Crime & Safety

Police Blotter: Applebee's Worker Bitten by Drunk Man

Lawrence Township police have also been kept busy investigating a lewd act, a harassing text message, the discovery of a bag of marijuana at a school and several thefts and frauds.

Simple Assault

An employee of the Applebee’s Grill and Bar was transported to a hospital for treatment after he was allegedly bitten in the arm by an intoxicated patron about 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 10, according to Lt. Charles Edgar, a Lawrence Township police spokesman.

The suspect, a 42-year-old man from Hightstown, allegedly became drunk and started “disturbing” other patrons in the bar area of the restaurant in the 3300 block of Brunswick Pike (Route 1), Edgar said.

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He said the man was asked to leave by the management of the restaurant, but the man allegedly refused to cooperate, went into the restaurant’s kitchen and spit beer on a worker.

Edgar said the man was finally escorted outside but he then attempted to reenter the restaurant to retrieve his hat, which had apparently fallen off at some point. Another employee tried to keep the man from going back inside, but the two lost their footing and fell to the ground together, he said.

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While on the ground, the 42-year-old allegedly bit the employee – a 27-year-old man from Bayville – on the left bicep, causing bruising and bleeding, Edgar said. Police and an ambulance were requested by the Applebee’s staff and the employee was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton for treatment, he said.

Edgar said police took a report about the incident, however because officers did not witness the alleged biting it will be up to the 27-year-old to decide whether he wants to sign a simple assault complaint against the 42-year-old.

 *   *   *

Lewdness

Lawrence Township police officers at 10:51 a.m. on Monday, March 7, were sent to a parking lot in the 4000 block of Quakerbridge Road to investigate a complaint that a man was masturbating inside a parked car there.

Edgar said the 911 caller – a man who was in his own car parked nearby – told police he could see the suspect making “hand motions.” Although the caller said he never saw the suspect’s “private parts,” he was convinced by the hand motions that the man was pleasuring himself, Edgar said.

The suspect drove away soon after the 911 call was made, so he was no longer in the area when police arrived. Edgar said police have the vehicle’s license number and are still investigating the complaint. 

*   *   *

Drug Discovery

Detective Dave Burns is investigating the discovery of a bag containing a small amount of marijuana that was found on the grounds of Lawrence Intermediate School on Eggerts Crossing Road on Monday, March 7, Edgar said.

He said a school administrator found the bag and notified police about 3:30 p.m.

*   *   *

Harassment

Detective Scott Caloiaro is investigating a complaint that a 12-year-old student at Saint Ann School on Rossa Avenue received a harassing cellular phone text message, Edgar said. He said the victim, a Hamilton Township resident, allegedly received the text during an after-school program on Thursday, March 10.

The suspect is also 12 years old, Edgar said, stressing that the text was of a harassing nature but not threatening.  

*   *   *

Fraud

Tiffanie Phillips, 22, of Paulsboro was stopped on Spruce Street about 9:50 a.m. on Wednesday, March 9, after Sgt. Tim allegedly spotted her talking on a cellular phone while driving, Edgar said.

While looking over Phillips credentials, Drew – “based on his experience” as a police officer – became suspicious about her vehicle insurance card, Edgar said. He said Drew contacted the insurance company named on the card and learned that the card was fake and that there was no insurance policy on the vehicle.

Phillips was charged with providing a fraudulent insurance card, as well as driving while using a cell phone, he said.

*   *   *

Shoplifting

Township police are working to identify three women who allegedly stole merchandise from the Old Navy store at Quaker Bridge Mall in the 3300 block of Brunswick Pike (Route 1) about noon on Monday, March 7.

The women fled the store after they were allegedly seen putting various items in a plastic shopping bag one of them was carrying, Edgar said.

Store employees described all three women as black. One was heavy-set and wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt. Another was thin and had on a turquoise shirt. The third had a medium build and was dressed in a brown shirt and “large” boots.

*   *   *

Fraud

About 9 a.m. on Wednesday, March 9, township police were notified by the Verizon Wireless kiosk at Quaker Bridge Mall that a woman had used a stolen American Express card to purchase a cell phone, Edgar said. He said the woman was described as black, about 25 years old, 5 feet 9 inches tall and 150 to 165 pounds, wearing glasses and a dark green coat.

The stolen card belongs to a 47-year-old woman from New York City. The crime is under investigation by Officer Chris Stylianou.

*   *   *

Theft

At 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 9, management at the ShopRite supermarket in the Mercer Mall in the 3300 block of Brunswick Pike (Route 1) contacted township police with allegations that three employees who work as cashiers had stolen a total of about $45 worth of merchandise by under-charging or not charging each other for the items, Edgar said.

Edgar said the three women – an 18-year-old Princeton resident, a 19-year-old Princeton resident, and a 22-year-old Trenton resident – allegedly went to one another to buy pre-made meals, gum and other things while they were working and paid less than the ticketed prices for the items. Police took a report on the allegations and advised management that it will be up to the store to sign criminal complaints for theft against the employees, he said.

*   *   *

Theft

Police received a complaint against a 44-year-old Trenton woman from the staff at Dick Greenfield Dodge in the 2700 block of Brunswick Pike (Business Route 1). The car dealership called police about 2:10 p.m. on Wednesday, March 9, to inquire about filing a theft complaint against the woman, who they alleged had cancelled payment on two checks she had written to Dick Greenfield to pay for services they had made to her vehicle, and for a rental car she had used while her vehicle was being worked on, according to Edgar. The dealership was advised on the complaint-signing procedure.

 

Anyone with information about any of the above crimes is asked to call Lawrence Township police at (609) 896-1111.

A copy of Lawrence Township's police dispatch log for Monday, March 7, through Thursday, March 10, 2011, can be downloaded from the PDF box above. This log lists all significant calls for service and incidents for which officers filed a written report. Routine administrative assignments are omitted. Some data has been redacted to protect the identity of crime victims.


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