CAMPUS POLICE BLOTTER
Reports made to RVCC Security and/or Branchburg Police
in October and November 2007
Hit and Run or Wash and Drive?
Swirl marks to the driver’s side doors and scuff marks on the left rear fender of a Jeep parked in Lot #7 on Oct. 12, was reported at 10 a.m. to Branchburg Police by Ralph Ekberg Jr. of Warren. According to Officer Robert Stober, the car parked next to Ekberg’s Jeep did not have any corresponding damage, and the damage on the Jeep did not indicate contact with another car. Police said Ekberg remembered he went to a car wash in North Plainfield two or three days earlier and believed the damage may have come from the car wash.
Rear-end Collisions
A black 2001 Acura CLS driven by Jonathon S. Farah, 20, of Clinton Township was struck from behind while crossing the intersection of Rt. 22 and RVCC Drive southbound by a blue 2006 Pontiac Solstice driven by Kathleen P. Odenthal, 20, of Flemington on Oct. 5, at 4:52 p.m. according to Branchburg Police. Officer Douglas Lake reported that the traffic light changed to red as Farah was crossing the intersection. Farah stopped and Odenthal did not. Both vehicles received minor damage and were driven from the scene. No summons issued.
A red 1989 Pontiac driven by Giovanni Balsano, 18, of Branchburg was struck from behind in parking Lot 1 by a white 2007 Subaru driven by Joshua J. Ellis, 19, of Hackettstown, damaging the Subaru’s front end and hood, on Oct. 9, at 1:19 p.m. According to Branchburg Police Officer F. Ghanim, Balsano was stopping for a parking spot and was struck from behind by Ellis causing damage to the rear end and muffler. Police issued a careless driving summons to Mr. Ellis.
A silver 2006 Honda, driven by Robert M. Caravela, 18, of Frenchtown was struck from behind on RVCC Drive southbound, Oct. 12, at 6:36 p.m., by a black 1999 Toyota Corolla driven by a female juvenile of Hillsborough, causing minor damage to both vehicles, police said. According to Branchburg Officer Stober, the girl heard a noise under her car and looked down to see where it was coming from, as she looked back towards the roadway, she realized she needed to brake, but could not stop in time and struck Caravela’s Honda. No summons issued.
A white 1992 Toyota Camry driven by Suma N. Hodge, 20, of Manville was struck from behind at the exit of lots 1 and 2 on Oct. 18 at 3:31 p.m. by a green 1999 Chrysler wagon driven by William L. Black, 49, of Washington. According to Branchburg Police Sfc. Anthony P. Dematteo, Hodge was preparing to turn left onto Campus Drive and was struck from behind by Black. There was minor damage to both vehicles. The Toyota was towed. Mr. Hodge complained of neck and back pain and was transported to Somerset Medical Center for evaluation.
Motorcycle Accident
Edward J. Poole, 19, of Washington, lost control of his black 1991 Kawasaki 500 and veered off Campus Drive on Oct. 18, at 7:19 p.m., police said. According to police, Mr. Poole was traveling at an unsafe speed on the curve near Athletic Way, attempted to brake, lost control, skidded 83 ft., drove through a stop sign, struck a curb, ran into a stop sign and was thrown from the motorcycle. The motorcycle skidded an additional 53 ft. Mr. Poole was taken by medevac helicopter to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick for treatment of injuries to his right leg and arm. According to police, Mr. Poole said his motorcycle stuck in third gear while traveling 30-40 mph. Mr. Poole was issued a summons for failure to stop or yield, careless driving and no insurance.
Burglary
Branchburg Police responded to a report of a burglary at the RVCC Cafeteria on Oct 22. According to Officer Ghanim, manager Kevin J. Swart noticed the door to his office had been forced when he opened the cafeteria at 7 a.m. Pry marks were next to the handle of the rear door of the office and louvers on the front door were kicked out. Fingerprints were taken. Police suspect that sometime over the weekend a burglar attempted to pry the rear door before kicking out the louvers of the front door, reaching through to unlock it from the inside. Swart’s desk had been searched and a key to a vending machine was left on his chair. Police believe the burglar exited the rear door of the cafeteria.
