Police: Drunk Driver Hit Pole, Caused Power Outage

Driving Under the Influence

A one-car crash that knocked out electrical service to homes and businesses in the Franklin Corner Road area for some time during the pre-dawn hours of Friday, March 15, resulted in drunk driving charges being filed against the driver, according to Lawrence Township police spokesman Lt. Mark Ubry.

It was shortly before 2:40 a.m. when Officer Ryan Dunn – having, while on patrol, observed that power was out to the traffic lights at the intersection of Route 1 and Franklin Corner Road – began to search the surrounding area for a transformer fire or other problem that would explain the electrical outage, Ubry said.

He said Dunn soon came upon the scene of the accident in the 100 block of Franklin Corner Road in which a car had struck a utility pole, causing the pole to snap and fall across the roadway.

The car’s driver, Jose Ramos, 21, of Brick Township, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving, refusing to submit to a breath test, and failing to maintain a lane, Ubry said.

He said neither Ramos nor his passenger was injured.

PSE&G utility crews responded to restore power to the area and replace the snapped pole.    

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Attempted Burglary

Detective James Smith is investigating an attempted break-in that took place at Al’s Service Station in the 100 block of Lawrence Road (Route 206) during the early hours of Thursday, March 21. Police officers, responding to a burglar alarm activation reported at 3:41 a.m., found that a plate glass window – with an estimated value of $550 – had been smashed, Ubry said. He said a search of the building revealed that nothing of value had been stolen.

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Drug Offense  

Daniel D’Angelo, 22, of Hamilton Township, was arrested about 8:10 p.m. Friday, March 15, and charged with possession of heroin and possession of hypodermic needles, Ubry said.

He said Detective Scott Caloiaro and Officer Steve Simon – sent to investigate a “suspicious person in a vehicle” outside the McDonald’s restaurant off Brunswick Circle Extension – found D’Angelo reclined in the driver’s seat of the parked car.

Believing that D’Angelo was not acting appropriately and might be under the influence of narcotics, the officers investigated further and discovered a quantity of heroin and needles in the vehicle, according to Ubry.

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Drug Offense

Daniel Tartakovsky, 23, of Monroe Township, was arrested at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, and charged with possession of prescription medication without having a prescription and hindering apprehension after the vehicle he was driving was stopped on Route 1 near Franklin Corner Road by Sgt. Chris Longo for a traffic violation (headlight out), Ubry said.

Ubry said Tartakovsky was taken into custody after it was discovered he had lied about his identity by providing police with a false name. A subsequent search of Tartakovsky’s person revealed he was in possession of prescription pills, Ubry added.

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Drug Offense

Hadi Mufti, 23, of Southampton, Pa., was arrested about 10:15 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19, and charged with possession of marijuana, possession of prescription medication without having a prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia, and traffic violations, Ubry said.

Sgt. Tim Drew initiated a traffic stop on the Trenton Freeway (Route 1) because Hadi’s vehicle had a defective rear light and failed to “keep right,” Ubry said. During the stop, he said, Drew observed suspected drug paraphernalia in plain view in the vehicle and, during his subsequent investigation, found the narcotics in Hadi’s possession.

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Theft

Detective Todd Caruso and Officer Richard Laird III are investigating the circumstances surrounding the theft of a diamond ring – valued at $700 – from a home on Johnson Avenue. The theft is believed to have taken place between Feb. 21 and March 14, Ubry said, noting that police were notified of the crime on March 19. No evidence of forced entry to the residence was found, he said.

Police ask anyone with information about any of the above crimes to call them at (609) 896-1111.