2 FACE SEX CHARGES IN ATTACK ON BOY, 16

By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Sunday, March 31, 1991

The Record (New Jersey) | All Editions | NEWS | Page A03

Two Rutherford men were charged Saturday with sexual assault and criminal sexual contact with a 16-year-old boy.
Richard Amato, 32, of 10 Ayre Place was arrested about 9 p.m. Friday at his business, Big Rich’s Music at 114 Park Ave., and was being held on $20,000 bail in the Bergen County Jail, said First Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor Paul Brickfield.
John Capodanno, 36, of 346 Union Ave. was arrested about 4 a.m. Saturday at his home, but posted the $20,000 bail and was released, Brickfield said.
Rutherford police detectives and the Bergen County Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit are investigating, Brickfield said, declining to discuss the case further.
Brickfield said the investigation of Amato and Capodanno is unrelated to that of another Rutherford man, Charles W. Confer Jr., 30, of 53 Feronia Way, whose case is now before a grand jury.
Confer was charged March 3 with two counts of sexual assault on a minor after two youths reported incidents a day earlier to police.
He was being held on $50,000 bail. Authorities at the jail would not confirm whether he was still there.

Keywords: SEX; ASSAULT; YOUTH; RUTHERFORD; ABUSE

HOTEL FIRE IS TRACED TO SMOKER ON BREAK

MICHAEL O. ALLEN | Sunday, March 31, 1991

The Record (New Jersey) | All Editions | NEWS | Page A03

A Sheraton Heights Hotel employee taking a cigarette break in a fourth-floor linen closet Saturday ignited a fire that caused a limited evacuation and minor damage, officials said.
Although a few people staying in the hotel were evacuated, no one was injured and the hotel operations, including tonight’s Easter dinner scheduled for 600 guests, will not be affected, said Nick Nicolosi, executive vice president of Motor Inn Associates, which owns the hotel.
“The water did not get to the ballroom or the Apollo restaurant, where we’ll be serving the dinner,” Nicolosi said.
Nicolosi said an investigator found a box of matches and a package of cigarettes in the closet. Damage was limited to the closet and water stains to tiles in the second- and third-floor ceilings, he said. The employee’s identity had not been determined.
Hasbrouck Heights police said Little Ferry and Wood-Ridge firefighters assisted the borough fire department in putting out the fire.

Keywords: HOTEL; FIRE; TOBACCO; HASBROUCK HEIGHTS

RAIN FAILS TO STOP PEACE RALLY

By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Sunday, March 24, 1991

The Record (New Jersey) | All Editions | NEWS | Page A03

Rain forced a peace activists rally into a Broad Street church Saturday, where they issued a call for American troops to be withdrawn from the Middle East. They urged that the money being used to maintain the troops be spent on domestic problems.
After the rally at Military Park in Newark was cut short, the crowd of about 250 went to the Presbyterian Church two blocks away for an interfaith service to memorialize all who died in the war.
Christians, Jews, and Muslims participated in the ecumenical service.
Lawrence Lamm, chairman of the New Jersey Rainbow Coalition, urged the audience to continue fighting for racial and economic justice.
“Many of you, I know, in recent weeks have been somewhat distraught, wondering how a country such as ours, where the people have such a high level of education and literacy, could blindly follow a foreign policy based on death and destruction. But I say, friends, that we must not despair, that we must in fact take our energy and our emotions and throw it into building a movement for peace and justice.”
The Rev. Robert Moore, director of the Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament, said he was not in support of the war to begin with and, now that the stated goal of removing Iraq from Kuwait has been achieved, it is time for Americans to come home. He said the tax dollars being spent to keep them there should be brought home, too.
“We should turn it over to the United Nations and the Arab League and other entities like that to try to resolve other problems and conflicts that are left,” he said.
Rep. Donald Payne, D-Newark, scheduled to address the gathering, was said to have a prior commitment and sent an aide instead.
Rick Thigpen, an aide to Payne, said the congressman has remained constant in his opposition to the war. Payne preferred economic sanctions, he said.
Mayor Sharpe James, who was to greet the participants on the steps of City Hall, also did not appear. Michael Immerso, one of the organizers of the rally, was unable to reach the mayor or any of his aides but said James probably assumed the rally was canceled because of the rain.

Keywords: PERSIAN GULF WAR; DEMONSTRATION

Caption: 1 – PHOTO – STEVE AUCHARD / THE RECORD – Bryan Douglas of Franklin Park, left photo, scrubbing U.S. flag to symbolically cleanse it of Iraqi blood. 2 – PHOTO – STEVE AUCHARD / THE RECORD – In top photo, activists listening to Lawrence Lamm, 3 – PHOTO – STEVE AUCHARD / THE RECORD – right photo, state Rainbow Coalition chief.

