Newton Police

July 23 At 8:57 p.m., Newton police officers were summoned to the Adams St. parking lot to investigate the theft of a motor vehicle. Upon arrival, Edward Drelich of Fredon reported that he and his wife had parked their 2002 Honda Accord in the parking lot at approximately 7 p.m. and returned at approximately 9 p.m. to find it missing. The vehicle is described as a green four-door bearing N.J. Registration plates NJV-69P. The vehicle has a white “Pro Life” bumper sticker in the rear window and a Panther Lake sticker on the front driver side bumper. Anyone with information relating to any suspicious activity or persons in the area at the time or the location of the vehicle are asked to call the Newton Police at 383-2525. July 27 A stolen vehicle was recovered by the Totowa Borough Police Department after the occupants, David K. Griffen, 20, of Hamburg, and Andrew Kirchner, 19, of Pompton Lakes, were apprehended for shoplifting and it was determined that they were in possession of the vehicle. The two were arrested and lodged in the Passaic County Jail. Subsequent investigation by Newton Police Detectives with the assistance of the Vernon Township Police Detective Bureau resulted in the charges against Kirchner for motor vehicle theft. Bail of $7,500 was placed against Kirchner who is currently lodged in the Passaic county jail. August 10 Newton Police Detectives arrested Jacinda Moore, 29, of Wantage, for stealing more than $20,000.00 from her employer over a period of time between May and July 2006. Moore was employed as a secretary by Allesandra Misc. Metalworks Inc., located on Mill St. in Newton. According to police, she forged business checks for her own personal use and changed her pay amount on her payroll checks. Her employer became suspicious when the accounts were reconciled and then Moore abruptly resigned. Newton Police conducted an investigation and developed probable cause to show that, through forgery and deception, Moore stole approximately $20,300 from her employer. She was charged with theft by deception and forgery. She was released on her own recognizance pending a court appearance. August 17 At 4 p.m., Newton police officers responded to the intersection of Main St. and Spring St. for a vehicle that had crashed into a brick building. The vehicle had apparently been traveling North on Main St. and then traveled straight through the intersection without turning, colliding with a traffic signal pole, a street sign and then the building. The building received little damage from the impact. Emergency rescue workers including the Newton First Aid Squad, the Newton Fire Department and paramedics responded to the scene to render assistance. The vehicle airbags did not deploy. The driver of the vehicle, Richard Degroat, 85, of Milford Penn., was not wearing his seat belt and was transported to the Newton Hospital and then transported by helicopter to the Morristown Hospital for treatment of his injuries. The front passenger of the vehicle, Hazel Degroat, 88, also of Milford Penn., was also not wearing her seatbelt and was transported to the Newton Hospital. She was pronounced dead at 5:02 p.m. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Several witnesses were interviewed by police at the scene. Anyone with information is asked to call the Newton Police Department at 383-2525.