Police discover misstatements

Sparta n Township police answered an assault report and discovered the alleged victim may not have been a victim. A call came to police at 10:28 p.m., Thursday, May 3 from a home on Sunset Lake Road alleging an assult with a knife. When they arrived, police spoke to Amanda Valentine, 20, of Sparta, who told them her boyfriend, Gary McAlister, 35, of Branchburg, had slashed her with a knife, There was a wound to her arm. She also told the officers that McAlister was armed with a handgun and had fled the scene prior to their arrival. Police searched the area and located McAlister on Undcrrock Drive. Officers noted several injuries to McAlister, including a puncture wound to his left wrist. No weapons were found. Further investigation revealed that itapparently was Valentine who stabbed McAlister. After being treated for her injuries Valentine was charged with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and criminal mischief. Judge Mulhem set bail at $57,500. Valentine was lodged at the Sussex County Jail. After McAlister was treated for his injuries, police discovered an outstanding warrant in the amount of $2627. issued against him out of the West Milford Court, Sparta Police charged McAlister with simple assault and a disorderly persons offense. After processing he was turned over to the West Milford Police Department, Sgt. Jeff Mase, Cpl. Richard Clayton, Patrolman. Rob Fraser, Patrolman Mark Mastandrea and Patrolman. Scott Elig investigated the incident. On Thursday, May 10, at approximately ll:39 p.m., Patrolman Frank Schomp noticed a black jeep traveling northbound on Route 15 near the 10 mile marker at a high rate of speed. After stopping the vehicle, he investigated and arrested Robert Bleakley, 42, of Sparta. Bleakley was charged with driving while intoxicated, careless driving, speeding, failure to have car inspected, failure to signal for a lane change aud failure to produce valid documents. He was released pending a mandatory court appearance in municipal Sparta. Cpl. Raymond Mueller assisted with the arrest. On Saturday, May 5, at 12:29 a.m., Patrolman Mark Mastandrea was on routine patrol on Sparta Avenue, when he observed a black Jeep Cherokce drive into the parking lot of the Shell gas station (which was closed), turn off its lights and park to one side. As Mastandrea drove into the parking lot to check the vehicle, the driver began to drive it away. Mastandrea stopped the vehicle before it left the lot. As he approached, he observed the passenger throw a cigarette from the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle, Michael Fisher, 20, of Commack, NY, was arrested for driving while intoxicated. He was transported to Sparta police headquarters for processing. He was additionally charged with careless driving. The passenger, Vanessa Collins, 27, of Ogdensbuig, was issued a summons for throwing debris from a motor vehicle. Both were released pending required court appearances. On Sunday, May 6, at 5:04 a.m., Patrolman Scott Elig was dispatched to Greenfield Drive for a report of a vehicle being operated in a careless manner. Elig found the vehicle, a tan Chevrolet Malibu parked on the side of the road with two male occupants. The driver of the vehicle, Tyrell Tenhoeve, 19, of Rockaway, was arrested for driving while intoxicated. He was transported to Sparta police department for processing. Tenhoeve was additionally charged with careless driving, driving with a suspended license, unsafe tires and failure to report change of address. He was released pending a required court appearance. The passenger was released without charges. On Friday, May 4 at 3:15 p.m.. Sparta Police responded to several calls from people who reported witnessing an assault on the Sparta Junction, When they arrived, police found a black Mazda parked in the intersection of the Route 15 off ramp and Sparta Junction, blocking the front of a yellow Mazda. A male, later identified as Jose Rodriguez, 32, of Hamburg was standing at the rear of the yellow Mazda and was trying to pull a child from the back seat The driver of the yellow Mazda, Cristina Pagan, 28, of Hamburg was the operator of the second vehicle, Rodriguez had purposely passed and then blocked Pagan’s vehicle with his own. It was later established that Rodriguez and Pagan were acquaintances. Both parties along with an eighteen- month old child were transported to the Sparta Police Department. Rodriguez was charged with harassment and disorderly conduct, He was additionally charged with reckless driving, improper passing, obstructing the flow of traffic and improper U-turn. He was released pending a required court appearance, Sgt. John-Paul Beebe, Patrolman Joseph Pensado, Patrolman Frank Schomp, Patrolman Ray Mueller and Patrolman Kurt Mortis investigated the incident.