CAMPUS POLICE BLOTTER
Reports made to RVCC Security and/or Branchburg Police
between September and October 2007
Hit and Run
Damage to the driver’s side rear panel and bumper of a black 2005 Nissan Altima parked in Lot #1 on Aug 30 was reported to Branchburg Police by Joel Santiago, 18, of Annandale. According to police, Santiago said the damage occurred between noon and 1:35 p.m., while he attended college orientation with his mother and younger brother. The driver of the vehicle that caused the damage did not report the incident, police said.
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Cars Collide at Intersection
A blue 2002 VW Golf driven from campus on RVCC Drive by Carsten M. Dietz, 18, of Branchburg collided with a black 2002 Ford Explorer driven by Kimberly J. Perillo, 18, of Bridgewater., on Sept 4, at 2:26 p.m., as Perillo entered the intersection from RVCC Drive to turn left on Rt 28 westbound. According to Branchburg Police Officer Anthony Pasek, both cars entered the intersection on amber traffics signals and failed to stop. No summons was issued
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Rear–End Collisions
A blue 1998 Honda Wagon driven by Sambavi Swaminathan, 19, of Bridgewater, was struck from behind in parking lot #7 by a silver 2001 Honda Civic driven by Eileen A. Coppola, 20, of Manville on Sept 6, at 9:56 a.m. According to Branchburg Police Officer Robert Stober, Coppola’ said she lost control of the car when it bumped the curb, which led to the crash. Both vehicles were towed from the scene and Coppola was issued a summons for careless driving.
A red 1995 Toyota Corolla driven by Samuel W. Thomas, 19, of Somerset, was struck from behind in parking Lot #1 by a black 1996 Toyota driven by Erica M. Sappleton 18, of Somerset, on Sept. 6, at 1:01 p.m. According to Branchburg Police Officer Christine Auleta, Thomas was looking for a parking spot when he hit his brakes to avoid another vehicle and was struck from behind by Sappleton. Police issued summonses for careless driving and failure to exhibit license and registration to Sappleton.
A green 1997 Lexus ES3 driven by Waseh A. Khan, 21, of Somerville was struck from behind in parking Lot # 1 Sept 14 at 12:01 p.m. by a silver 1998 Honda CRV driven by Bradley D. Fantuzzi, 20, of Somerset. The Lexus sustained a cracked tail light and rear bumper damage, police said. According to Branchburg Police Officer Robert Stober, Fantuzzi was following Khan when he moved his vehicle forward and struck Khan’s rear bumper. Khan complained of back and neck pain, but refused medical attention. Police issued a careless driving summons to Fantuzzi.
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Cars Roll
A silver 1995 Nissan Altima, registered to Laura Washkua of North Plainfield, was parked in Lot #1 when it rolled backward into a green 1998 Honda Accord owned by William H. Attia of Somerset on Sept 6 at 10:34 a.m. Branchburg Police responded and according to Officer Robert Stober, Washkua’s manual transmission vehicle did not have the parking brake set, slipped out of gear and caused minor damage to both cars. The Altima was towed from the scene because there were no parking spaces available to re-park it, police said. According to a witness, another driver saw the open space Washkua’s vehicle had rolled out of and immediately parked in that space before the police arrived.
Branchburg Police responded to a parking complaint on September 11, 2007 at 12:31 p.m. According to Officer Ghanim, an unattended white 2001 Mitsubishi parked in Lot #1 by V. Kari Platt, 19, of Bedminster rolled from its parking space, jumped a curb and stopped three feet from the water basin. The driver did not put vehicle in gear or set the parking brake, police said. In response to a call from police, the owner of the vehicle, Kathleen M. Platt, brought a spare set of keys to campus and contact her daughter in class. AAA towed the car into the lot. There was no damage to Platt’s car or to others.
Car Hits Parked Car
Branchburg Police Officer Meola saw a silver 2005 Chevy Tahoe, driven by Michale E. Olejnik, 18, of Somerville back into the rear bumper of a silver 2002 Honda Civic parked in Lot #1 on Sept 13 at 3:22 p.m. Olejnok was issued a summons for careless driving.
