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Wildwood's 'Street Crimes Unit' Nets 42 Arrests

Crime | 14 weeks 3 days ago | Comments 25

By Herald Staff

WILDWOOD — The Wildwood Police Department would like to announce the arrests of 42 persons by their “street crimes unit” over the past several weeks, according to a press release.

The Street Crimes Unit is a group of officers who work together targeting certain areas of the city. These areas are targeted because of information developed by the police department but more importantly because the residents of these areas have provided information to the department regarding problems in these areas.

These problems are mainly “quality of life” issues for residents and visitors alike such as drug sales, loitering with the purpose to purchase drugs, and prostitution. Other complaints like property maintenance, trash violations, fire and safety code violations are referred to the appropriate city inspectors for action.

The “street crimes unit” was first utilized several years ago by retired Chief Joseph Fisher. The unit is composed of officers from the patrol and detective divisions. They utilize various methods to conduct investigations including; working in plain clothes, conducting surveillance, and executing search warrants.

The unit works random hours and days so you never know where they will be. The unit is not active on a continual basis, but as the need arises and manpower allows.

The police department would like to stress the importance of citizen participation. If you see something going on which doesn’t look right, call us. Even if it doesn’t amount to anything, it is always better to call. We need the thousands of extra eyes out there to help keep Wildwood a great place to live and visit.

In addition to the street crimes unit, the department has been cracking down on underage drinking in the city. This includes heavy enforcement on various “animal houses” located throughout the city. The department also conducts “cops in the shops” enforcement throughout the summer.

This involves police officers posing as employees in various liquor stores.

There have been 430 underage alcohol related arrests since Memorial Day weekend including 105 juveniles and 325
adults.

The “street crimes unit” arrested the following people:

William Murphy, age 33, Wildwood, wandering with the intent to purchase/sell a controlled dangerous substance

Lorena Love, age 26, Wildwood, possession of cocaine, wandering with the intent

Kayleigh Love, age 21, Wildwood, wandering with the intent

Unnamed juvenile, age 14, Wildwood, possession of marijuana

Jose Ruiz, age 31, Cape May Court House, possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with the the intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute in school zone and public place

Omar Moya, age 26, Wildwood, possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with the the intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute In school zone and public place

Anthony Eck, age 31, Swainton, possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia Robert Ortiz, age 45, Wildwood, possession of cocaine

Michelle Castorina, age 31, Wildwood Crest, wandering with the intent

Melissa Waltz, age 29, Villas, wandering with the intent, possession of drug
paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, possession of prescription drugs

Aaron Corley, age 43, Villas, possession of cocaine, possession of drug
paraphernalia, criminal trespass

Darrell Young, age 48, Rio Grande, possession of cocaine, possession of drug
paraphernalia, criminal trespass

Joseph Long Jr., age 21, Philadelphia, Pa, possession of marijuana

Pemell Pettigrew, age 18, Wildwood, possession of marijuana

Emmanuel Rosario, age 19, Wildwood, burglary warrants

Patricia Peek, age 40, Wildwood, prostitution, wandering with the intent, possession of drug paraphernalia

Brian Salvesen, age 26, Avalon, prostitution

Andrew Kane III, age 45, North Wildwood, possession of prescription drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia

Elizabeth Singh, age 30, Rio Grande, prostitution, possession of cocaine, possession of heroin

Corrine Burton, age 38, North Cape May, possession of drug paraphernalia, wandering with the intent

John Bradley, age 52, Wildwood, possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, wandering with the intent

Elizabeth Singh, age 30, Rio Grande, wandering with the intent, 2nd arrest
Paul Burr, age 48, Villas, NJ, wandering with the intent

Reginald Pins, age 39, Whitesboro, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, resisting arrest, wandering with the intent

Mark Caban, age 41, Wildwood, wandering with the intent, possession of a hypodermic syringe

Jose Fragozo-Soto, age 22, Atlantic City, wandering with the intent

Pedro Quinnones, age 44, Wildwood, obstruction warrant

Katherine Caba, age 22, Atlantic City, hindering apprehension

Andrea Drummond, age 25, Philadelphia, Pa,, possession of marijuana, possession of
prescription drugs

Bruno Preztos, age 25, North Cape May, warrant arrest

Michael Soto, age 23, Wildwood, possession of cocaine

Eric Marks, age 27, Cape May Court House, possession of marijuana

Jennifer Lauritzen, age 29, Wildwood, possession of hypodermic syringe

John Long, age 46, Wildwood, possession of cocaine

Jose Marrero-Colon, age 26, Wildwood, possession of heroin

Luis Garcia, age 21, Wildwood, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of heroin with intent to distribute in school zone and public place

Matthew Bishop, age 23, Wildwood, warrant arrest

Edwin Bravo, age 38, Wildwood, warrant arrest

Tanya Smith, age 40, Wildwood, possession of cocaine

Lance Greenwood, age 26, North Wildwood, possession of cocaine with intent to
distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in school zone and public place

Sherry Tracey, age 41, Wildwood, warrant arrest

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Comments (25)

We welcome your thoughts, stories and information related to this article.

