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SOUTH BRUNSWICK – Police cracking down on hotels

By Mary Brienza, Staff Writer
   Police plan to crack down after they responded numerous times this weekend to two Route 1 hotels in order to disperse crowds and investigate a report of gunshots at one of the locations.
   There were reportedly two gunshots heard at the Hotel Vicenza on Route 1 at around 3 a.m. Saturday after police were called to the hotel seven times starting late Friday night, Sgt. James Ryan said.
   Police arrested two North Brunswick residents during the incidents at the Hotel Vicenza, Sgt. Ryan said. Anthony Castronuovo, 19, was arrested on a North Brunswick theft warrant and John Robinson, 21, was arrested on a drug possession charge and another outstanding warrant, Sgt. Ryan said.
   There were no reported injuries from the incidents at the hotels, Sgt. Ryan said.
   ”Shootings anywhere in the township are highly unusual but problems at the hotels appear to be an annual issue,” Sgt. Ryan said. “Spring appears to be a more active time for hotel problems.”
   Police reportedly had increased the amount of patrols at the Hotel Vicenza after unusual activity was reported by patrolling officers, Sgt. Ryan said.
   Police reportedly cleared 25 people from three hotel rooms after being called by management at 10 p.m. Friday complaining that there were too many people in the rooms, Sgt. Ryan said.
   Police responded again later to reports of a possible fight in the hotel parking lot at 1:30 a.m. Saturday, and the group had left and there were no people who claimed to have been involved when the police arrived, Sgt. Ryan said.
   Sgt. Ryan said that an unidentified officer was driving through the hotel parking lot even later, at 3 a.m., and saw a large group of people in the parking lot.
   The officer left his car, called for backup, and then heard what he believed to be a gunshot, Sgt. Ryan said. The officer then saw people running from the parking lot and balcony of the hotel, Sgt. Ryan said.
   The officer heard a second gunshot, but was unable to determine where it was coming from, Sgt. Ryan said.
   Sgt. Ryan said officers from North Brunswick and Millstone responded with more township officers at the hotel, and several people were detained by police, but no weapon was recovered.
   Several police cars were then called down the road to the Red Roof Inn on Route 1 around 11:30 p.m. on Saturday night.
   Police dispersed another group of more than 25 people there, which is believed to be connected to the incident the previous night at the other hotel, and developed some leads in the incident the previous night, Sgt. Ryan said.
   Police said that there is reportedly a gang connection to the incidents. Sgt. Ryan said police would not identify the gangs that are suspected to be involved because the incidents are being actively investigated.
   Sgt. Ryan said the incident started from a dispute in another town, and that many of those involved in the incidents are not cooperating with the investigation.
   Sgt. Ryan said Police Chief Raymond Hayducka is planning to meet with hotel representatives soon to discuss the incidents and other issues.
   ”We are not going to tolerate criminal activity at these hotels. We will strictly enforce the laws at these hotels to prevent the kind of conduct that went on last night,” Chief Hayducka said Saturday in a statement. “We will hold management responsible if they allow this conduct to continue.”
   The Police Department asks that anyone with information on the incidents at the Hotel Vicenza and Red Roof Inn call it at 732-329-4646.