Lt. Stephen J. Bartzak, commanding officer, West Amwell Township Police Department, reported:
— On Oct. 7, at about 3:29 p.m., police investigated a two-vehicle accident with injury at the intersection of Route 31 and Linvale-Harbourton Road (Route 579). Emeline Strobel-Chong, 21, of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, was driving north on Route 31 and began making a left turn onto Linvale-Harbourton Road directly into the path of a southbound vehicle, operated by James Destefano, 33 of Portland Oregon. Ms. Strobel-Chong was transported to the Hunterdon Medical Center with back injury complaint by the Amwell Valley Ambulance Corps. Mr. Destefano and a passenger, Toni Verrilli, 39, also of Portland, were checked by Amwell Valley Ambulance personnel for complaints of neck injuries, but declined to be transported to a medical facility. Both vehicles sustained heavy front-end damage and were towed from the scene. Investigating Patrolman Edward Skillman issued Ms. Strobel-Chong a summons for careless driving.
— On Oct. 7, at about 6:53 p.m., police investigated a one-vehicle accident on Route 31 near Rocktown Hill Road. Renee Stavenik, of Pittstown, was driving south when she swerved to avoid several deer that had entered the roadway. She lost control of her vehicle and left the roadway, hitting a guardrail. No injuries were reported. The vehicle sustained moderate damage and was towed from the scene. No summonses were issued by investigating Patrolman Timothy Vanselous.
— On Oct. 14, at about 9:28 p.m., Kathleen Goutos, 18, of Diamond Point, New York, was arrested for possessing under 50 grams of suspected marijuana after being stopped for speeding on Route 202 northbound. Patrolman Jonathan Sellner arrested Ms. Goutos, who was charged with possession of under 50 grams of suspected marijuana and issued motor vehicle summonses for speeding, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle and having view obstruction. She was released on her own recognizance.
The filing of a motor vehicle and/or criminal complaint is merely a step in the criminal justice system. All parties are to be considered innocent until the matter is resolved in a court of law.
Lambertville City police reported:
— Matthew Brady, 25, of Hamilton, was arrested for DUI on Oct. 12. Officer Sharon Polyak stopped Mr. Brady on Route 29 at 1:54A a.m. for speeding. He was determined to be under the influence of alcohol. He was charged with DUI, careless driving and speeding. He was later released with a pending court date.
— A 51-year old bicyclist was struck by a truck on Oct. 11 at the intersection of Bridge Street and Route 29 at 2 p.m. Stephen Lebak, 52, of Easthampton, was driving a truck (which was hauling a dumpster at the time) as he proceeded to make a right turn onto Route 29 from Bridge Street to head north. Joseph Aversa, of Ringoes, was riding his bicycle on the shoulder of Bridge Street. As he passed the line of cars at the intersection, Mr. Lebak turned right, into Mr. Aversa’s path. Mr. Aversa’s bike collided with the side of the truck and he suffered a minor injury and was treated at the scene and released. The investigation is ongoing at this time.
— Police investigated a two -vehicle motor vehicle crash at the intersection of Church Street and Route 29 on Oct. 11. John Larason, 50, of Yardley, Pennsylvania, was driving a 1997 BMW on Church Street when he allegedly ran a stop sign at the intersection. His vehicle struck a 2012 Mercedes Benz that was traveling north on Route 29 and was being operated by Patricia Zita, 44 of New Hope. No injuries were reported, but Mr. Larason’s vehicle was towed due to the damage it had sustained. Mr. Larason was charged with failure to stop/yield.
— Bret Olson, 24, of Philadelphia, was arrested for DUI and weapon charges as a result of a motor vehicle stop on Oct. 18. Officer Michael Gramlich stopped Mr. Olson on Route 179, at 2:35 a.m. after he was observed driving erratically. Mr. Olson was determined to be under the influence of alcohol. He also was found to be carrying a pair of brass knuckles and suspected drug paraphernalia. He was charged with possession of a weapon, possession of drug paraphernalia, DUI, reckless driving and failure to keep right. He was later released with a pending court date.
— Danielle Sacripante, 55, of Ewing was arrested for DUI on Oct. 21. Sgt. Robert Brown stopped Mr. Sacripante on Route 165, at 12:50 a.m. after she was observed driving erratically. Her vehicle also had a non-working taillight. She was determined to be under the influence of alcohol and was charged with DUI, refusal to submit to breath testing, careless driving, failure to maintain lane and failure to maintain lamps. She was later released with a pending court date.
— Norberto Ramirez-Garcia, 33, of Lambertville, was arrested for DUI on Oct. 20. Officer Gramlich stopped Mr. Ramirez-Garcia on Coryell Street for failing to stop at a stop sign and driving erratically. He was determined to be under the influence of alcohol and was charged with DUI, reckless driving, failure to stop, failure to keep right, unlicensed driver and driving while suspended. He was later released with a pending court date.
— Joshua Phillips, 37, of Lambertville, was arrested on an active warrant on Oct. 17. Officer Michael Miloszar arrested Mr. Phillips on North Main Street at 1:30 p.m. He was wanted for failure to appear in Flemington. He was unable to post the $1,500 bail and was lodged in the Hunterdon County Jail as a result.
Suspects are considered innocent unless proven guilty by a court of law
New Hope police Chief Michael V. Cummings reported:
— On Sept. 2, at 12:57 a.m., police cited Andrew Smith, 23, of New Hope, and Justine Slous, 22, of Wrightstown, New Jersey, for public drunkenness, after they allegedly created a disturbance at a South Main Street establishment.
— On Sept. 5, at 11:26 p.m., police cited Antonio Lopez, 25, of Lambertville, New Jersey, for harassment, disorderly conduct, and public drunkenness, and Guillermo Hera Castro, 21, also of Lambertville, for public drunkenness, after the two allegedly created a disturbance at a South Main Street establishment.
— On Sept. 6, at 11:43 a.m., an employee of a South Main Street store reported to police that, at some time during the overnight hours, someone had entered the apparently unlocked business, and had removed $100 from the cash register.
— On Sept. 8 at 11:19 a.m., the owner of a West Mechanic Street establishment reported to police that, earlier in the month, someone had made in excess of $450 in fraudulent purchases using his business’ credit card.
— On Sept. 8 at 12:44 p.m., the owner of a South Main Street establishment reported to police that, at some time that morning, someone had removed his T-MOBILE cell phone, valued at $200, from a counter inside the business.
— On Sept. 9 at 1:28 a.m., police arrested Kathleen Carter, 41, of Naples, Florida, for driving under the influence of alcohol, after the vehicle she was operating was involved in a traffic accident on South Main Street.