BOSTON ACCIDENT KILLS N.J. STUDENT; CELTICS PLAYER IS ARRESTED

By Michael O. Allen and Chrisena A. Coleman, Record Staff Writers | Saturday, March 23, 1991

The Record (New Jersey) | All Editions | NEWS | Page A01

A 20-year-old Ridgewood woman and a college classmate, on their way to buy refreshments during a study break, were struck and killed in Boston early Friday by a van driven by a Boston Celtics player who had been drinking, police said.
Michelle Dartley of 118 Madison Place, Ridgewood, a Boston University sophomore, and An Trinh, 21, of Placentia, Calif., were pronounced dead on arrival at Beth Israel Hospital shortly after the accident on Commonwealth Avenue at about 1:45 a.m., authorities said.
Celtics reserve guard Charles Smith, 23, was arrested near the entrance to the Massachusetts Turnpike, about a mile from where the women were hit, police said. Smith pleaded not guilty to two counts of vehicular homicide, driving under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene of an accident. He was released on $100,000 personal recognizance bail.
Albert E. Dartley said he was told that his daughter and her friend had taken a break from studying and were on their way to buy soft drinks at a convenience store when the accident occurred.
“It’s just not real. It is hard for me to accept,” Dartley said, shaking his head in disbelief. “I went to visit her last weekend. Thank God I didn’t cancel that trip.
“She had truly excellent values, just a very decent person, very fair-minded. “
Teachers and school officials at Ridgewood High School, where Michelle graduated in 1989, said her strength was in writing and she wrote for the school newspaper and a school literary magazine. She was a reporter for Boston University’s newspaper, The Daily Free Press.
“She had a really good sense for literature, a very good critical sense,” said Ridgewood English teacher Larry Coyle.
Police said a breath test showed Smith had a blood-alcohol level of 0.06 percent. A reading of 0.10 means a person is legally drunk in Massachusetts.

Keywords: ACCIDENT; RIDGEWOOD; DEATH; VICTIM; MOTOR VEHICLE; ALCOHOL; ABUSE; BASKETBALL; PROFESSIONAL; MASSACHUSETT

Caption: PHOTO – MICHELLE DARTLEY

BROTHER OF JERSEY CITY MAYOR CHARGED WITH DRUNKEN DRIVING

By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Sunday, March 10, 1991

The Record (New Jersey) | All Editions | NEWS | Page A05

Thomas W. McCann, acting head of the Hudson County Parks Division and brother of Mayor Gerald McCann, was charged Saturday with drunken driving.
Police said tests revealed that McCann, 38, of 238 Pearsall Ave., had a blood-alcohol level of 0.21 percent, more than twice the level of 0.10 percent at which a driver in New Jersey is presumed to be drunk.
Jersey City police Officer Ed Jennings was dispatched at 7 a.m. to Coles Street and Newark Avenue where a man was reported to be asleep behind the wheel of a stopped vehicle. McCann, police said, was behind the wheel of a white 1988 Dodge Ram, a Hudson County government vehicle.
Jennings, in his report on the arrest, said McCann was “slumped” over the steering wheel and the motor was running. The car was in gear, and McCann had his foot on the brake, Jennings said. Jennings said he and other officers tried to wake McCann up and succeeded after “repeated” attempts.
Neither McCann, who was released on his own recognizance, nor his brother, the mayor, could be reached for comment Saturday.

