Vernon Township Police

Jan. 18 Patrolman William Mutz investigated a motor vehicle crash on Cedar Ridge Drive involving a 2001 four-door silver Saturn operated by Stephen M. Pollack, age 54, and a parked/unoccupied UPS delivery truck. Pollack, who lives on Cedar Ridge Drive, sustained serious head injury and was airlifted to Morristown Memorial Hospital by Northstar helicopter. Patrolman Mutz, having reason to suspect that Pollack had been operating his vehicle while intoxicated, obtained blood samples from Pollack at the hospital, which will be analyzed and may be used as evidence in a drunk driving prosecution. He was issued motor vehicle summonses for driving while intoxicated and careless driving. Pollack’s vehicle sustained heavy damage, while the UPS box truck sustained moderate damage. The incident occurred at about 5:40 p.m. Jan. 20 Officer Derrick Scudieri stopped a black Chevy S-10 pickup truck on Breakneck Road at about 1:40 .am. after observing erratic driving. Several minutes earlier, an off-duty police officer alerted the Vernon Police that he was following the S-10 pickup, which was driving erratically. Patrolman Scudieri quickly located the S-10 pickup and observed it traveling onto the road shoulder several times. Upon speaking with the driver, Chester D. Huerta, of Highland Lakes, Scudieri suspected that he was operating his vehicle while intoxicated. Huerta failed several roadside sobriety tests and was placed under arrest. At police headquarters, Huerta refused to take Breathalyzer tests. He was charged with careless driving, failure to maintain lane of travel, driving while intoxicated and refusal to submit to Breathalyzer tests. He was released to a family member pending an appearance in Vernon Township Municipal Court later this month. His pickup was towed and held for 12 hours to satisfy the requirements of John’s Law. Jan. 23 Patrolman Harry Russo investigated a single vehicle rollover motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Barry Drive North and Wagon Wheel Road in the Barry Lakes section of Vernon Township. Investigation revealed that Louis Post, a resident of Barry Lakes, struck a street signpost while traveling south on Barry Drive North, traveled into a ditch and completely overturned his 2003 gray Ford pickup truck. Post was airlifted to Morristown Memorial Hospital by Northstar helicopter for possible neck injuries. Patrolman Russo, having reason to belief that Post had been operating his vehicle while intoxicated, obtained blood sample evidence from Post at the hospital. Post was charged with careless driving, failure to maintain lane of travel and driving while intoxicated. Vernon police are asking anyone with information about the following case of road rage to contact the Vernon Police Detective Bureau at 973-764-6155. All calls will be kept confidential. The incident was investigated by Patrolman Shaun Fitzgerald, after receiving the call on an incident of road rage/criminal mischief in the Lutheran Church parking lot on Sandhill Road. Investigation revealed that at about 8:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 23,, Frederick Kraal of Warwick, N.Y., age 65, operating a 2003 Dodge Neon, turned left onto County Route 517 South from Maple Grange Road in Vernon. He then realized that he was being tailgated by another vehicle but continued on to his destination, the Lutheran Church. Upon arrival at the church, Kraal stopped in the front parking lot. He told police that the suspect exited his vehicle, jumped onto the trunk of Kraal’s Neon and kicked in the rear windshield. Kraal stated that the suspect then jumped up and down on the roof of his Neon, partially caving in the roof. The suspect then opened Kraal’s door and verbally berated him, stating that Kraal cut him off and could have killed him and his child. Kraal stated that he attempted to get the suspect’s license plate number but another unknown male was standing in front of the plate. Kraal stated that the other male was attempting to calm the suspect while a female voice from the side of the suspect’s vehicle was telling the suspect to get back into the car. Kraal stated that the suspect told him that if he tries to call the “cops,” the rest of his windows will be smashed. The suspect was described as a white male with a thin build, brown hair and a full beard, approximately 5’10” to 6 feet tall, and driving a dark colored pickup truck or SUV. Kraal, who was not injured in the incident, stated that he believes another vehicle as well as the suspect’s vehicle pulled into the church parking lot about the same time he did. He entered the church after the suspect(s) left the scene and telephoned the Vernon police.