On 12-4-17, the Bergenfield Police Department assisted the
Dumont Police Department attempting to locate a vehicle, described as a 2016
Honda SUV, which was stolen from the corner of Sunnyside Avenue and Washington
Avenue in Dumont. The stolen vehicle was involved in a pursuit with several
jurisdictions and was last seen traveling back towards Bergenfield. Officer
Gregory Slater was in the area of Liberty Road and Howard Drive, when he heard
screeching tires and smelled burning rubber. A search of the area was conducted
and Officer Slater located the stolen vehicle in the parking lot of 66 Howard
Drive. The vehicle was located unoccupied at that time.
A search ensued for the driver of the stolen vehicle,
Teaneck Police and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department responded to assist.
Officer Jose Portorreal responded to Walgreens, located at 406 S. Washington
Avenue, and inquired, if any suspicious individuals recently entered the store.
Officer Portorreal was advised that an unknown, suspicious male entered the
store and asked to use the restroom. Officer Portorreal also was advised that
the male was in fact still in the restroom.
Officer Portorreal and other officers approached the
restroom and prior to making contact with the male, the officers heard what
appeared to be excessive flushing of the toilet and what sounded like the cover
to the toilet bowl tank being moved. The male, identified as Edward Arnold, a 29 year old male from
Bergenfield, exited the restroom and was met by the officers. After further
investigation, two gold rings, valued at approximately $1200.00, which were
confirmed to have belonged to the victim and had been located in the stolen
vehicle, were located hidden in the toilet bowl in the Walgreens restroom. Mr.
Arnold was placed under arrest and charged with Theft on a complaint warrant.
There was also an outstanding $433.00 warrant for Mr. Arnold from the Fair Lawn
Police Department.
Mr. Arnold was lodged in the Bergen County Jail pending a
detention hearing. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are
pending.