Graffiti Prompts Police Investigation
On Oct 11 at 7:52 a.m. RVCC Security officers discovered graffiti on the white board in the Cyber Café thought to have been made the previous day. Branchburg Police responded. The drawing was of a rabbit eating a doll’s head with “You’re all about to die a horrible death,” written on the board. The Incident is under investigation.
Careless Driving
Devin. R. Conlon, 19, of Hillsborough, driving a Silver 2001 Nissan Wagon, struck a Silver 1997 Honda, occupied by Gabriel Horvath, of Milford, while backing out of a parking spot on Oct.8, at 2:43 p.m. According to Branchburg Police, Mr. Conlon said he pressed the gas instead of the brake. The Honda was towed with major rear-end damage. The front bumper and hood of the Nissan was damaged, but the vehicle was drivable. Police issued a careless driving summons to Mr. Conlon.
Justin D. Casagrande, 20, of Bridgewater, driving a black 2003 Ford Escape, struck a black 2003 Jeep Liberty, driven by Morgan T. Weinstein, 18, of Long Valley, on Oct 23, at 2:54 p.m., Branchburg Police said. According to Officer Stober, Mr. Casagrande drove his car into Mr. Weinstein’s Jeep while backing into a parking space, causing damage to the front bumper and ripping off the license plate. Mr. Casagrande told police that Mr. Weinstein caused the accident, but two witnesses said it was Mr. Casagrande’s doing. Police issued a careless driving summons to Mr. Casagrande.
Amitoz Anand, 20, of Asbury, driving a black 2003 Audi A4, backed up and struck a gray 2004 Honda Civic, driven by Alexandra J. Sands, 21, of Stockton, Oct. 29, at 12:16 p.m. According to Branchburg Police Officer Meola, Sands was exiting Lot 1, stopped for traffic, when Anand backed out of the parking spot unaware that Sands was behind him. Both vehicles had minor damage. No summons issued.
Harassment
Branchburg Police Officer Meola and Detective Camunas responded to a harassment complaint here on Oct.16, at 7:17 p.m. According to Officer Meola, RVCC Professor Larry Swanzer reported to college security that he overheard Zacharty T. Preta, 20, of Raritan say, “Bring a BB gun,” to a friend. Mr. Swanzer could not say if Preta intended to bring the weapon to school, but said he did not feel Mr. Preta was a threat, police said. According to Detective Camunas, Mr. Preta said he does not own a BB gun and never mentioned one. Mr. Preta and Professor Swanzer returned to class.
911 Call
RVCC Dispatch received a 911 call from a pay phone located outside the art gallery on Oct. 6, at 9:29 a.m. Branchburg Police instructed RVCC Security to check the area. According to Sgt. Tom Mundy no one was there.
False Fire Alarms
Fire alarms were set off four times in October, three times over a five-day period between Oct. 20 and Oct. 24. The incidents are under investigation.
On Oct 9, at 2:59 p.m., Branchburg Fire Department responded to an alarm at the Campus Daycare Facility. According to RVCC Security Officer Sgt. Tom Mundy, a false alarm was sounded by Honeywell Monitoring Services. Branchburg Fire Department left the scene at 3:13 p.m.
On Oct.20, at 8:04 a.m., Branchburg Police responded to a fire alarm at Somerset Hall. North Branch Fire Department determined the alarm located in the east-end stairwell of Somerset Hall had been pulled and police and security personnel checked the area.
On Oct.23, at 5:34 p.m., Branchburg Police responded to a fire alarm at Somerset Hall. North Branch Fire Department responded and determined there was no fire. The pulled alarm was reset and students were permitted to return to class. On Oct.24, at 9:28 a.m., Branchburg Police again responded to a fire alarm at Somerset Hall along with North Branch and Readington fire departments. Officials determined that the alarm pulled was the same as was pulled on Oct. 20.
Anyone with any information regarding the above incidents, please contact RVCC Security at 908-526-1200 ext.8370.
Anyone with any information about the cafeteria burglary, the graffiti or the false fire alarms should call Detective Camunas at 526-3830.