Keywords: PARK; HUDSON COUNTY; ALCOHOL; ABUSE; TEST; NEW JERSEY; JERSEY CITY; GOVERNMENT; OFFICIAL

MARINE FROM TEANECK DIES DURING TRAINING EXERCISES

By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Sunday, March 10, 1991

The Record (New Jersey) | All Editions | NEWS | Page A04

A 20-year-old Teaneck man died, apparently of a heart attack, while undergoing combat water survival training Friday at the Marine Corps training base at Parris Island, S.C., a Marine spokesman said.
Danilo A. Marty Jr., was training at an indoor swimming pool to upgrade his water survival safety qualifications from third class to second class when he collapsed about 2:30 p.m., Capt. J.R. Mill said Saturday.
“It looked like . . . during the evolution of that exercise, he obviously must have experienced difficulties,” Mill said. “While they were trying to get him out of the pool, he apparently collapsed.”
Marty, who was in the pool with approximately 55 other men when the attack occurred, was pronounced dead at 3:47 p.m. Friday at the Beaufort Naval Hospital, Mill said. The cause of death was listed as “cardiopulmonary arrest, secondary to aspiration” a heart attack, he added.
Marty arrived Feb. 14 at Parris Island and began the 12-week cycle popularly known as “Boot Camp,” Mill said.
“You think it is hard to lose a Marine in combat. You can compound that a hundredfold when we lose a recruit in training,” he said.
Marty’s family has already been notified of his death, Mill said. The Martys, whose telephone number was unlisted, could not be reached for comment Saturday. Before Marty could be deemed medically fit for recruit training, Mill said, he would have undergone two complete medical examinations.
A typical day for recruits begins about 4:30 a.m., and training, which lasts until about 8 p.m., is fitted in between personal care and meals, Mill said. The safety qualification training began about 1:30 p.m. Friday and was to go on until 3 p.m. Marty, in attaining his third class safety qualification, demonstrated he could take care of himself, Mill said. Friday’s training was to teach him how to do that and take care of a wounded Marine at the same time, he said.
Although what Marty was doing when he began experiencing difficulty is now the subject of investigation, Mill said, the recruit was in the pool wearing full Marine gear, including boots, utilities, helmet, flak jacket, H-harness, cartridge belt, two magazine pouches, two full canteen with covers, a rubber rifle, duplicate of a M-16 A2 service rifle, and a standard 40-pound pack.

Keywords: TEANECK; DEATH; VICTIM; DEFENSE; NEW JERSEY

PATROLS UP AFTER FOUR ROBBERIES

By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Friday, March 8, 1991

The Record (New Jersey) | Four Star B | NEWS | Page B05

Police have beefed up patrols of city streets after a 40-year-old woman walking to her car in a municipal parking lot was robbed, the fourth such incident in a week.
Police Capt. C. Kenneth Tinsley said three of the robberies appeared to have been committed by the same two young men.
The woman, whom Tinsley declined to identify, was robbed about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday as she returned to her car in the parking lot off West Street, after leaving the McDonald’s restaurant on West Palisade Avenue with her 8-year-old son.
“She was pushed to the ground and the suspects took her purse, which contained approximately $140 and other valuables worth about $250,” Tinsley said. Neither the woman nor her son was injured.
A 30-year-old man reported that two young men grabbed him and one punched him in the face as he walked along Engle Street, in front of the public library, about 8 p.m. Sunday, Tinsley said.
The man, robbed of the $45 in his wallet, was treated at Englewood Hospital for facial wounds and released, Tinsley said.
The other two robberies took place Friday night. In what was first reported to police as a fight about 7:30 p.m., a 45-year-old man was assaulted by about eight people as he walked along James Street near Palisade Avenue, Tinsley said. The man’s wallet was stolen, along with $400 and identification cards, including an alien-immigration card.
Tinsley said a 30-year-old woman was robbed of her gold ring and necklace by two young men who asked her the time as she walked along Demarest Avenue about 6:30 p.m.
Police are also investigating whether the assault and attempted armed robbery of a 14-year-old boy at about 4 p.m. Monday was related to the spate of robberies, Tinsley said. One youth was in custody, and police expect more arrests in the case.