Unsafe Driving Causes Collision
Stefana Figalo, 52, of Bound Brook, backed a gold 2004 Ford Escape into a silver 2007 Acura TSX driven by Lisa R. Villanueva, 26, of Brooklyn on Sept. 12, at 8:52 a.m., causing damage to the Acura’s front left bumper, Branchburg police said. According to Officer Douglas Lake, Figalo was stopped at the gate of Lot #7 when she realized she did not have the required electronic pass to open it and backed up, causing the crash. No summons was issued.
Branchburg Police responded to a parking complaint on September 11, 2007 at 12:31 p.m. According to Officer Ghanim, an unattended white 2001 Mitsubishi parked in Lot #1 by V. Kari Platt, 19, of Bedminster rolled from its parking space, jumped a curb and stopped three feet from the water basin. The driver did not put vehicle in gear or set the parking brake, police said. In response to a call from police, the owner of the vehicle, Kathleen M. Platt, brought a spare set of keys to campus and contact her daughter in class. AAA towed the car into the lot. There was no damage to Platt’s car or to others.
Unsafe Driving Causes Collision
Stefana Figalo, 52, of Bound Brook, backed a gold 2004 Ford Escape into a silver 2007 Acura TSX driven by Lisa R. Villanueva, 26, of Brooklyn on Sept. 12, at 8:52 a.m., causing damage to the Acura’s front left bumper, Branchburg police said. According to Officer Douglas Lake, Figalo was stopped at the gate of Lot #7 when she realized she did not have the required electronic pass to open it and backed up, causing the crash. No summons was issued.
Vandalism to Vehicle
Vandalism to a black 2004 Hyundai Sonata parked in Lot # 5 was discovered by RVCC Security on Sept. 13 at 11:25 a.m. Responding to a note left on the car by Branchburg Police, Maria Romano, 18, of North Plainfield contacted headquarters at 2:38 p.m. Romano and the college ground crew were cleaning off the car when Officer Meola arrived. An incident report was filed after Romano’s father spoke with the officer by cell phone.
Vandalism to Game Room
RVCC Security discovered holes in the wall of the College Center game room (apparently made by a pool stick) on September 14 while conducting a routine security check. The incident is under investigation.
Two-Car Crashes
A black 2007 Honda Civic, driven by Chaitany H, Desai, 18, of Bridgewater, crashed into the front bumper of a white 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse, driven by Kari L. Platt, 19, of Bedminster while leaving Lot #2 on Sept. 19 at 2:52 p.m. The Eclipse had to be towed. Police issued a summons for careless driving to Desai.
Pulling out of Lot #2, Melissa R. Oliver, 19, of Somerville crashed her green 1996 Pontiac Sunfire into the rear passenger side panel of a green 1998 Chevy truck driven by William S. Pauch, 18, of Frenchtown on Oct 1, at 4:25 p.m. The passenger side front bumper and headlight of Oliver’s Sunfire was damaged, police said.
Parked Illegally
Branchburg Police ticketed a car parked without a permit in the handicap zone in front of the West Building on Sept. 19.
Branchburg Police ticketed a vehicle parked in front of a fire hydrant in Lot #2 on Sept. 20.
Vehicle Towed
A white 1991 Buick LeSabre was towed from campus on Sept. 28 at about 2:06 p.m. on the advice of Branchburg Police after being left overnight in Lot #5. RVCC Security initially reported the car abandoned or stolen the day before at 9:30 a.m. At the time, Officer Kaczorek determined that, although the owner had recently been issued a summons for careless driving, the car was not stolen.
Car Crashes into Curb
The left side tires, fender, rims, and bumper guard of a white 1995 Honda Civic were damaged when George J, Otero, 19, of Hillsborough, traveling north on Campus Drive, locked his brakes and crashed into the curb at 10:45 a.m. on Oct. 1, to avoid a car that accelerated and moved into his lane ahead of a merge, according to Branchburg Police Officer Meola. The Civic was towed from the scene. No summons was issued.
RVCC Community Safety Tip: Store your GPS and other valuables in your car out of sight.
Police Report Composed and Compiled by Doreen Bernardini