Community Corner

Scotch Plains-Fanwood Year in Review: Police & Fire Events of 2012 (Part One)

A look at the biggest police and fire stories in Scotch Plains and Fanwood for the year 2012. This is the first part of a two part story.

 

January 26, 2012 – Woman Killed In Crosswalk Was Scotch Plains Resident

On Jan. 26, Patricia Currie, 68, of Scotch Plains was driving through the intersection of North Avenue at Tuttle Parkway when she grazed a pedestrian crossing the road. Currie left her vehicle to assist the person she grazed across the road and then a Chevy Cavalier struck the pair, throwing them several yards away from the intersection.  Immediately after the Chevy Cavalier struck the two, a GMC pick-up truck struck Currie once more and she was transported to Overlook Hospital where she was later pronounced dead.  

February 8, 2012 – Scotch Plains Man Shot in Home During Armed Robbery

A 19-year-old male of Emil Place in Scotch Plains was shot in his home following an armed robbery.  Alquan Green, 18, and Charles Darby, 18, both of Plainfield have been arrested in connection with the armed robbery and aggravated assault. The Scotch Plains Police Department released that this was not a random act, but they were further investigating the relation between the victim, Green and Darby.

February 9, 2012 – Fire Destroys Portland Avenue Home

A Portland Avenue home went up in flames at around 3 a.m. on Feb. 9.  The cause of the fire was never specifically determined, but it was believed by Captain Brian Donnelly of the Scotch Plains Police Department to be electrical.  Residents of the Portland Avenue home, the O’Brien’s, were able to make it out of the home without any injuries. However, Alyssa O’Brien, 19, is severely disabled and much of her expensive equipment and medicine, including a $12,000 wheelchair was destroyed in the blaze. Residents of Scotch Plains provided an outpouring amount of support for the O’Brien family to assist their daughter and get back on their feet following the fire that destroyed their home.

March 1, 2012 – Woman Injured When Car Strikes Tree on Midway Avenue

On the morning of Mar. 1 a 38-year-old woman from Roselle drove into a tree on Midway Avenue becoming trapped in her vehicle. The Fanwood Fire Department has to use the Jaws of Life to rescue the woman from her car and she suffered injured to her face, chest and foot.  No other vehicles were involved in the accident and the cause of the accident is still unknown.

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March 8, 2012 –

Ian Lewis of the Fanwood Emergency Rescue Squad administered CPR to a unresponsive passenger on his flight to Santa Ana California back in March.

March 19, 2012—Scotch Plains Exxon Robbed at Gunpoint


The Exxon Station on Route 22 in Scotch Plains was robbed at gunpoint on Mar. 19 for $700.

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March 26, 2012 – Fanwood Driver Crashes Into 15-year-old Bike Rider


A 15-year-old male from Linden was riding his bicycle south on Martine Avenue when a 52-year-old Fanwood resident’s vehicle struck him. According to Fanwood Police Chief Richard Trigo the bicyclist crossed over the lanes “for no apparent reason,” when he was struck. The 15-year-old was transported to UMDNJ with minor injuries and later released.

April 6, 2012 – Fanwood Man Charged With Shooting Neighbors Fence

Back in April, Fanwood resident, John Stewart, 41, was faced with numerous weapon charges after he shot six rounds to a neighbors fence on Coriell Ave. Emily Everson wrote in the April 6 article “Stewart was arrested at the scene and taken to the Union County Jail, where Superior Court Judge Stuart Peim set bail at $56,000. Trigo noted that the last time shots were fired in Fanwood was in when Thomas Sweeney, 81, and his wife, Carolyn were killed in a murder-suicide. That crime took place directly across the street from John Stewart's Coriell residence, Trigo said.“

April 28, 2012 – Update: Police Identify Man Killed in Scotch Plains Car Accident

On April 26, a man was killed after being struck on Route 22 at Harding Road. Two days later the Scotch Plains Police Department released the name of the victim as Jesus Nunez-Picazo, 38, of Queens, New York.

May 15, 2012 – Scotch Plains Man Charged With Assault of Union Catholic Baseball Player

On May 12 during a Union Catholic High School Baseball game a nearby neighbor assaulted the player for attempting to retrieve the ball. According to Scotch Plains Police Captain, Brian Donnelly, Michael Bennett, 44, of Dutch Lane in Scotch Plains allegedly grabbed the victim by the neck and the wrist, leaving scratch marks on the victim’s neck. Bennett was arrested on scene and charged with simple assault but later released with a summons pending a municipal court hearing. As the victim was going to retrieve the ball, Bennett yelled, “get off my property.”

June 12, 2012 – Man Charged with DWI After Crashing  Into Telephone Pole

A North Plainfield man was charged with driving while intoxicated after crashing into a telephone pole on Stout Avenue. Prior to crashing into the pole, John Fischetti, 44, crashed first into a car on Bartle Avenue.

July 17, 2012 – Farmers Market Shoppers Witness Vehicular Debacle Saturday

On July 14 at the Scotch Plains Farmers Market an 88-year-old woman was backing out of a parking spot when she struck a parked car. A 19-year-old woman was then struck by the parked car and taken to Overlook Hospital with a foot injury.


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