MISCHIEF NIGHT: As Expected, Hoboken Police Have a Busy Weekend with Halloween Events

(File photo)

Jury is out on whether it’s “Mischief Night” or “Goosey Night,” but the Judge will be in for the nine individuals who found themselves in custody of the Hoboken Police Department (HPD) over the weekend. The Saturday before Halloween is a night that typically sees some of the busiest activity for Hoboken’s first responders, and this year they were ready for the onslaught of tipsy trick-or-treaters.

As first reported by hMAG on Saturday, Hoboken enacted parking restrictions on Washington Street to clear space for Police, Fire and EMS vehicles—as well as create a zone for cabs/rideshare pick-ups in the busier areas of town.

Once the sun went down, the preparation proved warranted, as the HPD received 239 calls for service from 8 p.m-4 a.m.; up nearly 250% from a typical Saturday night in Hoboken. As a result of those calls, 15 individuals were taken to local hospitals by the Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps. HPD issued 102 summonses—60 for motor vehicle moving violations, and another 42 for public drinking/public urination. Furthermore, there were nine arrests—with charges ranging from marijuana possession to disorderly conduct to simple assault to DWI (driving on the sidewalk along the waterfront) and DWI-Scooter. None of the arrestees were Hoboken residents. [See full list below]

As of press time, there were no violations reported to HPD involving any specific licensed establishments in Hoboken.

“Halloween is a holiday celebrated nationwide so I don’t get frustrated with bars that capitalize on it—just like New Year’s, Super Bowl, Thanksgiving Eve, just to name a few,” said Hoboken Police Chief Kenneth Ferrante in a conversation with hMAG.

He added, “It’s when they are involved with ‘Con’ events, it is when they are inviting a trouble element into our city,” referring to the annual SantaCon and LepreCon Events that take place in Hoboken. “That’s when I take exception and make public comments against those events.”

As a response to last 2017’s SantaCon debauchery, Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla announced the formation of a “task force” to address violence and quality of life issues resulting from intoxicated bar patrons.

“We can no longer ignore the fact that a small number of establishments are creating a big problem for everyone else in the form of violence, property damage, and financial cost,” said Bhalla in January of 2018.

A number of bars saw the fallout from this event manifest itself in significant fines and even a bar closure.

Meanwhile Councilman Michael DeFusco, who serves the First Ward, which has a large concentration of hospitality venues, feels more needs to be done.

“When rowdy pub crawls are allowed in Hoboken without any regulation, we’re putting the financial benefits of local bars and club promoters over the quality of life of our residents,” said DeFusco in a statement, citing his proposed pubcrawl legislation. “As I’ve long said, if the administration is going to allow pub crawls in Hoboken, taxpayers shouldn’t be paying for enforcement and clean up. We are now one week away from an election and it’s concerning the Mayor’s handpicked First Ward Council candidate is continuing to use city resources to offer favors to these very same problem bars in return for hanging campaign signs. The First Ward deserves better than this and now is the time for the Mayor to work collaboratively with me to put legislation in place that will address the growing concerns our neighbors face when these pub crawls come to town.”

As for more family-friendly revelry, the city’s annual Ragamuffin Parade is scheduled to take place this Thursday, October 31 from 3:45-5:00 on Washington Street. Stay tuned to hMAG.com for further details.

***

LIST OF ARRESTS:

(Information provided by Hoboken Police Department.
All suspects who were arrested are innocent until proven guilty and will have their first Court Appearances on November 14th in Hoboken Municipal Court.)

Arrestee #1 Manuel Abadia; Age 29—New York, NY
Charges: Possession of CDS Marijuana, Possession of CDS Paraphernalia, Bail jumping (Warrant out of the City of Linden)
Arrest Date and time: 10/26/19 8:35 pm
Officers Involved: Det. Bret Globke, PO Fabian Quinones, PO Connor Milne

Incident Details: While patrolling the area Path Station area, Det Globke along with PO Fabian Quinones and Connor Milne observed a Dodge Van double parked in front of a fire hydrant. The Officers approached the driver side in order to have the driver move away from the hydrant. The driver exited the vehicle and the officers immediately detected the odor of burnt marijuana. A check of the vehicle was conducted and the officers observed in plain view a bag containing green vegetation of suspected CDS Marijuana. The defendant was placed under arrest and transported to headquarters for processing where he received a summons and later released. The City of Linden provided the defendant with a new date to appear in court.

Arrestee #2: Stephanie Pasesano; Age 21—Malverne, NY
Charges: Disorderly Conduct
Arrest Date and Time: 10/26/19  10:18 pm
Officers Involved: Det. Arturo Gonzalez

Incident Details: While patrolling the area of 44 Newark Street, Det Gonzalez observed a group engaged in a dispute. The defendant refused to comply and continued to argue and scream at one of the males. As the officers attempted to disperse the group the defendant continued ignoring the commands. She was then placed under arrest and transported to headquarters where she was processed and later released with a summons to appear in court.

