Crime & Safety

Police Find Wrecked Rooms, Poor Conditions at Motel

Authorities, who were looking for three men with warrants, say owner faces summonses.

Hopatcong police responded to the looking for three men with outstanding warrants but would end up arresting two more people, and summonses are expected to be issued due to the hotel's conditions.

Police came looking for Brian Kunz, 22, of Hopatcong, Matthew Grosse, 24, of Morristown, and Vincent Zarlenga, 21, of Succasunna, all who had outstanding warrants, on Saturday at 10:20 a.m. Upon arrival, they first found Kristen Preteroti, 28, of Paterson, and Autumn Rutkowski, 20, of Hopatcong, coming out of a room that had been forced open, police said. The pair allegedly did not have keys for the rooms and stayed the night without paying. Police said they were both charged with burglary and theft of services.

Police said they then found other doors had been forced open and the rooms used as a place to party. In total, police said they found five other rooms that had been forced open, including the manager’s office.

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While in some of those rooms, police said they found sever mold conditions, smashed mirrors, water damage, deteriorating walls, a discharged fire extinguisher, and tarps covering the roof.

While searching, police said they found Kunz, Grosse and Zarlenga in two of the rooms. Each of them was arrested for burglary, criminal mischief, and theft of services. Bail was set at $10,000 for Kunz and $7,500 for Zarlenga, both of whom posted bail. Grosse was sent to the Sussex County Jail, in lieu of $10,000 bail.

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Police also said the conditions at the motel are being investigated by the housing authority and the Sussex County Board of Health, and that the fire marshal will be issuing summonses to the owner.


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