Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Police searching for shooters who hit 26 residences Sunday night.
Some 26 Hopatcong homes were hit with paintballs between 11 p.m. Sunday and the early morning hours of Monday, causing broken windows and dents, and police are asking the public for any information to help solve the case. Paintballs hit homes and cars as the night wore on, Lt. Thomas Kmetz said, and while some residents were able to simply wash the paint off, others had dents and broken windows to their property. The estimated value of the damage has not yet been determined, Kmetz said. Police are waiting for a surveillance video but are seeking the public’s help in the interim. Anyone with information is asked to contact the police department at 973-398-5000. Paintballs were found sprayed in the following locations: For questions about …
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Hopatcong resident staged burglary of his own home, stole girlfriend's cash, police said.
A Hopatcong man told police his home was burglarized and goods, along with cash, was stolen while he was gone, but was caught in a web of lies, finally admitting the entire incident was staged, police said. On May 2, Hopatcong police responded to a home on Mast Road for a reported burglary, Lt. Thomas Kmetz said. When speaking with the resident who made the call, Christopher Kelly, 33, they were told the home was burglarized during an hour-long period in which the residence was vacant, Kmetz said. Kelly said he and another family member went to the mall around 6:30 p.m. and came home an hour later, Kmetz said. When they got home, Kelly said his room was “ransacked,” Kmetz said. Police found a screen door had been cut and an umbrella used …
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Police join annual initiative to enforce Click It or Ticket campaign.
Buckle up, it’s the law. And for 12 days between May and June, that law will be heavily enforced in Hopatcong, according to Lt. Thomas Kmetz. Local law enforcement has been granted monies to participate in the annual Click It or Ticket initiative from May 20 to June 2, where patrol will be stepped up and police will be extra sensitive to ensure motorists are obeying the seatbelt law. Kmetz reminds drivers of the following: Children under 8 years old or under 80 lbs must be in a child safety seat. Preferably in the rear passenger seat. Drivers are responsible for all passengers who are less than 18 years old and are not wearing their seatbelt in both the front and back seats. Passengers 18 years old and older in either the front or rear …
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Hopatcong resident says $600 worth of goods taken from his basement, police report.
Some $600 worth of property was stolen from a Tufts Trail home in the past month, and police are looking for the thief. The Hopatcong resident alerted police that a Powermate portable 3,200-watt generator, Dewalt 14-volt power drill, Coleman inflatable camping mattress and a black grill cover had all been stolen from his basement within the past month without his knowledge, Lt. Thomas Kmetz said. The basement door was never locked, the resident told police, and when he recently went downstairs to move some things around, he realized the generator box was empty, Kmetz said. That’s when he noticed the other property was gone, Kmetz said. Police are asking anyone with information to contact the department at 973-398-5000. For questions about …
Resident found explosive device detonated on his car on Dupont Avenue, police report.
Police are searching for someone who constructed a homemade bomb and planted it on a car on Dupont Avenue, Hopatcong Police Lt. Thomas Kmetz said. A man called police Monday morning to say his truck had been struck by what appeared to be an explosive device, Kmetz said. Officers found a broken Snapple bottle wedged between the truck’s passenger side rearview mirror and window, with the top broken off from impact, Kmetz said. A “gel-like substance” was found on the window and door, and on the ground was paper wrapped in cloth tape typically used as bandages, Kmetz said. The impact caused two scrapes on the window, Kmetz said. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Luciani at 973-398-5000. For questions about this post, email …
Friday, April 26, 2013
Fire caused smoke damage to apartment before police knock it down with extinguishers, authorities report.
A toaster set upon a stovetop caught fire when a homeowner turned on the wrong burner, causing smoke damage to a Musconetcong Avenue home Thursday, police said. Kathleen Sutphen accidentally ignited her toaster oven when it was placed on the stovetop, requiring Hopatcong police and fire to respond to the scene, Lt. Thomas Kmetz said. When Officer Chris Lotito arrived he found all residents outside the structure, and saw smoke billowing out of the back window and door of the basement apartment, Kmetz said. Lotito was able to use his fire extinguisher from the patrol car to knock the fire down, Kmetz said. Hopatcong firefighters found the cause of the incident when they arrived on scene. The smoke caused damage to the area of the stove and …
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Hopatcong police needed pepper spray and two officers to subdue Philpsburg man, authorities report.
A Philipsburg man was arrested and jailed after running from Hopatcong police and resisting arrest, authorities said. The Warren County Prosecutor’s Office issued a warrant for David Christian, 23, and asked local police to serve it to the Philipsburg resident at his current location on Helen Street in Hopatcong, Lt. Thomas Kmetz said. Hopatcong police, along with a detective from Lopatcong, tried to serve the warrant at noon Tuesday, and Christian ran from the officers, Kmetz said. A chase ensued, which caused the detective to injure his leg and head while in pursuit, Kmetz said. Christian headed toward Stanhope and ran into the woods near railroad tracks, Kmetz said. Officers lost track of Christian but continued to search for him until …
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Lake Hopatcong, Landing residents charged with theft and conspiracy.
A dating couple was arrested after a woman found a dozen video games had been stolen from her home, Hopatcong police said. Hopatcong police received a report of theft on April 12 involving 12 PlayStation 3 video games with a value of $720 from a Skidmore Trail home, Lt. Thomas Kmetz said. The victim told police she believed her cousin, Chester Bencivengo Jr., 26 of Landing, and his girlfriend, Sabrina Kucevic, 25 of Lake Hopatcong, who were at the house on April 9, were to blame for the incident, Kmetz said. An investigation led police to the retail store Game Stop in Randolph, where the stolen games were discovered, Kmetz said. It was also learned Kucevic was the person who traded them in to the store, Kmetz said. Surveillance video at …
Monday, April 15, 2013
Franklin man arrested Monday morning for having illegal prescription drugs, police report.
A Franklin man allegedly searching for cigarette butts was arrested for possession of prescription drugs, Hopatcong police reported. Kye Johnson, 38, was found leaning against the front door of St. Jude’s Church at 12:57 a.m. Monday with a flashlight, Lt. Thomas Kmetz said. When Johnson spoke with Officer David Kraus, he told the patrolman he was searching for cigarette butts in the ashtrays, Kmetz said. Johnson told Kraus he was not from the area and was watching a friend’s house, Kmetz said. For his own safety, Kraus patted down Johnson, who admitted he had drugs in his pocket, Kmetz said. Kraus then found morphine and oxycodone pills, Kmetz said. A search also found Johnson had a $500 outstanding warrant from Franklin, Kmetz said. …
Monday, April 8, 2013
Council also OKs $80,000 for police computers.
The Borough Council introduced ordinances last week to fund general improvements, and work on the water and sewer systems. The council also approved a separate ordinance to purchase computer equipment for the police department. The police ordinance calls for spending $80,00 on the new computer equipment. The funds will be taken from the capital surplus account, said administrator Robert Elia. That account is where unspent capital funds are placed, if, for example, a project costs less than was budgeted. No additional tax dollars were placed in the budget for the purchase, he said. The council is seeking to borrow $850,000 to fund various improvements to borough properties, including the fire department buildings, the public works building …
Debra Van Ness
7:50 am on Sunday, May 19, 2013
When they are caught they should pay for the damage and do some community activity . There are places to play paintball safely so why take it out on people minding their own business.Not innocent fun vandalism. more ›