POLICE BLOTTER: Week of Jan. 4

East Windsor
   Laurie Van Deusen, 43, Dennison Drive, was charged with shoplifting 1:33 p.m. Dec. 12 at the CVS Pharmacy.
   Police said officers responded to the CVS Pharmacy on Abbington Drive for a report of a shoplifter who had left the store after realizing that she was being watched and consequently discarded the items in the store restroom.
   Store personnel provided a description of Ms. Van Deusen and her vehicle and police located her on Dennison Drive.
   After being charged with shoplifting, she was later released to Manalapan Police Department on an outstanding warrant pending court action.
Officers responded to a Princeton Arms West address for a report of an auto theft 6:28 a.m. Dec. 14, which had just occurred while the vehicle was being run to warm up in the parking lot, police said. A description was broadcast to neighboring jurisdictions and the vehicle was located by Cranbury Police, who apprehended Ali Rahin, 21, of Plainsboro, after a foot pursuit.
   Mr. Rahin was charged and left in the custody of Cranbury Police on their charges related to this incident.
   An officer observed a 2006 Toyota traveling west on Mercer Street at an unusually slow rate of speed of 16 miles per hour at 1:58 p.m. Dec. 16.
   The vehicle was observed to be operating erratically and was stopped at it turned onto Route 130. The driver, Rakeshkumar Patel, 40, of Philadelphia was observed to have an odor of an alcoholic beverage and bloodshot, watery eyes. He was given field sobriety tests, police said.
   Mr. Patel was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, careless driving, delaying traffic, failure to observe signal, failure to maintain lane and open container in vehicle.
   He was later released pending court action.
   A complainant reported that she was attending a party at the American Legion and had left her purse unattended between 1:30 a.m. and 2 a.m. Dec. 16. Police stated that her purse was stolen along with her cellular phone, $2,000 cash and assorted personal papers.
   Exxon Station, Route 130, personnel reported that sometime overnight the building was burglarized by breaking a window and 20 cartons of cigarettes worth approximately $1,500, two boxes of cigars worth $110, and approximately $50 in cash was stolen, police said, between 10:40 p.m. Dec. 15 and 7:29 a.m. Dec. 16.
   The incident is under investigation.
   A complainant reported that she had discovered her vehicle on concrete blocks with its tires and wheels stolen between 2 a.m. and 9:22 a.m. Dec. 16 at Princeton Arms North 2 parking lot. In addition, various parts were stolen from the vehicle. The total value of items stolen, which remain under investigation, was estimated at $1,480.
   On Route 33, Vibhay Bhatnagar, 62, of Holmdel, was charged with driving while intoxicated, careless driving, reckless driving and failure to maintain lane at 1:33 a.m. Dec. 16.
   The officer observed a white Lexus traveling west on Route 33 in an erratic manner, police stated. The vehicle was stopped and police aid Mr. Bhatnagar was found to have an odor of an alcoholic beverage, police said. His eyes were bloodshot and watery and he was given field sobriety tests.
   Mr. Bhatnagar was charged for DWI and later released pending court action.
   Cecilio Ortiz, 59, of The Orchard was charged with robbery and shoplifting 12:49 p.m. Dec. 19 at Target in East Windsor.
   Officers responded to Target for a report of a shoplifter who had stolen two iPods worth approximately $400 from the store. Store personnel further reported that when the loss prevention officer attempted to stop the suspect, the suspect, Mr. Ortiz, struggled with the loss prevention officer and fled the scene in a vehicle, which was later located along with Mr. Ortiz at an address in The Orchard.
   Mr. Ortiz was arrested and later released after posting bail in the amount of $50,000 with a 10 percent option pending court action.
   Officers responded to an activated burglar alarm at the Crock-A Deli restaurant on Old Cranbury Road at approximately 9:45 p.m. Dec. 19, police said.
   Upon arrival, officers discovered that the front door to the business had been forcibly opened. The owner indicated that approximately $1,300 in cash had been stolen.
   The incident is currently under investigation.
   Joseph Schneider, 47 of Manchester was charged with terroristic threats at Oakbranch Road near 9:15 a.m. Christmas Day, Dec. 25.
   Officers responded to an Oakbranch Road residence for a report of a disturbance. Police said upon arrival, officers learned that Mr. Schneider had threatened to kill an unnamed victim, broken the alarm panel in the residence and left the area in his vehicle traveling southbound on Route 130.
   The officer activated his emergency lights but Mr. Schneider failed to stop and made an abrupt turn the wrong way on a one-way street into the Shady Rest complex in an attempt to elude the officer, police said.
   Mr. Schneider was located in the complex by police and was found to have an odor of an alcoholic beverage and bloodshot, watery eyes. He was also found to have an open bottle of wine on his person.
   In addition to the DWI charge, Mr. Schneider was also charged with eluding, harassment, criminal mischief, driving while intoxicated, refusal to submit to breath test, careless driving, reckless driving, wrong way on one way street, open container and failure to maintain lane.
