Is it time for
‘Neighborhood Watch?’
By:Alec Moore
Councilman Martin Wierzba is calling for the community’s support in keeping Manville safe.
The brawl that occurred early Saturday morning on South Main Street, as well as other criminal acts Mr. Wierzba said he has noticed in town, has raised his concerns for the safety of Manville’s residents.
For example, Mr. Wierzba said he reported suspicious activity he observed that led to the arrests of people on drug use and drug possession charges.
While Mr. Wierzba said he fully supports the borough’s Police Department, he said residents should begin taking a more proactive stance to safeguard the community and deter criminal elements from coming into town.
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Four arrested following brawl Four men have been charged in connection with a brawl that broke out in front of Mi Casita, a Mexican restaurant on South Main Street, at approximately 2 a.m. Saturday. Manville police charged four people who did not leave when the 20 or so people involved in the fight were asked by to disperse. Police responded to the restaurant after receiving a report of a crowd in the area. Hugo Gini, 34, of Bridgewater was charged with failure to disperse. Philip Mino, 24, of Bernardsville was charged with failure to disperse and resisting arrest. Arny Mino, 32, also of Bernardsville, was charged with assaulting a police officer after he allegedly kicked Manville Patrolman John Granahan outside the restaurant, and resisting arrest and failure to disperse. Dario Esteban Aredes, 19, of Miami Beach, Fla., was charged with resisting arrest, failure to disperse and disorderly conduct. The four men were held in the Somerset County Jail in lieu of bail after the charges were filed. According to police, no injuries were reported among the people involved in the brawl, and no cause of the incident has been determined by police. Sally Goldenberg
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Mr. Wierzba says layoffs in the Manville Police Department earlier this year, which reduced the ranks by three officers and two dispatchers, require residents to be more alert to anything suspicious.
Manville Police Chief John Petrovic declined to comment on the impact the layoffs have had on the department or whether the recent events indicate a trend or not, but said he does encourage residents, as well as nonresidents, to report anything that appears to be criminal activity.
During Saturday’s street brawl, which occurred at 2 a.m. outside Mi Casita restaurant, police from Branchburg and Bridgewater lent assistance to deal with the melee that involved about 20 people. Hillsborough police also were called to assist, but were called off once the situation was under control by the officers at the scene. Four men were arrested and one Manville police officer was hurt when he was kicked in the stomach by one of the suspects.
"A lot of things are happening in town that are taking a turn for the worst and our police are being stretched too thin," said Mr. Wierzba.
He cited the brawl, along with reports of individuals using drugs in the borough’s parks, as indicators that the public needs to take a renewed interest in ensuring the safety of the community.
"Public safety is a big issue for me and our safety is at issue here, so community policing is very important," said Mr. Wierzba. "If you see 20 or 30 guys loitering outside at 1 a.m., then that might be something the police will want to look into," he said.