»

Sun, 08/31/2008 - 11:12pm

As I recall, the Mayor said at a commissioners' meeting that the beach balls and Wildwood sign were paid for by GWTIDA. But what he did not mention is that GWTIDA is funded by the City of Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and North Wildwood. So we still paid for it. I happen to think it was money better spend than some of the City's boondogles. At least it looks good to visitors as they enter town. It might even keep their minds off the filth, illegal aliens and drug dealers around them or the craters they are driving through.

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Sun, 08/31/2008 - 2:25pm

The beach balls and Wildwood sign were payed for from a source through the convention center. The city of Wildwood did not pay for them. On another note, GOOD JOB WILDWOOD PD.

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Sun, 08/31/2008 - 7:54am

In comment to Friday 8/29 spounter..................................When did they pave Park Blvd.? All the streets of Wildwood are in HORRIBLE condition. The City Officials have/are spending the money on more important things than streets..........just take a look at the beach balls and Wildwood sign on Rio Grande Avenue for example......oh and how about the Convention Center, recreation areas, plan for High Rise ..well, now that there are few hotels due to all the condos approved, built and that still remain on the "FOR SALE" listings in Wildwood.
My friends, Wildwood's streets will be last on the list, afterall, we may not need them once everyone is forced out by high taxes due to the quality of leadership we have experienced.

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Sat, 08/30/2008 - 12:44pm

Just want to know ...........for the wanderers with intent to buy/sell CDS that have child/children............what happens to their child/children now..........especially if they are repeat offenders and so is their families???????? GRANDE offenders themselves. In the family history.........repeating itself over and over, time and time again! Can the entire family receive support to break the cycle of drug abuse/prostitution/theft?

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Fri, 08/29/2008 - 11:15pm

HA Wildwood is a *** and so is its corrupt police force. Wildwood was my hometown 20+ years i graduated in 1996 and took off out of that dive. I know all the local corruption i lived in it and witnessed it.

They need to build a bridge that connects wildwood crest to north wildwood to bypass the dump of a town. No matter how many condos they put up the locals are still there.

They cant even afford to pave new jersey ave its the same it has been for 20 years ive lived there. They did park blvd instead what idiots. Because you know park blvd is more important that new jersey ave. NOT.

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Fri, 08/29/2008 - 11:15am

to 807am...yeah, real life, right...well guess what their real life is now?! Three concrete walls and some steel bars, eating bologna sandwiches, wearing an orange jumpsuit, and using soap on a rope.

Go to school, get a real job(finding a job that pays more than minimum wage isn't that hard)

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Fri, 08/29/2008 - 11:02am

Great job to the WPD - and keep it coming! We need to take back our streets and we need whatever help the police and vigilant citizens can provide. And, in case the mayor or anyone else needs to know what tax dollars SHOULD be spent on - this is it. To the person who suggests we not criticize drug dealers - get lost. You don't have the right to ruin anyone else's quality of life because of your poor choices or hard luck story. When and if the way you and yours "earn" a living stops bringing filth, crime, broken lives and plummeting property values to my neighborhood, I'll stop cheering the police for sweeping up the trash. There are lots of people in Wildwood, including at my house, who were not born with silver spoons in their mouths but manage to care for themselves and their families without resorting to selling drugs, stealing, or prostituting themselves.

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Fri, 08/29/2008 - 10:12am

To Wed, 08/27/2008 - 5:15pm:

Looks like I don't have to, someone else with the ability and common sense to do a little research did it for me. Instead of calling me names, you could have taken the time to do the same thing! Then again, maybe not. Its easier to try to ridicule others (you even failed at that). It doesn't take a lot of brain power to call people names.

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Fri, 08/29/2008 - 8:07am

i love how everyone looks at these people like they're trash. You don't know anyone's story. People sell drugs cause working for minimum wage is impossible. Some people do what they have to do in order to get by. Might not make sense to you people who grew up in a fairy tale land. This is real life.

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Thu, 08/28/2008 - 10:47pm

If they get Judge Alvarez they all mind as well plan on going to jail, she's one tough one on anything drug related.

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Thu, 08/28/2008 - 9:40pm

I don;t even live in Wildwood and I have seen the prostitutes when I was over there. If you are saying you have never seen them open your eyes. GREAT WORK WPD, get some more scum off the streets! I am sure all the negative spouters have been caught by you before or have a family member you arrested so just ignore them!

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Thu, 08/28/2008 - 2:31pm

These charges will never stand in court . I hope the Herald will keep us up to date on this

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Thu, 08/28/2008 - 12:01pm

wildwoood police wow good jod...focus now in the big one that bring in the drug too wildwood.stop protecting them just becuase in some way thay are related one way our another ,The law goes for everybody and no one is above the law. You shoud be looking to some off the closest one related too some off youre officer's.Then i will say not good but perfect jod!

