POLICE BLOTTER

By:
   Margarito Cruz, 39, of New Brunswick, was charged with driving while intoxicated at 9:59 p.m. Feb. 17, after Mr. Cruz ran a red light at the intersection of Brown Avenue and Route 206.
   Police said Mr. Cruz appeared extremely intoxicated and was transported to police headquarters where he was also charged with driving unlicensed, failure to observe a traffic signal, failure to keep right, careless driving, refusal to submit to a breath test, and consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle.
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A manager at Dunkin’ Donuts reported a theft from the employees’ tip jar at 9:40 a.m. March 7.
   Police said the manager told them approximately $5 was taken from the jar on the front counter. The manager said about $15 was taken from the jar Sept. 27.
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Joan L. Pasterik, 53, of Raritan, was charged with driving while intoxicated at 2:58 p.m. arch 9.
   Police said they approached Ms. Pasterik in her silver Honda Accord parked on Omni Drive after somebody reported she was asleep in her vehicle.
   Police said Ms. Pasterik failed sobriety tests and was taken to headquarters where she told police she was taking several medications for pain and health problems. Police said the Hillsborough Rescue Squad transported Ms. Pasterik to the Somerset Medical Center for a blood test.
   Ms. Pasterik was released to her sister after being transported back to police headquarters.
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Jaysen P. Williams, 30, of Newark, was charged with shoplifting items valued over $200 from the Pathmark in the Hillsborough Promenade at 1:26 p.m. March 10.
   Police said a loss prevention officer in the store stopped Mr. Williams at the exit of the store after observing him allegedly take two large packages of toilet paper, several baby formula cans, a box of diapers, portable DVD players and two cordless phones, valued at $1,053.04.
   Police transported Mr. Williams to headquarters, where his bail was set at $20,000 with a 10 percent cash option.
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A Hillsborough resident reported his vehicle was shot at while turning onto Burniston Court from Amsterdam Road at 2:33 p.m. on March 10.
   Police said the driver said he heard a cracking noise coming from the back seat, and found a ¼-inch hole in the driver’s rear quarter panel, approximately 3 inches down from the rear window in the right rear quarter panel of his minivan.
   Police recovered a .308-caliber Winchester casing, which was taken into evidence.
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Police said they responded to report of a burglary at 7:40 p.m. March 10 at Co-Parts Salvage Auctions, Inc., on Camplain Road.
   Police said they met and spoke with a security officer there who told them that he observed a fence in the northern portion of the property was pulled back and forced open and that a gray Chrysler parked on the property was running with the radio playing.
   The owner of the property was notified, and police interviewed neighbors who could not provide any further information.
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A Taurus Drive resident reported a burglary at 12:48 p.m. March 13. Police said the resident reported finding an intruder in his house who fled once he was confronted. Police said the resident told them nothing was taken from the home.
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A field fire burned about 6 acres in the area of Beekman Lane and New Center Road at 1:23 p.m. March 14. Police said the fire started by a homeowner cutting scrap metal with a torch.
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Annette Conturso, 19, of Queens, N.Y., was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia at 1:26 p.m. March 18.
   Police said they stopped Ms. Conturso in her white Pontiac on Route 206 after noticing her license plate was placed on the windshield in front of the passenger seat.
   Police said Ms. Conturso’s license was suspended for unpaid tickets and that she had an outstanding $296 warrant for her arrest from Newark.
   Police said they noticed two small pieces of rolled up copper colored steel wool pad that contained burnt residue, which they said seemed consistent with that of a filter inserted into a smoking device used to smoke crack cocaine. Police found a wax paper packet containing a white powdery residue in Ms. Conturso’s purse, and a small dark colored plastic bag containing a white powdery residue.
   Ms. Conturso was transported to headquarters where she was also charged with driving with unclear plates and driving while suspended.