Hopewell Township police Lt. Christopher Kascik reported:
— On Sept. 28 at 9:35 p.m., Officer James Klesney went to a one-car motor vehicle crash on Route 654 near Marshall’s Corner. He found a 2014 BMW off the road. He spoke with the driver, who was identified as Craig H. Richardson, 57, of Todd Ridge Drive, Titusville.
The officer smelled the odor of alcohol on his breath. Mr. Richardson and his passenger were treated by members of the Pennington First Aid Squad for various injuries and transported to the hospital.
Upon completion of his investigation, the officer later arrested Mr. Richardson for assault by auto and DWI, as well as various motor vehicle violations.
He was taken into custody, transported to police headquarters, processed and released after posting bail. His passenger was admitted to the hospital with spine and chest injuries. This case will be forwarded to the Mercer County prosecutor’s office.
— On Oct. 5 at 9 a.m., Officer Vincent Amabile stopped the driver of a car for a motor vehicle violation on Washington Crossing-Pennington Road near the Pennington Circle. He spoke with the driver, who was identified as Sheryl A. Grell, 38, of Bywood Lane, Ewing. While the officer was speaking with her, a warrant from the Ewing Township Municipal Court was located. She was placed under arrest and, at police headquarters, was processed and released after posting bail. She was also cited for driving a vehicle with tinted windows. Her case will be heard in Municipal Court.
— On Oct. 3, Officer Kevin Koveloski was on patrol in Hopewell Borough. He was attempting to locate a suspect from an incident the previous evening. It involved a man who took a taxicab ride from Newark Airport to a residence on North Greenwood Avenue.
When the suspect arrived at the residence, he ran into a residence and refused to pay the driver. When officers arrived at the residence to meet the taxi driver, the man refused to answer the door or phone.
While Officer Koveloski was on patrol, an anonymous caller reported that the same man was standing outside a business on Broad Street.
Officer Koveloski went to the area and located the man, who was identified as Joseph G. Goodhouse, 63, of North Greenwood Avenue. While speaking with Mr. Goodhouse, warrants were located for his arrest from Montgomery Township Municipal Court. A no-bail warrant from the Bucks County Sheriff’s Department also was located.
Mr. Goodhouse was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters. He was processed and posted bail on the Montgomery Township warrant. He was lodged in the Mercer County Correction Center pending an extradition hearing. The investigation into the taxi case is ongoing, police said.
— On Oct. 7 at 2 a.m., Sgt. Kevin Zorn stopped the driver of a vehicle for a motor vehicle violation on Route 31. While speaking with the driver — identified as Astua-Cerda, Yorhany, 37, of South Clinton Avenue, Trenton — a warrant was located for his arrest. Mr. Astua-Cerda was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and released after posting bail on the warrant from the City of Trenton. He also was cited for being an unlicensed driver and having a faulty headlight. His case will be heard Municipal Court.
The Hopewell Township Police Department announced Monday that motorists in New Jersey and throughout the nation are being asked to join a day-long effort on Friday (Oct. 10), designed to increase awareness about safe-driving behaviors and keep the state’s roadways fatality free for one day.
Known as "Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day," the national initiative was designed to unite the country in moving toward zero fatalities for one full day by encouraging motorists to obey all traffic laws — including buckling up, every ride; driving the posted speed limit; avoiding distractions while driving; and always being safe and sober behind the wheel.
"The goal is to experience a day when all roadway users are extra vigilant and there are no fatalities on our roadways.
"Last year in New Jersey, 542 individuals lost their lives in motor vehicle-related crashes, down from 589 in 2012. The decline continues a downward trend in motor vehicle fatalities, and in 2013, "we recorded the lowest number of motor vehicle related deaths in the state since the 1940s," said a spokesman.
Additional information on the "Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day" is available by logging on to www.brakesonfatalities.org .
