07/08/2024 Police Blotter
Date: 7/8/2024
Prepared by: Lt. Joseph Maccaquano
Item 1
Date: 6/24/2024 Time: 10:06 AM Jurisdiction- Hopewell Borough
Type of Incident: Identity Theft
Investigating Officer: Michael Crincoli
Details: On June 24, 2024 Officer Crincoli responded to a Woodmere way address for a reported identity theft case. The victim reported that an unknown party used their identity to file a fraudulent tax return. The victim reported that discovery of incident was made by their accountant, who recommended the matter be reported to police. There was no financial loss reported in the case. The investigation is ongoing.
Item 2
Date: 6/25/2024 Time: 12:37 AM Jurisdiction – Hopewell Township
Type of Incident: DUI
Accused Name: Harrison Mcgowan
Accused Address: Timberlake Drive Ewing, NJ 08638
Investigating / Arresting Officer: Adam Liotta
Charges: DUI / Reckless Driving
Details: On June 25, 2024 at 12:37AM Sgt Liotta observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on Washington Crossing Pennington Road through the intersection of Scotch Road. The vehicle continued towards Pennington Road. Ultimately, Sgt Liotta conducted a motor vehicle stop on I-295 near Pennington Road. Liotta made contact with the driver, identified as Harrison Mcgowan. Mcgowan, who was exhibiting signs of intoxication, was asked to step out of the vehicle for field sobriety testing. Upon completion, Mcgowan was arrested on scene and transported to HTPD for processing. Mcgowan was issued summonses for DUI, Reckless Driving, and Careless Driving before being released. The matter will be heard in Municipal Court.
Item 3
Date: 6/25/2024 Time: 8:07 PM Jurisdiction – Hopewell Township
Type of Incident: DUI
Accused Name: William Downey
Accused Address: Sandy Ridge Mount Airy Road Stockton, NJ 08559
Investigating / Arresting Officer: Lincoln Karnoff
Charges: DUI / Reckless Driving
Details: On June 25, 2024 Sgt Karnoff was on Route 29 near Valley Road parked with his emergency lights activated and cones deployed in the roadway, blocking the road due to hazards and an accident scene ahead. A white BMW X3 approached and proceeded around Karnoff’s vehicle, driving over the cones and continuing northbound on Route 29. Karnoff attempted to stop the vehicle, as there were wires down and an accident scene ahead, but the driver ignored his lights and sirens. Eventually, the vehicle did stop near the Golden Nugget. The driver, identified as William Downey, was found to be exhibiting signs of intoxication. After performing field sobriety testing roadside, he was placed under arrest and transported to HTPD for processing. Downey was issued summonses for numerous traffic violations, including DUI and Reckless Driving. The matter will be heard in Municipal Court.
Item 4
Date: 6/26/2024 Time: 11:06 AM Jurisdiction – Hopewell Township
Type of Incident: Theft / Fraud
Investigating Officer: Michael Enriquez
Details: On June 26, 2024 Officer Enriquez met with the victim of fraud/theft in the HTPD lobby. The victim reported that on June 24th they were made aware of a transaction from her checking account totaling $120,000. This was a wire transfer of funds, which the victim did not approve or initiate. The matter was reported to the victim’s bank as well for investigation and dispute. The investigation is ongoing.
Item 5
Date: 6/25/2024 Time: 2:39 PM Jurisdiction – Hopewell Township
Type of Incident: Shoplifting
Accused Name: Diego Rivas-Velez
Accused Address: Coventry Lane Newark, NJ
Investigating/Arresting Officer: Jonathan Pauciullo
Charges: Shoplifting
Details: On June 25, 2024 Officer Pauciullo responded to the Walgreens on S Rt 31 for a reported Shoplifting (not in progress). Pauciullo met with store management who provided surveillance video of a shoplifting incident tat occurred 12:20 PM on the same date. The suspect is seen taking 16 packs of Pokemon cards valued at $188.00. Officer Pauciullo was able to make identification of the victim and vehicle with the video footage. The suspect was identified as Diego Rivas-Velez out of Newark. Rivas-Velez
ultimately turned himself in for the crime. He was arrested and processed before being released from custody. The matter will be heard in Municipal Court.
Item 6
Date: 6/27/2024 Time: 1:47 AM Jurisdiction – Hopewell Township
Type of Incident: DUI
Accused Name: Thomas Maul-Swicinski
Accused Address: Lopatcong Dr Ewing NJ
Investigating Officer: Paul Alvaro
Charges: DUI
Details: On June 27, 2024 Officer Alvaro conducted a motor vehicle stop on a Hyundai SUV on Pennington Lawrenceville Road near Wellington Drive for a failure to maintain lane violation. The driver, identified as Thomas Maul-Swicinski showed physical signs of impairment and performed field sobriety testing roadside. Upon completion, Swicincki was placed under arrest and transported to HTPD for processing. Maul-Swicinski was issued summonses for DUI, Reckless Driving, and other motor vehicle violations. The matter will be heard in Municipal Court.
Item 7
Date: 6/29/2024 Time: 8:30 AM Jurisdiction – Hopewell Township
Type of Incident: Fraud
Investigating Officer: Ryan Finnegan
Details: On June 29, 2024 Officer Finnegan met with the victim of fraud in the HTPD lobby. The victim reported that she had two checks stolen from her mailbox and one of those checks was cashed. The total amount for the cashed check was reported as
$2,316.00. The incident was reported to the victim’s bank as well for dispute. The investigation is ongoing.
Item 8
Date: 6/29/2024 Time: 4:05 PM Jurisdiction – Hopewell Township
Type of Incident: Burglary
Investigating Officer: Michael Crincoli
Details: On June 29, 2024 Officer Crincoli responded to a Johnstone Drive address for a reported burglary. The victim reported that the incident occurred between 6/27 and 2/29 while they were away on a trip. The home was entered and ransacked, however no items appeared to be missing from the home. The incident is under investigation by Det Collins. Nothing further at this time.
Item 9
Date: 7/2/2024 Time: 12:40 PM Jurisdiction – Hopewell Township
Type of Incident: Fraud / Theft
Investigating Officer: Paul Alvaro
Details: On July 2, 2024 Officer Alvaro responded to a Reservoir Road address for a reported theft and fraud. The victim reported that unauthorized transactions were found on their bank account from February 20th – February 27th of 2024. The transactions totaled $7,414.67. The victim reported these transactions to their bank for dispute as well. The transactions are being investigated by Officer Alvaro, the investigation is ongoing.
Item 10
Date: 7/6/2024 Time: 8:05 PM Jurisdiction – Hopewell Township
Type of Incident: Theft
Accused Name: Lauren Tatham
Accused Address: Franklinville Rd Swedesboro, NJ 08085
Investigating/Arresting Officer: Vincent Amabile
Details: On July 6, 2024 Officer Amabile responded to Capital Health – Hopewell Campus for a reported theft of a cell phone. The victim reported that their cell phone was stolen from the breakroom in the hospital. The phone was able to tracked and located inside of a vehicle in the parking lot of the hospital. The owner of the vehicle (suspect) was identified as Lauren Tatham. Tatham was located and later charged with Theft. The matter will be heard in Municipal Court.