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Thu, 08/28/2008 - 11:24am

D*** Y*** should be put away permanently as he is currently living off the state anyway. He has received money, food stamps and work from the Cape May County Social Services Department. Let's keep the streets safe and put him behind bars.
All I can say is way to go to the Wildwood Police Department. You fellas do a fantastic job all the time and work very hard to keep us safe. I've seen you work and know this to be true. Thank you.

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Thu, 08/28/2008 - 12:28am

to 5:15,:
NJ Law--2C:33-2.1
1. a. As used in this section:
"Public place" means any place to which the public has access,
including but not limited to a public street, road, thoroughfare,
sidewalk, bridge, alley, plaza, park, recreation or shopping area, public
transportation facility, vehicle used for public transportation, parking
lot, public library or any other public building, structure or area.

b. A person, whether on foot or in a motor vehicle, commits a
disorderly persons offense if (1) he wanders, remains or prowls in a
public place, or enters a public place to meet another person with the
purpose of unlawfully obtaining or distributing a controlled dangerous
substance or controlled substance analog; and (2) engages in conduct
that, under the circumstances, manifests a purpose to obtain or
distribute a controlled dangerous substance or controlled substance
analog.
c. Conduct that may, where warranted under the circumstances, be
deemed adequate to manifest a purpose to obtain or distribute a
controlled dangerous substance or controlled substance analog
includes, but is not limited to, conduct such as the following:
(1) Repeatedly beckoning to or stopping pedestrians or motorists
in a public place;
(2) Repeatedly passing objects to or receiving objects from
pedestrians or motorists in a public place;
(3) Repeatedly circling in a public place in a motor vehicle and on
one or more occasions passing any object to or receiving any object
from a person in a public place

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Wed, 08/27/2008 - 7:40pm

Kudo's to the Wildwood Police Department with the pro-active police work towards the quality of life complaints. Now they will push them back out to Middle Township, but NOOOOO, they also have a kick *** Street Crimes Unit, so where to....Lower Township, NOOOOOOO they are also kicking *** with the "quality of life" issues and being agressive, even with their man power shortages, so lets see all these "fine, outstanding citizens" move to, let's say, Stone Harbor and Avalon and give them a taste of the "real society." Could you imagine????

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Wed, 08/27/2008 - 7:21pm

Everytime I wander around Wildwood with an intent to buy a prostitue, I can never find one. Someone tell me where I can find one next time!

Good job WWPD! Only one problem, I dont see many people that I know. For some reason, the prosecutors office was able to find more "better known" people.

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Wed, 08/27/2008 - 5:15pm

1:30 arresting people who are just hanging in bad areas is a scary example of a police state for me. Please since you are a know it all please enlighten me on the exact police code for wandering

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Wed, 08/27/2008 - 12:26pm

I think its a typo, I think its supposed to be Wandering with intent to buy/sell CDS.

I'm glad Wildwood finally got these scum buckets off the street, except now WE have to pay for them to be in prison.

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Tue, 08/26/2008 - 6:47pm

duhhhhhh when I wander I do it aimlessly....that way there's no intent!

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Tue, 08/26/2008 - 1:30pm

"Wandering with Intent" is more than walking to Wawa. There are certain areas known to be "drug areas", and most of you who live in Wildwood (except maybe for 8/25 - 4:54pm) know where they are. If you're hanging around in that area for any length of time then it can be safely assumed you're there for one reason: to purchase drugs, especially if you can't give a believable reason why you're hanging there. Passing through any area to get to Wawa, 7-11, or any other legitimate destination is NOT considered "Wandering with Intent".

If you've ever driven down Pacific Avenue at night between Montgomery and Garfield Aves., you've seen prostitutes and drug dealers -- you just didn't know it. They tend not to wear signs.

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Mon, 08/25/2008 - 9:50pm

Wow, Melissa Waltz AGAIN! This is the same woman from a few weeks ago who was arrested for stealing money and irreplaceable items from one of my family members... after she had stolen credit cards just last winter from another innocent person!!! When is the judge going to lock this woman up?! She is obviously a piece of trash!!!

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Mon, 08/25/2008 - 8:06pm

What kind of law is "Wandering with Intent"? That's not even a real law. So, if I'm walking down the street, going to Wawa, am I wandering with Intent to eat? So a person can't walk down the street anymore. Why, just because I am walking through a "bad section of town", I'm wandering with Intent? I guess all of Wildwood is bad.

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Mon, 08/25/2008 - 7:49pm

GREAT JOB WILDWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

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Mon, 08/25/2008 - 4:54pm

Wandering is now a crime in Cape May county. Could some one please tell me how in these United States of America walking down the street is a crime. Now I'm not stupid and I know these people were up to no good , but if you have no drugs on you how can you be picked up for that crime. And another serious question where do prostitutes hang in Wildwood. In all my years I have never seen one , is this also becoming a problem

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