Arrestee #3: Danny Zerboni; Age 24—Lyndhurst, NJ
Charges: Simple Assault, Disorderly Conduct

Arrestee #4: REDACTED
Arrest date and time: 10/27/19 3:08 am
Officers Involved: Det Luis Rodriguez, Det. Christine Collins, D/Sgt Jonathan Mecka

Incident Details: The detectives observed two males engaged in an altercation on the 100 block of Washington Street. The detectives attempted to break up the fight but the males continued ignoring the detectives. After a few minutes they were able to separate them and handcuff the defendants. They were both charged with the above offenses and later released with a summons to appear in court.

Arrestee #5: REDACTED
Charges: Possession of CDS Marijuana, Possession of CDS Paraphernalia
Arrest date and time: 10/26/19 11:16 pm
Officers Involved: PO Connor Milne, PO Fabian Quinones

Incident Details: While patrolling the area of Hudson Place and River Street they observed a group on the corner. Alerted by the officer’s presence, the group immediately turned and walked away. The defendant was observed placing an item inside her pocket. The officers detected the odor of CDS Marijuana and asked the defendant to remove her hands from her pockets. They observed a clear sealable container which contained green vegetation of suspected CDS Marijuana. The defendant was placed under arrest and transported to headquarters where she received a summons to appear in court.

Arrestee #6: Jeyffrin Bacilio-Aparicio; Age 24—Clifton, NJ
Charges: Driving While Intoxicated, DWI in a School Zone, Reckless Driving, Driving on a sidewalk, driving while suspended
Arrest date and time: 10/27/19 12:43 a.m.
Officers Involved: PO Steven Albert, PO Marco Grossmann

Incident Details: Officer Albert observed a 2019 Honda travel north on the pedestrian walkway between Pier A and Pier C Parks. This area is not accessible to vehicular traffic and signs are posted “Do not enter”. As Officer Albert stopped and approached the driver side of the vehicle, he immediately detected the odor of alcoholic beverage coming from inside the vehicle. The driver’s speech was slurred and eyes were glassy. He was asked to step out of the vehicle so that a Field Sobriety Test could be conducted. PO Grossman performed the test and determined the driver to be intoxicated. He was placed under arrest and transported to headquarters where a breath sample was provided and found to be above the legal limit. He received several motor vehicle summonses for the offenses and later released to a responsible party.

Arrestee #7: Theodore Spilman; Age 23—Jersey City, NJ
Charges: Possession of CDS Marijuana, Possession of CDS Paraphernalia
Arrest Date and Time: 10/26/19 10:21 pm
Officers Involved: PO Jesse Castellano, PO Cynthia Rivera

Incident Details: While patrolling the area of 58 Newark Street, the officers detected the odor of burnt marijuana. They then observed the defendant siting on the steps smoking a cigarette. As the approached they noticed the defendant was smoking a marijuana cigarette and he was placed under arrest. He was transported to headquarters where he was given a summons to appear in court.

Arrestee #8: Michelle Edwards; Age 34—Jersey City, NJ
Charges: Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, Improper Passing
Arrest date and time: 10/26/19  3:21 am
Officers Involved: PO Geovanni Cruzado, PO Jayla Vega

Incident Details: Officers were patrolling the area of Hudson Street and Newark when they observed a motorized scooter improperly pass the police vehicle. As they attempted to stop the person riding the scooter they observed the rider swerving side to side and almost collide with another vehicle. The officers stopped the rider and as they approached, the detected the odor of alcoholic beverage coming from her. Her speech was slurred and eyes bloodshot and watery. A field sobriety test was conducted which she was not able to properly complete. She was placed under arrest and transported to headquarters. At headquarters a breath sample was provided and she was found to be above the legal limit. She received several summonses for the motor vehicle offenses and later released to a responsible party.

Arrestee#9: Jewel Vahderhee; Age 21—Highland Lakes, NJ
Charges: Driving While Intoxicated, DWI in a school zone, Reckless Driving, Improper Passing.
Arrest date and Time: 10:07 pm 10/27/19
Officers involved: PO Harold Milne, PO Enrico Gnassi

Incident Details: while patrolling the area of 1^st and Hudson Street, Officer Milne observed a 2007 Honda screech it’s tired as it pulled away. As the vehicle was driving, the driver crossed over the yellow lines I order to pass another driver. PO Milne stopped the vehicle and approached the driver side. As he approached he detected the odor of alcoholic beverage coming from inside. The driver was asked out of the vehicle and a field sobriety test was conducted. She was not able to properly complete it and was placed under arrest. At headquarters she provided a breath sample and was found to be above the legal limit. She was later released to a responsible party after processing and receiving several motor vehicle summonses.

***