Keywords: ENGLEWOOD; ROBBERY; POLICE

REPAIR SHOPS CALL HIM STINGRAY; CON MAN TAKES 3 SPORTS CARS

By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Friday, March 8, 1991

The Record (New Jersey) | Four Star B | NEWS | Page B01

Investigators in Paramus, Englewood, and Englewood Cliffs are looking for a con man who stole three sports cars two in one day that were brought in for repairs at automobile dealerships.
Posing twice as the owner of the cars and once as the son of the owner, the man stole two Corvettes and a Pontiac Firebird, police and dealership officials said Thursday.
“I’ve got to tell you something, this guy was cool,” said Greg Garabed, service manager at Stillman and Hoag Inc. of Englewood, where the man drove away with a red 1990 Corvette that had just had paint work done on its roof.
“Thirty years in the business and I’ve never seen anything like it,” Garabed said.
About 5:50 p.m. on Feb. 7, 10 minutes before closing, the man marched over to the Corvette and began examining the work. He said he was the son of Michael Knee, the 48-year-old Ridgewood man who had brought the car in.
“There were four Corvettes parked in a row in a secured area in the building,” Garabed said. “This guy walked right in and went over to the car. He had a lot of information about the car.”
After arguing that the painting should have been under warranty and initially refusing to pay, the man paid $200 and left with the car. About two minutes later, the actual owner arrived.
Knee said the service people did not believe him when he told them he had not sent his son to pick up the car.
“It’s an embarrassment for us,” Garabed said, adding that Knee was a longtime customer of the dealership.
The descriptions of the man in the three thefts were similar: 27 to 30 years old, about 6 feet, with an olive complexion and dark, slicked-back hair, a long, thin face, and a mustache.
On Feb. 7, a man fitting that description walked into Steven Nacht Cadillac in Englewood Cliffs and picked up a 1986 Pontiac Firebird that was in for repairs, although the work had not been completed, said Al Glinbiezi, the assistant service manager.
The man said he needed the car right away and that he would bring it back later, Glinbiezi said.
On Feb. 21, a man fitting the same description, but this time wearing some type of police insignia around his neck, insisted on picking up a 1987 Corvette brought to Malcolm Konner Chevrolet Geo in Paramus for transmission repairs, although the work had not been done.
Lt. Donald McNair of the Paramus Police Department said he wrote letters to automobile dealers in Bergen County and to national dealership associations to warn them about the scam.
“There’s a common denominator there, but I can’t put my finger on it,” McNair said.
“I’ve never had this happen before. I’m up against the wall and I don’t have any idea.”

Keywords: PARAMUS; ENGLEWOOD; ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS; MOTOR VEHICLE; THEFT

N.J. CUTS ALCOHOL BUREAU

By Patricia Alex and Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writers | Thursday, March 7, 1991

The Record (New Jersey) | All Editions | NEWS | Page A09

The “backbone” of the state bureau enforcing liquor laws will be gutted under a cost-cutting plan that calls for 32 of the 72 enforcement agents to lose their jobs by the end of the month, inspectors said Wednesday.
The agents, who work for the New Jersey State Police Alcoholic Beverage Control Enforcement Bureau, said they feared the layoffs were the first step toward total elimination of the unit.
But Chris Florentz, spokesman for the state Division of Law and Public Safety, which ordered the cuts, said he was aware of no such plan.
Many areas of the division are facing similar cuts, as are departments throughout state government. “We decided these cuts could be made without seriously affecting the ability of the agency to monitor and regulate the alcoholic beverage industry,” said Florentz.
The bureau is charged with enforcing laws that affect the more than 1,200 legal liquor purveyors in the state, including statutes that prohibit the sale of liquor to minors. The agency also ferrets out illegal establishments and investigate liquor license applications.
“I find it very hard to believe that the state can lay off half our force and still believe that we can work as effectively,” said Edward Corrales, a senior inspector.
Corrales said the unit’s investigations often lead to fines that offset its operating costs.

Keywords: NEW JERSEY; ALCOHOL; GOVERNMENT; LAW; FINANCE; COST; LICENSE

3 RUN AFOUL OF MURPHY’S LAW; BURGLARY SUSPECTS CAR WOULDN’T START

By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Wednesday, March 6, 1991

The Record (New Jersey) | Four Star B | NEWS | Page B03

Three burglary suspects ran into the long arm of Murphy’s Law early Monday morning: Just about everything that could go wrong did.
First, police said, the homeowner and his wife screamed when James Bradley burst into their bedroom. Then, beating a hasty retreat, Bradley jumped out of a kitchen window and ran to the getaway car, but the battery was dead, police added.
Bradley fled on foot, but his two accomplices were identified by the homeowner and arrested after they asked two township police officers for help in starting the car. Bradley was captured about an hour later, police said.
Bradley, 39, of 22 E. Clinton Ave., Bergenfield; Karla C. Bradley, 40, of 12 N. Front St., Bergenfield; and Kenneth Kees, 30, whose last known address was in Cliffside Park, were being held in the Bergen County Jail on Tuesday on $20,000 bail each.
James Bradley was charged with burglary. Karla Bradley and Kees were charged with conspiracy to commit burglary.
In his report, Teaneck Police Officer Thomas Melvin said James Bradley broke into the bedroom of the East Lawn Drive home shortly before the officers pulled up to the stalled 1985 Ford Thunderbird at 12:35 a.m. Monday.
The homeowner told police he heard someone break into a rear basement window, and then he heard footsteps coming up the stairs. When the suspect finally reached the master bedroom, the homeowner and his wife both screamed.
As Karla Bradley was asking Melvin and Police Officer Robert Carney to help jump-start the car, the officers noticed the homeowner beckoning them from the third-floor window of his home.
Bradley was picked up by Carney underneath the Route 4 overpass on Teaneck Road about 1:46 a.m., police said.

Keywords: TEANECK; THEFT