Latest Police Blotter: More Drug Activity Near Montclair Schools

Montclair police are searching for a Montclair man after he sold two bags of marijuana to another man on Mission Street on Feb. 4.

Devon Marshall, 18, is charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance within 500 feet of public housing and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance within 1,000 feet of a school. He remains at large.

Police said Marshall and Kimberly Harrison, 47, of Montclair were seen performing a hand exchange at about 4:05 p.m. that day on Mission Street and believe the handshake was a cover for a drug transaction. After the brief meeting, the pair walked away in separate directions.

Police stopped Harrison in the area of Gates Avenue and Hawthorne Place and recovered two bags containing marijuana arrested him. He was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and was later released.

Marshall had bail set at $50,000.

Police would like anyone wishing to report drug activity to call (973) 509-4720.

Stolen car

That same day, a woman told police she parked her Honda Civic in the area of North Mountain and Bellevue avenues. When she returned 2½ hours later, it was gone.

Police have no suspects.

DWI

Montclair police arrested a woman for driving while intoxicated following a hit-and-run incident in the Plymouth Street Lot.

LaDawn Ricci, 46, of Upper Montclair, was charged after Montclair police received a call from a man who said his car had been struck by a Volkswagen Jetta in the lot on Feb. 4.

According to the man, Ricci got out of her car and said, “I am not drunk. Here, take my money.” She then threw an undetermined amount of cash at the man and fled.

Less than 10 minutes later, police located the Jetta on Grove Street at Watchung Avenue. Police stopped the car and while speaking to Ricci, noticed the strong smell of an alcohol. Police administered a field sobriety test and arrested her. She was later released.

Warrant Arrest

Allan Gray, 42, of East Orange was being held by Montclair police on Feb. 5 for a series of warrant violations.

Police took custody of Gray at Glen Ridge police headquarters on a $1,275 bond with Montclair. Gray was also found to have warrants worth $710 from Orange and Newark worth $125.

Lost Property

A Montclair resident told police he lost his cell phone when it fell out of his pocket on Elm Street at about 4:40 p.m.

He waited 25 minutes and called the cell phone. He told police a male youth answered the phone and told him, “I’m not going to give back your phone. You lost it.”

The phone is a black Samsung Metro PCS valued at $205.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact the Juvenile Aid Bureau at (973) 509-4733.

Vandalism

Police are investigating a broken window at a Glenridge Avenue apartment complex that occurred on Sunday about 10:15 a.m.

Police said a complex employee showed them the shattered window, which is believed to have been shattered sometime between 8 a.m. and 10:10 a.m. The employee is unsure of who or what caused the damage.

Several complex residents said around 9 a.m. they heard an argument followed by what they believed to be the sound of glass shattering. However, no one was able to provide a description of the suspects or say whether the damage was caused intentionally or accidentally. There was no estimate of the window’s value or its replacement.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact Lt. Scott Buehler at (973) 509-4714.

Driving While Intoxicated

Montclair police arrested a Syracuse, N.Y. man early Sunday morning and charged him with several motor vehicle and alcohol-related charges.

Noel-Teru Gibson, 29, was arrested after failing a field sobriety test and charged with driving while intoxicated, refusal to submit breath samples, careless driving, possession of an open container of an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to report an accident and driving with a suspended driver’s license.

Police said they were traveling north on Grove Street at 2:35 a.m. when they spotted a red Chevy parked on the shoulder with the air bags deployed and damage to the front corner panel. Police spoke to Gibson and a passenger and learned Gibson was driving in the area of Valley and Wendover roads when he lost control of the car and crashed into a snow bank on the side of the road.

Police then checked the area and discovered a damaged snow bank, with snow covering the roadway. Neither Gibson nor the passenger reported any injuries as a result of the crash.

While police spoke to Gibson, they noticed the strong smell of alcohol on his breath. They administered a field sobriety test and he was arrested.

After being placed in the patrol car, Gibson became combative and kicked his feet at the window in the rear of the car, but did not cause any damage.

Police searched Gibson’s car and found three open containers in the rear seat.

Gibson was later released.

Attempted Car Theft

Montclair police are investigating an attempted car theft on the 200 block of Orange Road Sunday.

According to police reports, the victim was visiting a friend at the home. He parked his Mercedes Benz 350 in front of the friends house. He and his friend then noticed a man walking up and down Orange Road several times and reported the man was acting suspicious.

The victim said they saw the man enter the car through the unlocked passenger side and rifling through the glove compartment.

The car’s owner then left the house as the man left the car. The man then said, “Whoa! Whoa!” and fled southbound on Orange Road while being pursued by the owner.

The owner lost sight of the man after he turned onto Irving Street. Nothing was reported missing from the Mercedes.

The man is described as a light-skinned Hispanic male, 5-foot, 8-inches 5-foot, 10-inches tall, in his early 20s. He was last seen wearing sneakers, baggy khaki pants, and a tan three-quarter length overcoat.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact Det. Ray Gulbin at (973) 509-4739.