PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Patrol Officers Edward Elston and James Seeger responded to a residence on Longport Road at 12:12 p.m. on September 3 to serve an active warrant issued by Rockaway Municipal Court for Michael Curtin Jr, 29, Parsippany.

Once the officers arrived at his residence, they knocked on the door and advised the occupant that answered through the door, who they were looking for.

A brief verbal exchange took place inside the residence between another occupant and Mr. Curtin Jr, who failed to come to the door after being requested to do so.

After a short period of time, Officers entered the residence to apprehend Mr. Curtin Jr.

In the process of locating him they observed baggies of marijuana, various pieces of drug paraphernalia, and a gravity knife in plain sight.

Patrol Officer G. Tosh, who was posted outside the residence, observed Mr. Curtin Jr. laying down on the roof attempting to hide from officers and ordered him off the roof and onto the ground.

Once he was on the ground he was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters. While there, he was processed and charged with one count of 4th Degree of Possession of a Prohibited Weapon (Gravity Knife); Hindering Apprehension, a Disorderly Persons Offense; Possession of Less than 50 grams of Marijuana, a Disorderly Persons Offense; and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a Disorderly Persons Offense.

He was transported to the Morris County Correctional Facility pending his court initial court appearance.

Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

PARSIPPANY — At 7:45 p.m. on Friday, September 1, Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Special Officer Class II Special Officer Marcus Dalakian was exiting from the Route 80 West local lanes onto the Littleton Road/Smith Road exit when he observed a 2003 Chevrolet Malibu stopped in the roadway approximately 50 feet behind a vehicle that was stopped at the traffic light.

Special Officer Dalakian further observed a male slumped over the center console area of the vehicle and approached the vehicle on foot to check on the driver, identified as Timothy Crew, 43, Rockaway.

The Officer began banging on the passenger side window multiple times, which finally woke Mr. Crew. While speaking to him, Special Officer Dalakian detected the odor of burnt marijuana and observed a rolled cigarette containing suspected marijuana. Other officers arrived on scene to assist in the investigation.

After a brief investigation by Patrol Officer Jamie Mendez, Mr. Crew was placed under arrest for Possession of a Controlled and Dangerous Substance (Marijuana) and Driving While Intoxicated and transported to Police Headquarters for processing. While there, he was charged with Possession of Less than 50 grams of Marijuana, a Disorderly Persons Offense; Driving While Intoxicated; Reckless Driving and Possession of CDS in a Motor Vehicle.

He was released on his own recognizance pending his court appearance.

Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

MORRIS COUNTY —  Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Chief Kevin Smith of the Riverdale Police Department announce the arrest of Timothy P. Miller, 53, of Philadelphia, on charges stemming from a fatal motor vehicle collision during the morning hours of September  25.

At that time, Riverdale Police patrol officers responded to Hamburg Turnpike for a report of a motor vehicle collision involving a dump truck and a bicyclist.  Upon arrival, the bicyclist was discovered to have sustained various injuries.  He was transported to a local hospital and ultimately succumbed from his injuries.  The bicyclist was a 50-year-old male.  His identity is not being released at this time.   

The driver of the dump truck, Miller, was identified as having left the scene of the collision.  The driver and truck were subsequently located at the Riverdale Quarry at 125 Hamburg Turnpike, a short distance from the collision.  

It is alleged that Miller was initially questioned about the incident and denied any involvement in the collision.

As a result of this investigation, Miller was charged with one count of Leaving the Scene of an Accident Resulting in Death, a crime of the second degree. He was also charged with Hindering His Own Apprehension, a crime of the third degree.  Smith is currently being lodged at the Morris County Correctional Facility pending his First Appearance, which is scheduled for today, September 26.  

Members of the Riverdale Police Department, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office – Criminal Investigation Section, and the New Jersey State Police contributed to this investigation.

Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to contact the Riverdale Police Department at (973) 835-0034 or the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (973) 285-6200.

Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

MORRIS COUNTY —  A 35-year old Hillside man, Blaine Holley, was sentenced Tuesday to eight years in New Jersey State Prison on charges related to the September, 2016 death of Eric Decter, 31, Hanover, in a case brought by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp. 

Holley, who previously lived in Irvington, had pleaded guilty on July 17 to one count of Strict Liablity for a Drug-Induced Death, a crime of the first degree, 

Under the sentenced imposed by Judge Thomas J. Critchley in state Superior Court, Morristown, Holley will serve 85 percent of his sentence before being eligible for parole.  He will also be subject to a five-year period of parole supervision upon his release from prison.

During the sentencing hearing, the state was represented by Chief Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Troiano.  Also in attendance was the victim’s mother. Victim-impact statements from the victim’s mother and father were read to the Court. In pronouncing sentence, the judge noted the overwhelming grief that comes with losing a child.

The charge resulted from a death investigation that began on the evening of September 19, 2016 in Hanover.  On that date, law enforcement responded to the America’s Best Value Inn on a report of an unconscious male suffering from an apparent narcotics overdose.  The male, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was later identified as Decter.

Through a subsequent investigation, it was discovered that Holley distributed various narcotics to Decter on multiple occasions, including on September 19, which caused his death. 

On June 1, 2017, Holley was charged by way of Warrant-Complaint with the first-degree crime of Strict Liability for Drug-Induced Death, and the third degree crime of Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Dangerous Substances (Heroin and Cocaine). 

Prosecutor Knapp stated: “Strict liability prosecutions, such as this one, hopefully will deter distribution of deadly narcotics in our county.  The prosecution of such cases is intended to help turn the tide in our current opioid/heroin epidemic.” 

Members of the Hanover Township Police Department, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and Special Enforcement Unit, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office – Criminal Investigation Section, and the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office contributed to this investigation and prosecution.