   Bail was set at $5,000 cash and Mr. Schneider was transferred to the Mercer County Corrections Center in lieu of bail pending court action.
   Paul Urgiles-Ortiz, 19, of Hightstown and Rafael Urgiles-Ortiz, 24, of Hightstown were charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing justice at the American Legion just after 2 a.m. Dec. 23.
   Officers responded to the American Legion for a report of a fight in progress, police said.
   Upon arrival, officers were attempting to speak with Paul Urgiles-Oritz, who was uncooperative and acted in a disorderly manner, repeatedly screaming obscenities despite warnings to calm himself, police said.
   Police said his brother, Rafael Urgiles-Ortiz, repeatedly attempted to interfere and physically pull his brother from the officers. He was placed under arrest as well.
   The brothers were later released pending court action.
   At 12:34 a.m. Dec. 23 Kevin Encinias, 46, Vallejo, California, was charged driving while intoxicated, DWI in a school zone, failure to maintain lane, careless driving, reckless driving, obstructing traffic and unlicensed driver.
   An officer observed a 2004 Chevrolet traveling eastbound on Route 33 near the Twin Rivers Mall, police said. The vehicle was observed to be traveling at an unusually slow speed and in an erratic manner.
   The vehicle was stopped on Robertson Road and the driver, Mr. Encinias, was found to have an odor of an alcoholic beverage and slurred speech, police said. He was given field sobriety tests and arrested for DWI. He was later released pending court action.
   Peter Pernice, 56, of Chesterfield was charged with driving while intoxicated, careless driving and reckless driving 6:08 p.m. Dec. 26.
   Officers responded to the area of Route 130 at Old Cranbury Road for a report of a motor vehicle accident in which Mr. Pernice’s vehicle struck a traffic signal pole, causing it to fall to the ground, and several hundred feet prior to that, had struck another vehicle from behind, police said.
   Mr. Pernice was observed to have an odor of an alcoholic beverage and bloodshot, watery eyes, police said. He was given field sobriety tests and arrested for DWI. He was later released pending court action.
   Police stated that there were no injuries reported.
   Officers responded to a Windsor Regency apartment for a report of a burglary to the apartment, which was occupied by sleeping residents at the time of the occurrence, at 12:46 a.m. Dec. 27.
   Police said that the couple awoke in the night and indicated that there was someone in the bedroom with them. The male resident observed a man with a red jacked fleeing the bedroom and exiting the rear sliding door. The female resident advised that she was sleeping and woke to observe a stranger in the bedroom.
   The incident is under investigation.
   Marco Cadena, 21, of Jefferson Drive was charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and obstructing justice 12:10 a.m. Jan. 1 at the American Legion in East Windsor.
   Officers responded to a report of a fight at the American Legion involving multiple participants, police said.
   Upon arriving, officers’ attention was directed by witnesses to Mr. Cadena, who began fleeing on foot. Police said he continued to run away from the officers despite being ordered to halt and was eventually caught and arrested.
   Mr. Cadena was later released pending court action.
   Scott Glazer, 24, of Holly Drive, was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, careless driving and following too closely on One Mile Road at 5:54 p.m. Jan. 1.
   Police said officers responded to the area of One Mile Road at Dutch Neck Road for a report of a motor vehicle accident involving a suspected intoxicated driver who had struck a police vehicle from behind.
   Upon arrival, police said Mr. Glazer advised that he had taken prescription narcotics belonging to another person and was given field sobriety tests. He was charged with DWI and later released pending court action.
   Police said there were no reported injuries.
Hightstown
   Between 8 p.m. Dec. 12 and 6 a.m. Dec. 13, police said officers responded to the 100 block of Mercer Street for a burglary report. Upon arrival officers found a window was broken out which allowed an unknown person or persons to gain entry and remove several items from the establishment. The approximate total of items taken was $2,500.
   Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Hightstown Borough Police Department, 609-448-1234.
   At 12:26 a.m. Dec. 15 on Mercer Street, officers charged Barbara Paulikas, 53, of Hamilton with driving while intoxicated, driving while intoxicated in a school zone, reckless driving, and failure to maintain lane.
   Officers stopped Ms. Paulikas, police said, for a motor vehicle infraction and detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage. She was then was given field sobriety tests, which she failed.
   Ms. Paulikas was later released with several summonses and turned over to the custody of a family member with pending court action.
   Between 1:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Dec. 16, officers responded to the 100 block of Bennett Place on a reported burglary. Police said an unknown person or persons entered into the residence and took several electronic devices totaling approximately $850.
   With information regarding this incident, call the Hightstown Police Department, 609-448-1234.
   At 10:06 a.m. Dec. 16 officers responded to the 100 block of Bennett Place on a report of criminal mischief that had occurred overnight. Police said an unknown person or persons removed Christmas lights from a fence line and ripped the strand of lights in half.
   Contact the Hightstown Borough Police Department, 609-448-1234, with information on this case.
