smith at a nearby bus stop after a Ratzer Road resident told them she’d scared him from her back deck when she caught him peeking into her windows shortly before 11 a.m. Thursday, Daly said. Smith at first gave police bogus information and was found carry…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Box Truck Knocked Over In Route 23 Crash Box Truck Knocked Over In Route 23 Crash
Box Truck Knocked Over In Route 23 Crash A box truck landed on its side in a collision with a sedan Friday morning in Wayne. The crash closed southbound Route 23 at Ratzer Road around 8:30 a.m. The trucker climbed out, and no serious injuries were reported. Firefighters had to contend with a propane leak that they said wasn’t hazardous. The driver got out under his own steam.Scott David

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Wayne Driver Involved In Crash Dies Wayne Driver Involved In Crash Dies
Wayne Driver Involved In Crash Dies The driver of one of two SUVs involved in a chain-reaction crash in Wayne died Friday, authorities said. A gray-colored Honda CRV driven by Antonio R. Cruz, 38, of Wayne, was headed east on Ratzer Road near Garside Avenue when it struck a utility pole around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said. Cruz was taken to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson, where he was pronounced dead at 4:29 p.m. Friday, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Wayne Police Chief Jack McNiff said in a joint release. Jenelle E. Cruz, also 38 years old of Wayne, and a juvenile both remained ho…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Driver In Wayne Crash Dies Driver In Wayne Crash Dies
Driver In Wayne Crash Dies The driver of one of two SUVs involved in a chain-reaction crash in Wayne died Friday, authorities said. A gray-colored Honda CRV driven by Antonio R. Cruz, 38, of Wayne, was headed east on Ratzer Road near Garside Avenue when it struck a utility pole around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said. Cruz was taken to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson, where he was pronounced dead at 4:29 p.m. Friday, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Wayne Police Chief Jack McNiff said in a joint release. Jenelle E. Cruz, also 38 years old of Wayne, and a juvenile both remained ho…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Tenant, 64, Therapy Dog Killed In Cluttered Wayne House Fire Tenant, 64, Therapy Dog Killed In Cluttered Wayne House Fire
Tenant, 64, Therapy Dog Killed In Cluttered Wayne House Fire A 64-year-old tenant living amid an enormous collection of tools, equipment and large buckets was killed, along with his therapy dog, in a Thursday night blaze in Wayne, authorities confirmed. The rented cabin on Ratzer Road had "debris everywhere," a responder said. "We're unsure if it had running water or even heat or electricity." Firefighters battled valiantly, but the 7:42 p.m. blaze quickly went to three alarms as flames blew through the roof. Robert Freudenberg and his dog, Popeye, were later found dead inside. All five township fire companies responded, along with a warming bus an…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Obituaries
Dean Campbell Of Wayne, 22, Was 'Light That Lit Up The Room' Dean Campbell Of Wayne, 22, Was 'Light That Lit Up The Room'
Dean Campbell Of Wayne, 22, Was 'Light That Lit Up The Room' Dean William Campbell of Wayne died on Dec. 1. He was 22 years old. Born in Syracuse, N.Y., Dean lived his life with a "rush to climb anything and everything from walls at age three to mountains at age 15," his obituary says. He loved exploring waterfalls, lakes and forests around his hometown of Camillus, N.Y. and surrounding areas. He had a passion for the ocean as well, scuba diving and deep sea fishing in Hawaii. In 2011, Dean earned his black belt in Karate. Three years later he graduated from West Genesee High School's automotive program, where he honed his skills and interest i…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Wayne PD: 'Just Acting Stupid' Passenger Who Yelled For Help Had 5 Warrants Wayne PD: 'Just Acting Stupid' Passenger Who Yelled For Help Had 5 Warrants
Wayne PD: 'Just Acting Stupid' Passenger Who Yelled For Help Had 5 Warrants WAYNE, N.J. – A passenger who screamed to Wayne police from the window of a passing car later told them he was “just acting stupid” – then was busted for having not only a small amount of marijuana but five outstanding arrest warrants, including one from Florida, authorities said. Officers Ken Hart and Skylar Cauceglia were in the parking lot of a commercial property at Ratzer Road and a Route 23 service road when the two-door 2008 Toyota passed them Monday night, Detective Capt. Laurence Martin said. The passenger – identified as 28-year-old Markel K. Morris of Paterson – “was screaming ou…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Wayne PD: Drunk Driver Runs Light, Slams Pickup, Assaults Medic Wayne PD: Drunk Driver Runs Light, Slams Pickup, Assaults Medic
Wayne PD: Drunk Driver Runs Light, Slams Pickup, Assaults Medic WAYNE, N.J. -- A drunk driver rammed his Mini Cooper into a pickup truck after running a red light in Wayne, then assaulted an ambulance squad responder who was trying to help him, authorities said. The 2012 compact car veered off the roadway before hitting the fence at the QuickChek on Hamburg Turnpike after it struck the pickup so hard that it left the truck facing east in the westbound lane of Ratzer Road just after 9:30 p.m. Friday, Detective Capt. Laurence J. Martin said. Wayne firefighters extricated the driver of the mangled Mini Cooper, 38-year-old Jim Chung of Pompton Lakes, who wa…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Wayne PD: Hit-Run Driver Three Times Legal DWI Limit Bounces Car Off Curbs Wayne PD: Hit-Run Driver Three Times Legal DWI Limit Bounces Car Off Curbs
Wayne PD: Hit-Run Driver Three Times Legal DWI Limit Bounces Car Off Curbs WAYNE, N.J. -- A hit-and-run vehicle filled with airbag smoke and bounced off curbs before Wayne police pulled it over and arrested the driver, who was too drunk to stand, authorities said. Peter Cryan, 43, of Pompton Lakes, registered a .24 on a blood-alcohol level breath test -- three times the legal limit, Detective Capt. Laurence Martin said. Cryan told the officer who stopped him that "he thought he had struck an ambulance but was not sure," Martin said. Members of the Wayne Memorial First Aid Squad were responding to an emergency call when they saw Cryan's 1995 Nissan Max…

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by Jerry DeMarco