Case Update July 18
On July 14, 2023, at 10:50 am, Millburn Police responded to White Oak Ridge road and met with a mail carrier, who reported that a suspect just stole mail from her postal vehicle. The postal employee stated that she was delivering a package to a White Oak Ridge Road residence, when she saw a suspect reach into her mail truck and steal a tray of mail. The suspect then fled in a black sedan. This incident remains under investigation by the Millburn Police Detective Bureau.
On July 14, 2023 at 11:25 am, Millburn Police Officer Matos responded to Locust Ave on a report of attempted burglary to a motor vehicle. The reporting person stated that unknown actors attempted to enter a parked USPS vehicle. The two suspects were described as Hispanic males. They then fled in a black Infiniti Q50. This incident remains under investigation by the Millburn Police Detective Bureau.
On July 15, 2023 at 1:59 am, Millburn Police Officer Recinos and Kostovski responded to the Millburn Standard on a report of an assault that had just occurred. The officers pulled up and met with the Millburn standard security guard, who reported that he was punched in the face multiple times, by the actor, who then left and walked towards Essex St. Millburn Police located the suspect in Millburn Municipal parking lot 5. The investigation led to the arrest of Thomas Levecchia, age 47, of Scotch Plains. He was charged with simple assault, and was released on his own recognizance.
On July 15, 2023, Millburn Police Officer Shanahan responded to a Wyoming Ave residence on a report of an attempted burglary to a vehicle. The resident reported that, two unknown suspects attempted to gain entry to her 2015 Audi A3, but were unsuccessful because her doors were locked. The males then fled in awaiting blue Nissan sedan, which was stolen out of East Orange. This same suspects in this vehicle also entered an unlocked Sagamore residence vehicle, a 2019 BMW, and stole $10 out of the center console, and fled the area. These incidents remains under investigation by the Millburn Police Detective Bureau.
On July 15 2023, at 6:40 pm, Millburn Police Officer Jezewski responded to Ralph Lauren Polo at the Mall at Short Hills for a report of theft. Ralph Lauren manager reported that an hour earlier, on CCTV, she observed a female suspect selected a handbag (valued at $498.00) from a display rack and then concealed it in a Gap shopping bag, and exited the store. The suspect was described as a light skin black female with braids. This incident remains under investigation by the Millburn Police Detective Bureau.
On July 16, 2023, at 12:22 pm Officer Reid located a wanted individual, standing in front of Starbucks on Millburn Ave. The suspect Russel Harnew, age 38, of Freehold NJ was detained. A record check of Harnew was completed and confirmed that he had an active warrant for $2,500.00 for his arrest out of Cinnaminson, NJ. He was placed under arrest and transported to Millburn HQ for processing. He was turned over to Cinnaminson Police, without incident.
On July 16, 2023, Millburn Police Officer Jezewski responded to a Hartshorn Drive residence on a report of attempted burglary to the residence. The resident reported that at 03:54 am, his burglar alarm went off, and he found one of his side doors open. The Police arrived and cleared house of any suspects. The resident reported that his home security camera showed at 03:53, two male suspects attempting to enter his residence through an unlocked side door. As they opened the door, the alarm was activated and the suspects fled the area. This incident remains under investigation by the Millburn Police Detective Bureau.
On June 16 2023 at 03:29 pm, Millburn Police Officer Dundon located a stolen vehicle in the Hartshorn school parking lot. The vehicle was a stolen 2016 Audi A6, stolen out of Demarest NJ. As Officer Dundon pulled into the schools parking lot, he observed a black male suspect attempting to change a flat tire on the stolen vehicle. As soon as the suspect was made aware of the officer’s presence, he began to run from the area. Two other suspects that were in the stolen vehicle, also began running from the scene. The three suspects were able to elude officers on foot, they were last seen running towards Addison drive. Essex County K9 and multiple other jurisdictions arrive to assist looking for the outstanding suspects, with negative results. The vehicle was impounded. This incident remains under investigation by the Millburn Police Detective Bureau.
On July 17, 2023 at 02:46 am, Millburn Police Officer Crawn responded to the Short Hills Ter apartments on a report of an attempted burglary to motor vehicle. The reporting person stated that he heard his car alarm go off, and he then observed two actors attempting to enter his parked 2008 Mercedes Benz. He the exited his apartment and ran towards the actors. The actors got into a silver Hyundai suv and fled the area. The owner of the vehicle followed them onto 78 east where he lost track of them. This incident remains under investigation by the Millburn Police Detective Bureau.
On July 17, at 02:46 am Clifton Police contacted Millburn dispatch and requested MPD to get in contact with a Short hills Terrace apartment resident. The Millburn resident’s vehicle, a 2019 Volkswagen Passat, was just involved in a rollover crash in Clifton, and the passengers were seen running from the vehicle. Millburn Police Officer Crawn met with the owner, who learned his vehicle was missing from his parking space and was stolen. He stated it was left unlocked with the Key fob inside of it.
On July 17, 2023 at 10:54 am, Millburn Police Detective DeRosa located a stolen vehicle, parked at the gas pumps at the Exxon gas station on South Orange Ave. The vehicle was a stolen 2017 Mercedes Benz AMG 63, stolen out of Long Branch NJ. Detective DeRosa along with Officer Reid surrounded the stolen vehicle. The driver of the stolen vehicle then went in reversed striking the police vehicle, and then fled at a high rate of speed. Detective DeRosa pursued the vehicle east on South Orange Ave into the s-turns, but shortly after terminated the pursuit. This incident remains under investigation by the Millburn Police Detective Bureau.
On July 17, 2023, at 7:30 pm, Millburn Police Officer Palmer and Officer Lyons responded to Burberry at the Mall at Short Hills for a report of a shoplifting theft that just occurred. Burberry manager reported that a female (age 38), later identified as Shantia Williams, out of Baltimore MD, had concealed a Burberry shirt and pair of pants, valued at $1090.00 and left the store without paying. Officer Palmer and Lyons were able to locate this female in Louis Vuitton .Williams was placed under arrest and charged with shoplifting, she was later released on her own recognizance. These are accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they enter a guilty plea or are found guilty in a court of law.