   Between 1 p.m. Dec. 15 and 7 a.m. Dec. 16 police stated that an unknown person or persons entered an unsecured vehicle parked in the driveway of a residence in the 300 block of Lincoln Avenue and removed money. Police said $5 was removed from the glove box of the vehicle.
   Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Hightstown Borough Police Department, 609-448-1234.
   At 6:56 p.m. Dec. 16 officers responded to the 200 block of Morrison Avenue on a report of a suspicious person, according to police. A neighbor contacted police after observing an unknown person peering through the window of another neighbor’s residence.
   The reporting neighbor yelled out to the unknown person, scaring the person off prior to police arrival, police said.
   The unknown person was described as a man wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt with a dark colored neoprene style mask.
   Call the Hightstown Borough Police Department via 609-448-1234 with information.
   At 9:41 p.m. Dec. 18 on North Main Street, officers charged Ramon Ortega-Rosas, 34, of Gardenview Terrace, East Windsor, with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle, driving while suspended, and speeding.
   Police said Mr. Ortega-Rosas was stopped for traveling 44-mph in a 25-mph speed zone and was found to be a suspended driver. During the motor vehicle stop the officer observed several prescription bottles, which were found not to belong to the driver. One of the containers contained 27 Oxycodone pills, police said.
   Mr. Ortega-Rosas was taken into custody and was later released on a summons complaint with pending court action.
   At 12:11 a.m. Dec. 20 on Stockton Street, officers charged Felix Paredes, 33, of New Brunswick, with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, and failure to maintain lamps.
   Police said Mr. Paredes was observed driving with no taillights and was stopped for the infraction. While stopped, the officer detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage and had the driver perform field sobriety tests, which he failed.
   Mr. Paredes was taken into custody and was later released with pending court action.
   Between 11:56 a.m. and 4 p.m. Dec. 20, an unknown person or person took a delivered package from a residence on the 100 block of South Street, police said. The package was valued at $60.
   Call the Hightstown Borough Police Department via 609-448-1234 with information.
   At 10:30 p.m. Dec. 20 on Mercer Street, officers charged Nancy Gingrich, 36, of Columbus, with driving while intoxicated, driving while intoxicated in a school zone, reckless driving, and speeding.
   Police stated that Ms. Gingrich was stopped for traveling 45-mph in a 25-mph speed zone.
   During the stop the officer detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage and had the driver perform field sobriety tests, which she failed, according to police.
   Ms. Gingrich was taken into custody and was later released with pending court action.
   At 4:34 p.m. Dec. 26 on Mercer Street, officers charged Tiffany Wiggins, 30, of Trenton with providing false information to a law enforcement officer, contempt of court, unlicensed driving, uninsured vehicle, and unregistered vehicle. Passenger Kaiseen Chaneyfield, 30, of Chester, was charged with obstructing the administration of law and contempt of court.
   Police said Ms. Wiggins was stopped for having an expired registration and provided a false date of birth in an attempt to conceal her true identity. Ms. Wiggins was found to have an active warrant from Trenton City Municipal Court and was arrested for such and for providing a false date of birth.
   During the arrest, the passenger, Mr. Chaneyfield, exited the vehicle and attempted to interfere with the arrest and failed to comply with officers commands to return to the vehicle, according to police.
   Mr. Chaneyfield was also found to have warrants issued by Bordentown Township Municipal Court and Trenton City Municipal Court.
   Ms. Wiggins was released upon posting bail with pending court action and Mr. Chaneyfield was turned over to Trenton Police Department in lieu of bail.
   At the Hightstown Borough Police Department, officers charged Alexandria Weber, 19, of Matawan, with theft of moveable property 1:15 p.m. Dec. 28.
   An investigation into a theft from a residence resulted in the charges of Ms. Weber, police sad. Ms. Weber was released on a summons complaint with pending court action.
   At 10:25 p.m. Dec. 28 on Main Street, officers charged James Yuckasz, 47, of Cream Ridge and charged him with contempt of court, driving while suspended and unregistered vehicle.
   Police said that a random license plate inquiry revealed the subject’s vehicle was unregistered and that the registered owner had a suspended driver’s license. A credential check confirmed such and revealed an active warrant for the subject in the amount of $500 issued by Manalapan Township Municipal Court.
   Mr. Yuckasz was released upon posting bail with pending court action.
   Police said at 1 a.m. Dec. 31 on Wyckoff Mills Road, officers charged Luis Rivera, 20, of Hamilton with underage driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, and speeding.
   Police said the driver, Mr. Rivera, was stopped for traveling 42-mph in a 25-mph zone and during the stop the officer detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage.
   Mr. Rivera was taken into custody for such offense and was later released with pending court action.
   At 4:36 a.m. Dec. 31 at Hightstown Borough Police Department, officers charged Angel Rivera, 22, of Hamilton with contempt of court.
   Police stated that Mr. Rivera, who came to take custody of his relative, was found to have an active warrant issued by Hightstown Borough Municipal Court in the amount of $500.
   Mr. Rivera was later released upon posting bail.