West Amwell Township police Lt. Stephen J. Bartzak reported:
— On Jan. 26 at approximately 10 a.m., an investigation involving an attempted theft from a cash register at the Amwell Valley self storage that began on Jan. 23 culminated in an arrest of a Trenton man.
Patrolman Jonathan Sellner, who conducted the investigation, took Rufus Thompson, 23 of Trenton, into custody and charged him with one count of criminal attempt for attempted theft and one count of criminal mischief for the damage to the cash register while attempting to pry it open. Mr. Thompson was employed with a cleaning service that was contracted by the self storage facility. After processing, Mr. Thompson was released on his own recognizance pending an initial court hearing.
— On Jan. 29 at approximately 10:10 a.m., police began an investigating a report of a suspicious vehicle parked on the shoulder of the road on Mt. Airy-Harbourton Road, near Rocktown-Lambertville Road. The vehicle was located by police, who subsequently ran a computer check on the driver. It was determined that the driver, Stephen Kalaj, 36 of New York, New York, had three traffic warrants for failing to appear in three separate municipal courts — Paramus Borough, Morristown and Mahwah Township — on traffic violations. Patrolman John Casella took Mr. Kalaj into custody. He was processed and was released after posting cash bail totaling $1,164.
— On Jan. 21 at 11 a.m., police went to a one-vehicle accident on Route 179 near Gulick Road. Timothy Sprague, 19, of Ringoes, was driving south when he lost control on a snow-covered roadway. His vehicle left the roadway and hit a mailbox. No injuries were reported. No summonses issued by investigating Patrolman Edward Skillman.
— On Jan. 24 at 9:02 p.m., police went to a car/deer accident on Brunswick Pike (Route 518) near Hunter Road. Aurelle Sprout, 67, of West Amwell, was driving west when her vehicle struck the deer. No injuries were reported. The vehicle was driven from the scene after a report was taken by Patrolman Jeffrey Jones.
LAMBERTVILLE police reported:
— A 28-year old Lambertville resident was taken into custody following a hit-and-run crash on Jan. 14, that left two vehicles totaled, a broken fence and a broken parking meter behind.
Police were called to North Union Street, in the area of York Street, to check out a reported hit-and-run motor vehicle accident at 12:10 a.m. The striking vehicle had been seen driving on North Union Street away from the scene. Officer Anthony Memolo located the vehicle on Buttonwood Street. The vehicle had sustained major damage. The driver had fled the scene on foot, but was located later a local residence.
The driver was identified as Rosemary Sherman, who, police say, was under the influence of alcohol and allegedly driving with a suspended driver’s license. It was determined that Ms. Sherman had struck a parked vehicle, causing significant damage, before running over the sidewalk, striking a steel parking meter and finally running through a concrete and wood fence, located at the rear of a residence on York Street.
Ms. Sherman then left the scene, riding away on the front rim of her vehicle and with the front of the vehicle hanging off. She was charged with DUI, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to report an accident, driving while suspended and driving an unregistered vehicle. She was later released with a pending court date.
— A 17-year old juvenile, of New Hope, was taken into custody for alleged drug possession as a result of a motor vehicle stop on Jan. 27. Detective Michael Miloszar stopped a vehicle on Swan Street, at 4:50 p.m. after the driver failed to stop for a red light. Subsequent to the stop the driver was found to be in possession of marijuana and a glass smoking pipe. The juvenile was charged with possession of CDS (under 50 grams) and possession of drug paraphernalia. The juvenile was released to the custody of a parent with a pending court date. A second juvenile, a passenger in the vehicle, was released without charges.
— Juan Castro, 35, of West Amwell Township, was taken into custody for DUI during the early morning hours of Jan. 30. Officer Michael O’Rourke stopped Mr. Castro on Bridge Street, at 2:14 a.m. after Mr. Castro failed to stop for officers of the New Hope Police Department, as he proceeded across the Lambertville-New Hope free bridge. Mr. Castro, who was observed driving erratically, was determined to be under the influence of alcohol. He was charged with DUI, careless driving and for being an unlicensed driver. He was later released with a pending court date.

